The Gustavus men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis teams have been selected to participate in the 2006 NCAA Division III Championships in their respective sports. The women’s tennis team will kick things off, hosting opening round play May 5-6, while the men’s tennis team will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin for opening round play May 6-7. The men’s golf team will compete May 8-11 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The women’s golf team will compete May 9-12 in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.
Men’s Golf
Gustavus, one of 23 teams to make the field, will be competing in their 22nd consecutive NCAA Championship, which is the third longest active streak behind fellow 2006 participants Skidmore (29) and Methodist (26). The 2006 NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships will be held May 8-11, at the Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska, and will be hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University. The Gusties are one of three teams from the Central Region to make the field, joining Saint John’s and host Nebraska Wesleyan.
Official NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Release
Women’s Tennis
Gustavus is one of 26 teams to make the Division III Women’s Tennis field and has been selected as one of eight regional sites for first- and second-round competition. The Gusties wrapped up their regular season last weekend by capturing their 15th consecutive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown and 21st overall.
The Gustavus regional will consist of teams from Gustavus, Wheaton (Ill.) and the University of Chicago. The tournament will begin Friday, May 5 with Wheaton (18-2) facing Chicago (15-8). The winner will play Gustavus (27-4) Saturday, May 6 for the regional championship. Specific match times have not been determined.
The regional champion will advance to the NCAA Team Championship which will be played May 17-19 at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Official NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Release
Women’s Golf
The Gusties are one of ten teams to make the 2006 Division III Women’s Golf field and join Wartburg College and individuals Maureen Hardwick of St. Thomas and Jennifer Stork of Buena Vista as representatives from the Central Region. The championships will be conducted May 9-12 at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Oglethorpe University and the Central Florida Sports Commission will serve as hosts.
Gustavus will be making its third appearance at the NCAA Championships in four years, while senior Kelli Groff will be competing for the third consecutive year. Groff competed with the team as a sophomore and was selected as an individual last year.
Official NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Release
Men’s Tennis
The Gustavus men’s tennis team, fresh off claiming its 18th consecutive MIAC title, was one of 27 teams selected for the 2006 NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championships. Currently the top-ranked team in the nation, the Gusties will travel for their first- and second-round matches. Gustavus has been assigned to the regional in Kenosha, Wisconsin hosted by Carthage College with Coe, Kenyon and the host Red Men.
Gustavus (31-4) will face No. 24 Coe College (27-5) Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. at the Smeds Tennis Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin. No. 19 Carthage will take on No. 16 Kenyon College (16-5) at 2 p.m. in the other first-round match. The two winners will face off on Sunday, May 7 in a second-round contest beginning at Noon. The Kenosha Athletic Center will serve as a backup, indoor site for the three matches.
On the other side of the Central Region bracket at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., No. 13 Kalamazoo College (16-8) will play No. 8 Washington University (Mo., 18-2) on Saturday, May 6, with No. 12 DePauw (19-6) taking on No. 21 Denison University (17-4) in the other first-round match.