Eastern Michigan Athletics
Four Eagles Receive NSCA All-American Athlete Award
6/14/2016 2:50:00 PM | Baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Swimming & Diving, Sports Performance
Three Eagles also receive CSCCa Hammer Strength awards
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (EMUEagles.com) -- The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) announced that four Eastern Michigan University student-athletes earned the distinction of being a 2016 All-American Athlete Award recipient. The award recognized baseball's Mitchell McGeein (Calgary, Alberta-Vauxhall), men's basketball's Ty Toney (Alpharetta, Ga.-Alpharetta-Georgia Highlands), women's basketball's Phillis Webb (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo), and women's swimming's Sierra Wagner (Huntsville, Texas-Huntsville) for their athletic accomplishments as well as their dedication to strength and conditioning.
Nominated by EMU Director of Sports Performance Ron McKeefery, the four athletes' determination to improve in athletics while maintaining academic prominence is a great model for all student-athletes at EMU. Additionally, a trio of Eagles were also named Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) Hammer Strength award winners. Receiving the honor for the Green and White were Toney, Webb, and McGeein. The trio are three of 24 student-athletes to earn the honor nationally.
"We are proud to have Coach McKeefery join the NSCA in its mission to safely improve athletic performance," said Coach Scott Caulfield, the NSCA's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. "Supporting our student-athletes like Mitch McGeein and Sierra Wagner guarantees a stronger future for the NSCA."
Coach McKeefery added, "The late great Muhammad Ali said it best 'the fight is won or lost far away from witnesses-behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.' Phillis, Sierra, Mitch and Ty are perfect examples of athletes that train like champions year round. They have demonstrated great commitment to both their own personal Strength and Conditioning, as well as their teammates. Our Sports Performance team is very proud of these student athletes and could not think of four better representatives."
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit educational association founded in 1978. Evolving from a membership of 76, the association now serves nearly 30,000 members in 52 countries. Drawing upon its vast network of members, the NSCA develops and presents the most advanced information regarding strength training and conditioning practices, injury prevention, and research findings.
Unlike any other organization, the NSCA brings together a diverse group of professionals from the sport science, athletic, allied health, and fitness industries. These individuals are all in pursuit of achieving a common goal—the utilization of proper strength training and conditioning to improve athletic performance and fitness.
Central to its mission, the NSCA provides a bridge between the scientist in the laboratory and the practitioner in the field. By working to find practical applications for new research findings in the strength and conditioning field, the association fosters the development of strength training and conditioning as a discipline and as a profession.
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the NSCA serves as a valuable resource for its members, the fitness industry, general public, and the media. The association provides a wide variety of resources and opportunities designed to strengthen, build, advance, and unify.
Earlier this year, McKeefery was selected the NSCA's College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. A vital part of the athletic department at Eastern Michigan, McKeefery has served as a strength and conditioning coach at both the collegiate and professional level. He currently designs and implements performance programs for the football program while overseeing EMU's entire sports performance operation.
To be considered as a Hammer Strength All-American, athletes were judged on their personal qualities and achievements in terms of work ethic, leadership, consistency and academic performance.
"With the Hammer Strength All-American Award, we recognize and celebrate collegiate athletes who lead the way in superior performance, both on and off the court," said Chris Clawson, president, Life Fitness. "We congratulate Ty Toney, Phillis Webb, and Mitch McGeein for their work ethics and academic performance, as well as the inspiring example they set for others."
Hammer Strength, a Life Fitness brand, is a performance line of strength equipment. Hammer Strength equipment is found in elite collegiate and professional athletic training facilities across the nation and is renowned for helping hard-working athletes out-train and out-perform the competition. Other Life Fitness brands include the Life Fitness, Cybex and SCIFIT lines of fitness equipment, the Brunswick Billiards line of game tables and furnishings and InMovement productive well-being products. Headquartered outside Chicago, in Rosemont, Ill., Life Fitness is a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) that distributes products to more than 120 countries. For more information, visit www.lifefitness.com.
McGeein led the Eagles offense this season, finishing at the top of six offensive categories. He led EMU in walks (33), on-base percentage (.408), slugging percentage (.545), runs (39), home runs (13), and total bases (102). He was also second in RBI's (35) and third in batting average (.283). For his efforts he was named First Team All-MAC at the conclusion of the season. Not only was he the best on EMU, but he also ranked as one of the top sluggers in the MAC, as well as the country. The Calgary native tied for third in the MAC in home runs, and was also seventh in walks and slugging percentage. His home run and slugging numbers also ranked him 56th and 167th, respectively, in the country.
Toney started 31 games for the Eagles in his first season donning the Green and White, averaging 11 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Toney scored in double-figures in 15 games, including a season-high 23 points in a pair of contests versus Ball State, Jan. 23, and at Western Michigan, Jan. 30. The Alpharetta, Ga. native also tied an EMU single season record for free throw percentage in a single game when he went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line versus Ball State, Jan. 23.
The 2015-16 season marked the best of Webb's career as the 5-foot-9 junior guard set career-highs in minutes (1,070), three-pointers made (19), free throw percentage (71.9 percent), free throws made (64), rebounds (234), assists (44), steals (46), and points (389) in 34 games. Her 234 rebounds ranked second on the team and pushed her career total to 509, making her the 21st player in program history to grab 500-or-more rebounds in their career. Webb's career-high 22-point performance fueled the Eagles to a win over Michigan, Dec. 23., as the Brooklyn Park, Minn. native added nine rebounds in EMU's win over the Wolverines. During the season, Webb was honored as the Mid-American Conference's Scholar Athlete of the Week, Dec. 16, while reeling in Academic All-MAC honors for her excellence in the classroom.
A junior freestyle specialist, Wagner led the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the MAC Championships, Feb. 26-28. A key piece to EMU's relay success, Wagner swam a leg of three relays for the Eagles - the 200, 400, and 800 free relays, all of which placed within the top-three. Individually, Wagner posted a 13th-place finish in the 50 free, claiming fifth in the consolation finals heat. During the regular season, Wagner helped the Eagles to an undefeated dual record that included a perfect 3-0 mark against MAC opponents. Individually, Wagner claimed 10 top-three finishes, including a pair of wins in the 50 and 100 free.
Nominated by EMU Director of Sports Performance Ron McKeefery, the four athletes' determination to improve in athletics while maintaining academic prominence is a great model for all student-athletes at EMU. Additionally, a trio of Eagles were also named Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) Hammer Strength award winners. Receiving the honor for the Green and White were Toney, Webb, and McGeein. The trio are three of 24 student-athletes to earn the honor nationally.
"We are proud to have Coach McKeefery join the NSCA in its mission to safely improve athletic performance," said Coach Scott Caulfield, the NSCA's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. "Supporting our student-athletes like Mitch McGeein and Sierra Wagner guarantees a stronger future for the NSCA."
Coach McKeefery added, "The late great Muhammad Ali said it best 'the fight is won or lost far away from witnesses-behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.' Phillis, Sierra, Mitch and Ty are perfect examples of athletes that train like champions year round. They have demonstrated great commitment to both their own personal Strength and Conditioning, as well as their teammates. Our Sports Performance team is very proud of these student athletes and could not think of four better representatives."
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit educational association founded in 1978. Evolving from a membership of 76, the association now serves nearly 30,000 members in 52 countries. Drawing upon its vast network of members, the NSCA develops and presents the most advanced information regarding strength training and conditioning practices, injury prevention, and research findings.
Unlike any other organization, the NSCA brings together a diverse group of professionals from the sport science, athletic, allied health, and fitness industries. These individuals are all in pursuit of achieving a common goal—the utilization of proper strength training and conditioning to improve athletic performance and fitness.
Central to its mission, the NSCA provides a bridge between the scientist in the laboratory and the practitioner in the field. By working to find practical applications for new research findings in the strength and conditioning field, the association fosters the development of strength training and conditioning as a discipline and as a profession.
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the NSCA serves as a valuable resource for its members, the fitness industry, general public, and the media. The association provides a wide variety of resources and opportunities designed to strengthen, build, advance, and unify.
Earlier this year, McKeefery was selected the NSCA's College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. A vital part of the athletic department at Eastern Michigan, McKeefery has served as a strength and conditioning coach at both the collegiate and professional level. He currently designs and implements performance programs for the football program while overseeing EMU's entire sports performance operation.
To be considered as a Hammer Strength All-American, athletes were judged on their personal qualities and achievements in terms of work ethic, leadership, consistency and academic performance.
"With the Hammer Strength All-American Award, we recognize and celebrate collegiate athletes who lead the way in superior performance, both on and off the court," said Chris Clawson, president, Life Fitness. "We congratulate Ty Toney, Phillis Webb, and Mitch McGeein for their work ethics and academic performance, as well as the inspiring example they set for others."
Hammer Strength, a Life Fitness brand, is a performance line of strength equipment. Hammer Strength equipment is found in elite collegiate and professional athletic training facilities across the nation and is renowned for helping hard-working athletes out-train and out-perform the competition. Other Life Fitness brands include the Life Fitness, Cybex and SCIFIT lines of fitness equipment, the Brunswick Billiards line of game tables and furnishings and InMovement productive well-being products. Headquartered outside Chicago, in Rosemont, Ill., Life Fitness is a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) that distributes products to more than 120 countries. For more information, visit www.lifefitness.com.
McGeein led the Eagles offense this season, finishing at the top of six offensive categories. He led EMU in walks (33), on-base percentage (.408), slugging percentage (.545), runs (39), home runs (13), and total bases (102). He was also second in RBI's (35) and third in batting average (.283). For his efforts he was named First Team All-MAC at the conclusion of the season. Not only was he the best on EMU, but he also ranked as one of the top sluggers in the MAC, as well as the country. The Calgary native tied for third in the MAC in home runs, and was also seventh in walks and slugging percentage. His home run and slugging numbers also ranked him 56th and 167th, respectively, in the country.
Toney started 31 games for the Eagles in his first season donning the Green and White, averaging 11 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Toney scored in double-figures in 15 games, including a season-high 23 points in a pair of contests versus Ball State, Jan. 23, and at Western Michigan, Jan. 30. The Alpharetta, Ga. native also tied an EMU single season record for free throw percentage in a single game when he went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line versus Ball State, Jan. 23.
The 2015-16 season marked the best of Webb's career as the 5-foot-9 junior guard set career-highs in minutes (1,070), three-pointers made (19), free throw percentage (71.9 percent), free throws made (64), rebounds (234), assists (44), steals (46), and points (389) in 34 games. Her 234 rebounds ranked second on the team and pushed her career total to 509, making her the 21st player in program history to grab 500-or-more rebounds in their career. Webb's career-high 22-point performance fueled the Eagles to a win over Michigan, Dec. 23., as the Brooklyn Park, Minn. native added nine rebounds in EMU's win over the Wolverines. During the season, Webb was honored as the Mid-American Conference's Scholar Athlete of the Week, Dec. 16, while reeling in Academic All-MAC honors for her excellence in the classroom.
A junior freestyle specialist, Wagner led the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the MAC Championships, Feb. 26-28. A key piece to EMU's relay success, Wagner swam a leg of three relays for the Eagles - the 200, 400, and 800 free relays, all of which placed within the top-three. Individually, Wagner posted a 13th-place finish in the 50 free, claiming fifth in the consolation finals heat. During the regular season, Wagner helped the Eagles to an undefeated dual record that included a perfect 3-0 mark against MAC opponents. Individually, Wagner claimed 10 top-three finishes, including a pair of wins in the 50 and 100 free.
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