KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Commissioner Dr. Bob Boerigter has announced his retirement effective January 31, 2017 after 45 years of service to intercollegiate athletics.  Boerigter, the fourth full-time commissioner in MIAA history, has served in the position since the fall of 2010.

“It has been my honor to serve as the Commissioner of America’s finest Division II athletics conference. The experiences I have had, and the relationships I have been able to develop with CEO’s, athletics administrators, faculty athletics representatives, coaches and officials will be treasured for my entire life.  I will remain committed to serving our membership and to assist with the transition to a new Commissioner in the months ahead,” commented Boerigter.

During his time as Commissioner he has implemented an expansion program of both full-time and associate members to the MIAA. In addition, in 2012 he directed a year-long celebration of the MIAA Centennial and has been the principal figure in attracting NCAA national championships to sites within the MIAA.  Boerigter has overseen a great era of success in the MIAA. In his tenure, the conference has produced 10 national team champions in six different sports, in addition to a number of individual national champions.

“All of us in the MIAA are deeply grateful for the leadership Dr. Boerigter has provided to our conference and to the entire membership of NCAA Division II,” said University of Central Missouri President Chuck Ambrose.  “Of course we are biased, but we consider Bob the best commissioner of the best Division II Conference in the NCAA.  His work ethic, integrity, and service to our member institutions provides direct benefits to our student-athletes and the quality of their experience across the MIAA.  The quality of his leadership has been extended to the entire Association with significant gains in the overall quality of the DII experience. The MIAA is a better conference and is recognized as a leader because of Dr. Boerigter’s service,” added Ambrose.

“Bob Boerigter has been an outstanding commissioner for the MIAA during the past six years,” said Southwest Baptist University President Pat Taylor. “I have always believed that we have the very best commissioner in the NCAA. Bob has wonderful people skills. He is kind and considerate, but has the ability to make difficult decisions and to be tough when it is necessary. He is very knowledgeable concerning NCAA policies and procedures. Bob has had numerous leadership roles within the NCAA and is looked upon as a leader. He has a tremendous work ethic. We will miss Bob’s leadership for the MIAA and I will miss his personal friendship,” added Taylor.

With extensive experience within the NCAA governance structure, Boerigter’s impact has been felt far beyond the footprint of the MIAA. He has served as Chair of the Division II Football Committee, a member of the Division II Championships Committee and the Planning and Finance committee as well as having served on many other association-wide and Division II task forces and project teams. In 2013 he was the Chair of the Division II Management Council and has previously served as a member of the NCAA Executive Committee.
Boerigter came to the conference office after spending nine years as the director of athletics at Northwest Missouri State University.  In his time at Northwest he served as the lead administrator for the department of athletics/HPERD including recreational sports, club sports, campus recreation and the campus fitness center.

Prior to his time at Northwest Missouri State University, Boerigter served as the director of athletics, chair of the physical education department and professor of physical education at Hastings (Neb.) College for 13 years.  He is a recipient of the NAIA National Athletics Director of the Year award and he is a member of the Hastings College Athletics Hall of Fame.

In all, Boerigter has served as the director of athletics at five collegiate institutions, including Adams State (Colo.) College, Northwestern (Iowa) College and Whitworth (Wash.) College.

Boerigter is a graduate of Northwestern College with a bachelor of science in physical education in 1970, and received a Master of Arts degree in 1974 from the University of Northern Colorado and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Utah in 1978. Boerigter’s career in collegiate athletics began in 1972 at Northwestern College where he coached basketball, baseball, football and golf.

Boerigter and his wife, Mary, have two sons – Marc and John and four grandchildren.

The MIAA CEO Council will immediately commence a search for Boerigter’s successor, led by Doug Kristensen, Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Kearney, and chair of the council.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s javelin throwers Estefania Lopez and Madison Wolf have been announced as Fort Hays State’s lone representatives at the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Bradenton, Fla. Ranked among the top four in the nation in the event, they will compete on Saturday, May 28 at 2:25 pm (ET).

Lopez and Wolf remain ranked No. 2 and No. 4 nationally in the event heading to the championships. Wolf set a new school record in the event at the KT Woodman Classic at 170 feet, 10 inches, but Lopez topped that mark a week later at the Kansas Relays at 173 feet, 8 inches. FHSU is the only school to have two athletes throw over 170 feet this year in the event.

Western Washington also has a powerful duo in Bethany Drake and Katie Reichert. Drake ranks third in the nation with a throw of 171 feet, 7 inches, while Reichert ranks fifth at 164 feet, 8 inches. Both school’s duos will look to chase down 2015 national champion Allison Updike, who has the top throw in the nation this year at 175 feet, 11 inches. She threw a career-best 181 feet, 10 inches last year at the NCAA Championships to win the national title.

Both Lopez and Wolf earned All-America status last year, placing exactly where they rank going into this year’s championship. Lopez was the national runner-up and Wolf finished fourth. Lopez joined the Tigers last year, while Wolf is a two-time All-American as she was sixth as a freshman in 2014.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head women’s golf coach Rich Guffey has announced the signing of Madison Roether for the 2016-17 season. Roether comes to the program from Junction City High School in Junction City, Kan.

Roether competed in golf all four years at Junction City High School, but the first three were with the boys team as Junction City did not have a girls golf team until the fall of 2015. In her only season of competition against other girls, Roether finished sixth at the state championship meet in Kansas Class 6A. She had a solid stroke average of 77.4 in her seven rounds played, shooting in the 70s in five of those rounds. She won two tournaments during the season.