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Rocky Head

A Global Presence

Leathernecks are competing all across the globe.

MACOMB, Ill. – Through the lens of current and former student-athletes, Western Illinois Athletics has traveled all around the world. Right now in France, Loes Geurts has her eyes set on the FIFA World Cup title. What happens in Vegas will be streamed on ESPN as Brandon Gilbeck begins his pro journey with the Denver Nuggets, and up north, Jaelon Acklin and Sean McGuire are in the midst of their rookie season in the Canadian Football League. 

Loes Geurts

The championship match is set, and the United States will face Loes Geurts and the Netherlands for the 2019 Women's World Cup.  

No matter the decision, the Dutch have already made history, as they appear in their first-ever WC final this Sunday at 10 a.m. CT. 

Since 2005, Geurts has amassed over 120 caps for Netherlands' women's national team. The goalkeeper was named second-team all-league for the Leathernecks in 2005, where she finished the season with seven wins --- three of which were shutouts --- and a 74.7 percent save percentage. Guerts ranks' Top 10' in several of the program's single-season records including goals against average (1.35 / 7th all-time), wins (5 / T5), shutouts (3 / T7),  and minutes (1,265:46 / 12th).

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Brandon Gilbeck 

Brandon Gilbeck ('19)  received the opportunity of a lifetime when he landed a spot on the Denver Nuggets' summer league roster. Western's all-time block leader joined the team in a four-day mini-camp from July 1-4 and now heads to Las Vegas Friday, June 5, for the first of four games in the preliminary round. 

The Nuggets' 15-man summer roster also includes recent draftees Michael Porter Jr. (Missouri), Jarred Vanderbilt  (Kentucky), Thomas Welsh (UCLA) and Vlatko Cancar (San Pablo Burgos). 

Nuggets 2019 Summer League Schedule (first round; all times Central) 
July 5 | vs. Phoenix | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
July 7 | vs. Orlando | 5 p.m. | NBA TV
July 9 | vs. Boston | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
July 10 | vs. Golden State | 10:30 p.m. | ESPNU
 
Jaelon Acklin & Sean McGuire ('19) 

Jaelon Acklin is in the midst of his first season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and is coming off of a game where recorded his first career CFL touchdown. Hamilton commands a 3-1 record to sit atop the league's east division, and Western's former wideout has started each of the last three weeks (weeks 2-4). 

In purple and gold, Acklin finished the 2017 campaign second in the nation in receiving yards (1,369), fifth in receiving yards per game (114.1), seventh in total touchdowns (14), ninth in all-purpose yards per game (135.33), 11th in receptions per game (7.0) and 14th in receiving TDs (10). 

Sean McGuire, Western's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts, is also suiting up in the CFL as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Bombers currently lead the west division with a 2-0 record. 
   
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