Ready to Win
Success in Southeastern athletics translates into success in game of life
Monday, December 8, 2014
Two former student-athletes recently were inducted into Southeastern's prestigious Hall of Fame. Boasting stellar athletic records while representing the university, the students also gained useful experience in the classroom to prepare them for the game of life.
Wade Miley was named Southeastern's Student Male Athlete of the Year during his final season in 2008 after completing a brilliant three-year baseball career that included earning all-Southland Conference honors. He was the team leader back-to-back years in innings pitched, conference and team strikeout leader in 2008 with 119 – six short of the school record held by two other Lion Hall of Famers and major league hurlers Kirk Bullinger and Jeff Williams – and finished second on the school's career strikeout list, trailing only SLU Hall of Famer Bob Hardy.
Miley became the highest Southeastern baseball player ever drafted when he was the 43rd selection in the first round of the 2008 major league draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He recently completed his third season with the team. In 2012, he was selected to the National League All-Star team and named the Sporting News National League Rookie of the Year the same season.
Emilija Arnaudovska, a 2008 graduate, made an impact as a preeminent Southeastern women's tennis player where she earned Southland Conference Player of the Year accolades for two consecutive seasons. She also was the university's first female tennis player to play in the NCAA singles championships and compiled a 22-1 record her senior season.
Arnaudovska helped to lead the women's program to three Southland Conference regular season championships, a league tournament title and three NCAA tournament appearances. She was one of only two student-athletes to have been named Athlete of the Year at Southeastern in consecutive years, finishing her career with an 83-11 record.
Arnaudovska continues to use her tennis talent, now helping others excel in the sport as a member of the teaching staff at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in New York.
With demonstrated achievement on the field and court, the athletes gained valuable preparations in the classroom to lead their respective teams to victory and succeed in their future endeavors.
