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Roxanne Stauffer Signs to Play Basketball at Tabor College

May 09, 2008

Categories: Women's Basketball News, Women's Basketball Signees, General News, Athletics News

Hesston College Sophomore Roxanne Stauffer has signed a letter of intent to play basketball next season for the Lady Jays

Stauffer, a 5-foot 9-inch guard, led Hesston (Kan.) College in scoring last season at 12.5 points per game. She was named to the NJCAA 2nd Team All-Region VI Team, and set the Hesston College single season free throw record shooting 84 percent from the line (76-91)

According to Head Women’s Basketball Coach Shawn Winter, “Roxanne has two seasons of college experience which has prepared her to help our team for the next two seasons. She is athletic, well skilled, and understands how to play the game. She will also bring strong leadership to our team and the campus as well.”

Roxanne is the daughter of Barry and Brenda Stauffer.

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Quinton Smith Signs to Play Baseball at Tabor

May 09, 2008

Categories: Baseball News, General News, Athletics News

Mulvane (Kan.) High School senior Quinton Smith has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Tabor College next season.

Quinton, a 5’10 third baseman and pitcher, was named to the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail All-League Team in 2007, while helping his team reach the regional finals.

According to Head Baseball Coach Chad Newhard, “Quinton is a tremendous fit for our baseball program. He has excelled in the classroom and is a man of high character. His versatility as a baseball player will also allow him to possibly be used in several roles. I look forward to working with Quinton when he gets on campus this fall.”

Quinton is the son of Troy and Karen Smith.

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College to Inaugurate New President Friday, Begins Centennial Celebration

May 08, 2008

Categories: General News

Tabor College, founded in 1908, will kick-off its centennial celebration this weekend with several events, beginning with the official inauguration of its 13th president, Dr. Jules Glanzer, at 7 p.m. Friday at the college.

The keynote speaker at the Inauguration will be Glanzer’s mentor and friend Leonard Sweet, a Christian historian, futurist and author. The public is invited. Admission is free.

A 1974 graduate of Tabor College, Glanzer, 55, began as president in January. He succeeds Larry Nikkel, who served from 1998-2007 before retiring Dec. 31.

If a man is known by the company he keeps, Glanzer’s personal friendship with Leonard Sweet puts the new Tabor College president near the cutting edge of postmodernist Christian thinking in America.

Sweet is an author, preacher, scholar, and ordained United Methodist clergy person currently serving as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School, in Madison, N.J., and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University in Portland, Ore. In 2007, he was voted “One of the 50 Most Influential Christian Leaders in America” (#8). In 2006, he received the same honor (#32).

Glanzer says his inauguration provides an ideal opportunity for his mentor and colleague to speak—just as the college begins its centennial celebration.

“I think it is important for Tabor to honor and understand our past while passionately responding and aggressively preparing for our future,” Glanzer said. “Len will help us understand ‘What year it is at Tabor’ and engage us in a conversation about Tabor’s response and relationship to the future.”

Glanzer himself is a Blackberry-using, flash drive-carrying, I-Pod listening, personal blog-writing devotee of the Digital Age. And yet, Glanzer still loves the sweet old gospel songs sung by Bill Gaither’s Homecoming singers. He has about 100 Gaither songs downloaded to his I-Pod.

The significance of Tabor inaugurating a tech-savvy yet traditional-minded president on the same weekend as Tabor begins its historic centennial celebration is not lost on Tabor Board Chairman Lyndon Vix.

“Jules combines an understanding and appreciation of what has made Tabor great for the past 100 years with a vision for how it can be great in the next 100,” Vix said. “Everyone who has spoken to me after meeting Jules or hearing him speak has been very enthusiastic about what he brings to Tabor.”

Glanzer was born in 1952 in Mitchell, S.D. and grew up on a traditional Mennonite farm. He married Peggy Todd in 1972 while he was a student at Tabor College. After graduating in 1974 with a bachelor’s in business administration, Glanzer earned a master’s of divinity in 1978 from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif., and a doctorate of ministry in 2000 from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif.

He was ordained by Salem Mennonite Brethren Church, Bridgewater, S.D. and later transferred to the Evangelical Covenant Church. His vocational ministry roles included youth director, associate pastor, pastor and church planter for the MB in Houston, Texas, and the Evangelical Covenant. He was founding pastor of Faith Community Church, a creative seeker-driven missional church, from 1987-2001.

In 2001 he became Dean of the Seminary at George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Ore., where he led a 60 percent increase in enrollment, achieved financial stability, reshaped the Board of Regents, increased the endowment and scholarship funds, was instrumental in leading the seminary in hybrid programming and fostered a high degree of faculty morale.

At the same time, as Associate Pastor of Pastoral Leadership at the seminary, Glanzer taught courses such as The Practice of Spiritual Leadership and Spirituality and Money and served as faculty mentor and dissertation advisor.

To understand Glanzer’s personal philosophy, one needs to go no further than his Personal Vision & Mission Statement, which states: To honor and trust God with my life by being a person of influence, inspiring and impacting with integrity and relevance the lives of those who will influence others.

He desires to embody this credo as president of the college.

Long before Jules and Peg Glanzer became the First Family of Tabor College, the College came first for the Glanzer family. No less than 14 Glanzers related by blood or marriage have attended or are currently attending Tabor – enough to convene a sizable alumni chapter meeting whenever they sit down for dinner.

“When we gather around the table, everybody but me and the grandkids are Tabor alums,” said Peg, who unquestionably qualifies as an honorary alumna, considering her husband and all of their children and their children’s spouses are all Bluejays.

In addition to the Presidential Inauguration, Tabor College will host a Centennial History Dinner, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, in the chapel auditorium.

The highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of the new book, “A Century of Transformation, 1908-2008, a History of Tabor College” created by the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, will make its public debut at the banquet.

The book’s authors, Peggy Goertzen, Dr. Richard Kyle, Dr. Lynn Jost, and David Peters, will share highlights from the book. Dr. Doug Miller, editor, and Dr. Don Isaac, chair of the book steering committee, also will speak.

A community-wide reception for Dr. Jules and Peg Glanzer will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The public is invited to greet the new president and his wife, Peg, at this come-and-go event.

Capping off the weekend will be the Tabor College Spring Oratorio Concert, at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Hillsboro MB Church.

The featured work is Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, a work for orchestra, piano solo, and chorus, featuring Dr. Sheila Schmitt, associate professor of piano and piano pedagogy, as piano soloist. Also on the concert are three choruses from Haydn’s famous oratorio, The Creation, and the “Laudate Dominum” from Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, which features soprano soloist Dr. Holly Swartzendruber, assistant professor of vocal music.

The chorus work will be handled by the combined Tabor College Concert Choir and the Tabor College Community Chorale, accompanied by orchestra. The concert is free to the public.

“Combining the spring oratorio with the inauguration weekend as well as the combining of the Concert Choir and Community Chorale heightens the usual energy of this concert,” said oratorio director Brad Vogel, associate professor of choral music. “With the beautiful quality of the compositions performed, this will be a high and fitting end to the inaugural activities.”

A wide variety of other events are planned during the 18-month centennial celebration at the college.

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Nichole Gentry to Play Basketball at Tabor College

May 08, 2008

Categories: Women's Basketball News, Women's Basketball Signees, Athletics News

Ottawa (Kan.) High School senior Nichole Gentry has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Tabor College next season.

The 5-foot, 9-inch guard/forward’s decision to become a Lady Jay is good news for Head Coach Shawn Winter.

“We are thrilled that Nichole has chosen Tabor to continue her basketball career and education,” Winter said. “Nichole loves the game and is committed to reaching her potential as a player. She will fit into our style of play on the court and will be a great addition to the Tabor community as well.”

Nichole is the daughter of Andrea and Bruce Gentry, and Nancy Becker.

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Tabor Women Shatter KCAC Record in Relay

May 08, 2008

Categories: Men's Track News, Women's Track News, Athletics News

(The Hillsboro Free Press)

The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference outdoor track and field championship meet record in the women’s 4×800 relay wasn’t broken at Friends University Friday.

It was demolished.

The dynamite foursome of Liz Kleinsasser, Amber Wiens, Shelby Miller and Heidi Schmidt blew the old record away, stopping the clock at 9:26.79—26 full seconds earlier than the previous meet record of 9:53.

They also shattered their own school record, set at 9:43.03 in perfect conditions on their home track April 16. Friday’s time is the eighth fastest run anywhere in the NAIA so far this season.

“It was just an incredible effort by all four women,” coach Dave Kroeker said. “Joel Soo Hoo coaches these women and deserves credit for their outstanding performance as well.”

The women’s 4×400 group of Kelli Kopper, Kleinsasser, Andrea Batista and Miller qualified for national competition with a second-place time of 3:59.40 at the end of the second day of competition.

Three on the men’s side won conference championships. Jeff Harms won the high jump (6-4) on Friday.

Silas Hibbs added 10 inches to his best pole vault, upping the school record to 14-10 and won the event by 16 inches Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Andrew Schroter won the men’s 400 hurdles with a time of 55.48 and missed the NAIA “B” standard by just two-tenths of a second.

Tabor had 14 top-3 “all-conference” performances and 27 “honorable mention” performances.

Tabor’s all-conference women are: Jessica Burden, 100 hurdles and pole vault; Tasia Johnson, long jump; Kleinsasser, 800 meter run; Miller, 400 meter dash, pole vault and long jump; Breanna Wray, hammer throw; and the 4×100 relay of Jennifer Schmidt, Tamara Steward, Batista, and Kopper.

Men’s all-KCAC performances were recorded by: Andrew Covin, 400; Justin Ball—3rd, 800m; Matt Dean—3rd, triple Zac Remboldt, Caleb Schroeder, Adam McPeck, and Ball; and the 4×400 team of Covin, Brent Nelson, Schroter, and Justin Ball.

The women’s team’s all-KCAC honorable mention performances were turned in by: Burden, 400 hurdles; Dana Champlin, javelin and high jump; Abby Claassen, discus; Amy Dueck, triple jump; Kopper, 400m; Amanda Krier, discus; Jennifer Schmidt, 100; Steward, 200 and 400; Jera Teselle, 10,000; Erin Vance, 400 hurdles and 100 hurdles; Estey Wichert, hammer; and Wiens, 1500; and Wray, shot put.

The men’s team’s honorable mentions are: Covin, 200; Matt Dean, long jump; Adam Dirks, hammer; Tim Funk, high jump; Tony Loewen, 110 hurdles. Nathaniel Porter, 400 hurdles; Mike Rousell, triple jump; Dan Sigley, 3000 steeplechase and 5000; Matt Vaughn, hammer and shot; and the men’s 4×100 relay of Johnathan Miller, Covin, Hibbs, and Schroter.

Coming—Tabor’s National qualifiers currently include the women’s 4×400 and 4×800 relays, Tasia Johnson in the 100, Dana Champlin in the javelin, and Adam Dirks in the javelin.

Several more Tabor athletes will have one more opportunity to qualify for nationals at “last chance” meets at Bethany on Thursday evening and Emporia State on Saturday.

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Grant Vogt Signs to Play Basketball at Tabor College

May 08, 2008

Categories: Men's Basketball News, Athletics News, Men's Basketball Signees

Flint Hills High School Senior (Rosalia, Kan.) Grant Vogt has signed a letter of intent to play basketball next season for the Bluejays.

The 6-foot 5-inch guard-forward will help add depth to multiple positions according to Tabor Head Basketball Coach Micah Ratzlaff

“Grant is a player that was a no-brainier for me,” Ratzlaff said. “He is great in the classroom, and he has extremely high character. Grant has a huge upside on the basketball court, and his ability to shoot the basketball at 6’5 will be a nice addition to our program.”

Besides being named All-State Honorable Mention and All-Lyon County League 2nd team in basketball, Grant also is a member of the National Honor Society, Principal’s Honor Roll, and was a Kansas University Honor Scholar.

Grant is the son of Brian and Denise Vogt.

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Samantha VanRanken to Play Volleyball, Throw Javelin at Tabor College

May 08, 2008

Categories: Volleyball News, Volleyball Signees, Women's Track News, Women's Track Signees, General News, Athletics News

South Barber High School (Hazelton, Kan.) senior Samantha VanRanken has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball and throw the javelin at Tabor College next school year.

In volleyball, the 6-foot outside hitter helped lead South Barber to a stellar 36-1 record, the Heart of the Plains League championship, and to the second round of the state tournament. She was a 3-year Heart of the Plains All-League selection and MVP of the Belle Plain Tournament.

In the javelin, VanRanken finished 2nd at the 1-A State Track Meet last season, and helped her team win the 1-A Regional Championship.

Head Volleyball Coach Amy Ratzlaff and Head Track Coach Dave Kroeker are delighted that VanRanken has chosen to attend Tabor College.

According to Ratzlaff, “Samantha is coming to Tabor as a very strong athletic player, from a strong successful program. She is highly motivated to work hard, and to be a part of this program and community.”

Kroker added, “Samantha will do well for us in the javelin and hammer throws over the next four years. She is also an excellent student who will be a very positive addition to our campus as well as our track team.”

In addition to her athleticism, VanRanken is an academic scholar. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and received bronze, silver, and gold academic pins.

Samantha is the daughter of Roger and Tonia VanRanken.

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Brandon Langston Signs Letter of Intent to Play Football at Tabor College

May 07, 2008

Categories: Football News, Football Signees, General News, Athletics News

Jefferson West High School senior Brandon Langston (Oskaloosa, Kan.) has signed a letter of intent to play football this fall for Tabor College

Brandon, a 5-8, 167-pound fullback, will add depth to the position for Coach Gottsch.

According to Head Football Coach Mike Gottsch “Brandon is a quality in-state signee, and we are anxious to see him compete this fall.”

Brandon is the son of Scott and Carol Langston, and will be joining his cousin, Tyler Hlad, on the football field for Tabor this fall

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Derek McBride Signs Letter of Intent to Play Football at Tabor College

May 07, 2008

Categories: Football News, Football Signees, General News, Athletics News

Westminster High School senior Derek McBride (Westminster, Colo.) has signed a letter of intent to play football this fall for Tabor College

While at Westminster Derek was a 2nd Team All-Conference wide receiver, as well as a 2nd Team Metro North All-Region defensive back.

Derek also will play baseball at Tabor.

According to Head Football Coach Mike Gottsch, “Derek’s ability to play both sides of the ball and also help in the return game will be a huge asset to our football team. We are eager to get him in TC Blue.”

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Robert Ellis Signs Letter of Intent to Play Football at Tabor College

May 07, 2008

Categories: Football News, Football Signees, Athletics News

South Dade High School senior Robert Ellis (Homestead, Fla.) has signed a letter of intent to play football this fall for Tabor College

Ellis, a 6’4, 240-pound tight end, was named co-captain at South Dade High and led his team to the 2nd round of the state playoffs with a 7-4 record in 2003.

According to Head Football Coach Mike Gottsch, “Robert (aka ‘Big Country’) will fill a big need. We believe in and utilize the tight end position a great deal in our offense.

“Big Country will play a big role in our offense, and we are pleased to recognize him as a new member of the TC Football Team.”