Elizabeth Wanless '04 won four
All-America honors while at Bates. (Bates College File Photo)
Elizabeth Wanless, a philosophy major from Belleville, Illinois,
was a standout track and volleyball athlete during her time at
Bates. She is a four-time All-American and a two-time NCAA Division
III champion in the shot put. Wanless set NCAA Division III Indoor
and Outdoor Championship records, leading to national championship
titles in 2004. She was named the U.S. Track Coaches Association
Female Regional Athlete of the Year.
In volleyball, Wanless earned Rookie of the Year honors in her
first-year debut, and AVCA Third-Team All-America honors her senior
year. Additionally, she earned All- New England honors all four
years, was named First-Team All-NESCAC for three years, Second-Team
All-NESCAC for one year, earned multiple NESCAC Player of the Week
honors, and was also recognized as a NESCAC All-Academic selection.
With her outstanding accomplishments in athletics and academics,
Wanless was a three-time Bates Athlete of the Year and recognized
as the 2004 NCAA Woman of the Year for the State of Maine.
In the fall of 2004, Wanless began a two-year graduate program
in sports science, focusing on human performance, at the University
of Florida. With one year of eligibility left, Wanless competed for
a year with the Gators’ women’s Division I track and
field team.
During her time at Florida, she earned All-America honors in the
shot put while also setting the school record. Additionally, she
became the 12th American woman to reach the 60 feet mark in the
shot put, and she was also recognized as SEC Field Athlete of the
Week three different times.
Wanless had an outstanding six years of experience competing
nationally and internationally for Nike, Asics, Team USA, and the
New York Athletic Club. Throughout her professional shot put
career, she was ranked top 20 in the world.
Currently, Wanless is an instructor of Sport Administration and
Coordinator of Undergraduate Sport Administration at Ball State
University in Muncie, Indiana. She received her master’s
degree in Sport Administration from Ball State and is pursuing her
doctorate in Higher Education there.
Wanless has co-authored 13 peer-reviewed publications in
prestigious sport and exercise science journals. Additionally, she
authored six articles for Livestrong.com and has presented at
numerous conferences. Liz currently serves on the Indiana
Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
Sport Management Council.
In recognition of her outstanding career as an athlete, and for
her dedication, leadership and commitment to academics and
athletics, it is an honor to offer membership in the Bates
Scholar-Athlete Society to Elizabeth Wanless.
