Indiana State men’s cross country coach John McNichols was definitely surprised when he heard Wednesday that he had been honored as Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year.
McNichols had coached the Sycamores to a fourth-place finish in the region meet Saturday at Indiana University, upsetting in-state rivals Butler and Indiana. But the award for top coach typically goes to the region winner, as was the case this year in the other seven regions in the country.
Apparently the Sycamores’ perceived overachievement in a big meet impressed McNichols’ colleagues. ISU was almost awarded the program’s first bid to the NCAA Championships, which take place Monday at Terre Haute’s LaVern Gibson Championship Course.
“Our guys did a great job. I’m terribly honored that more coaches voted for me,” McNichols said. “I still feel like there was three guys that did a pretty darn good job. I have a sense of gratitude and guilt that I have it.”
ISU finished behind only Wisconsin, Michigan State and Ohio State, despite never being ranked in the top five in the region during the season. The fourth-place finish was ISU’s best in school history.
ISU senior Eric Schulz placed sixth in the region for the Sycamores, earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships, the second straight year for an ISU runner to do so.
“He definitely deserves it. He’s a great coach,” Schulz said. “You could just see from me being a walk-on to being the No. 1 runner and a national qualifier. He’s definitely raised my running level. Jordan Fife, the same story. He’s definitely turned kids in Indiana into great runners.”
ISU also won the Missouri Valley Conference championship.
McNichols will receive his award Saturday during a U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association banquet in Hulman Center.
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McNichols named Great Lakes’ top coach
ISU cross country coach will be honored Saturday
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Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
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ISU's Webb wins heptathlon
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Webb, a senior, established three more personal best efforts enroute to the overall victory as he ran 8.45 in the 60 meter hurdles and 2 minutes, 50.73 seconds in the 1,000 meters while also clearing 13-1 1/2 in the pole vault. Webb entered the second day of the event in the lead with 2,893 points after winning three of the four Friday events and setting personal bests in the long jump and shot put. -
Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
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The first half belonged to Illinois’ Meyers Leonard.
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Indiana, Purdue meet with both looking to regain momentum
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ISU women looking to end five-game losing streak at Illinois State
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But the Sycamores lost for the fourth and fifth straight games, also losing freshman Jessica Valley for the season at Wichita State. The promising backcourt player tore the ACL in her right knee and began strengthening exercises this week in order to make plans for surgery. -
ISU Senior Day game to be televised on ESPN
The Missouri Valley Conference announced Thursday that Indiana State’s regular season finale against No. 12-ranked Creighton on Feb. 25 in Hulman Center has been chosen as the MVC’s “wild card” game that will be telecast on either ESPN or ESPN2.
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Hoosiers load up on in-state players
With a 1-11 record in his first season as IU football coach, Kevin Wilson knew there were a lot of holes to fill in terms of personnel.
- Wabash Valley verbal commitments
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METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors
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Hoosiers reclaim needed offensive momentum
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Sycamores will have to match Aces’ toughness
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ISU's Stacia Weatherford sets school record in 60-meter hurdles
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Rose takes first in Engineer Track and Field Invitational
Rose-Hulman relied on nine event victories, 13 top-two finishes and three school records for a strong performance at the ninth annual Engineer Track and Field Invitational on Saturday.
The men’s squad captured first place honors in a meet that featured two of the nation's top 20 NCAA Division III squads and 12 institutions from seven states. The day’s competition also included 10 meet records. -
Mattox’s 31 not enough for ISU women
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IU triumphs
When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.
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ISU women nipped at buzzer
Creighton sophomore Carli Tritz — blanketed by Indiana State senior Brittany Schoen — had just two points at halftime Friday in Hulman Center.
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ISU needs to find chip on its shoulder
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