Published: March 19, 2008 10:50 pm         

Metro Roundup: ISU associate director of athletics Brett Burchette resigns

TERRE HAUTE — Brett Burchette has resigned his position as associate director of athletics at Indiana State to take a sport management faculty position in the Goodwin College of Professional Studies at Drexel University.

Burchette’s resignation will take effect July 1.

“Brett Burchette has been an invaluable member of our administrative team in Sycamore Athletics,” ISU director of athletics Ron Prettyman said. “He has established relationships with new constituents and has reconnected with many outstanding alumni in the short time he has been here. He has been an integral part of the formula for success that we are developing in the ISU Athletics Department. We wish Brett, Patty and Caroline well as they begin this new chapter in their lives.”

ISU has experienced growth during Burchette’s tenure, including the re-establishment of the Sycamore Varsity Club, official booster club of ISU Athletics; increase in restricted fundraising efforts, which has doubled in two years; 400 percent growth in corporate sponsorship; substantial increase in the courtesy car program; the launching of the new Athletics Department website, www.gosycamores.com and formulation of new ticket and pricing options for Sycamore Athletics, which has resulted in increased season ticket sales across the board.

“I would like to thank Indiana State University and the ISU Foundation for providing me the opportunity to serve as the Associate Director of Athletics for the past two years,” Burchette said. “My family and I have enjoyed our time in Terre Haute and at Indiana State University.”

A national search for Burchette’s replacement is currently underway.

Track

• Sanders signs — Haleigh Sanders from West Vigo has signed a letter of intent to continue her track career at Bethel College.

Sanders has personal bests of 59.7 seconds in the 400 meters, 27.5 in the 200, and 13.5 in the 100 dash, while also setting a personal best of 16-feet, 4-inches in the long jump. She also shares the school record in the 1,600 relay at 4:13.20.

Sanders’ accomplishments include being Western Indiana Conference champion in the 400 and the long jump in 2007 and in the 1,600 relay in 2006 and 2007. Haleigh was sectional champion, regional runner up in the 400 in 2007. She was a state qualifier in the 400 that year as well.

“We look forward with great anticipation to Haleigh being in our program,” says Bethel College track coach Tony Natali. “Haleigh has the makings of being a special runner for us. Her best days are still ahead of her, and I know with hard work she can reach her untapped potential.”

Tennis

• Migan honored — Indiana State senior women’s player Jennifer Migan has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Athlete of the Week in tennis.

This is the second time this season that Migan has been honored by the Missouri Valley Conference weekly honors. Migan was 6-0 in three matches played at the University of South Alabama during Spring Break last week.

Migan and Shickerling moved up in the rankings announced this week by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, moving up from No. 60 a week ago to No. 49 in this week’s Division 1 Doubles poll.

The Sycamores are off until March 29 when they will host Illinois State in the first MVC match of the season.

Triathlon

• Dason wins — At Orlando, Fla., Terre Haute North graduate Nick Dason won the Wildman Olympic Triathlon for the second straight year Sunday.

Dason improved on his 2007 time by almost four minutes, finishing in 1 hour, 46 minutes, 40.173 seconds.

The event was a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10K run. Dason competes for the Army team, and two of his teammates took second and third place.

Dason and his team are preparing for the April 18 Collegiate Nationals.

Running

• Dever wins — At Palm Beach, Fla., Terre Haute runner Tom Dever finished second overall in the 10-mile Shamrock Run on Sunday.

Dever ran a 5:37 mile pace to finish in 56 minutes, 9 seconds, good for first place in the masters division. The 50-year-old Dever’s time is the fastest in the nation of 2008 for men 45 and older, according to rankings on www.active.com.

The time is the second fastest this year for the masters division, which includes 40 and older.