All-Stars in the Classroom

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — A total of 17 Susquehanna University winter sports student-athletes are on the 2000-01 Middle Atlantic Conference Winter All-Academic Team in their respective sports.

To qualify for the MAC Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must have cumulative grade-point averages of 3.4 or better (out of a 4.0 scale) and sophomore eligibility, while completing their athletic season in good standing.

Leading the way for Susquehanna was the women’s swimming team, which claimed six members on the MAC All-Academic Team — seniors Charlotte Murray (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey H.S) and Sarah Hancock (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford H.S.), juniors Michelle Badorf (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor H.S.) and Christy Shulick (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck H.S.) and sophomores Ellie McCutcheon (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain H.S.) and Lisa Schanberger (Hanover, Pa./South Western H.S.).

Men’s swimming placed three student-athletes on the MAC team — senior Mike Kelly (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brentwood H.S.), junior Michael Pfeiffer (York, Pa./West York H.S.) and sophomore Jon Bartholomew (St. Clair, Pa./Pottsville H.S.).

Three members of the men’s indoor track and field team were also honored by the MAC — senior Ryan Hollis (Mifflin, Pa./Juniata H.S.), junior Matt Shaffer (Brookville, Pa./Brookville H.S.) and sophomore Aaron Fairbanks (Winsted, Conn./Northwestern Regional #7 H.S.)

The Crusader men’s basketball team claimed two members on the MAC All-Academic Team — senior Mike Witcoskie (Annville, Pa./Palmyra H.S.) and sophomore Zigmas Kaknevicius (Bethpage, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran H.S.).

The women’s basketball squad also placed two players on the team — senior Karyn Kern (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley H.S.) and sophomore Emily Kurtz (St. Marys, Pa./St. Marys H.S.).

Finally, the women’s indoor track and field team is represented by sophomore Rebecca Abrecht (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick H.S.).

Men’s Basketball All-Academic Team

The Crusaders finished the 2000-01 season with a 10-14 overall record, and placed eighth in the Commonwealth Conference with a 3-11 league record under head coach Frank Marcinek.

Witcoskie (3.53, biology) started all 24 games this season and averaged 30.9 minutes per game. He finished second on the team in scoring, as he averaged 12.8 points per game. He led the team and ranked third in the conference in three-point field goals made, connecting on 61-158 for 38.6 percent.

He is the son of James and Jeannette Witcoskie.

Kaknevicius (3.75, finance) started all but one of the team’s 24 games this season and was second on the team in rebounding and fifth in scoring, averaging 7.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He led the team in blocks (21) and field-goal percentage, connecting on 75-142 for 52.8 percent, and ranking sixth and eighth in the conference respectively.

He is the son of Tomas and Rosa Kaknevicius.

Women’s Basketball All-Academic Team

Susquehanna qualified for the Commonwealth Conference playoffs after finishing 16-9 overall and 10-4 in the league under head coach Mark Hribar.

Kern (3.54, corporate communications) was a Commonwealth Conference first-team All-Star after she tied for the league lead in scoring (16.8 points per game) and blocked shots (1.50 blocks per game) this year and led the league in rebounding at 11.0 per contest. She posted 14 double-doubles during the 2000-01 season and 56 in her career.

She is the daughter of Peter and Carol Kern.

Kurtz (3.68, public relations) played in all 25 games this season coming off the bench as the backup shooting guard and small forward. She averaged 4.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game, and finished tied for third on the team in three-pointers (13-for-50).

She is the daughter of Dr. Randall and Barbara Kurtz.

Men’s Swimming All-Academic Team

The men’s swimming team completed the dual-meet season with a 2-7 record and finished seventh at the MAC championships under head coach Ged Schweikert.

Kelly (3.59, finance) competed in freestyle and butterfly events during the regular season but did not participate at the MAC championships.

He is the son of Maureen Kelly.

Pfeiffer (3.47, biology) competed in the 100-yard freestyle at the MAC Championships, finishing 21st with a time of 52.56.

In addition, Pfeiffer was a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay that finished 7th with a time of 1:32.58.

He is the son of Paul and Jeannette Pfeiffer of York..

Bartholomew (3.58, business) competed in freestyle events during the regular season but did not participate at the MAC championships.

He is the son of Charles and Veida Bartholomew of St. Clair.

Women’s Swimming All-Academic Team

The Crusaders took seventh of 11 teams at the MAC Championships after concluding the dual-meet season with a record of 3-8 under head coach Ged Schweikert.

Hancock (3.74, elementary education/Spanish) competed in the butterfly during the dual-meet season but did not qualify for the MAC championships.

She is the daughter of Craig and Deborah Hancock.

Murray (3.93, biology/German) competed in the 500-yard freestyle, the 200-yard freestyle, and the 1650-yard freestyle at the MAC Championships, finishing 13th in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:41.66 , 15th in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:08.92, and finishing 7th in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 19:18.27.

In addition, Murray was a member of the 800-yard freestyle that finished 7th with a time of 8:33.44.

She is the daughter of W. Bosseau and Janette Murray.

Badorf (3.78, biology) is studying abroad during the spring semester and did not compete in the MAC Championships. However, during the fall semester she led the Crusaders with team-best times in the 200-yard backstroke (2:19.58) and 200-yard freestyle (2:05.39).

She is the daughter of John and Patricia Badorf.

Shulick (3.50, psychology) was a member of the squad but did not see dual-meet action during the 2000-01 season.

She is the daughter of Mary Jo and Stephen Shulick, Jr.

McCutcheon (3.49, political science) competed in the 500-yard freestyle and the 1650- yard freestyle at the MAC Championships, finishing 19th in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:50.23 and finishing 10th in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 19:37.68.

She is the daughter of David and Pamela McCutcheon.

Schanberger (3.40, public relations) competed in the 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle at the MAC Championships, finishing 15th in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:26.16, and finishing 20th in the 100 freestyle with a time of 0:59.77.

In addition, Schanberger was a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay that finished 5th with a time of 3:51.15.

She is the daughter of Richard and Joanne Schanberger.

Men’s Indoor Track and Field All-Academic Team

The Crusaders took fourth at the MAC Championships under the direction of head coach Jim Taylor.

Hollis (3.43, finance) took fifth at the championships in the long jump with a leap of 43 feet, 4 1/2 inches.

He is the son of Gordon and Joan Hollis.

Shaffer (3.75, global management) threw the shot put at the MAC championships and took sixth place with a heave of 42 feet, 4 1/4 inches.

He is the son of Dan and Jane Shaffer.

Fairbanks (3.87, broadcasting) took 12th place in the 400 meters with a time of 55.55 seconds, and was a member of the distance medley relay team that placed third with a time of 11:06.42.

He is the son of Jonathan and Cynthia Fairbanks.

Women’s Indoor Track and Field All-Academic Team

The Crusaders took eighth at the MAC Championships under the direction of head coach Craig Penney.

Abrecht (3.72, elementary education) was a member of the 4x800 relay team that finished fourth in a time of 10:52.28.

She is the daughter of Ken and Michelle Abrecht.