Millikin University

The Millikin University baseball team received the 2021-22 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, which is presented by Sports Attack on July 27, 2022. Millikin was one of 700 teams nationwide to be honored. Teams from every level of college and high school baseball were honored with this year's award, which highlights programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2021-22 academic year. Over 250 high school programs and more than 420 collegiate programs were recognized with this year's award. Millikin excelled in the classroom and on the field posting a 27-16 record finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin baseball standings. The American Baseball Coaches Association has a long tradition of recognizing the achievements of baseball coaches and student-athletes. The ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams are the nation's oldest, founded in 1949, and the ABCA's awards program also includes the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Awards, the ABCA/ATEC Regional & National Coaches of the Year and several other major awards such as the ABCA Hall of Fame and the Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award.

Following a tremendous 23-7 season on the court, the 2021-22 Millikin women's basketball is being recognized for its academic performance by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Millikin received Special Mention recognition after ranking just outside the Top 25 in the WBCA Academic Top 25 for NCAA Division III. The Big Blue had a team grade point average of 3.638 landing just behind a tie for 24th in the ranking at 3.640. On the court, Millikin had a 23-7 record in 2021-2022 sharing the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season title and advancing to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. Millikin is gearing up for another stellar season on the court and in the classroom. The Big Blue will return to the classroom on August 22 with basketball practice set to begin on October 15. Millikin will open the 2022-23 season on November 8 at Beloit College.

The United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced today that more than 1,200 collegiate and high school volleyball teams have earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award this season. The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale. The Big Blue volleyball team was named one of the 1,200 squads that earned the academic honors for the 2021-22 academic year. The Millikin women's volleyball team has been honored with the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for four years in a row. "Academic achievement doesn't happen by accident," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "I'm so proud of the hundreds of coaching staffs that make excellence in the classroom a priority." The AVCA, an educationally based nonprofit headquartered in Lexington, KY, is the largest and most diverse volleyball coaches' association in the world. With a broad mandate to develop the sport, the AVCA provides leadership, recognition, advocacy, and professional development opportunities to over 8,000 volleyball coaches. Members include college, high school, club, and youth coaches, and well as a wide variety of product and service providers. Further information is available at www.avca.org.

The Millikin University women's track team and five Millikin track student-athletes were recognized for their academic performance for 2021-22 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on July 13. The Millikin women's track team earned All-Academic team honors for having a combined cumulative team grade point average of 3.39. Teams needed a team GPA of at least 3.1 to receive recognition. Five Millikin student athletes were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes for 2022 NCAA Division III. Athletes needed a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or above and needed to have competed in the NCAA Division III Indoor or Outdoor Championships or be ranked in the top 50 (top 35) on the TFRRS national performance list. Millikin's honorees included men's track athletes senior Ben Kuxmann (Bourbonnais, Bradley Bourbonnais H.S.), an English Education major, and sophomore Jake Shumaker (Decatur, Mt. Zion H.S.), a Computer Science major. Millikin women's track student-athletes receiving the honor were senior Eryn Renison (Channahon, Minooka H.S.), a Nursing major, sophomore Katie Risner (Avon, Ind., H.S), a Chemistry major, and senior Hailey Wimberly (Salem, H.S.), a Biology major.

DECATUR, Illinois-Millikin University track and field athletes Ben Kuxmann (Bourbonnais, Bradley Bourbonnais H.S.) and Peter Sailsman (Scotch Plains, N.J., Scotch Plains Fanwood H.S.) were recently named 2022 Outdoor Track All-Region by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the Midwest Region. Kuxmann received the honor in the 800 Meters while Sailsman was recognized for his accomplishment's in the Long Jump. Athletes that finished in the top five in their region are eligible for All-Region honors. Kuxmann finished in second place in the NCAA Division III Championships in the 800 Meters. His best time during the year in the 800 was 1:49.19, which was second best in the Midwest Region. Sailsman's best effort in the Long Jump was 7.24 meters (23-9) at the Carius/Gregory Invitational in May at North Central College, which was fourth best in the region.

Millikin University, in conjunction with the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), announces the CCIW Dave Wrath Academic All-Conference team for Spring season of 2022. Each season the CCIW selects an Academic All-Conference Team. To be recognized, the student-athlete must be enrolled as a full-time student; must have participated on a team during 2022 Spring season; and must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average. Athletes must have completed two semesters at their current institution before being eligible for Academic All-Conference Recognition. The list below is the team members from Millikin for the Spring 2022 season. 2021 Spring Sports CCIW Academic All-Conference Player Year Sport Major Hometown (H.S.) Christian Badorek Sr. Baseball Business Management Bloomington (Normal Community) Jacob Bailey Jr. Baseball Mathematics-Actuarial Science Lombard (Glenbard East) Frank Bryan Sr. Baseball Criminal Justice Plainfield (Plainfield East) Sam Butler Jr. Baseball Sport & Rec. Management Champaign (Central) John Collins Jr. Baseball Accounting Jerseyville (H.S.) Ethan Current Jr. Baseball Physics Granbury, Texas (H.S.) Drew Detmers So. Baseball Finance Chatham (Glenwood) Garrett Fritz Sr. Baseball Exercise Science Findlay (Okaw Valley) Bryce Griebler Jr. Baseball Criminal Justice Springfield (Okaw Valley) Jacob Havis Sr. Baseball Biology (Pre Med) Plainfield (Plainfield East) Sean Miller Jr. Baseball Finance and MIS Hope, Ind. (Hauser) Lucas Ryan So. Baseball Finance Chatham (Glenwood) Drew Sutton So. Baseball Physical Education Wentzville, Mo. (H.S.) Matt Wilson So. Baseball Finance La Miranda, Calf. (H.S.) Alex Zogg Jr. Baseball Business Management Bloomington (Normal Community) Trevor Britton Sr. Men's Golf Business Management Wadsworth (College of Lake County) Griffin Nyi Jr. Men's Golf Accounting Pontiac (H.S.) Jack Patterson Sr. Men's Golf Accounting Alton (Marquette Catholic) Max Phillips Sr. Men's Golf Chemistry Salem (H.S.) James Broach Jr. Men's Tennis Elementary Education Normal (Normal Community) Cory Erickson Jr. Men's Tennis Sport & Rec. Management Swansea, Ill. (Belleville East) Clayton Maack Jr. Men's Tennis Business Chesterfield, Mo. (Christian Brothers) Reiss Naylor Sr. Men's Tennis Accounting Troy (Triad) Holden Owens Sr. Men's Tennis Environmental Science Loveland, Ohio (Milford) Aly Armstrong Gr. Softball Business Administration Effingham (H.S.) Rylee Blake So. Softball Exercise Science Muscatine, Iowa (H.S.) *Grace Biondo Sr. Softball Actuarial Science Naperville (Naperville Central) Bailey Coffman Jr. Softball Business Heyworth (Bloomington Central Catholic) Olivia Cooper So. Softball English (Sec. Teaching) Mt. Pulaski (H.S.) Leah Foreman So. Softball Sport & Rec. Management Riverton (H.S.) Kaylee Goluch Sr. Softball Elementary Education Inverness (Fremd) Gretchen Gould Jr. Softball Elementary Education Sterling (H.S.) Sarah Lahner So. Softball Elementary Education Elburn (St. Charles North) Emma Lewandowski So. Softball Nursing Crown Point, Ind. (H.S.) Camryn Skundberg Jr. Softball Mathematics (Sec. Teaching) Mt. Zion (H.S.) Emma Spurgetis Jr. Softball Elementary Education Rock Island (H.S.) Lexus Tennison Sr. Softball Business Management Bloomington (University) Charly Warlow So. Softball Accounting Le Roy (H.S.) Jada Wilson Jr. Softball Early Childhood Education Decatur (Warrensburg Latham) Katie Abell Jr. Track & Field Biology Jacksonville (Routt) Kristian Boado Jr. Track & Field Nursing Algonquin (Dundee Crown) Quincy Collings So. Track & Field Nursing Mattoon (H.S.) Avery Damron So. Track & Field Criminal Justice Santa Rosa, Calif. (Maria Carrillo) Nick Fornoff So. Track & Field Chemistry Pekin (H.S.) Kayla Green So. Track & Field Criminal Justice Berwyn (Morton West) Garrett Jones Sr. Track & Field Chemistry Mattoon (H.S.) *Ben Kuxmann Sr. Track & Field English (Sec. Teaching) Bourbonnais (Bradley Bourbonnais) Anne Longman Sr. Track & Field Arts Technology Park Ridge (Maine South) Josh Martinez So. Track & Field Cybersecurity Chicago (St. Laurence) Madalyne McPheeters So. Track & Field Human Services Sullivan (Okaw Valley) Bradyn Olmstead So. Track & Field Computer Science Bloomington (H.S.) Eryn Renison Sr. Track & Field Nursing Channahon (Minooka) Katie Risner So. Track & Field Chemistry Avon, Ind. (H.S.) Alyssa Ruiz So. Track & Field Biology (Pre-Med) San Diego, Calif. (Junipero Serra) Julia Seaman Jr. Track & Field Early Childhood Education Marshall (Martinsville) Aidan Schlichting So. Track & Field Biology Freeburg (H.S.) Jake Shumaker So. Track & Field Computer Science Decatur (Mt. Zion) Whitney Smith Sr. Track & Field Sport & Rec. Management Stewardson (Stewardson Strasburg) Brandt Williamson Sr. Track & Field Physical Education Westville (H.S.) Hailey Wimberly Sr. Track & Field Biology Salem (H.S.)

Illinois-Millikin University senior Ben Kuxmann (Bourbonnais, Bradley Bourbonnais H.S.) was named to the 2021-22 Academic All-America First Team for Men's Track & Field/Cross Country, selected by CoSIDA, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. Kuxmann's selection comes after he was named to the Academic All-District in NCAA Division III District 7 in May. This is the second straight season that Kuxmann has earned Academic All-America honors after being a Second Team selection last year. Kuxmann, an English (Secondary Education) major, has a near perfect grade point average. He earned All-American honors after a second-place finish in the 800 Meters at the 2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track National Championships, and he finished in third at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in March. Kuxmann finished in third at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Kuxmann is a two-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Champion in both the Indoor and Outdoor 800 Meters. Kuxmann holds the CCIW and Millikin record in the 800 Meters-Indoor at 1:53.62 and the Outdoor 800 Meters at 1:49.19. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 Divisions II and III Academic All-America programs.

Illinois-Millikin University senior Bradan Birt (Epworth, Iowa, Western Dubuque H.S.) has been named to the 2022 Academic All-America At-Large Second Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. This is the second straight season Birt has been selected an Academic All-America for NCAA Division III. In May, Birt, a Sports Management major, was named to the All-District At-Large Team for District 7 in NCAA Division III. Birt completed an historic wrestling career at Millikin that saw win at NCAA Division III National Championship at 165 pounds in 2022. He finished the season with a 42-0 record and was named the NCAA Division III National Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler and the top ranked athlete in the NCAA Division III Dominant Wrestler rankings. Birt made history by winning his fifth College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin individual championships. During his career, he was the CCIW's Most Outstanding Wrestler three times. Birt won the 2021 NWCA Division III National Championship at 165 pounds and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of that event. He finished his career with an 80 match winning streak. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Brit was 92-1 with 87 bonus point victories. He earned All-American honors a record five times. He finished his career with a record 159-13 (.924) setting Millikin records for most wins and highest winning percentage. Birt excelled in the classroom as well. In addition to his honors from CoSIDA, Birt was a four-time NWCA Scholar All-American, the 2021-22 CCIW Elite 25 Award Winner and a four-time CCIW Academic All-Conference honoree. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in mid-June. The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 Divisions II and III Academic All-America programs.

Millikin University, in conjunction with the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), announces its Jack Swartz Award Recipients for Spring season of 2022. Millikin senior men's track athlete Ben Kuxmann (Bourbonnais, Bradley Bourbonnais) and senior softball player Grace Biondo (Naperville, Naperville Central) were selected as the Jack Swartz winners for the Spring season. To be considered as a Swartz Award winner, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.50 grade point average and have made a leadership contribution to their program. Both student-athletes have a near perfect grade point average.

Millikin senior baseball player Tanner Coleman (Findlay, Okaw Valley H.S.) was named to the D3baseball.com All-Region Third Team on May 31. Coleman earned the spot as a utility player on the Region 8 Third Team after seeing action for the Big Blue at designated hitter, first base and pitcher this season. He had a .324 batting average with 26 RBI. Coleman was 5-4 as a pitcher with one save and a 3.86 ERA and 62 strikeouts.

Millikin senior pitcher Caleb Buehrle (Wildwood, Mo., St. John Vianney H.S.) was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)\Rawlings NCAA Division III Region Eight All-Region Third Team for 2022 on May 31. Buehrle was 8-4 on the season with a 3.79 ERA and 73 strikeouts. He led the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in win and innings pitched with 90.1. Earlier this month Buehrle was named to the CCIW All-Conference First Team for the second straight season. The ABCA\Rawlings All-Region teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. III All-America Committee.

After finishing second in the 800 Meters at the 2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 28th, Millikin senior Bex Kuxmann was officially named All-American by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on May 31. Kuxmann earned his third All-American honors in the 800 Meters on Saturday finishing second in the 800 Meters in the NCAA Championships in a time of 1:50.54 being edged out at the finish line by Ryan Wilson of MIT. Kuxmann earned All-American honors during the Indoor season with a third place finish at the NCAA Championships. His first All-American performance was in 2021 with a third place showing in the 800 Meters at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships.

Millikin University senior Ben Kuxmann (Bourbonnais, Bradley Bourbonnais H.S.) was selected to the 2021-22 Academic All-District Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the competition realm and in the classroom. Kuxmann, an English major, was honored in NCAA Division III District 7 for his achievements in track and in classroom. This is the second straight year Kuxmann has earned All-District honors and last year he went onto be named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Second Team. Kuxmann has a near perfect grade point average and earned All-American honors after a third-place finish in the 800 Meters at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track National Championships and the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in March. He will be competing in the 2022 Outdoor Championships on Friday. Kuxmann is a two-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Champion in both the Indoor and Outdoor 800 Meters. Kuxmann holds the school record in the 800 Meters-Indoor at 1:53.62 and the Outdoor 800 Meters at 1:49.19. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in June. The CoSIDA Academic All-District teams include the student-athletes listed at the links above and are divided into geographic districts across the United States and Canada. The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2020-21 Divisions II and III Academic All-America programs. The NAIA CoSIDA Academic All-America program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released the list of 2022 softball All-Americans on Tuesday, May 24. Both Kendallyn Davison and Addison Sargent had previously been named First-Team All-Region in Region VIII, and both were named All-Americans by the NFCA. Davison made the list on the Second Team as an outfielder, while Sargent was named a Third Team All-American. Davison has tallied a .432 batting average heading into the 2022 NCAA Softball National Tournament in Salem, Va with 14 doubles, five triples, and three homeruns. Davison leads the Big Blue in RBI with 40 so far in the 2022 campaign and has notched 16 stolen bases. She was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Decatur, IL NCAA Regionals. Sargent's 1.17 ERA was highlighted by a five-inning no-hitter tossed against Stockton earlier in the season and nine shutout innings in the 2022 Decatur, IL NCAA Regional. Sargent has pitched eight complete games, tallying 125.1 innings in 2022, striking out 104 in the process. In both the Decatur, IL Regional and the NCAA Super Regionals, Sargent was recognized as the Most Outstanding Pitcher. To view the entire list of Division III All-American selections, click here. Millikin will begin their NCAA National Tournament journey on Thursday, May 26 in a 4:00 PM ET matchup against Salisbury University in Salem, Va.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released their list of athletes named All-Region for the 2022 season. Two Big Blue softball players were named to the First Team in Region VIII, pitcher Addison Sargent and outfielder Kendallyn Davison. Sargent (Mt. Vernon, Ill.) has recorded an ERA of 0.95 in the 2022 season, tallying a 16-2 record. In March, Sargent tossed a no-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Stockton, and threw nine scoreless innings in the Decatur, IL NCAA Regional to pick up two victories and the regional's Most Outstanding Player award. Sargent was credited with 96 strikeouts this season through 118.1 innings pitched, holding her opponents to a batting average of .169. Davison (Avon, Ind.) notched a .440 batting average in her first season with the Big Blue with 55 hits and 39 RBI. Davison recorded 14 doubles, five triples, and three homeruns in her freshman season, along with stealing 16 bases and scoring 38 runs. In right field, Davison accounted for a multitude of outs coming in the form of diving grabs and impressive catches on the run. Davison was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the Decatur, IL NCAA Regional.

Several Millikin athletes competed in NCAA Qualifying meets on May 13 in hopes of improving their chances of getting selected for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships later this month. Six athletes competed at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Big Blue senior Ben Kuxmann won the 800 Meters setting a new school record time of 1:49.19. Kuxmann entered the night with the seventh fastest time in the NCAA DIII this season. Pending other action today, Kuxmann's time should move him into the top five times in the country and safely in the NCAA Field. Jake Shumaker was seventh in the 800 Meters in 1:51.34, which is third fastest in school history. Shumaker should move into the top 20 times in NCAA Division III. Other Millikin Results Men's 400 Meters-Caleb Bleich: Sixth in 50.06 seconds Men's 200 Meters-Lee'Vonte Kelley: 16th in 22.90 seconds Women's 400 Meter Hurdles-Eryn Renison: Fifth in 1:05.56 Women's 800 Meters-Katie Risner: Eighth in 2:18.94 Women's 1500 Meters-Anne Longman: 15th in 5:33.59 Millikin's Quincy Collings and Hailey O'Malley competed in the 3000 Meters Steeplechase at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. Collings finished in fourth in 15:32.29 and O'Malley was 12th in 12:01.48.

Millikin sophomore pitcher Drew Detmers (Chatham, Chatman Glenwood H.S.) was Millikin's winner of the CCIW RESPECT Award. Detmers won the conference's RESPECT award which is presented at the conclusion of every sports season with each varsity program recognizing one student-athlete. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture. Millikin finished the regular season with a 26-14 overall record and went 11-7 in the CCIW earned the second seed in the CCIW Tournament that begins May 11th. The Big Blue face Carroll University in a first round game at 3 p.m.

Millikin's Keagan Brady and Carthage's Bryce Schaum were selected as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Baseball Student-Athletes of the Week on May 10th. Brady, a junior outfielder from Charleston, Illinois and Lake Land College, batted .375 (5-for-16) with six runs, one double, two home runs, eight RBI and an .813 slugging percentage for the 4-2 Big Blue last week. He was 2-for-3 with two runs, one walk, four RBI and a three-run go-ahead home run in a 12-6 victory at Carthage on May 2. Brady was also 2-for-4 with two runs, one home run and three RBI in a 15-5 win over Elmhurst on May 7. Schaum, a freshman pitcher from Munster, Indiana and Munster High School, pitched a complete-game in a 9-1 win over 11th-ranked North Central on May 7 in the first game of a double header. He limited the Cardinals to one run on four hits, a walk and six strikeouts. Earlier in the week, Schaum pitched the first seven innings of a 3-2 win over Millikin. He allowed just two runs on six hits, four walks and four strikeouts, while earning a no decision. The Firebirds won the game on a P.J. Moser on a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, which was his second home run of the game.

Six Millikin University baseball players were selected to the 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Baseball Team announced on May 11. The Big Blue had three First Team selections and three players earn Second Team honors. Senior catcher Garrett Fritz (Findlay, Okaw Valley H.S.) was selected to the CCIW All-Conference Second Team. Fritz was the Big Blue's top leading the team in average .336, home runs with five and RBI with 38. He hit .342 with 18 runs driven in conference contests. Millikin finished the regular season with a 26-14 overall record and went 11-7 in the CCIW earned the second seed in the CCIW Tournament that begins May 11th. The Big Blue face Carroll University in a first round game at 3 p.m.

Six Millikin University baseball players were selected to the 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Baseball Team announced on May 11. The Big Blue had three First Team selections and three players earn Second Team honors. Senior outfielder Frank Bryan (Plainfield, Plainfield East H.S.) was selected to the CCIW All-Conference Second Team. Bryan hit .306 for the Big Blue with 32 RBI. He had three home runs and a team high 14 doubles. He was 11-11 in stolen base attempts. Bryan was a CCIW All-Conference First Team selection in 2021. Millikin finished the regular season with a 26-14 overall record and went 11-7 in the CCIW earned the second seed in the CCIW Tournament that begins May 11th. The Big Blue face Carroll University in a first round game at 3 p.m.

Six Millikin University baseball players were selected to the 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Baseball Team announced on May 11. The Big Blue had three First Team selections and three players earn Second Team honors. Freshman infielder Kyle Gibson (Niles, Niles West H.S.) was selected to the CCIW All-Conference Second Team. Gibson hit .326 with 26 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Millikin finished the regular season with a 26-14 overall record and went 11-7 in the CCIW earned the second seed in the CCIW Tournament that begins May 11th. The Big Blue face Carroll University in a first round game at 3 p.m.

Six Millikin University baseball players were selected to the 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Baseball Team announced on May 11. The Big Blue had three First Team selections and three players earn Second Team honors. Junior Caleb Buehrle (Wildwood, Mo., Saint John Vianney H.S.) was pitcher on the First Team. Buehrle was 8-4 on the season with a 3.79 ERA and 73 strikeouts. He led the CCIW in wins and innings pitched with 90.1. This marks second straight season to earn All-Conference First Team honors. Millikin finished the regular season with a 26-14 overall record and went 11-7 in the CCIW earned the second seed in the CCIW Tournament that begins May 11th. The Big Blue face Carroll University in a first round game at 3 p.m.

DECATUR, Illinois-Six Millikin University baseball players were selected to the 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Baseball Team announced on May 11. The Big Blue had three First Team selections and three players earn Second Team honors. Millikin freshman Tyler Gade (Rochester, H.S.) was selected to the First Team as an outfielder and named the CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year. On the season, Gade hit .333 with 10 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Gade did his best work in CCIW contests where he led the conference in steals with 15 and hit .343. Millikin finished the regular season with a 26-14 overall record and went 11-7 in the CCIW earned the second seed in the CCIW Tournament that begins May 11th. The Big Blue face Carroll University in a first round game at 3 p.m.

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin announced the 2022 softball All-Conference squads and postseason awards on Thursday, May 5 ahead of the CCIW Tournament hosted at the Workman Family Softball Field. Sophomore Leah Foreman (Riverton, Ill.) was named to the second team. Foreman topped the conference in sacrifice flies with three. Foreman notched the third highest batting average of .392 on the season.

Six Millikin University baseball players were selected to the 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Baseball Team announced on May 11. The Big Blue had three First Team selections and three players earn Second Team honors. Senior Tanner Coleman (Findlay, Okaw Valley H.S.) was named to the First Team as a utility player. Coleman who saw action at first base, designated hitter and pitcher had a .324 batting average with 26 RBI. In CCIW action he hit, .342. Coleman was 5-4 as a pitcher with one save and a 3.86 ERA. Millikin finished the regular season with a 26-14 overall record and went 11-7 in the CCIW earned the second seed in the CCIW Tournament that begins May 11th. The Big Blue face Carroll University in a first round game at 3 p.m.

The Millikin men's and women's track and field team finished in fifth place at the 2022 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois on May 6-7. The Millikin women scored 91.50 points while the Big Blue women scored 87 points. Athletes needed a top eight finish to earn All-Conference honors. In the men's competition, senior Ben Kuxmann was the CCIW Champion two events. He won in the 1500 Meters in a school record time of 3:53.73. Kuxmann was first in the 800 Meters in 1:52.34. Jake Shumaker finished in third in the 800 Meters in 1:54.13. Two Big Blue athletes earned All-Conference in the Long Jump with Marshun Hart finishing in third place at 6.69 meters and Caleb Bleich finished in seventh at 6.34 meters. Bleich finished fifth in the 400 Meters in 50.19 seconds. Carson Rodgers earned All-Conference honors in two events. He was second in the 200 Meters in 22.27 seconds and finished third in the 100 Meters in 10.93 seconds. Two jumpers were in the top six in the High Jump with Solomon Ware finishing in second at 1.99 meters, Peter Sailsmanwas fourth at 1.88 and Serron Pettis finished sixth at 1.83 meters. Pettis was sixth in the Long Jump at 5.86 meters with Nick Fornoff finishing in eighth at 5.73 meters. Kristian Boado was sixth in the Hammer with a throw of 49.95 meters and finished in seventh in the Discus with a toss of 42.00 meters. Dalton Hoadley was seventh in the 110 Meter Hurdles in 16.64 seconds. Austin Bridgman finished seventh in the 1500 Meters in 4:01.61. Brandt Williamson was eighth in the shot put at 14.16 meters. Roy Baggio finished eighth in the Javelin with a toss of 42.96 meters. Bradyn Olmstead was eighth in the 10,000 meters breaking his own school record in 32:10.51. Gabe Bush finished in eighth in the Men's 3000 Meter Steeplechase in 9:55.25, which is fifth fastest in school history. In the women's competition, senior Mackenzie Dixon was the CCIW Champion in the 800 Meters in 2:13.56. Dixon then joined Hailey Wimberly, Eryn Renison and Lovenya Perry to win the 4x400 Relay in 3:55.21. Dixon was named the CCIW Championships' Women's Athlete of the Meet. The Big Blue took second and third in the Women's 400 Meters with Perry in 59.80 seconds and Wimberly coming in third in 1:00.38. Renison was second in the 400 Meters in 1:06.01, which ties her fourth spot on Millikin's Outdoor Track Top 10 Performance List. Katie Abell tied for second in the Shot Put at 10.53 meters and finished in fourth in the Javelin at 34.34 meters (112-08), which was the third best distance in school history. On Friday, Quincy Collings finished in second place in the Women's 3000 Meter Steeplechase in 11:30.02, which was the second fastest time in school history. Hailey O'Malley also earned All-Conference in the event finishing in fifth in 11:55.76. On Saturday, Collings was fifth in the 5000 Meters in 18:22.27, which was third fastest in the event in Big Blue history. Itzel Garcia finished in third in the 100 Meters in 12.26 second, which is third fastest in school history. She was also third in the 200 Meters in 25.63 seconds. Alyssa Ruiz finished in third in the 1500 Meters in 4:50.63 with Hailey O'Malley coming home in eighth at 4:59.53. Ruiz was also third in the 800 Meters in 2:19.64. Katie Risner was seventh in the 800 Meters in 2:28.47. Kayla Green tied for seventh in the High Jump at 1.44 meters.

Millikin University athletes freshman Collin Griffin (Le Roy, H.S.) and junior Emilie Mineo (Naperville, Naperville Central H.S.) were Millikin's recipients of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) RESPECT Award for Outdoor Track and Field presented at the CCIW Outdoor Track Field Champions on May 7 at Wheaton College. The CCIW RESPECT award is presented at the conclusion of every sports season with each varsity program recognizing one student-athlete. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture. Griffin is a Management Information Systems major. Mineo is majoring in Developmental Therapy.

Junior Jada Wilson was named Millikin's recipient of the RESPECT Award. The new CCIW RESPECT award is presented at the conclusion of every sports season with each varsity program recognizing one student-athlete. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin announced the 2022 softball All-Conference squads and postseason awards on Thursday, May 5 ahead of the CCIW Tournament hosted at the Workman Family Softball Field. Senior Grace Biondo (Naperville, Ill.) was named to the second team. Biondo drew the second most walks in the conference with 11. Grace Biondo was fourth for the highest batting average on the Millikin squad at .378.

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin announced the 2022 softball All-Conference squads and postseason awards on Thursday, May 5 ahead of the CCIW Tournament hosted at the Workman Family Softball Field. Big Blue's designated player Cassie Reed (Bethalto, Ill.), tallying a .363 batting average during the season with 33 hits and 18 RBI.