Cornerstone University - News

[Baseball] Baseball announces walk-on players

Chuck Lowitzki — 2012-05-15T09:57:30-06:00

[Women's Basketball] Former WNBA Standout Katie (Feenstra) Mattera Hired as Women's Basketball Coach

Randy Strawser — 2012-05-08T13:12:03-06:00

Cornerstone University announced today the hiring of Katie (Feenstra) Mattera as the school's new Head Women's Basketball Coach. Mattera replaces Carla Fles who coached 13 years at Cornerstone before retiring after this past season.

The 29-year-old Mattera begins her coaching career after an eight-year career in professional basketball, including five years in the WNBA.

"First and foremost, Katie brings to Cornerstone a love for Jesus Christ and a passionate desire to mentor and develop young women as followers of Christ," said Dave Grube, Director of Athletics at Cornerstone. "Beyond that, her experiences at the highest levels of women's basketball will provide us with outstanding player recruitment, development and a blueprint for championship teams. I am confident that Katie will continue the winning tradition at Cornerstone University."

[Golden Eagles] Missions Team Leaving for Zambia Today

Randy Strawser — 2012-05-08T11:09:21-06:00

Fourteen members of the Cornerstone community (Faculty, Staff, and Students) will be leaving for Zambia today. The team is led by Chip Huber (Dean of Spiritual Engagement) and will include Soccer Coach Mark Bell and his wife Catherine Mueller-Bell who teaches at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Matt Haller who works in Spiritual Formation, and 10 students (Alyssa Bowerman, Josh Feenstra, Isaac Grotenhuis, Adam Homan, Terry Huber, Josh Rimel, Kelley Ritsema, Emily Smeed, Riley Steen, Abrielle Tatro, and Sarah Wheelock). They will be partnering with Jubilee Ministries as they engage God's vision to change the world. They will be involved with schools and will be using sport to advance the Gospel of Christ. They will play soccer matches and hold clinics for children along with netball games as we use sports to help bring change in a community�we will participate in worship and dance and music and discussions as they celebrate and talk about life and faith in America and Zambia with other students. They will get to work and share and teach God's Word alongside and get to know and become brothers and sisters with those on the frontlines of God's Work in the African church�and they will be able to distribute life-giving bed nets that can continue to help respond to one of the most challenging epidemics (Malaria). Both the men's and women's soccer team have raised money over the past two seasons to help purchase the bed nets through a promotion called "Night of Nets".

[Softball] Cornerstone Finishes Season With Solid Play at WHAC Tournament

Randy Strawser — 2012-05-04T21:52:52-06:00

Game 1
The Golden Eagles exploded with nine runs in the first innings against Concordia and went on to defeat the Cardinals 11-4 to advance on in the tournament. Concordia pitcher Catherine Herriman walked the first three batters to load the bases and Megan Oberst hit a double to bring in two runs. Concordia switched pitchers but that didn't make much of a difference to the Golden Eagles hitters as they continued to score runs. Cornerstone made the most of the inning scoring nine runs on six hits to go with a couple of Cardinal errors. Concordia scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to make it 9-2. Cornerstone responded with two of their own in the top of the fourth inning. Cornerstone scored one unearned run and Kaitlyn Carlson knocked in a run with a single to give CU an 11-2 lead. Concordia would score two more in the bottom half of the inning but that would be all of the scoring and the game ended with an 11-4 victory. Concordia finishes their season but Cornerstone moves on in the tournament.

Game 2
Cornerstone faced rival Aquinas for the sixth time this season. Cornerstone won both of the WHAC regular season games but lost a couple of non-conference games and the first game of the tournament (8-7 loss) to Aquinas. The Golden Eagles started well scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Heidi Warmelink and Lauren Pasciak singled and Megan Oberst hit a three-run shot to give CU a 3-0 lead. Cornerstone scored another in the second inning to make it 4-0. Lauren Pasciak opened the inning with a double and scored on an error. Aquinas scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning but the Golden Eagles score one as well in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-2. The Saints took the lead in the top of the fifth inning with four runs and they would not give up any more runs as would go on to eliminate the Golden Eagles from the tournament with a 7-5 win. Cornerstone finishes the season with a 16-30 record overall. Aquinas defeated Davenport to advance to the WHAC Championship game but lost to champion Madonna 4-2.

[Men's Outdoor Track & Field] Hurdles and 4 x 4 Highlight WHAC Championships

Randy Strawser — 2012-05-04T14:13:43-06:00

(Adrian, Mich.) The Cornerstone men competed well at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships winning two events, setting two school and one freshman record, putting up five national qualifying marks along with nine personal bests.

In first year using a two-day format, Bryant Langdon started the CU scoring placing fourth in the hammer throw with a toss of 155' 3". Spencer Perry was fifth in the other field event of the day sending the javelin 150' 5". Nick Hayes took 12^th with 120' - adding over 20' to his previous best.

On the track, Travis Mabe and Cody Risch endured the 10,000 meters with temperatures near eighty and high humidity. The race started slow and tactical, passing through 5k in 16:57. In the second half the lead group dwindled to just Mabe and Stephen Glinski of Aquinas. The pace dropped to 5:19 for the sixth mile reducing the 25 lap event to a 400 meter dash. Mabe and Glinski matched strides the entire way. Travis' 64 last 400 was one second slower than Glinski's as the Aquinas runner finished in 33:30.47 to Mabe's 33:31.89. Risch was seventh in 35:53.14.

[Women's Outdoor Track & Field] Women Third at WHAC Championship

Randy Strawser — 2012-05-04T11:36:44-06:00

(Adrian, Mich.) The Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship changed to a two-day meet this year. Cornerstone's women took advantage of the new format finding additional scoring opportunities.

The first day featured the hammer throw, javelin, 10,000 meter run and 4 x 800 meter relay. The field events began first and Haley Russell and Kayleigh Hammond both advanced to the finals. Russell placed eighth with a best throw of 122' 2" and Hammond ninth with a mark of 117' 7".

Brittany Green improved her freshman record in the javelin, putting CU on the board with 4 points for fourth place. All six of Lindsay Lipa's attempts were better than her previous best. She improved nearly 25' feet taking eighth at 88' 1".

[Softball] Golden Eagles Split On Day 1 of WHAC Tourney

Randy Strawser — 2012-05-04T10:59:04-06:00

(Battle Creek, Mich.)

Game 1
Cornerstone gave up a run in the top of the first inning but responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 2-1 lead over Aquinas. Jenna Weightman walked to start the game and advanced to second on a Lauren Pasciak single. Heidi Warmelink drove in Weightman with a single up the middle and Megan Oberst knocked in Pasciak with a single to left center for the Golden Eagles. The Saints scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 7-2 lead. Cornerstone rallied with four runs on a Heidi Warmelink grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 7-6. The Golden Eagles would tie it in the bottom of the fifth when Ashley Niedermayer scored on an error but the Saints scored the eventual winner in the top of the sixth to defeat Cornerstone 8-7. Heidi Warmelink went 3 for but the Saints scored the eventual winner in the top of the sixth to defeat Cornerstone 8-7. Heidi Warmelink went 3 for 4 with 5 RBI's and a run scored for the Golden Eagles. Cornerstone moves into the elimination bracket and will play Siena Heights next.

Game 2
The Golden Eagles exploded with five runs in the bottom of the second inning and went on to defeat Siena Heights in the elimination game. Cornerstone scored the runs on three hits and two errors. Jenna Weightman, Ashley Niedermayer, and Heidi Warmelink all had RBI's for Cornerstone. Rachel Doornbos had an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to give the Golden Eagles a 6-0 lead. Siena Heights scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning but Heidi Warmelink struck out the last batter to seal the victory for Cornerstone. The Golden Eagles advance to play Concordia in another elimination game tomorrow at noon.

[Softball] Warmelink and Oberst Named First Team All-WHAC

Randy Strawser — 2012-05-03T20:16:40-06:00

Heidi Warmelink (sophomore from Wayland, Mich.) and Megan Oberst (freshman from Tecumseh, Mich.) were both named First Team All-WHAC by the WHAC coaches for their accomplishments this season. Warmelink batted .336 with 8 Home Runs and 25 RBI's this season and pitched in 36 of Cornerstone's 42 games this season. It was Warmelink's 2nd straight year to be named First Team All-WHAC. Oberst batted .358 and led the Golden Eagles with 43 hits this season. She had 8 doubles and 22 RBI's on the year. Madison Bucilla (junior from Laguna Nigel, Calf.) was named Honorable Mention. Bucilla batted .305 and had 36 hit with 16 RBI's for Cornerstone.

[Men's Outdoor Track & Field] Ryan Versen Named WHAC Track Athlete of the Week

Carla Fles — 2012-05-02T20:50:59-06:00

Ryan Versen, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, Mich. won two events and placed third in another at the Hillsdale Gina Relays April 28. He won the 400-meter hurdles in 53.05 for the fifth-fastest time in the NAIA and matched his provisional time in the 400-meter dash (48.1). His split in the 4 x 400 relay helped the Golden Eagles to a season-best time of 3:18.65 and third place.

[Women's Outdoor Track & Field] Janelle Brown Named Dr. LeRoy Walker Champion of Character Award Recipient

Carla Fles — 2012-05-01T20:27:00-06:00

Grand Rapids, Mich.-Cornerstone University senior Janelle Brown has been named the 2011-12 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award recipient.

[Softball] Golden Eagles to Face Aquinas in WHAC Tournament

Carla Fles — 2012-05-01T20:11:31-06:00

The Golden Eagles are the #6 seed for the WHAC softball tournament and will face #3 Aquinas College in a first round game at 3pm on Thursday, May 3. They will face the winner or loser of the Madonna vs. Siena Heights game at 6pm at Bailey Park in Battle Creek. For complete tournament schedule click here.

[Women's Outdoor Track & Field] Heptathletes and Distance Women Perform Well at Gina Relays

Randy Strawser — 2012-04-28T18:00:26-06:00

(Hillsdale, Mich.) The first day of the expanded format of the Hillsdale College Gina Relays produced great results for the Cornerstone University women.

A steady wind of 10-15 miles per hour almost turned the first event of the heptathlon into a disaster. With the wind at her back for the 100 meter hurdles, Brittany Green nearly plowed into the seventh hurdle, but managed to right herself and finish in 15.74. Teammate Lindsay Lipa managed 16.86.

Neither freshman fared well in the high jump, with both clearing 4' 8.25". From there it was on to the shot put. Green's second attempt went 37' 10.5" which was good for 631 points. Lipa earned 397 with her 26' 1.5" effort.

The first day concluded with Green edging Lipa in the 200 meters, 26.59 to 26.81.

[Men's Outdoor Track & Field] Risch Fourth at Penn Relays

Randy Strawser — 2012-04-28T17:08:57-06:00

(Philadelphia, Pa.) Following his NAIA National Runner-Up finish to the Indoor T&F season, Cody Risch accepted the invitation to compete in the 10,000 meter race walk at the prestigious Penn Relays at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Through the first 5,000 meters, Cody and 2011 NAIA All-American, Josh Wiseman worked together, thirty meters behind the lead pack. Two laps later, Wiseman received his third form violation and was disqualified and Risch's hip began to tighten. "Cody is a good job of adjusting in the second half," said coach Rod Wortley. "He slowed enough to get through the second half, keep his form legal and hold his spot.

Former NAIA National Champion, Michael Mannozzi, used a great kick in the final lap to get the win in 44:38.27. Risch placed fourth in 46.35.72.

[Men's Outdoor Track & Field] Versen Double Winner at Gina Relays

Randy Strawser — 2012-04-28T11:52:25-06:00

(Hillsdale, Mich.) The three days of the annual Hillsdale Gina Relays unfolded windy, then warm, then wet. Despite the conditions the Cornerstone Men's T&F team performed well setting personal bests and getting national qualifying marks each day.

Thursday, Spencer Perry began the ten event decathlon with personal bests in all five events of day one. He ran 11.90 in the 100 meters, long jumped 18' 5.75", sent the shot put 34' 8.25", high jumped 6' 3.5" and ran the 400 meters in 52.11.

That evening, Louis Falland ran a well-paced race in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. In only his second attempt at the event, the sophomore charged to the lead in the final lap and pulled away for the win. His time of 9:25.95 put him under the NAIA provisional qualifying standard.

[Women's Outdoor Track & Field] Brown Moves to Top NAIA Spot at Penn

Randy Strawser — 2012-04-28T08:03:11-06:00

(Philadelphia, Pa.) One week after producing the second fastest 5,000 meter race walk in the NAIA this season, Janelle Brown moved to the top of the list with her sixth place finish at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

The senior walked well-paced, patient race moving up through the field with mile splits of 8:10, 8:10 and 8:09. Her time of 25:22.88 moved her twelve seconds head of Nicole Bonk on the NAIA performance list, into the top spot.

Moncia Lawrence raced well for the first two miles before stepping off the track. "Monica has been dealing with an issue with her left hip flexor," said coach Rod Wortley. "After 2 kilometers it was acting up and three laps later it was time to call it a day. Monica has her qualifier out of the way and she will be ready to go at nationals."