Lady Lancers Stull, Drake Honored On All-Crossroads League Team
March 7, 2020 at 5:14 a.m.
WINONA LAKE - Two members of Grace College’s women’s basketball team landed on the postseason All-Crossroads League Team.
Vironnica Drake was named to the five-player First Team All-League, and Kyannah Stull was a Third Team honoree.
Drake became Grace’s all-time leading scorer this season. She currently has 1,958 career points is on the brink of becoming the first player to score 2,000 points.
Drake is currently producing career-best averages for points (19.6), rebounds (6.9) and assists (2.6) per game. Within the conference, she ranks second in scoring, third in steals and eighth in rebounds.
Another highlight of Drake’s season was breaking the single-game scoring record. The senior poured in a record 46 points during a win over Bethel.
Stull is just behind Drake in scoring at 18.3 points per game, third-highest in the league. She doubled her scoring average after producing under 10 points per game last year.
The junior sharpshooter has made 101 shots from the 3-point line — a school record — while making 37 percent of her tries.
Stull has scored at least 20 points 14 times this season, and she topped 1,000 points in her career in February.
The Lady Lancers are focused on the 2020 NCCAA National Championships. Grace will play a regional tournament in Cedarville, starting on Wednesday with a game against Concordia.
Grace has already secured a spot in the national tournament, held March 18-21 in Winona Lake. To learn more about the NCCAA tournament at Grace, visit www.gclancers.com/nccaa.
Lancers beat Bethel in league opener
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Crossroads League opened up in Florida for Grace’s baseball team on Friday.
The Lancers dispatched rival Bethel 6-4 to start the three-game series. Saturday will feature a doubleheader between the teams to decide the winner of the first league series in 2020.
Grace trusted three freshmen to pitch the nine-inning game, and the rookies did not disappoint. Tanner Clark pitched the first five innings and had seven strikeouts.
Nick Stoltzfus and Hunter Schumacher finished the game from the mound, combining to allow just one run over the final four innings. Stoltzfus got the win after tossing three innings, and Schumacher earned the save after yielding one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.
Grace’s bats were largely muted for the first half of Friday’s game. The Lancers could not push a run across in the first four innings and fell behind 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Grace manufactured three runs on three hits. David Anderson singled to start the inning and reached third with two outs. Anderson alertly stole home after a passed ball.
On the next at-bat, Chris Griffin drove a double to center field, scoring two runs to tie the game at 3-3.
The Pilots scored on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth to regain the lead, but Stoltzfus escaped the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout from the mound.
In the eighth, Grace dealt the definitive blow to the Pilots. The Lancers loaded the bases with two walks and a double from Anderson. Patrick Danforth then produced the go-ahead hit, singling with two outs to score Grant Buschman and Anderson.
Houston Haney scampered home from third after a passed ball to give Grace a two-run cushion at 6-4.
Schumacher took care of the rest, blanking the Pilots in the top of the ninth to secure Grace’s win.
Anderson hit 2 for 4 with two runs, and Haney went 2 for 3 with a run and a walk.
Xavier Harris batted 1 for 2 with a stolen base, and Danforth was 1 for 2 with two RBIs.
Two records fall for Grace Track
BROOKINGS, S.D. - Grace’s track and field team had a memorable opening day at the 2020 NAIA Indoor National Championships.
The Lancers set two school records at the national meet on Thursday and had three relays compete.
The men’s 4x800-meter relay impressed during the preliminary race, posting a school-record time of 7:47.34. The foursome of Isaac Beatty, Luke Smith, Brady Willard and Kyle Smith secured a spot in Friday’s national finals — the first Grace relay ever to run in an NAIA indoor final.
“The guys ran a fantastic race, and we are excited for them to make history on Friday,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “We are extremely proud of the confidence and determination they showed.”
The women’s 4x400 also set a school record in the prelims. Suzanne Sickafoose, Ashley Stoltzfus, Nordia Campbell and Lyne Camara crossed the finish line in 3:50.78 to qualify for Saturday’s championship race.
“This was another impressive race by this group. Each lady ran her season-best relay leg, and now they get to compete in the national finals,” Raymond added.
The men’s distance relay placed 12th in the preliminary race. Logan Rufenacht, Dylan Felger, Willard and Korry Hamlin recorded a time of 10:30.23.
Grace will have 10 entries on Friday, including the 4x800 men’s final.
“This was obviously a great first day at the national championships, probably one of the best days in program history,” Raymond concluded. “We have much more ahead tomorrow, and we want to keep this momentum going.”
Grace dispatches Georgetown
GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Grace’s men’s tennis team improved to 2-1 during its Kentucky trip after a 4-2 win over Georgetown on Thursday.
The Lancers (16-5) rallied from an early deficit after dropping the doubles’ point.
Max Rozas and Fabricio Galvan were victorious at No. 2 doubles (6-4), but the Tigers won the other two courts to take the doubles’ point.
Grace made up the deficit with a gritty performance in singles. Mauricio Corty cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles, Galvan won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3, and Francisco Margaria earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 6.
Ramiro Candia secured the win at No. 4 singles. After losing the first set, Candia rallied with a 6-3, 10-7 scoreline over the next two sets.
The Lancers will play on Friday and Saturday, their fourth and fifth straight matches in a five-day span. Grace will aim for an upset at No. 14 Union on Friday and No. 13 Cumberlands on Saturday.
Brown earns national runner-up in high jump
BROOKINGS, S.D. - Two events garnered All-American status for Grace’s track and field team on Friday at the 2020 NAIA Indoor National Championships.
Isaac Brown was the headliner for the Lancers, placing second in the nation in the high jump. He broke a school record by clearing 6-feet-10.5.
Brown’s honor was the first individual indoor All-American nod for Grace since Daniel Njenga (mile) in 2001.
“Just two weeks ago, Isaac probably had the worst meet of his career. To come back on the national stage and have this success is impressive,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “Isaac fought through a few misses early in the competition, and he showed a lot of character to make the next two heights on his first attempt. Everything then came together for his record jump.
Brown was not the only Lancer All-American on Friday. The men’s 4x800-meter relay squad placed eighth to reach All-American status. Isaac Beatty, Luke Smith, Brady Willard and Kyle Smith ran 7:54.15 — the first relay All-Americans in program history.
“The guys ran a gutsy race in the finals despite it being the third race in 24 hours for a couple of these runners. They got a taste of success, and I’m sure they’re looking forward to the outdoor season,” Raymond added.
Grace had several other individual races during the day.
Lyne Camara set a school record of 57.88 in the 400 to place 14th, and Suzanne Sickafoose finished in 58.97 for 24th place.
Dylan Felger ran 48.62 in the 400 to place 10th, two spots away from the finals.
Kyle Smith finished 14th in the 800 prelims in 1:57.47, and John Green ran 22.11 in the 200, good for 20th place.
Nordia Campbell ran the 200 for the women in 25.56 and finished 24th overall. Heather Plastow ended in 15th place in the mile at 5:10.00.
Grace qualified for two finals on Saturday. Isaac Beatty will run in the finals of the 1,000, and the women’s 4x400 relay will also compete.
WINONA LAKE - Two members of Grace College’s women’s basketball team landed on the postseason All-Crossroads League Team.
Vironnica Drake was named to the five-player First Team All-League, and Kyannah Stull was a Third Team honoree.
Drake became Grace’s all-time leading scorer this season. She currently has 1,958 career points is on the brink of becoming the first player to score 2,000 points.
Drake is currently producing career-best averages for points (19.6), rebounds (6.9) and assists (2.6) per game. Within the conference, she ranks second in scoring, third in steals and eighth in rebounds.
Another highlight of Drake’s season was breaking the single-game scoring record. The senior poured in a record 46 points during a win over Bethel.
Stull is just behind Drake in scoring at 18.3 points per game, third-highest in the league. She doubled her scoring average after producing under 10 points per game last year.
The junior sharpshooter has made 101 shots from the 3-point line — a school record — while making 37 percent of her tries.
Stull has scored at least 20 points 14 times this season, and she topped 1,000 points in her career in February.
The Lady Lancers are focused on the 2020 NCCAA National Championships. Grace will play a regional tournament in Cedarville, starting on Wednesday with a game against Concordia.
Grace has already secured a spot in the national tournament, held March 18-21 in Winona Lake. To learn more about the NCCAA tournament at Grace, visit www.gclancers.com/nccaa.
Lancers beat Bethel in league opener
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Crossroads League opened up in Florida for Grace’s baseball team on Friday.
The Lancers dispatched rival Bethel 6-4 to start the three-game series. Saturday will feature a doubleheader between the teams to decide the winner of the first league series in 2020.
Grace trusted three freshmen to pitch the nine-inning game, and the rookies did not disappoint. Tanner Clark pitched the first five innings and had seven strikeouts.
Nick Stoltzfus and Hunter Schumacher finished the game from the mound, combining to allow just one run over the final four innings. Stoltzfus got the win after tossing three innings, and Schumacher earned the save after yielding one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.
Grace’s bats were largely muted for the first half of Friday’s game. The Lancers could not push a run across in the first four innings and fell behind 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Grace manufactured three runs on three hits. David Anderson singled to start the inning and reached third with two outs. Anderson alertly stole home after a passed ball.
On the next at-bat, Chris Griffin drove a double to center field, scoring two runs to tie the game at 3-3.
The Pilots scored on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth to regain the lead, but Stoltzfus escaped the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout from the mound.
In the eighth, Grace dealt the definitive blow to the Pilots. The Lancers loaded the bases with two walks and a double from Anderson. Patrick Danforth then produced the go-ahead hit, singling with two outs to score Grant Buschman and Anderson.
Houston Haney scampered home from third after a passed ball to give Grace a two-run cushion at 6-4.
Schumacher took care of the rest, blanking the Pilots in the top of the ninth to secure Grace’s win.
Anderson hit 2 for 4 with two runs, and Haney went 2 for 3 with a run and a walk.
Xavier Harris batted 1 for 2 with a stolen base, and Danforth was 1 for 2 with two RBIs.
Two records fall for Grace Track
BROOKINGS, S.D. - Grace’s track and field team had a memorable opening day at the 2020 NAIA Indoor National Championships.
The Lancers set two school records at the national meet on Thursday and had three relays compete.
The men’s 4x800-meter relay impressed during the preliminary race, posting a school-record time of 7:47.34. The foursome of Isaac Beatty, Luke Smith, Brady Willard and Kyle Smith secured a spot in Friday’s national finals — the first Grace relay ever to run in an NAIA indoor final.
“The guys ran a fantastic race, and we are excited for them to make history on Friday,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “We are extremely proud of the confidence and determination they showed.”
The women’s 4x400 also set a school record in the prelims. Suzanne Sickafoose, Ashley Stoltzfus, Nordia Campbell and Lyne Camara crossed the finish line in 3:50.78 to qualify for Saturday’s championship race.
“This was another impressive race by this group. Each lady ran her season-best relay leg, and now they get to compete in the national finals,” Raymond added.
The men’s distance relay placed 12th in the preliminary race. Logan Rufenacht, Dylan Felger, Willard and Korry Hamlin recorded a time of 10:30.23.
Grace will have 10 entries on Friday, including the 4x800 men’s final.
“This was obviously a great first day at the national championships, probably one of the best days in program history,” Raymond concluded. “We have much more ahead tomorrow, and we want to keep this momentum going.”
Grace dispatches Georgetown
GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Grace’s men’s tennis team improved to 2-1 during its Kentucky trip after a 4-2 win over Georgetown on Thursday.
The Lancers (16-5) rallied from an early deficit after dropping the doubles’ point.
Max Rozas and Fabricio Galvan were victorious at No. 2 doubles (6-4), but the Tigers won the other two courts to take the doubles’ point.
Grace made up the deficit with a gritty performance in singles. Mauricio Corty cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles, Galvan won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3, and Francisco Margaria earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 6.
Ramiro Candia secured the win at No. 4 singles. After losing the first set, Candia rallied with a 6-3, 10-7 scoreline over the next two sets.
The Lancers will play on Friday and Saturday, their fourth and fifth straight matches in a five-day span. Grace will aim for an upset at No. 14 Union on Friday and No. 13 Cumberlands on Saturday.
Brown earns national runner-up in high jump
BROOKINGS, S.D. - Two events garnered All-American status for Grace’s track and field team on Friday at the 2020 NAIA Indoor National Championships.
Isaac Brown was the headliner for the Lancers, placing second in the nation in the high jump. He broke a school record by clearing 6-feet-10.5.
Brown’s honor was the first individual indoor All-American nod for Grace since Daniel Njenga (mile) in 2001.
“Just two weeks ago, Isaac probably had the worst meet of his career. To come back on the national stage and have this success is impressive,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “Isaac fought through a few misses early in the competition, and he showed a lot of character to make the next two heights on his first attempt. Everything then came together for his record jump.
Brown was not the only Lancer All-American on Friday. The men’s 4x800-meter relay squad placed eighth to reach All-American status. Isaac Beatty, Luke Smith, Brady Willard and Kyle Smith ran 7:54.15 — the first relay All-Americans in program history.
“The guys ran a gutsy race in the finals despite it being the third race in 24 hours for a couple of these runners. They got a taste of success, and I’m sure they’re looking forward to the outdoor season,” Raymond added.
Grace had several other individual races during the day.
Lyne Camara set a school record of 57.88 in the 400 to place 14th, and Suzanne Sickafoose finished in 58.97 for 24th place.
Dylan Felger ran 48.62 in the 400 to place 10th, two spots away from the finals.
Kyle Smith finished 14th in the 800 prelims in 1:57.47, and John Green ran 22.11 in the 200, good for 20th place.
Nordia Campbell ran the 200 for the women in 25.56 and finished 24th overall. Heather Plastow ended in 15th place in the mile at 5:10.00.
Grace qualified for two finals on Saturday. Isaac Beatty will run in the finals of the 1,000, and the women’s 4x400 relay will also compete.