Cougar Connection
November/December 2007
Brian Stamer Earns All-American Recognition
With the tip-off of NCAA Basketball right around the corner, the CCU Cougars just keep adding awards to the pre-season trophy case.
Once again, it is Brian Stamer earning the recognition, as the 6’7” senior forward has been selected as a Basketball Times Top-25 all-American and a Division II Bulletin honorable mention all-American.
Heading into his senior campaign, Stamer has already been voted by opposing coaches as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pre-season Player of the Year, and is coming off of a junior outing in which he averaged a double-double with 20.7 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game.
Hailing from nearby Highlands Ranch High School, Brian has established himself as one of the elite local basketball talents, and with the addition of a strong supporting cast, the upcoming season is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for CCU basketball.
Secrest, Lowe Earn All-RMAC Honors
CCU women’s soccer defender, Kim Secrest, and men’s soccer forward, Tim Lowe, have each been honored with RMAC post-season awards for their outstanding play this fall.
Secrest, a junior defender for Tammy Wishard’s much improved women’s soccer program, was selected by opposing coaches to the All-RMAC Second Team. 
One of the top athletes at CCU, Kim has started each and every game for the Cougars since her freshman debut. Secrest is a team and conference standout at the defender position and was recently named to the RMAC all-academic first team for her success on the field as well as her 3.95 GPA in psychology.
For the men’s soccer team, Tim Lowe earned an All-RMAC Honorable Mention nod. A starter and team leader at the forward position, Lowe has spent the last four seasons with the Cougars and is as skilled an athlete and ferocious a competitor as you’ll find in Division II.
Congratulations to Tim, Kim and the rest of the Cougars for their hard work during the 2007 fall season!
Women’s Basketball Puts on Strong Showing at Disney Classic
On November 2, the CCU women’s basketball teamed tipped off the 2007-08 season in Anaheim, California at the inaugural Disney Division II West Coast Tip-Off Classic.
The Cougars faced some tough competition on the season’s first roadie, as they battled UC-San Diego, Western Washington and Augustana College. The three CCU opponents combined for a 70-22 record last year, each one qualifying for an NCAA tournament berth, while UC-San Diego advanced to the national semi-finals.
Despite having their work cut out for them, the Cougars did more than hold their own against the nation’s elite.
In game one against UC-San Diego, the ladies put a scare in the regional powerhouse Tritons, leading by as many as nine points in the first half and then pulling to within seven late in the second before ultimately succumbing 58-69.
In game two, Western Washington needed key jumpers and some timely free throws to stave off a late Cougar rally.
Despite trailing by as many as ten throughout, the Cougars rattled off an 11-2 run with six minutes remaining to pull ahead by four points. WWU would eventually steal back the lead and escape with the 
72-63 decision, as CCU was forced to foul down the stretch.
Facing their third powerful opponent in as many days, the ladies once again displayed signs of brilliance, shooting nearly 50% from deep in the first half against Augustana College, and going into intermission with a 37-32 advantage.
The hot-hands eventually cooled down for CCU, as the ladies were only able to muster a 19% shooting touch in the second half, and Augustana pulled away with a 73-54 win.
Although falling to 0-3 on the young season, the ladies put on strong showings against some of the toughest competition they will face all year. CCU women’s basketball is definitely back on the map, and with a stockpile of talent on this seasons roster, the upcoming year is looking like one of the best in recent memory.
Mandy Walker Earns First-Team All-Academic
Mandy Walker of the CCU volleyball team has been named First-Team RMAC All-Academic for 2007-08.
The 6’1” Walker is the team leader in total blocks and blocks per game, averaging .51 per outing, while ranking third on the team with 74 kills on the year.
In the classroom Walker is equally impressive, earning a combined GPA of 3.95 in business, one of CCU’s most rigorous academic programs.
To be recognized on the RMAC All-Academic First-Team, student-athletes must hold a combined GPA of 3.2 or better and be a standout in athletic competition. First and second teams are voted on by the Sports Information Directors from each conference school which sponsors the respective sport.
While not qualifying for first or second team selection, a conference best seven other Cougars earned a spot on the 2007-08 RMAC Honor Roll.
The list includes, Trisha Witkop, Savannah Beaver, Lynda Hughes, Amanda Huskey, Elisa Imhof, Brittany James and Sasha Kissman. As a group, these seven averaged a stellar grade point average of 3.58.
Louellen Hurst named RMAC Nominee for 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year
Louellen Hurst, a 2007 CCU graduate, student body president, and four year member of the women’s basketball team, was recently named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
The program honors outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community service.
Each year, RMAC schools are asked to submit a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The conference then selects the top candidate to represent their respective university and the RMAC as one of nine national finalists.
The winner of the NCAA Woman of the Year for 2007 was announced during a dinner Saturday, October 27 in Indianapolis.
CCU would like to congratulate Louellen for her great accomplishments as a student-athlete and being selected to represent CCU as a conference nominee for this prestigious award.
