Millikin University

Illinois-Millikin University sophomore guard Elyce Knudsen (Philo, Tolono Unity H.S.) was named to the 2021-22 D3hoops.com All-Region Women's Basketball Team on March 15. Knudsen was selected as the Player of the Year in Region 8 and named to the All-Region First Team. Last month, Knudsen was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Lori Kerans Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-Conference First Team Selection. Knudsen led the conference in scoring in 2021-22 averaging 19.9 points per game. She was fifth in the CCIW in field goal percentage shooting 47.3 percent on the season. Knudsen was fourth in conference in assists with 82 and fifth in steals with 59. Overall Knudsen averaged 20.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Knudsen is currently ranked second in NCAA Division III in field goals made with 248 and third in total points with 623. Knudsen averaged 28 points per game in the Big Blue's three games in the recent NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. Knudsen was named the CCIW Player of the Week three times this season. She was selected to 2021-22 Academic All-District Women's Basketball Team, selected by CoSIDA and is eligible for Academic All-American recognition that will be announced later this week. Millikin finished the season with a 23-7 record advancing to the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The Big Blue were Co-CCIW Regular Season Champions with a 14-2 record.

Millikin University senior Caleb Buehrle of Wildwood, Mo., was selected to the D3baseball.com National Team of the Week on March 9, 2022. In early March, Buehrle was named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) pitcher of the week in two consecutive weeks after pitching a 3-0 nine-inning shutout against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on March 4. This season, he's 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 35 strikeouts. The Millikin University baseball team is off to an impressive 13-4 start to the 2022 season, which at one point, included a 10-game winning streak.

Millikin University sophomore guard Elyce Knudsen (Philo, Tolono Unity H.S.) was named to the 2021-22 D3hoops.com All-American Women's Basketball First Team on March 19, 2022. Knudsen was also selected as the Player of the Year in Region 8 and named to the All-Region First Team. Knudsen was the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Lori Kerans Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-Conference First Team Selection. Knudsen led the conference in scoring in 2021-22 averaging 19.9 points per game. She was fifth in the CCIW in field goal percentage shooting 47.3 percent on the season. Knudsen was fourth in conference in assists with 82 and fifth in steals with 59. Overall Knudsen averaged 20.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Knudsen is currently ranked second in NCAA Division III in field goals made with 248 and third in total points with 623. Knudsen averaged 28 points per game in the Big Blue's three games in the recent NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. Knudsen was named the CCIW Player of the Week three times this season. She was selected to the 2021-22 Academic All-District Women's Basketball Team, selected by CoSIDA. Millikin finished the season with a 23-7 record advancing to the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The Big Blue were Co-CCIW Regular Season Champions with a 14-2 record.

Your Big Blue Athletes of the Week are Peter Sailsman and Lex Tennison! Sailsman won the long jump at Rose Hulman's outdoor season opener & placed 2nd in high jump. Tennison posted a .609 avg in FL, including a crucial eighth inning 2 RBI double in a 7-4 win v. Defiance

Millikin University senior Bradan Birt, of Epworth, Iowa, won the first NCAA Wrestling Championship in school history taking first place in the 165-pound weight class at the 2022 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 11-12. Junior Tommy Russell, of Brookfield, Ill., finished his run in the tournament in eighth place earning All-American honors. The Big Blue finished ninth in the team standings. Birt, a sports management major, won the Championship Match by major decision 14-2 over third-seeded Kyle Hatch of Wabash College. Birt finished the season 42-0 and ended his Big Blue career with a 70-match winning streak dating back to 2019. Birt has a career record of 159-13.

Sophomore guard Demarcus Bond (St. Louis, Mo., University H.S.) was Millikin's recipient of the CCIW RESPECT award. 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.

DECATUR, Illinois-Millikin University Head Women's Basketball Coach Olivia Lett and four Big Blue players were honored today with the announcement of the 2021-22 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference Women's Basketball Team. After leading Millikin (25-5) to a 14-2 CCIW record and a share of the regular season conference championship, Lett was named the CCIW's Beth Baker Coach of the Year. Millikin sophomore Elyce Knudsen (Philo, Tolono Unity H.S.) and senior Jordan Hildebrand (Mendon, Mendon Unity H.S.) were unanimous selections to the CCIW All-Conference First Team. Knudsen was named the Lori Kerans Most Outstanding Athlete Award Winner. Junior Bailey Coffman (Heyworth, Bloomington Central Catholic H.S.) was named All-Conference Second Team and senior Aubrey Staton (El Paso, El Paso Gridley H.S.) was named as Millikin's CCIW RESPECT Award winner. Knudsen led the conference in scoring in 2021-22 averaging 19.9 points per game. She was fifth in the CCIW in field goal percentage shooting 47.3 percent on the season. Knudsen was fourth in conference in assists with 82 and fifth in steals with 59. Knudsen has been named the CCIW Player of the Week three times this season. Hildebrand led the CCIW in field goal percentage shooting 56.4 percent on the season. She averaged 11.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Coffman averaged 13.1 points per game this season along with four rebounds. Coffman was sixth in the CCIW in scoring. Coffman was the CCIW Player of the Week in December. Staton received the RESPECT Award. 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.

DECATUR, Illinois-Millikin senior men's basketball player Calvin Fisher (Monticello, H.S.) was a unanimous selection to the 2021-22 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference First Team. Fisher averaged 16.3 points and 8.3 rebounds this season. He was seventh in the CCIW in scoring and fifth in rebounding. He recorded eight double doubles on the season. Fisher played a key role in Millikin's turn around season that saw the Big Blue go 14-11 overall and 9-7 in the CCIW. Millikin qualified for the CCIW Tournament for the first time in program history and will play at North Central College tonight in an opening round game.