Putting The Student In Student-Athlete

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Twenty-five Susquehanna University fall sports student-athletes are on the 2000 Middle Atlantic Conference 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.

The football team again claimed the most Susquehanna athletes on the Fall All-Academic Team with a total of six selection. Senior punter Ryan Hollis (Mifflin, Pa./Juniata H.S.) and center Dave Wonderlick (Shenandoah/Shenandoah Valley H.S.) are joined by junior defensive tackle John Hoffman (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland H.S.) and offensive tackle Matt Shaffer (Brookville, Pa./Brookville H.S.), along with a pair of sophomores in quarterback Mike Bowman (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy H.S.) and defensive back Antonio Nash (Washington, D.C./Springbrook, Md., H.S.).

The Susquehanna field hockey team placed four players on the All-Academic Team. Senior tri-captain and wing Ali Hughes (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg H.S.) is joined by junior tri-captain and goalkeeper Kylie Cook (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon H.S.), and a pair of sophomores attacks in Julie Copoulos (Manchester, Md./North Carroll H.S.) and Kerry Thomas (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West H.S.).

The Crusader women’s tennis squad also saw four of its players qualify for the All-Academic team, as senior Alyssa Miller (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge H.S.) was joined by three sophomores — Angela Fegley (Reading, Pa./Exeter H.S.), Carly Kellett (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley H.S.), and Emily Kurtz (St. Marys, Pa./St. Marys H.S.).

The men’s cross country team has three MAC All-Academic Team selections in senior Micha van Waesberghe (Axel, The Netherlands/Reynaert), junior Rob Logan (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood H.S.) and sophomore Mike Maffei (Durham, Conn./Coginchaug H.S.).

The women’s volleyball team has three players on the All-Academic Team as well, all of them sophomores. Defensive specialist Nicole Azar (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall H.S.), outside hitter Becki Bert (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff H.S.) and middle blocker Traci Sariscak (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park H.S.) were the three Crusader spikers to qualify for the team.

Men’s soccer also claimed three All-Academic Team members, as senior defender Andy Jacob (Newport, R.I./Rogers H.S.), sophomore midfielder Mike Koether (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton H.S.) and sophomore forward Matthew Detar (Mansfield, Pa./Mansfield H.S.) were named to the squad.

Earning one All-Academic selection apiece were women’s soccer senior midfielder Kristin Gilbert (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac H.S.) and women’s cross country sophomore runner Rebecca Abrecht (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick H.S.).

Football All-Academic Team

The Crusaders finished the 2000 season with a 7-3 record (6-3 MAC), including a 16-14 upset of nationally-ranked Lycoming in Williamsport on November 4 under 11th-year head coach Steve Briggs. The offense ranked second in the MAC in yards with an average of 391.4 yards per game, while the defense finished sixth in yards allowed at 349.0 per contest.

Bowman (4.00, mathematics) led the Crusaders offense with 184 completions in 354 attempts for 2563 yards, averaging 256.3 yards per game. He had 20 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown and a 121.27 efficiency rating.

Bowman broke career records at Susquehanna in completions (295) and attempts (578)., and broke school records for attempts, completions, passing touchdowns (20), total offense (2,462) and passing yards in a season. He was ranked 25th in total offense per game (246.2) in the NCAA Division III unofficial final statistics.

Bowman is the son of Richard and Janice Bowman.

Hoffman (3.41, business) is a two-time MAC All-Academic Team member. HE played in and started all 10 games for the Crusaders, and made 23 tackles, with five tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.

He is the son of Ron and Geralyn Hoffman.

Hollis (3.45, finance) is a two-time MAC All-Academic Team member. The team’s punter for the last three years, Hollis launched 43 punts for 1543 yards for the Crusaders averaging 35.9 yards to finish his career at Susquehanna. He put 12 of those punts inside the 20-yard line. He finished his career ranked 6th in both punts (135) and punting yardage (5,029) for the Crusaders, while his 37.3 yards per punt average is the 3rd highest in Crusader history.

He is the son of Gordon and Joan Hollis.

Nash (3.57, accounting) was a repeat MAC Commonwealth League first-team All-Star after he started all 10 games for the Crusaders to earn his second varsity letter. He was 2nd on the team with 74 tackles, leading the team in unassisted tackles with 53, tied for 2nd on the team with three interceptions and tied for 3rd on the team in breakups with seven.

Nash was also named to the 2000 Verizon Academic All-District II College Division Football Team. He is the son of Joann and Sampson Nash, Jr.

Shaffer (3.72, global management) is a two-time MAC All-Academic Team member. He played in and started one game for the Crusaders before suffering a season-ending knee injury during practice after the Crusaders’ season-opening 26-16 win over FDU-Madison.

He is the son of Dan and Jane Shaffer.

Wonderlick (4.00, public relations) is a three-time MAC All-Academic Team member. He was named a MAC Commonwealth League second-team All-Star after starting all 10 games for the Crusaders.

He was also individually honored for his academics and performance on the field. Wonderlick was chosen as a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete for 2000 and will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. Wonderlick was also named the Verizon College Division Football Academic All-American of the Year after repeating as a first-team Academic All-America team member in 2000.

He is the son of Len and Louise Wonderlick.

Field Hockey All-Academic Team

The Crusaders qualified for the Commonwealth Conference tournament, where they lost a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to eventual conference champion Lebanon Valley in the semifinals. The team’s six losses were deceiving as Susquehanna lost five of their six decisions to teams that were ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Top 20 at the time, including four losses to teams ranked in the top six.

Cook (3.75, accounting) is a two-time MAC All-Academic Team member. For the second straight year Cook was named a first-team Commonwealth Conference All-Star and a second-team All-South-Atlantic Region selection. Cook, who never played goalkeeper until her freshman year at Susquehanna, started all 17 games this season and finished fifth in the conference in both goals against average (1.76) and save percentage (.771), while participating in five shutouts this season. For her career, Cook has a 1.32 goals against average and a save percentage of .824 in 50 games.

She is the daughter of Rodney and Pamela Cook.

Copoulos (3.69, mass communications) was a regular on the Crusader junior varsity team during the 2000 season, after making one appearance on the varsity level as a freshman.

She is the daughter of Jeffery and Barbara Copoulos.

Hughes (3.67, psychology) is a was a 2000 Astro Turf/National Field Hockey Coaches Association first-team All-South-Atlantic Region pick, as she played in all 17 games this season, starting 15 of them, and finished tied for second on the team in scoring with 16 points on seven goals and two assists.

Hughes was a second-team All-South-Atlantic Region pick a year ago, and was also named a conference all-star for the third time in her career, as he has been a first-team selection the last two seasons, after being a second-team selection as a sophomore. For her career, Hughes finished second in program history in points (65) and assists (17) and ranks fifth in goals (24).

She is the daughter of Michael and Carol Hughes.

Thomas (3.50, public relations) played in seven games this season and did not record a point. It was her first varsity action of her career at Susquehanna.

She is the daughter of Douglas and Suzzanne Thomas.

Women’s Tennis All-Academic Team

The Crusaders wrapped up the 2000 season with a 5-7 overall record (3-4 Commonwealth) under seventh-year head coach Bob Jordan.

Fegley (3.84, finance) won her only singles match of the season at number six singles. For her career, Fegely is 3-3 overall in singles play.

She is the daughter of Neal and Sandra Fegely.

Kellett (3.80, broadcasting) teamed up with sophomore Kelly Moritz to advance to the quarterfinals of the MAC Individual Championships. Kellett and Moritz finished the season with a 3-6 doubles record. Kellett also earned a starting singles position – playing primarily number three singles and compiling a 4-6 record overall.

Kellett is the daughter of Bruce and Denise Kellett.

Kurtz (3.62, public relations) earned a starting singles position – playing either third or fourth singles and compiling a 2-9 record overall, as she played in all but one match this season. Kurtz played with four different doubles partners this season, and compiled a 3-6 doubles record, including a 2-2 record at first doubles.

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

Miller (3.63, elementary education) compiled a 2-0 record at third doubles with two different partners. She dropped her only match of the season at number six singles. For her career, Miller had a 4-11 singles record.

Miller is the daughter of Dana and Cindy Miller.

Men’s Cross Country All-Academic Team

The Susquehanna men’s cross country team placed third at the MAC championships and eighth at the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional under the direction of second-year coach Craig Penney.

Logan (3.88, computer science) finished 66th at the MAC championships in a time of 29:52.04, while his season-best time of 29:38.80 at the Mideast Regional was good for 124th place in the field of 245 runners.

He is the son of Emerson and Carol Logan.

Maffei (3.79, business) finished 106th at the MAC championships in a time of 34:08.33. His best finish of the year was a 51st place result at the Susquehanna Invitational on September 30.

He is the son of Vincent and Linda Maffei.

van Waesberghe (3.86, English) earned MAC second-team All-Star honors after finishing 16th at the MAC championships in a time of 27:55.11. He placed 42nd at the NCAA Mideast Regional championships.

He is the son of Jo and Kitty van Waesberghe.

Volleyball All-Academic Team

Susquehanna enjoyed a solid 2000 season by finishing at 17-12 overall and 5-2 Commonwealth Conference and returning to the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Azar (3.48, information systems) played in 98 of the team’s 100 games while recording 290 digs, 27 aces and 12 kills. Her 2.96 digs per game ranked third on the team and ninth in the Commonwealth Conference.

She is the daughter of John and Charlotte Azar.

Bert (3.73, biochemistry) played in all of the team’s 100 games while recording 322 digs, 101 kills, 51 aces and nine blocks. She led the team and was tied for fourth in the conference in aces per game (0.51) and placed second on the team and sixth in the Commonwealth Conference in digs per game (3.22).

She is the daughter of Bradley and Martha Bert.

Sariscak (3.57, business) a Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star, played in all of the team’s 100 games and led the team with 312 kills and was fourth on the squad with 39 aces.

Her hitting percentage of .333 ranked second in the conference, while she ranked fifth in kills (3.12 per game), eighth in blocks (0.57 per game), and tied for 10th in aces per game (0.39)

She is the daughter of Joseph and Kathleen Sariscak.

Men’s Soccer All-Academic Team

The Crusaders finished a hard-luck season with a record of 7-9-1 (3-4 Commonwealth) with four of the losses coming in overtime, under third-year head coach Jim Findlay.

Detar (3.69, accounting) played in one match this season and for his career has one assist in nine games.

He is the son of C. Wesley and Deborah Detar.

Jacob (3.40, international studies) played in 13 games for the Crusaders, starting three. He was a key player on a Susquehanna defense that allowed two goals per game, and he played in 22 game throughout his Crusader career.

He is the son of Paul Jacob and Christine Jacob.

Koether (3.78, chemistry) played in five games this season but went scoreless.

He is the son of Tony and Bonnie Koether.

Women’s Soccer All-Academic Team

Susquehanna enjoyed the best season in the seven-year history of the program with a final record of 9-6 (3-4 Commonwealth) under second-year head coach Jim Findlay.

Gilbert (3.66, political science) named a Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star, went scoreless in 15 matches but was a leader of a Susquehanna defense that posted four shutouts and allowed only 31 goals in 15 matches.

A four-year letterwinner and tri-captain of the 2000 squad, Gilbert scored six goals and 13 points in 56 career matches.

She the daughter of Craig and Irene Gilbert.

Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team

The Crusaders finished third at the MAC championships and eighth at the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional under second-year head coach Craig Penney.

Abrecht (3.75, elementary education) had her best finish this season as she finished 101st at the MAC championships on October 28th, where she also posted her fastest time at 24:49:12 over the 5,100-meter course.

She is the daughter of Ken and Michelle Abrecht.