Meramec Campus
STLCC - Meramec
11333 Big Bend Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-5720
Switchboard: 314-984-7500
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Athletics
Meramec offers intercollegiate competition in soccer, basketball, baseball and wrestling for men, and softball, soccer, volleyball and basketball for women. Men and women are also encouraged to participate on the cheerleading squad. Meramec is committed to providing quality opportunities in athletics that enhance the student's educational experience.
Meramec teams have won national championships in men's and women's soccer as well as baseball. In total, there have been 62 top 10 finishes at nationals. A total of 224 student-athletes have earned All-America honors, and 40 have earned Academic All-America recognition.
St. Louis Community College athletic teams compete as members of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Midwest Community College Athletic Conference. The Athletics department offers scholarship opportunities for men and women to participate in eight different intercollegiate sports. Students interested in eligibility requirements should contact the respective head coach or the athletics director.
News and Notes
Last Updated: August 19, 2008
The men's and women's soccer teams kick off their seasons this weekend.
Men's Soccer Outlook
Women's Soccer Outlook
Magic Team outlooks
Baseball
Softball
Women's Basketball
Volleyball
Men's Basketball
Wrestling
ATHLETIC PHYSICALS
All student-athletes must have an athletic physical and be cleared by the Meramec athletic trainer before they can try out for a team. If you missed the July physical date, it is your responsibility to secure a physical at your expense. The next physical date sponsored by Meramec will be Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Facility.
Student-athletes must have a final copy of their high school and any college transcripts on file with the admissions office. This includes any college courses that may have been taken while still in high school.
Tryouts
- Wrestling Wednesday August 27 4 p.m. PE201
- Baseball Mon-Wed August 25-27 Noon Field
| Archives of previous news releases |
Aug. 19, 2008
Meramec Men’s Soccer Strengthens Attack For Title Run
Despite just five returning players, the last thing on the minds of the Meramec men’s soccer team is rebuilding.
The goal is to win -- and win now -- as the season opens at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, with a home contest against Lincoln. Fueling that mind set is a ranking of 14th in the National Junior College Athletic Association preseason soccer poll, and a recent strong showing in a 0-0 tie in a scrimmage against the University of Missouri-St. Louis, which competes in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“We connected and controlled the ball better,” said sophomore forward Ian Porta (Marquette). “Our play in the middle was better. We just wanted it a little bit more and it was a great all-around team effort. I was impressed for the first scrimmage game.”
Also impressed was returning midfielder Scott Gyllenborg (Lindbergh). He thought the scoreless draw came as a shock to UMSL, whose older, more experienced players normally roll by Meramec in the preseason scrimmage.
"We played composed, we didn’t panic,” said Gyllenborg. “We had a tactical discussion before the game, and I think we followed that game plan very well which shows maturity from everyone. We shut down a Division II team.”
Featuring a mix of freshmen right out of the prep ranks and transfer players with a year of seasoning, this Meramec squad is seeking its first Region XVI title since 2000 when it finished seventh in the NJCAA Tournament. The team hopes to improve over last year’s 2-1 double overtime loss to Jefferson College in the regional title game.
"I think it’s given us a taste of how close we were to really going the distance,” said Gyllenborg. “Once you get that taste of almost being there, you just want to go further. Even the guys who didn’t play last year came in with a real attitude that every single player wants to go all the way this year.”
Among the highly-touted recruits are defenders Eric Schmidt (Oakville), a transfer from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and Marc Bowron, a native of Scotland. Also in the backfield are Drake University transfer Matt Schildz (DeSmet), Britton Gibbs (Eureka) and Taylor Landon (Marquette).
But it’s the offense that has fourth-year head coach Brian Smugala excited.
“We have more numbers in the attack now,” said Smugala. “We have a little more depth in our forward position. And one thing we have that we haven’t had in a while is significant size -- we have at least nine players over six-feet-two inches.”
On the attack will be Porta, who tallied six goals and seven assists last season, Post-Dispatch All-Metro forward Justin Billmeyer (Gibault), Steve McMahon (Lafayette), Almin Sabotic (Mehlville) and Eldin Kandcetovic (Mehlville).
Other returning sophomores are midfielders Matt Mantia (Webster Groves), Steve Carenza (Marquette) and Ryan Saunchegraw (Kennedy).
In goal will be freshmen Clayton Uptain (Cape Central) and Chris Eason (Lindbergh). They already are eyeing the team record of 13 shutouts set in the national championship season of 1972 and equaled in 2005.
“Meramec soccer always has been built on our defense, and that will continue to be strong,” Smugala said.
Aug. 11, 2008
Former STLCC-Meramec Softball Star Opens Olympic Play Tuesday
A former standout from St. Louis Community College-Meramec will be opening Olympic play Aug. 12 in softball competition, representing her home country of the Netherlands.
Daisy de Peinder was an All-American shortstop for Meramec in the 1999 season, leading the team to a 41-15 season record and a fourth-place trophy in the National Junior College Athletic Association Softball Tournament. Her former coach, Celeste Knierim, remembers her well.
"She was very professional, and a team leader," said former coach Celeste Knierim. "She was a very solid player, very vocal. Her work ethic was tremendous."
The Dutch and de Peinder open play Aug. 12 against the host China squad in the eight team, round-robin format. Play will continue through Aug. 21.
Meramec Magic Athletic News August, 2008
Women’s Soccer Seeks Return To NJCAA National Tourney
It’s been several years since the women’s soccer team has been to the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament. If the plethora of returning talent is any indication, the Magic could be competing for their third national crown during November.
Head coach Jeff Karl enters his 26th season and has amassed 310 wins, most by any NJCAA coach in the sport. Reasons for his optimism include returning All-American Meghan Thomas (Kennedy), who led the team in scoring last fall.
Also back following knee surgery is Michelle Spencer (Notre Dame), an explosive forward who was felled by her injury early in the season. Another strong returning attacker is Sarah Sanguinet (Lafayette), who had six goals and eight assists a year ago.
Sophomore midfielder Samantha Lang (Notre Dame) figures to be a scoring threat. In the nets, Michelle Smith (Mehlville) will add height and agility to already outstanding skills.
Lara Menke (Borgia), a much heralded player in 2007, also returns, as does Meghan O’Brien (Sullivan).
New players that will add to the strong returning cast include Casey Caldwell, a forward/midfielder coming from Lindbergh High School who possesses strong skills and above-average speed. She had six goals and six assists for the Flyers.
The Magic also added defender Rachel Aubuchon from Affton High, defender Stacy Adair from Hazelwood West, and versatile defender Chelsea Tetrault from Parkway North. Karl describes Tetrault as a "smart, heady player who knows the game." Tetrault can play anywhere in the backfield and has good speed.
Transferring from the University of Missouri-Columbia is Jessica Milligan (Pattonville), who can play forward or defender.
The Magic open their season at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at home against Parkland. They also will host the Fontbonne junior varsity team at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25.
Additional players still are welcome to try out and practice with the team weekdays, starting Tuesday (Aug. 5) from 3-6 p.m. The Magic also practice on Saturday mornings starting at 9:30 a.m. Prospective players must have a completed physical form and insurance information on file first with trainer Darren Jones before participating in any tryout or practice.
Incoming Talent To Bolster Men’s Soccer As Season Opens
Coming off a stellar 17-4-1 mark in 2007, the men’s soccer squad will be bolstered by much new talent signed by fourth year head coach Brian Smugala, who sports a career mark of 46-11-4. The Magic are hunting for their first Region XVI title since 2000.
The 2008 campaign will begin with a series of scrimmages, starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Meramec against a St. Louis Police squad. Following that, they will scrimmage against the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at UMSL, as well as at home against Webster University at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Meramec will open the regular season at home against Lincoln College at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. The Magic then will host Southwestern Illinois College at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, before competing in the Missouri Junior College Invitational Tourney in Cottleville. The kickers will play a grueling three games in four days.
The returning core of players includes midfielders Scott Gyllenborg (Lindbergh), Matt Mantia (Webster Groves) and speedy forward Ian Porta (Marquette.)
Among the new signees are a pair of stellar goalies -- Clayton Uptain (Cape Girardeau Central) and Chris Eason (Lindbergh). Uptain had eight shutouts as a high school senior while Eason notched six shutouts and a 1.30 goals against average.
Smugula hopes scoring punch will come from Post-Dispatch All-Metro honoree Justin Billmeyer (Gibault, Ill.) who had 19 goals and 4 assists; forward Steve McMahon (Lafayette), who knocked in 13 goals with 5 assists; Britton Gibbs (Eureka), who had 10 goals and 4 assists; and Taylor Landon (Marquette), who had 8 goals and 3 assists.
Other signees include Austin Killian (Lindbergh), Tony Pancer, who scored nine goals for Vianney, and Brett Bozesky (CBC).
Smugula signed three transfer students, including defender Eric Schmidt from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville who red-shirted last season. Schmidt was a three-year starter at Oakville High School who earned first team All-Suburban South Conference honors and was named Defender of the Year. Joining Schmidt is Matt Schildz, a DeSmet product by way of Drake University. Schildz, a playmaking midfielder, led DeSmet to a 19-6 mark in 2006 while recording six assists. Scotland native Marc Bowron also joins the Magic following a year at Belhaven University in Mississippi.
New Coach To Guide Volleyball Magic As 2008 Season Opens
The volleyball Magic will enter the season with new coach Janell Franken and high hopes for success. The team opens play Saturday, Aug. 23, in the John Wood Tournament in Quincy, Ill. The Magic won the championship in 2005 and 2006.
The Magic home opener is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, against Lewis and Clark.
Nikki Torno (Oakville), an NJCAA Academic All-American, will lead the short list of returners. Sarah Greenlee (Herculaneum) returns at the setter position. She led the team in assists with 1,105, an average of nine per game, to rank among the nation’s leaders.
The Magic also will feature a pair of Windsor High graduates in 5-'7 middle hitter Meghan O’Sullivan and setter Alicia Eubanks. Eubanks led the Owls last fall with 11.7 points and a 93.4 percent serving efficiency.
Another middle hitter, Allysha Storz, arrives from Herculaneum. The 5-11 Storz led the Black Cats with 33 aces. Other new players include 5-11 outside hitter Anna Jorgenson (Lindbergh), defensive specialist Ashleigh Stear (Francis Howell), Kristen Nunn (St. Clair) and Elizabeth Harris (Farmington).
Myers Earns All-Star Berth For Quincy Squad
Baseball shortstop Jon Myers (Fort Zumwalt South) was selected to the Central Illinois Collegiate League All-Star team this summer. Myers played for the Quincy squad in the league. The game pitted the Central Illinois All-Stars versus a team of all-stars from a similar wooden bat league in Kentucky.
Myers’ team earned a 7-6 victory over the Kentucky team in the contest played in Huntingburg, Ind. Following two outstanding seasons with STLCC-Meramec, Myers, an NJCAA All-American, earned a baseball scholarship to Saint Louis University.