July 24, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is proud to announce the 2007-08 scholar teams. NAIA student-athletes around the country work diligently throughout the year for academic excellence at their respective institutions. This year over 750 teams earned at least a 3.0 team grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) during the 2007-08 academic year, as defined by its institution.

The Bellevue University volleyball team made the list after completing their academic year with a team GPA of 3.33. Head Coach Trish Siedlik was proud of the honor as it added to their success on the court. The Bruins qualified for the 2007 NAIA National Tournament after winning the Region IV and MCAC tournament finishing the season with a record of 27-14 winning the program’s first-ever regular season league title.

Coach Siedlik will look to defend their titles this season with their first match of the 2008 campaign against Montana Tech University on August 29, 2008 at the Concordia University Tournament in Irvine, California. The team has four scheduled matches in California to begin the year; their first home match will be against conference opponent Park University on September 19.

The NAIA is committed to high standards and to the principle that participation in athletics serves as an integral part of the total education process. Furthermore the Association is dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics and provides student-athletes an environment that values academic and athletic excellence.

NAIA-ATA award humbles long time Bruin athletic trainer

June 10, 2008

BELLEVUE, Neb. – It all started in a small side room in the gym with space enough for one training table a desk and a part-time athletic trainer. In the past 15 years, Mike has developed an athletic training program that has graduated multiple students that are now currently working as certified athletic trainers and/or in the medical field. The once, one-man-show, has grown to a student-athletic training body of five on average per year with the addition of a full-time certified assistant athletic trainer implemented two years ago.

Since 1992 Mike Livergood has been Bellevue University’s head athletic trainer and this summer will be named the 2007-08 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athletic Trainer of the Year, at this year’s NATA Annual Symposium in St. Louis this June.

“This award is very special and humbling. A lot of people have helped me over the years and their guidance has been invaluable [in] allowing me to obtain this award”, said the long time Bruin athletic trainer.

This honor is given to an individual that is a member in good standing in the NAIA-ATA and the NATA as a certified athletic trainer, is employed by an NAIA institution and has distinguished themselves as a model of the profession of athletic training in personal conduct and professional allied health service to athletes.

When asked if Mike would have imagined the athletic training program being at this level 15 years ago, he stated confidently, “I set a high bar for this program and I expect continued growth for years to come.”

Mike, a Kansas native, earned a Bachelor of Science and Master's degree at Fort Hays State University in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Mike also serves as the Area Chair for Physical Education, and has received his NSCA certification as a CSCS this past year and serves on the NAIA Scholarship awards committee and is the Region IV representative.

Livergood is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Mid-America Athletic Trainers Association and the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association. He shares this award with his wife, Sara, and two sons, Jake and Matt.

Bruins wrap up second-straight Commissionser's Cup

May 18, 2008

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. -- Thanks to three MCAC Regular Season Championships, Bellevue University has won the 2007-08 MCAC Commissioner's Cup.

The Commissioner's Cup tracks each member institution's finish in the MCAC's 11 sports, awarding nine points for a first place finish in the regular season standings, eight points for second, etc.  Each school's point total is then divided by the number of sports it participates in to determine its final score in the Commissioner's Cup standings.

Bellevue's women's volleyball, men's basketball and baseball squads all won MCAC Championships in 2007-08, while the Bruin men's and women's soccer teams each posted second-place conference finishes.  Bellevue also claimed the MCAC Men's All-Sports Title.

College of the Ozarks, which picked up the MCAC Women's All-Sports Title, tied with Park University for second place in the overall Commissioner's Cup standings.