The Susquehanna University athletic department recognized members of its 22 varsity sports at the annual Senior Awards Luncheon last Friday. The golf team will announce its Low Stroke Average award winner following the conclusion of its season, the women's lacrosse team did not present any postseason awards and the track and field awards represented both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Baseball

Senior Travis Zook was named the squad’s Most Valuable Player, senior Pat Quillian was selected as the Outstanding Pitcher Award winner, senior Matt Springman was honored as the team’s Outstanding Hitter Award winner, and sophomore Gerohn Lanns took home the Best Fielder Award.

The Crusaders finished the 2002 season with a 7-27 record and a 5-16 mark in the Commonwealth Conference under fourth-year head coach Tim Briggs.

Zook (Belleville, PA/Indian Valley H.S.) started 29 games at catcher and batted .250 with a team-high 19 walks and 10 runs batted in. He threw out nearly 29 percent of would-be base stealers and twice knocked in the game-winning run in the final inning.

Quillian (Nichols Hills, OK/Casady H.S.) led the Crusaders with a 4.15 earned run average despite finishing with an 0-5 record. He made a team-high nine starts and threw 43 1/3 innings this season, allowing 52 hits and striking out 11 batters.

Springman (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville H.S.) made 33 starts at shortstop and batted .287 with a team-high seven doubles and nine runs batted in. He led the team with nine stolen bases in 11 attempts and 33 base hits, while finishing second with 14 runs scored.

Lanns (Pickering, ON/Pickering H.S.) committed just one error in 31 games in center field and showed tremendous range in the outfield as he averaged nearly three putouts per game. He was second among all Crusader outfielders with three assists.

Men's Basketball

Sophomore Chris Zimmerman was named the team Most Valuable Player, sophomore Nick Griffiths was the recipient of the Best Offensive Player award and junior Tim Hurd was selected as the squad’s Best Defensive Player.

The Crusaders finished the 2001-02 season with a 14-12 record and a 7-7 mark in the Commonwealth Conference under 13th-year head coach Frank Marcinek.

Zimmerman (Coal Township, PA/Shamokin Area H.S.), a Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star at guard, averaged 13.6 points and 5.6 assists per game for Susquehanna in his first season after transferring from Division I Bucknell. He led the Commonwealth Conference in free-throw percentage at 86.1 percent and finished second behind Elizabethtown’s Rocky Parise in assists.

Griffiths (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin Area H.S.) started all 26 games last season, averaging 14.5 points to lead the team and 4.3 rebounds per contest. He led the team in three-point shooting with a 38.3 percentage from beyond the arc and in steals with 65. He also hit 44.5 percent of his shots from the field and 80.0 percent of his attempts from the free-throw line, and he dished out 72 assists, second on the squad.

Hurd (Montvale, NJ/Pascack Hills H.S.) placed third on the team with 37 steals and blocked eight shots in addition to grabbing 3.9 rebounds per contest. He also scored 14.0 points per game to finish second on the team to Griffiths.

Women's Basketball

Junior guard Ream was named team Most Valuable Player, Best Offensive Player and Best Defensive Player as the Crusaders finished the 2001-02 season with a 9-15 record and a 3-11 mark in the Commonwealth Conference under 15th-year head coach Mark Hribar, who announced his resignation on March 27.

Ream (Mifflintown, PA/Juniata H.S.), a Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star at guard, started all 25 games this season, as she averaged 30.7 minutes per game. She finished first on the team in scoring and third in rebounding, as she averaged 11.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

She also led the team and finished third in the conference in assists, as she averaged 3.33 assists per game. Ream also led the team and finished eighth in the conference in steals, averaging 1.96 per game.

Men's Cross Country

Sophomore Ryan Gleason was named Most Valuable Runner, freshman Leif Kauffman was recipient of the Most Improved Runner award, and Tyson Snader was selected as Freshmen of the Year.

The Crusaders took fifth out of 12 teams at the 2001 Middle Atlantic Conference championship, and sent both Gleason and senior Mike Lehtonen to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.

Gleason (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop H.S.) finished fifth at the MAC Championships in a time of 27:07 and took 13th in the NCAA Mid-East Regional meet with a time of 26:09.33. At the NCAA Championships, Gleason finished 85th in a time of 25:38.

Kauffman (Warminster, PA/Central Bucks East H.S.) finished 41st at the MAC Championships with a time of 28:53 and placed 108th at the NCAA Mid-East Regional meet with a time of 28:24.72, while Snader (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township H.S.) finished 24th at the MAC Championships with a time of 28:14 and placed 65th at the NCAA Mid-East Regional meet with a time of 27:41.15.

Women's Cross Country

Senior Kimberly Owen was named Most Valuable Runner, while senior Delina Cefaratti was recipient of the Most Improved Runner award. Lauren Wlazlowski was selected as Freshmen of the Year while Cefaratti shared the Ashley Shell Tomlinson Memorial Award with junior Erin Colwell.

The Crusaders took third out of 12 teams at the 2001 Middle Atlantic Conference championship, with Owen qualifying for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.

Owen (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin H.S.) became the school’s first-ever national qualifier and placed 121st with a career-best time of 18:44. Earlier in the season, Owen finished fifth at the MAC Championships with a time of 19:22, and qualified for the NCAA Championships after finishing 11th at the Mideast Regional meet in a time of 18:52.78.

Cefaratti (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights H.S.) finished 10th at the MAC Championships with a time of 20:02 and placed 19th at the NCAA Mid-East Regional meet with a time of 19:10.13, while Wlazlowski (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg H.S.) finished 21st at the MAC Championships with a time of 20:45 and placed 65th at the NCAA Mid-East Regional meet with a time of 20:12.31.

The Ashley Shell Tomlinson Award was created in 1997 in memory of Ashley Tomlinson, a graduate of Central Bucks East High School, a member of the Susquehanna University Class of 1997 and a four-year letterwinner on the Crusader cross country team from 1993-96 who was killed in an automobile accident shortly after graduation.

It is awarded each year to the member of the men's or women's cross country team who displays exceptional commitment and enthusiasm for the sport, the team and Susquehanna University.

A co-winner along with Cefaratti, Colwell (Belleville, PA/Indian Valley H.S.) finished 15th at the MAC Championships with a time of 20:19 and placed 42nd at the NCAA Mid-East Regional meet with a time of 19:43.64.

Field Hockey

Senior Jeannie Yarrow was named Best Offensive Player while senior Sara Fuller earned Best Midfielder honors and junior Megan Patrono was selected Best Defensive Player.

The Crusaders finished with an 8-10 overall record and 4-3 in the Commonwealth Conference under 27th-year head coach Connie Harnum.

Yarrow (Lambertville, NJ/South Hunterdon Regional H.S.) was a Commonwealth Conference first-team All-Star after scoring five goals and adding six assists for 16 points in 16 games. Yarrow finished her Susquehanna career ranked sixth in program history in career goals (24), second in assists (19) and fourth in points (67).

Fuller (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood H.S.) was also a Commonwealth Conference first-team All-Star this season as she led a defense that had a 1.60 goals against average and posted three shutouts. She also tied for the team lead with three defensive saves.

Patrono (West Milford, NJ/West Milford Township H.S.) appeared in all 18 games, making 17 starts, and helped hold Crusader opponents to 10.8 shots per game.

Football

Junior cornerback Antonio Nash was named the Most Valuable Player and earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors as well, while sophomore split end Mark Bartosic was named the team's Best Offensive Player for the second straight year and senior linebacker Troy Sosnovik earned the Best Defensive Player award.

Also earning honors were sophomore fullback Josh Fuller and freshman defensive lineman Ben Larson, who were chosen as winners of the Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Award, respectively. Senior offensive tackle Rob Acheson earned the Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year award while junior defensive end Brent Stransky took home the Chris Vialonga Coaches Award.

Together, these players helped the Crusaders to a 4-6 overall record (4-5 Middle Atlantic Conference) under the direction of 12th-year head coach Steve Briggs (79-43, .648).

Nash (Washington, DC/Springbrook, MD H.S.) is a three-time MAC first-team All-Star and a three-time Football Gazette All-South Region team member. He led the Crusaders with six interceptions and finished second on the team with 76 tackles (53 solo). Nash’s 19 career interceptions are tied for third on the Susquehanna career list.

On special teams, Nash returned 13 punts for a 10.1 average (fifth in the MAC) and returned 19 kickoffs for a 20.9 average (fourth in the MAC). He was also a key member of the kick and punt coverage units, leading both units in tackles.

Bartosic (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) repeated as a MAC All-Star and earned All-South Region third-team honors after setting single-season Susquehanna records with 72 receptions for 1,190 yards, and he caught 13 touchdown passes to rank second in the MAC in all three categories. He had eight games of at least 100 yards receiving and caught at least one touchdown pass in nine of 10 games this season

After just two seasons, Bartosic is Susquehanna’s career leader in receptions (123), yards (2,218) and touchdowns (28) and he has caught a touchdown pass in 18 of 20 career games.

Sosnovik (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere H.S.), a two-time first-team MAC All-Star, led the Crusaders with 113 tackles (85 solo) to finish third in the MAC in tackles. He posted double figures in tackles six times during the season and led the Crusaders in stops five times in 10 games. Sosnovik finished his career with 280 tackles to rank 11th in school history.

Fuller (Lock Haven, PA/Central Mountain H.S.) earned the Offensive Scout Team Award for the second straight season. He appeared in all 10 games for the Crusaders, playing primarily on special teams. He carried the ball three times for seven yards and caught two passes for 12 yards, with both receptions coming in the season opener at Western Maryland.

Larson (Mercersburg, PA/Mercersburg Academy) shifted from offensive to defensive line early in the season, appearing in just one varsity contest while also seeing time on the junior varsity squad.

Acheson (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown H.S.) earned MAC honorable mention All-Star honors as he started all 10 games at left tackle and keyed a unit that allowed Crusader quarterbacks to pass for 245.6 yards per game (third in the MAC). Overall, Susquehanna ranked fifth in the MAC in total offense with an average of 356.5 yards per game.

Stransky (Shickshinny, PA/Lake-Lehman H.S.) was the first winner of the renamed Coaches Award, presented in memory of the late Chris Vialonga ‘93¸ a two-year starter at left guard and former MAC All-Star who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11. Stransky appeared in six games in a reserve role and finished with two tackles, including a half-sack in the season finale against Lebanon Valley.

Men's Lacrosse

Junior midfielder Andy Nadler was named team Most Valuable Player, sophomore attack Scott Hodgson was selected Best Offensive Player and senior defenders Dave Howard and Evan Dresser shared Best Defensive Player honors.

The Crusaders finished with a 5-9 overall record and 1-8 in the Middle Atlantic Conference under 2nd-year head coach Ron Miller.

Nadler (Westport, CT/Staples H.S.) became Susquehanna’s first MAC All-Star as he was a second-team selection after scoring 27 goals and adding seven assists for 34 points while tying his own single-season record with 102 ground balls.

Hodgson (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo H.S.) set single-season program records with 30 goals, 42 points and 84 shots on goal, and ranks second in career goals (46) and points (64).

Howard (Frackville, PA/North Schuylkill H.S.) finished third on the team with 65 ground balls and ended his three-year career with 201 ground balls to rank second to Nadler in program history.

Dresser (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion H.S.) was second on the team with 66 ground balls and led all players with 20 1/2 penalty minutes. He closed his three-year career with 199 ground balls to rank third on the program career list.

Men's Soccer

Senior forward Beau Heeps was named team Most Valuable Player, freshman defender Jason Zeisloft was selected as Rookie of the Year and senior midfielder Matt Bardar was the recipient of the Most Improved Player award.

The Crusaders finished with a 7-10 overall record and 2-5 in the Commonwealth Conference under 4th-year head coach Jim Findlay.

Heeps (Allentown, PA/Parkland H.S.) started in 17 games, scoring 12 goals and adding four assists for 28 points. In his career, Heeps appeared in 65 games, tallying 25 goals and adding 13 assists for 63 points. He now holds the school record for points in a season, breaking the previous mark of 61 held by Greg Lowe (1977-1980)

Zeisloft (Bloomsburg, PA/Millville H.S.) appeared in all 17 games, making seven starts, and scored three goals with an assist for seven points. His three goals placed him in a tie for fourth on the team for the year.

Bardar (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway H.S.) appeared in 15 games, scoring one goal and adding five assists for seven points this season. In his career, Bardar appeared in 20 games, scoring one goal and adding six assists for eight points.

Women's Soccer

Senior forward Kim Anderson was named team Most Valuable Player, freshman defender Danielle Zaborowski was selected as Rookie of the Year and sophomore midfielder Heather Rispoli was the recipient of the Most Improved Player award.

The Crusaders finished with a 10-6-1 overall record and 3-4 in the Commonwealth Conference under 3rd-year head coach Jim Findlay. The 10 victories broke the program’s single-season record of nine wins set during the 2000 season.

Anderson (Baytown, TX/Parkland, PA H.S.) was named a Commonwealth Conference first-team All-Star after she started all 17 games and led the Crusaders in scoring for the fourth straight year with 12 goals and 29 points. She finished her career with program records for goals (43), assists (16), points (102), hat tricks (3) and multi-goal games (12).

Zaborowski (Allentown, PA/Salisbury H.S.) was one of three Crusaders to start all 17 games and was a key leader of a defensive unit that posted a 1.42 goals against average during the 2001 season. The Crusaders allowed just under 12 shots per game and recorded four shutouts among their 10 wins.

Rispoli (Bath, PA/Northampton H.S.) appeared as a reserve in 14 games and did not score a point, after seeing time in just eight matches as a freshman.

Softball

Freshman pitcher Heather Litzebauer was named team Most Valuable Player, sophomore outfielder Becky Mann was selected as Outstanding Offensive Player and junior first baseman Gretchen Anderson was the recipient of the Outstanding Defensive Player award.

The Crusaders finished with a 21-14-1 overall record and 8-6 in the Commonwealth Conference under 2nd-year head coach Cheri Swineford. The 21 victories were the second-most in a season in program history and included a school-record 11-game winning streak from April 6 through April 26.

Litzebauer (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South H.S.), a Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star, set a Susquehanna freshman record with 12 victories (12-6 record) and finished 11th in the conference in earned run average at 1.58. In 124 1/3 innings spanning 22 appearances (14 starts), Litzebauer struck out 63 and issued just 18 walks while holding opponents to a .227 batting average.

Mann (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport H.S.), a Commonwealth Conference first-team All-Star, led the Crusaders with a .336 batting average and drove in 14 runs while starting 35 games in both the outfield and as the designated player. She also led the team with 37 hits and struck out just once in 110 at-bats.

Anderson (Southington, CT/Southington H.S.) committed just three errors in 300 chances at first base (.990 percentage) and recorded the second-highest putout total in program history with 283 in 35 games. Anderson holds the Susquehanna career records for both putouts (473) and fielding percentage (.992).

Men's Swimming

Senior Mike Pfeiffer was named Most Valuable Swimmer, while sophomore Derek Dionisio was the recipient of the Most Improved Swimmer award. Sophomore Jonathan Illuzzi was the winner of the High Point Award.

The Crusaders finished with a 3-7 record and seventh at the Middle Atlantic Conference championships under head coach Ged Schweikert.

Pfeiffer (York, PA/West York H.S.) competed in both the 100 and 200 freestyle during the season, and helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team to a fifth-place finish at the MAC Championships.

Dionisio (Avon, CT/Avon H.S.) competed in three freestyle events at the MAC Championships, and earned a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle against Lebanon Valley on November 10. Along with Illuzzi, he was a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that broke the school record with a time of 7:34.32.

Illuzzi (Boothwyn, PA/Chichester H.S.) placed eighth in the 100 backstroke, ninth in the 50 freestyle and 11th in the 200 backstroke at the MAC Championships. Along with Dionisio, he was a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that broke the school record with a time of 7:34.32.

Women's Swimming

Sophomore Tina Graber was named Most Valuable Swimmer, while sophomore Toni Davis was the recipients of the Most Improved Swimmer award and Graber shared the High Point Award with senior Michelle Badorf.

The Crusaders finished with a 3-6-1 mark and eighth at the MAC meet under head coach Ged Schweikert.

Graber (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury H.S.) placed 9th in the 200 individual medley, took 10th in the 100 freestyle and finished 11th in the 200 freestyle at the MAC Championships.

Davis (New Carrollton, MD/Parkdale H.S.) swam in both the butterfly and freestyle during the regular season, but did not compete at the MAC Championships.

Badorf (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor H.S.) was the Crusaders’ top swimmer at the MAC Championships as she finished fourth in the 200 backstroke and fifth in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. She graduates with school records in both the 200 freestyle (2:00.92, 1999) and 200 backstroke (2:15.10, 1999).

Men's Tennis

Senior Rob Logan was selected as the Most Valuable Player for the spring 2002 season.

The Crusaders finished with a 3-10 record and 1-5 in the Commonwealth Conference for first-year head coach Sean Monaghan.

Logan (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood H.S.) finished with a team-high seven victories during the 2002 season and advanced to the second round of the Middle Atlantic Conference singles tournament. He closed his Susquehanna career with a 24-21 singles record, tied for 15th place on the career singles victory list. He also posted a 4-8 record in doubles play, including a 3-3 mark with sophomore Adam Marichak.

Women's Tennis

Junior Cindy Schlier earned Most Valuable Player honors for the fall 2001 campaign.

The Crusaders ended their 2001 season with an 8-3 overall record and 6-1 in the Commonwealth Conference under seventh-year head coach Bob Jordan.

Schlier (Newtown, CT/Newtown H.S.) posted a 10-1 record in singles play to tie for fourth place on the single-season victory list as the Crusaders qualified for the MAC playoffs for the first time since 1988.

Men's Track and Field

Senior Beau Heeps was named Most Outstanding Athlete, senior Matt Shaffer was selected as Outstanding Fieldman and freshman Kyle Sanders was recognized as Outstanding Runner.

The Crusaders finished third at the 2002 Middle Atlantic Conference championships under 24th-year head coach Jim Taylor.

Heeps (Allentown, PA/Parkland H.S.) finished third in the 200 meters and ninth in the 100 meters at the MAC championships, and had the team’s fastest time in both events during the season with an 11.15 in the 100 meters in a March 23 home meet and a 22.36 in the 200 meters at the MAC meet.

Shaffer (Brookville, PA/Brookville H.S.) won the shot put at the MAC Indoor Championships and took a bronze medal in the event at the Outdoor championships. He had the team’s best throw in the shot put during the season with a distance of 46 feet, 10 ½ inches at Washington & Lee on March 16.

Sanders (Danville, PA/Danville H.S.) earned a gold medal in the 400 meters at the MAC Championships with a season-best time of 48.85 seconds, and ran in the 4x400-meter relay team that took a silver with a time of 3:20.77.

Women's Track and Field

Junior Megan Patrono was voted Most Outstanding Athlete, freshman Skyra Blanchard was honored as Outstanding Fieldwoman and senior Kimberly Owen received the Outstanding Runner award.

The Crusaders placed second at the 2002 Middle Atlantic Conference Outdoor championships under third-year head coach Craig Penney.

Patrono (West Milford, NJ/West Milford H.S.) won her second consecutive gold medal in the 100 meters at the MAC Outdoor Championships and tied the school record in the event during preliminaries with a time of 12.45 seconds. She also ran leadoff for the 400-meter relay team that set the school record six times during the 2002 outdoor season and earned silver at the MAC Outdoor championships.

Blanchard (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg H.S.) finished third in the shot put at the MAC Outdoor championships with a distance of 37 feet, 2 ¼ inches and recorded the team’s best throw of the season on March 16 at Washington and Lee with a distance of 38 feet, 8 inches.

Owen (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin H.S.) set the school record in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters during the 2000 outdoor season, running 18:36.16 at Messiah on April 13 to set the 5,000 mark and finishing the 10,000 meters in 39:08.33 at the Susquehanna Invitational on March 30.

At the MAC Outdoor Championships, Owen placed third in the 10,000 meters with a time of 40:21.79 and fifth in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:46.57.

Volleyball

Senior outside hitter Lydia Steward was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, freshman middle blocker Kerri Eshleman was selected as the Best Offensive Player, junior defensive specialist Nicole Azar was honored as Best Defensive Player, and senior middle blocker Brittaney Snoke was selected as Most Improved.

The Crusaders, under the direction of eighth-year head coach Bill Switala, finished with a 23-8 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the Commonwealth Conference, which was keyed by a school-record 16-game winning streak from September 1 to September 29.

Steward (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola H.S.) was a Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star after she finished the season with 461 digs, the second-highest single-season total in school history, and ranked second in the conference with 4.48 per game. She finished her career with 1,139 digs in just three seasons to rank second on the Susquehanna career list.

Eshleman (Landisville, PA/Hempfield H.S.) was named Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-Star after she led the team and finished fourth in the Commonwealth Conference in kills per game (3.56). Eshleman also led the team and finished second in the conference in blocks per game (1.55), and she finished fourth in the league in digs per game (2.18).

Azar (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall H.S.) finished the 2001 season with 318 digs, ninth-best in the Commonwealth Conference and the eighth-highest season total in school history, while her season average of 3.15 digs per game is the ninth-best performance in school history

Snoke (Shippensburg, PA/Shippensburg H.S.) recorded 176 kills, 82 digs, and 25 solo blocks, and nine aces in her first season as a member of the team’s regular rotation. She finished third on the team in total blocks and blocks per game (0.56).