HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The NCCAA has announced Greenville College's Chelsea Gilles as its 2017 Women's Indoor Track & Field Wheeler Award recipient. She is a senior from Groveland, Ill. As a Greenville College sprinter, Gilles has competed in the 60, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 4x200 events. She holds school records in the 200 (25.55), 300 (41.18), 400 (56.62), 500 (1:18.56), and 4x200 (1:48.66). She has qualified for the NCCAA national championships this season in the 60, 200, and 400.
The 2015 NCCAA national champion in the 400 and national runner up in 2016, Gilles has rewritten the records book at Greenville College. During the NCCAA indoor 400 competition last year, she became injured and was unable to compete at the NCAA Division III indoor championships. She returned during the outdoor season, qualified for the NCAA Division III outdoor championships, and was an NCAA Division III All-American with a national runner-up performance.
A team leader in a multitude of ways, she has served as a volunteer academic mentor for the team's study hall and an academic coach in the college's tutoring program that serves the entire campus. On the track, she is a leader at practice and volunteered to recruit for the program in the fall when the college's track and field sprints coach departed.
Successful in the classroom as a physical education major with a GPA of 3.61, Gilles is a two-time USTFCCCA NCAA Division III academic All-American, a three-time NCCAA all-scholar athlete, a six-time all-conference all-academic team member, a member of Greenville College's dean's list, and a member of Who's Who Among Students.
She has served as a resident chaplain on campus and as a site director off campus at Camp of Champions USA, a Christian summer camp where she has spent three summers and worked with 5-12 year old children.
"It has been said that 'Past performance is the best predictor of future behavior' and if this is true as I believe it is, Chelsea will be quite successful in all areas of life, while caring for others and serving Jesus," said head coach Brian Patton.
"She desires to serve God by serving others, and God has blessed her with a great work ethic and great ability to perform individually under all conditions."
Gilles becomes Greenville's fifth Wheeler award honoree. She joins Jeff Boele (2001), Amy Ferrell (2001), Beau Meredith (2004), and Jamecia McCall (2007).
About the Wheeler Award
This award is sponsored by John and Jody Wheeler who have been involved in athletic activities of Christian high schools and colleges for many years. The Wheelers continue to actively participate in the area of athletics and wish to promote athletics in Christian colleges. They have chosen to do this by a special individual award for excellence.
The awards were established in order to enhance excellence in Christian track and field competition and to perpetuate the Christian philosophy and faith as exemplified through Christ-like track and field participation in NCCAA member institutions.
