East Central College   

Category: Athletics

East Central College Director of Athletics Jay Mehrhoff poses with fellow NJCAA Region 16 athletic directors after receiving the 2025 NJCAA Loyalty Award. Pictured from left to right: Jim Gerwitz, Athletic Director at Mineral Area College; Mike Overman, Assistant Athletic Director at Mineral Area College; Jay Mehrhoff, East Central College; Sharon Marquardt, Athletic Director at St. Louis Community College; Brandi Arthur, Athletic Director at Crowder College; and Darren Pannier, Athletic Director at State Fair Community College.

From Coaching to Championing Students: Mehrhoff Earns NJCAA Loyalty Award

April 28, 2025 | Athletics Campus News

For more than two decades, Jay Mehrhoff has been the driving force behind East Central College athletics—building teams, mentoring students, and championing a culture where academic and athletic excellence go hand in hand.

This spring, that dedication was recognized on a national scale. Mehrhoff, ECC’s Director of Athletics, has been named the 2025 recipient of the NJCAA Loyalty Award, one of the most selective honors in the association.

Awarded only 22 times in the Association’s history, the Loyalty Award is given to an active athletic director in the NJCAA who has worked to uphold the ideals of the organization. Significant to this award is leadership in an athletic program exemplifying excellence both on the field or court and in the classroom.

Mehrhoff’s connection to ECC runs deep. He joined the college in 1997 as head coach of the men’s soccer team, leading the program to national recognition. In 2000, he brought his passion for student development into the classroom as a physical education instructor. Just three years later, he was named Director of Athletics— a position that allowed him to reimagine and expand ECC’s athletic programs.

“Over his tenure at East Central College, Dr. Mehrhoff has been a tireless advocate for our student-athletes,” said Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC President. “From working to expand athletic opportunities at ECC to chalking the fields and everything in between, he has focused on doing whatever is necessary to help our students grow and succeed.”

Under his leadership, ECC has added sports, improved facilities, and elevated its competitive performance—garnering championships and making regular appearances in NJCAA National Tournaments. Beyond campus, Mehrhoff has played a key role in collegiate athletics across Missouri and the country.

He has led the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference since 2003, serving as Vice President, President, and chair of the NJCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Committee.

“No vision has been too grand, and no task has been too small,” Bauer added. “He epitomizes what the NJCAA Loyalty Award is all about.”

New Coach Brings Championship Pedigree to ECC Women’s Soccer

February 19, 2025 | Athletics Campus News

A familiar face in the local and regional soccer scene is stepping in to lead the East Central College women’s soccer program.

Chris Lanemann smiling in East Central College Falcons Soccer t-shirt

Chris Lanemann, a longtime coach and educator at Washington High School, has been named the Falcons’ new head coach, bringing with him decades of experience in both high school and club soccer.

Lanemann joins ECC after 25 years of teaching social studies at WHS, where he also coached boys’ and girls’ soccer. Beyond the high school level, he has made a significant impact in club soccer, coaching for several well-respected St. Louis Metro area programs, including Panathinaikos Soccer Club, Squadra FC, Real STL Soccer Club, Lou Fusz Soccer Club, and JB Marine Soccer Club.

Currently, his JB Marine squad is the No. 1 ranked team in Missouri, a two-time finalist in the Missouri State Cup, and has qualified for USYS Soccer Regionals and Nationals.

A St. Louis native, Lanemann developed his skills playing for Pepsi, Voyagers, Spirits SC, and Skateland before continuing his career at St. Louis Community College–Forest Park, where he played under Hall of Fame coach Pat McBride and Tony Kuester. He later earned his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and a master’s from William Woods University in Fulton.

Off the field, Lanemann enjoys an active lifestyle, including running half marathons, hiking, trail running, and working out. He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Mia, 21, and Avery, 19.

With deep roots in the region and a track record of success at the highest levels of competition, Lanemann is set to bring his winning mentality to ECC Women’s Soccer and build upon the program’s foundation.

East Central College Falcons Softball logo

Young Hired as New ECC Softball Coach

August 16, 2024 | Athletics Campus News

A local coach with a state championship to his name is new head coach of the East Central College Falcons Softball team. Grant Young will be replacing Brad Wallach, who led the ECC Softball program for 15 seasons.

Portrait of new ECC Softball Coach, Grant Young
Coach Grant Young

Young has served as the head softball coach at Washington High School for the past two years, a role he will continue while coaching the ECC Softball Falcons. This past season, the Blue Jays finished with a remarkable 37-1-1 record, capturing the Missouri Class 4 state title without a single loss to a Missouri school.

The team was ranked third in the nation in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll and was recognized as the top program in Missouri by MaxPreps.com.

Young, a 1996 graduate of Union High School, holds a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Missouri State University (2000) and an M.S. in Athletic Administration from William Woods University (2007). He and his wife, Julia, have two sons, Kaner and Ryker. Kaner will be attending ECC and playing baseball this year.

Coaching Career

In his three years as a head softball coach, including a year at Neosho High School in Missouri, Young’s teams have achieved an impressive 89-15-1 record. Over the past eight years with the Blue Jay program, serving as both varsity assistant and head coach, his teams have won six Gateway Athletic Conference titles, five district titles, four Final Four finishes, and two state championships (2021 and 2023).

Young was honored as the 2023 MHSFCA Class 4 Coach of the Year and was part of the NFCA Region 1 Zone Coaching Staff of the Year.

Young has also been a varsity basketball coach for the past 23 years, coaching both boys’ and girls’ teams. He has amassed 385 career wins, including seven MSHSAA district titles, two Final Four appearances, and a state championship in 2011 at Purdy. He was recognized as the Girls Basketball MBCA/Sportswriters 2011 Class 2 Coach of the Year.

ECC with falcon mark

Miller Takes Helm for Falcons’ Baseball  

August 15, 2024 | Athletics Campus News

East Central College has hired experienced collegiate athlete and accomplished coach Luke Miller as the new head coach of the Falcons baseball team.

Portrait of Luke Miller
Coach Luke Miller

Miller is set to bring his extensive expertise and winning record to the program, aiming to elevate the Falcons to new heights.

Miller’s playing career includes stints at St. Louis Community College, Harris-Stowe State University, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he earned a degree in Liberal Arts with a minor in Psychology. A native of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Miller first made his mark on the high school baseball scene before excelling at the collegiate level.

For the past six years, Miller has served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at St. Charles Community College (SCC), where he specialized in developing hitters and outfielders. His tenure at SCC was marked by significant achievements, including breaking over 20 individual and team offensive records.

The 2024 season, which concluded with a 37-17 record and a Missouri Community College Athletic Conference championship, was one of the best in the college’s history.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Miller has been a prominent figure in the St. Louis area select baseball scene for the past 11 years, most recently with the Adidas Athletics. His head coaching record stands at an impressive 321-90, with a focus on the U-18 Athletics team.

Miller’s influence extends beyond the field, having played a pivotal role in advancing over 300 players to the collegiate level. Notably, more than 100 of these athletes have been recruited to NJCAA Division I programs, and four of his players have been selected in the Major League Baseball draft.

As the Falcons prepare for their fourth season since the program’s reinstatement in 2022, Miller’s strategic approach and recruiting prowess are expected to lead the team to remarkable achievements. ECC is confident that his leadership will usher in a new era of success for the Falcons baseball program.

ECC Defender Named to All-American Team

November 29, 2023 | Athletics Campus News

East Central College soccer player Jules Denommee has been named 3rd Team All-American for the 2023 season by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII Men’s Soccer committee. Denommee, a freshman defender from Montreal, Canada, was honored on Nov. 28 for this achievement.

ECC Athletic Director Dr. Jay Mehrhoff stated that Denommee’s exceptional work on the field was recognized by the Region 16 coaches, who voted him 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-Conference for his accomplishments and gameplay throughout the 2023 campaign. He was the No. 2 ranked player in the region.

Denommee’s statistical numbers were impressive for a left-back with 7 assists in a position that rarely gets into the offensive attack. He also scored one goal and started 17 of 18 games in the season.

With a team record of 10-6-2, the year was highlighted by good defensive play, and Denommee stood out as the most shutdown defender in NJCAA Region 16, in addition to his offensive prowess. Denommee scored 9 points during the season, took 5 shots, and had a shot percentage of .200. He also secured a game-winning goal this season.

Softball players in field

Student Athletes Recognized Within Region 16

May 25, 2023 | Athletics Campus News
Taylor Hanger portrait

Several East Central College student athletes were recognized for their talent within the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 16.

Taylor Hanger, Pacific, a pitcher in her second year at ECC was named to the all-region first team.

Hanger led the Falcons throughout the regular season and into the post season, playing the last 12 games of the season with a slight fracture in her glove hand. She even pitched some of her best games with the injury, according to Dr. Jay Mehrhoff, ECC athletic director.

“It was difficult for her to swing the bat, but the coaches in NJCAA Region 16 noticed her talent and named her first-team all-region,” he said.

Hanger, a nursing major from Pacific High School, was an NJCAA Academic All-American and the ECC Female Scholar Athlete her freshman year at ECC.

“Hanger has had a tough balance in her last semester but has managed to be successful in all aspects of being a student athlete at the intercollegiate level,” Mehrhoff added.

She ended the regular season with a 12-8 record striking out 77 batters. Her grit and determination were not always evident as she would be all business when she was in the circle pitching for the Falcons.

Region Player of the Year

Shane Kearbey portrait

ECC Baseball Falcon Shane Kearbey, O’Fallon, Mo., was named the Region Player of the Year by the NJCAA Region 16 DII coaches’ vote. Kearbey, a left-handed pitcher, had a fantastic regular season going 5-1, pitching 61.1 innings and striking out 68 batters with a 2.39 ERA, Mehrhoff said.

Kearbey graduated from ECC May 13 with an Associate of Arts degree in Business. He graduated from Francis Howell High School in 2021.

Rounding out the first team all-region selections for the Falcons were two outfielders, Luciano Terilli, and Trey Orman.

Luciano Terrilli portrait

“Terilli gave opposing batters nightmares with his good glove patrolling center field making spectacular plays,” Mehrhoff said. “His at the plate and defensive approach to the game made him an all-around player.”

Trey Orman portrait

“Orman had his best season in college leading the Falcons in doubles with 12 and hit 4 home runs driving in 24 runs on the year,” he added.

The NJCAA Region 16 DII All-Defense team included Terilli along with Cameron Leach and Andy Hueste. Leach was a formidable outfielder with his glove and led the team with 22 stolen bases.

Hueste was injured early in the season but found his glove and bat heating up at the end of the season with 24 hits and some great plays from second base and shortstop positions.

ECC selections to second-team all-region were Seth Shannon (.341 batting average), DeVon Jennings (5 home runs), Mario Colombo (.316 batting average), Will DesHotels (2-2, 44 strikeouts), Billy Underwood (2.69 ERA), and Hayden Steelman. All six were starters and contributed to the team’s success throughout the season, both at the plate and from the mound.

Coach Tom Dill to be Recognized with Dugout Naming

April 10, 2023 | Athletics Campus News

East Central College is celebrating the college’s first baseball coach, Tom Dill, with the naming of the Taco Bell Field home dugout.

The Tom Dill Dugout naming ceremony will be Saturday, May 6, at Taco Bell Field during the Region 16 Tournament hosted by ECC. The naming ceremony will be held between games at approximately 11:30 a.m. Food and drink will be available.

RSVP to the event here, by emailing the ECC Foundation at foundation@eastcentral.edu or calling 636-584-6506.

Dill was the founding skipper for the East Central Junior College Rebels baseball squad. He coached the baseball team for 16 seasons, from 1974-1990.

Dill coached many talented baseball players during his tenure, including Tom Henke, a Major League Baseball All-Star who played 14 seasons in the Majors and won the World Series in 1992 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dill also was a faculty member at ECC from 1973 to 2000. He later served two six-year terms on the College’s board of trustees, including several years as board secretary.

If there is inclement weather, the ceremony will be rescheduled for Sunday, May 7.

Benninger Named Men’s and Women’s Soccer Head Coach

August 3, 2022 | Athletics Campus News

Joseph Benninger is taking over as the full-time combined men’s and women’s head soccer coach at East Central College.

He had been serving as an assistant coach under Coach Martin Clayes, who recently took a position to coach professional soccer.

According to ECC Athletic Director Dr. Jay Mehrhoff, Benninger is ready to take the helm and lead a talented group of young men and women into the 2022 NJCAA fall campaign.

“Benninger has been instrumental in helping build the program at East Central College,” Mehrhoff said. “The women’s program has been a tough climb since the 2020 COVID season, but the roster looks ready to compete this year.

“Benninger’s hopes are to elevate the women’s program to compete for the region title in the same way he feels the men’s program is ready to compete each and every year,” Mehrhoff added.

He further added that Benninger has “a gift” when it comes to recruiting, along with a strong passion for soccer.

Benninger is a native of St. Louis and he played club and high school soccer under the rich traditions in St. Louis. He played high school soccer at De Smet Jesuit High School.

He then attended Truman State University, Kirksville, where he was a member and captain of the Bulldogs volleyball squad, during their most successful run in school history.

Along with his college experience, Benninger has coached and worked in administration in the USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), with the St. Louis Lions. He has also spent time coaching at the youth level.

Benninger has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Truman State University.

“As the 2022 season approaches, Benninger hopes to fill an entire roster for the women’s team at ECC and build the men’s team into a contender right away,” Mehrhoff said. “Time will be of the essence as Coach Benninger works diligently to complete the 2022 schedule and get the Falcons soaring on the pitch.”

Baseball Program Earns National Academic Award

July 29, 2022 | Athletics Campus News

The American Baseball Coaches Association is recognizing the East Central College baseball program with an ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award.

The award is given to programs from every level of college — from NCAA Division I to Junior College — and high school baseball teams throughout the nation.

The award highlights programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2021-22 academic year.

“I am proud of the guys and their dedication in the classroom,” said ECC Baseball Coach Johnathon Mills. “A core fundamental of our philosophy is to the careers of our student athletes off the field.”

Over 250 high school programs and more than 420 collegiate programs were recognized with this year’s award. The Team Academic Excellence Award is presented by Sports Attack, which manufactures sports training equipment.

Coaches nominated their teams for the ABCA Award following the conclusion of their spring semesters by the July 14 deadline. To be honored, teams had to meet the following criteria:

  • Must be a high school or college team
  • Head coach must be a current ABCA member
  • Team must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale during the 2021-22 academic year

The American Baseball Coaches Association has a long tradition of recognizing the achievements of baseball coaches and student-athletes.

The ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams are the nation’s oldest, founded in 1949, and the ABCA’s awards program also includes the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Awards, the ABCA/ATEC Regional & National Coaches of the Year and several other major awards such as the ABCA Hall of Fame and the Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award.

ECC with falcon mark

ECC Student Athletes Excel in the Classroom

July 15, 2022 | Athletics Campus News

The East Central College Athletic Department continues to excel on the field and in the classroom.

The department boasted the second-highest Grade Point Average of teams in the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC). ECC’s all-team GPA was 3.021 for the past academic year.

In addition, the Falcon Baseball, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams all were named All-Academic Teams of the Year with a 3.0 or higher team GPA.

Individually, there were 16 National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-Americans.
Listed below are the All-American players, followed by the team they are on at ECC and then which All-American team they were named to:

Morgan Green              Softball – 2nd Team                            Stephen Akot               Men’s Soccer – 1st Team

Taylor Hanger                Softball – 1st Team                             Julio Gonzalez             Men’s Soccer – 3rd Team

Addie Konkel                 Softball – 2nd Team                             Aidan Ottens               Men’s Soccer – 3rd Team

Madelyn Ruszala          Softball – 1st Team                             Pierocarlo Previte      Men’s Soccer – 3rd Team

Emma Weston              Softball – 3rd Team                             Santiago Sanchez       Men’s Soccer – 2nd Team

Shane Kearbey              Baseball – 3rd Team                           Charley Leonard         Women’s Soccer – 3rd Team

Ethan Lindemann         Baseball – 3rd Team                           Gabrielle Mattli           Women’s Soccer – 3rd Team

Nathan Turner               Baseball – 2nd Team                           RaeLeigh Miller           Women’s Soccer – 1st Team

Listed below are the ECC student athletes, followed by the sport they play, named to the Academic All-Region with a minimum 3.25 GPA:

Morgan Green                  Softball                                     Stephen Akot                      Men’s Soccer

Taylor Hanger                    Softball                                     Sam Gentges                       Men’s Soccer

Hannah Jarvis                    Softball                                     Julio Gonzalez                     Men’s Soccer

Addie Konkel                     Softball                                     Joe McInnes                         Men’s Soccer

Emma Riegel                      Softball                                     David Morais Kerejian      Men’s Soccer

Madelyn Ruszala              Softball                                     Aidan Ottens                       Men’s Soccer

Nicole Truitt                       Softball                                     Pierocarlo Previte              Men’s Soccer

Emma Weston                  Softball                                     Santiago Sanchez               Men’s Soccer

Logan Baker                       Baseball                                   Charley Leonard                 Women’s Soccer

Grant Beck                          Baseball                                   Rebekah Lewis                    Women’s Soccer

Tyson Dent                         Baseball                                   Gabrielle Mattli                   Women’s Soccer

Houston Henry                  Baseball                                   RaeLeigh Miller                   Women’s Soccer

Andy Hueste                      Baseball                                   Samantha Starling              Women’s Soccer

Shane Kearbey                  Baseball                                   Avery Street                         Women’s Soccer

Ethan Lindemann             Baseball                                   Kayleigh Willman                Women’s Soccer

Trey Orman                        Baseball                                   Isabella Allgeyer                 Volleyball

Trevor Packan                    Baseball                                   Trinity Clark                          Volleyball

Nathan Turner                   Baseball                                   Olivia Spanley                      Volleyball

The following ECC student athletes were named to the All-Conference team with at least a 3.0 GPA:

Aubree Eaton                    Softball                                     Will Sisk                                 Baseball

Morgan Green                  Softball                                     Nathan Turner                     Baseball

Taylor Hanger                    Softball                                     Blake Whitlock                    Baseball

Hannah Jarvis                    Softball                                     Stephen Akot                      Men’s Soccer

Addie Konkel                     Softball                                     James Baxter                       Men’s Soccer

Emma Riegel                      Softball                                     Jacob Buhr                            Men’s Soccer

Madelyn Ruszala              Softball                                     Sam Ennis                              Men’s Soccer

Nicole Truitt                       Softball                                     Sam Gentges                       Men’s Soccer

Emma Weston                  Softball                                     Julio Gonzalez                     Men’s Soccer

Logan Baker                       Baseball                                   Bailey Hoehne                     Men’s Soccer

Grant Beck                          Baseball                                   Joe McInnes                         Men’s Soccer

Levi Betts                            Baseball                                   David Morais Kerejian      Men’s Soccer

Mario Colombo                 Baseball                                   Aidan Ottens                       Men’s Soccer

Patrick Dale                        Baseball                                   Pierocarlo Previte              Men’s Soccer

Tyson Dent                         Baseball                                   Santiago Sanchez               Men’s Soccer

Will DesHotels                  Baseball                                   Andrea Hernandez            Women’s Soccer

Josh Gardner                     Baseball                                   Charley Leonard                 Women’s Soccer

Houston Henry                  Baseball                                   Rebekah Lewis                    Women’s Soccer

Andy Hueste                      Baseball                                   Gabrielle Mattli                   Women’s Soccer

Shane Kearbey                  Baseball                                   RaeLeigh Miller                   Women’s Soccer

Ethan Lindemann             Baseball                                   Sommer Schneider            Women’s Soccer

Austin McKim                    Baseball                                   Samantha Starling              Women’s Soccer

Sam Oermann                   Baseball                                   Avery Street                         Women’s Soccer

Trey Orman                        Baseball                                   Kayleigh Willman                Women’s Soccer

Trevor Packan                    Baseball                                   Isabella Allgeyer                 Volleyball

Jack Reynolds                    Baseball                                   Makayla Case                      Volleyball

Justin Rogers                     Baseball                                   Trinity Clark                          Volleyball

Tony Schwartz                   Baseball                                   Macy Morehead                Volleyball

Seth Shannon                    Baseball                                   Olivia Spanley                      Volleyball