Another year is almost in the record books for APU Athletics; here are some of the most significant numbers from this year alone

 

FALL

Men’s Cross Country: 33:33.1

Finishing time posted by senior Jeremy Porter at the NCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country National Championships. Porter finished the race in 141st-place overall and became the first Cougar athlete to represent the men’s program in the Division II national level.

Senior Jeremy Porter.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Women’s Cross Country: 4-of-5

In four of the five races that APU’s women’s cross country team competed in, freshman Jenna Wilson was the first Cougars athlete to cross the finish line, helping the team to a fourth-place finish in the Biola Invitational, a third-place finish in the Coyote Challenge and a sixth-place finish in the PacWest Conference Championships.

Freshman Jenna Wilson (center) and junior Elise Larson (right).
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Football: 83

In September, the Cougars football team broke both the previous school scoring record (68) and GNAC Conference record (77) of points scored in a single game after defeating Simon Fraser, 83-7. APU scored all of their points within the first three quarters of play and accumulated 610 yards of total offense, while the defense was responsible for two touchdowns and two safeties.

Senior QB Andrew Elffers led the offensive charge in the Cougars’ 83-7 victory over Simon Fraser.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Men’s Soccer: 104

Total career wins of head coach Dave Blomquist, who surpassed the 100-career win milestone this year in his ninth season as APU’s head coach (with a career record of 104-52-12), becoming only the third men’s soccer coach to do so at Azusa Pacific.

Junior midfielder Aleksander Pumpalovic.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Women’s Soccer: 5-of-8

The APU women’s soccer team had a lot of close games this past year, especially in the first half of the season where five of their first eight games went into overtime. The Cougars would manage to finish their season on a strong note, however, winning six of their last eight games.

Senior forward Katelyn Rogers.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Volleyball: 16

APU’s volleyball team was dominant this past season as they went 22-7, with 16 of those 22 victories being complete 3-0 shutouts over their opponents. Their dominance on the court led to the team earning their first NCAA postseason debut in program history as the No. 5-seed in the West, and more impressively, doing it with zero seniors on the team.

From left to right: sophomore libero Bailey Henington (3), junior OH Natalie Klapp (6), freshman OPP Amy Hinnant (18) and sophomore MB Julianne Miller (17).
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

 

WINTER

Men’s Basketball: 1,028

Senior forward Petar Kutlesic concluded his career at APU with 1,028 rebounds. Back in January, Kutlesic broke the PacWest career rebounds record with 946 (previous record holder was Zach Robbins with 932). Since then, Kutlesic remained a consistent player for the Cougars as he continued to rack up points and rebounds. Kutlesic’s 1,028 career rebounds places him third all-time in APU’s program history, only behind Chuck Boswell (1,373) and Dennis Vanzant (1,104).

Senior forward Petar Kutlesic.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Women’s Basketball: 125

Back on February 10, the Cougars broke the school’s 41-year record for most points scored in a game after defeating Dominican, 125-78. The performance also broke a PacWest conference record for most points scored in a game, while tying for the sixth most points scored in an NCAA Division II women’s basketball game this year.

Sophomore forward Savanna Hanson.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Swim & Dive: 51.54

Junior swimmer Elodie Poo Cheong set the APU school record for the 100-freestyle earlier this year with a time of 51.54, which also helped earn her an NCAA “B” cut in the process. Poo Cheong held the previous school record in the 100-freestyle of 51.66.

Junior swimmer Elodie Poo Cheong.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Indoor Track & Field: 6

Six athletes for Azusa Pacific’s track and field team participated in the 2018 NCAA Indoor National Championships. These athletes included James Jones (shot put), Miles Poullard (high jump), Eileen Stressling (5,000 meter), Jacky Chasteler (weight throw), Nicole Warwick (long jump) and Olivia Nash (triple jump). The female power trio of Stressling, Chasteler and Warwick all earned NCAA All-American honors for their performances.

Senior thrower James Jones.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

 

SPRING

Acrobatics & Tumbling: 5-1

The Cougars acrobatics and tumbling team recorded their best regular season record in program history, going 5-1. The No. 2-seeded Cougars eventually fell in the NCATA Nationals semifinal round, going 6-2 on the season, but still recorded their best winning percentage in program history (.750). Another special accomplishment for the team included going 3-0 this year against rival school, Hawaii Pacific. The Cougars have advanced to the NCATA semifinals in three of their last four seasons.

The APU acrobatics and tumbling team competing against Converse.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Baseball: 521

On April 26, head coach Paul Svagdis became APU’s all-time winning head coach in program history after earning his 517th win in his 16th season as the leader for the Cougars. Svagdis increased that total to 521 at the end of the 2018 regular season, where the Cougars went 39-9 and won their second consecutive PacWest championship. From mid-February through mid-April, the Cougars were the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in Division II baseball. The Cougars plan to add to their success on Thursday morning as they take on California Baptist in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Regional at home.

Senior outfielder Pablo O’Connor.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Softball: 21

On March 28, the Cougars defeated Dixie State by a score of 21-19. The performance tied the program’s single game scoring record at 21. In addition to this, the combined 40 runs in that game alone is the highest scoring game on record in the PacWest Conference.

Junior infielder Cayla Broussard.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Men’s Tennis: .903

The men’s tennis team broke numerous school records this season, going 28-3 and earning a .903 winning percentage. It was the team’s highest win total since the 2004 season (31) and their highest winning percentage since the 2006 season (.929). This year, the No. 13-ranked Cougars won their first PacWest title and reached farther than any other APU athletics team in school history in an NCAA team championship event.

Graduate student tennis player Christian Schmid.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Women’s Tennis: 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6)

The winning singles score from senior Toby Miclat, who defeated Hawaii Pacific’s senior Lena Lutzeier, the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player in Division II, and giving Lutzeier her first loss of the season. Miclat’s 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) win over Lutzeier gave the Cougars their 5-4 victory over HPU, who were the No. 1-ranked team in the country in D-II women’s tennis at the time, becoming the first Azusa Pacific team to defeat the No. 1-ranked team in the country since entering the NCAA. Miclat also became only the third player to ever defeat Lutzeier in her collegiate career (now 49-3 in singles).

Senior tennis player Toby Miclat.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Outdoor Track & Field: 6.07 meters (19’-11”)

True freshman long jumper Nicole Warwick jumped 6.07 meters (19’-11”) at the Stanford Invitational, breaking an APU track and field record that was previously set six years ago by Megan Van Winkle.

Freshman long jumper Nicole Warwick.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.

Water Polo: 15-of-32

The Cougars have had a grueling schedule this season, with nearly half their opponents, 15-of-32 matches, being against nationally-ranked opponents. Although the Cougars have struggled against some of these opponents (going 3-12 against national competition), it shows how much the team has progressed since the program first started in 2009. In March, APU earned their first ever top-25 national ranking. Azusa Pacific went 16-16 this season, and were nearly unbeatable against unranked teams.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Marquez.
Courtesy of APU Sports Information.