AU's Welton selected for national all-star event
Aurora University senior forward Larry Welton has been selected as one of the 65 players to compete in the Collegiate Basketball Invitational from April 24-26 in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Of the 65, Welton is one of seven NCAA Division III players selected to participate. He will play on the WHR Health System team.
The Collegiate Basketball Invitational (CBI) is a national basketball event that will gather the finest 65 senior men's basketball players from all of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and Division III and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The event will take place at Wadsworth High School in Wadsworth, Ohio, and will consist of eight teams of eight players (one team with nine players) in an eight-team tournament. Each team will play a total of three games Thursday and Friday, culminating with the championship game Friday night at 8 p.m. The CBI will conclude with an all-star game Saturday evening in front of a live, ESPNU audience as 20 players will be selected to play in the game.
"I sincerely congratulate the 65 players that have been selected to compete in this prestigious event," said CBI Founder John McCarthy. "I am very excited about these 65 players and I am proud and honored to welcome them to Wadsworth for the Collegiate Basketball Invitational. I am confident that this class of players will help make the public aware of the high level of talent at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA levels."
Welton helped lead the Spartan men to a 22-7 record and a 16-2 record in the NAC.
"This is a great honor and opportunity for Larry to be chosen for such a prestigious invitational and the chance to further his basketball career. He had a tremendous career at AU and was vital to our success the last four seasons," said AU coach James Lancaster.
Welton averaged 21.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, en route to being named D3hoops.com second team All-American, NABC and D3hoops.com first team All-Midwest Region and Northern Athletics Conference first team all-conference. In his four seasons at AU, Welton tallied double-figure scoring outputs in 101 of the 110 contests, while tallying 20 or more points 61 times in his career.
Men's basketball
Lancaster top coach again:ŒAurora University men's basketball coach James Lancaster has been named the 2007-2008 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Co-Coach of the Year.
This year's 22-win season was AU's first time in school history with 20-win seasons in back-to-back years. The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Division III championship for the second consecutive season and third time in four years but fell to Augustana College 72-61 at Augustana.
In his 14 seasons at the helm of the men's program, Lancaster is 262-109 overall (.706). The NAC Coach of the Year award is Lancaster's seventh in his 14 years as men's basketball coach.
Lancaster will be honored at the 36th annual Hall of Fame induction dinner April 26 at Illinois State University.
Women's soccer
Roberts honored:ŒAugustana senior Tessa Roberts (St. Charles North) was named to the Central Region All-Region second team for women's soccer by D3kicks.com.
Roberts finished her illustrious career as the second leading point scorer in Augustana history with 113 points. She also finished her career second in career goals scored with 51. Roberts is tied for eighth on the all-time list with 11 career assists.
The senior forward led Augustana with 15 goals and 34 points in her final season for the Vikings. Her 15 goals scored tied for fourth on the all-time single season scoring list.
She was named to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin All-Conference squad as a first team selection for the third straight year and shared MVP honors for the Vikings with sophomore defender Deanna Recchia (Glenbard North).
Football
Sroka awarded for strength:ŒThe National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recently awarded Tom Sroka, offensive lineman from Aurora University, with its annual All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award in recognition of the student-athlete's dedication to strength training and conditioning.
This year, the NSCA awarded 239 collegiate athletes from 165 schools with the esteemed award.