Spring's Student-Athlete Elite

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Twenty Susquehanna University spring sports student-athletes are on the 2000 Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Teams in their respective sports.

To qualify for the MAC Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must have cumulative grade-point averages of 3.2 or better (out of a 4.0 scale) and sophomore eligibility, while completing their athletic season in good standing.

The baseball and men's track and field team led the Susquehanna selections with four each.

Recent first-team MAC Commonwealth All-Star and senior shortstop/pitcher Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) joins junior first baseman and recent team Best Defensive Player Award recipient Lyle Hosler (Lititz/Manheim Township H.S.) leads the baseball All-Academic Team picks. Junior third baseman Mike Sauers (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg H.S.) and sophomore catcher Jamie Troutman (Halifax/Halifax H.S.) rounds out the baseball team's honorees.

Under second-year head coach Tim Briggs, the Crusader baseball team made the MAC Tournament for the first time since 1995 as it finished second in the Commonwealth Conference with an 8-6 record — going 13-16-1 overall.

Senior sprinter and tri-captain Jerry Evangelista (Steppton/Hazleton Area H.S.) joined with fellow senior and distance runner Ryan Neumyer (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley H.S.) to lead the track and field team's All-Academic Team picks. Junior All-MAC jumper Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) joined with sophomore distance leader Mike Lehtonen (Morris, N.Y./Morris Central H.S.) as the squad's other academic honorees.

Those four athletes helped the Crusaders win an invitational and tri-meet this spring while finishing second in the MAC Outdoor Championships for 22nd-year head coach Jim Taylor.

Like baseball and track and field on the men's side, the Crusader softball and outdoor women's track and field teams also tied in MAC All-Academic Team selections with three apiece.

Senior right-handed pitcher Katy Alwine (Bethel Park/Bethel Park H.S.) joined with a pair of sophomores in outfielder Kathina Sheets (Montoursville/Montoursville H.S.) and third baseman Shelly Zimmerman (Denver/Garden Spot H.S.) as the softball team's selections. Alwine has been a two-time MAC Commonwealth All-Star pitcher, while Zimmerman recently earned the team's Best Defensive Player Award.

Together, they helped the 2000 softball squad post the program's fifth-straight winning season — going 14-13 overall, 7-7 in the MAC Commonwealth Conference for sixth-year coach Vince Anselmo.

A pair of recent MAC placewinners lead the women's track and field team's All-Academic Team picks in senior sprinter and co-captain Jen Becker (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury H.S.) and junior hurdler and sprinter Emily Dugan (Athens/Athens H.S.). Sophomore distance runner Delina Cefaratti (Topton/Brandywine Heights H.S.) is the third women's thinclad to earn honors.

Under new head coach Craig Penney, the Crusader women placed sixth out of 11 teams at the MAC Outdoor Championships this spring.

The Susquehanna golf team won its sixth-straight MAC championship for 11th-year coach Don Harnum, and is presently competing at the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament for the third-straight season and fourth time in five years. A pair of sophomores have made the conference's All-Academic Team in Low Stroke Average Award recipient Ryan Franks (Huntingdon/Huntingdon H.S.) and Neil Crowell (York/West York H.S.).

The two Co-Most Valuable Players of the men's tennis team are that squad's All-Academic Team picks in junior Don Eckert (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley H.S.) and sophomore Rob Logan (Mountain Top/Crestwood Area H.S.). The Crusaders went 3-11 overall, 1-5 in the MAC Commonwealth Conference for 20th-year head coach Gary Fincke.

The two Susquehanna lacrosse teams each had one MAC All-Academic selection this spring as attack Jeremy Adams (Selinsgrove, Pa./North Attleboro, Mass., H.S.) made it on the men's side, while senior attack wing Shelley Sanders (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty H.S.) was the women's pick.

The Crusader women tied for their program's best record this season under third-year coach Gina Lucido, finishing 13-3 overall (Other Best Record: 13-3, 1999) and in second place in the MAC for a third-straight year at 6-1.

In their its inaugural varsity season, the men's lacrosse team won one of its first 13 games and finished 1-7 in the MAC for head coach Scott Rynne.

Berwager recently earned the school's Blair Heaton Award as its top male senior scholar-athlete. He has also recently been selected to both the MAC Commonwealth Conference First Team All-Stars and 2000 GTE Academic All-America College Division District II Baseball Team. He previously was a MAC Commonwealth All-Star second-team pick at shortstop as a sophomore and junior.

He was the only player on this season's team to start all 30 games — either playing at shortstop or pitching while being the team's lead-off hitter. He led the team in home runs with six, tying for the sixth most in a season at Susquehanna while ranking third in the Commonwealth Conference in per-game average (0.20). Berwager batted .336 (40-for-119) and scored 34 runs as he also led the team in at-bats, hits and runs — tying for the sixth most at-bats while recording the eighth most runs in school history. Berwager's .546 slugging percentage was third highest among the regulars this season, and his on-base percentage was .392. Defensively, he led the team with 89 assists for the second most in a season at Susquehanna, missing the record by just four (Record: 92, Jim Hanlon, 1988), and compiled a solid fielding percentage of .934.

On the mound, he was first on the team in wins (5-4), strikeouts (54) and innings (63) — ranking fourth in the Commonwealth Conference in strikeouts per nine innings (7.71). His 4.57 earned-run average was second best among the regular pitchers and included eight complete games in his nine starts, with just 24 walks in the 63 innings (3.43 per game).

Berwager finished second all-time at Susquehanna in career assists with 243 (Record: 257, Gregg Mills, 1990-93), tied for seventh in doubles (23), and tied for ninth in hits (109).

He has earned MAC academic honors five times as a finance major — twice in the fall and three times in the spring. He is the son of Timothy and Sheri Berwager of Hanover.

Hosler was the team's defensive award while committing just two errors in 177 fielding chances this season for a percentage of .989 — going his last 172 chances and 26 games without making an error. A second-team MAC Commonwealth All-Star last season who also was a runner-up for the 1999 Easton Redline Defensive Award by Collegiate Baseball magazine – Hosler went his first 239 chances in college without an error. He is second in career fielding percentage in school history at .992, ranking fourth in career putouts with 461, and is sixth in chances accepted at 505. Offensively, he is hit a career best .330 (29-for-88) this season with three doubles, a triple and 20 RBI. He is second on the team in runs scored with 32, also recording team highs in both walks (14) and being hit-by-the-pitcher (8) for an on-base percentage of .464.

He is a marketing/finance major and the son of David and Jean Hosler.

Sauers was a spot starter who saw time in eight games this season, primarily at third base. He committed just two errors in his 13 fielding chances for an .846 percentage, also getting one hit in 17 at-bats (.059) with a pair of runs.

He is a business major and the son of Dennis and Joanne Sauers.

Troutman was the team's reserve catcher this season, appearing in three games. He fielded all three of his defensive chance cleanly while making a pair of plate appearances. He also assisted as the bullpen catcher, helping to warm-up relief pitchers.

He is also a business major and the son of Thomas and Mary Troutman.

Evangelista made the MAC Championships in both the 100 (11.54) and 200-meter (23.24) dashes. He was 10th in qualifying in both at championships (11.45 in 100, 22.99 in 200), also running on the team's second place 400-meter relay team (43.21) which posted the squad's best time this season.

A three-time MAC Academic Honor Roll selection in both the winter and spring, he is a mathematics and computer science double major and the son of Gerald and Roseann Evangelista.

Neumyer qualified for the MAC outdoor meet in the 10,000-meter run (36:40.10) and held his qualifying seed by placing 17th (38:15.33).

A three-time member of the MAC Cross Country Academic Honor Roll who has now made it four times in track (twice indoors, twice outdoors) as a political science major, he is the son of William and Suszanne Neumyer.

Hollis was finished seventh at the outdoor championships in the triple jump (42-10½) and also qualified in the long jump (20-6) — going on to place 13th (19-9½).

Also a member of the Football and Indoor Track and Field All-Academic Teams this year as a finance major, he is the son of Gordon and Joan Hollis.

Lehtonen was the men's team's top distance runner, placing fourth at the conference championships in the 10,000-meter run (33:51.90) despite extreme heat and humidity. Also with the squad's fastest time in the 10,000 this season (33:51.90 at the Susquehanna Invitational on March 25), he finished 10th in the 5,000 (15:58.74) at MACs.

He also made both the cross country and indoor track All-Academic Teams this year as a mathematics and secondary education double major. He is the son of William and Nancy Lehtonen.

Alwine led the team with a 1.71 earned-run average to rank third in the Commonwealth Conference this season, also finishing with a 2-2 record. She pitched in 12 games this season and recorded complete games in three of her eight starts. Over her 41 innings pitched, she struck out 16 opposing batters while walking 12.

A MAC Commonwealth All-Star in each of her first two seasons, she's been on the conference's softball Academic Honor Roll in each of her last three. Alwine also finishes her Susquehanna career as one of the program's top pitchers all-time. She is ranked second in program history in career ERA (1.49); third in wins (29), winning percentage (.690, 29-13) strikeouts (198) and strikeouts per seven innings (5.05); and fourth in fewest walks per seven innings (2.23). Though she had just three plate appearances in the 2000 season, she finishes with a career .287 average (76-of-265) in 107 games, ranking second in program history in career home runs (6), third in runs batted in (65), sixth in at-bats (265), and tied for eighth in triple (6).

A three-time All-Academic pick as a public relations major, she is the daughter of James and Diane Alwine.

Sheets was only able to play in eight games this season before going down with a serious ankle injury after the team's Spring Break trip to Orange, California, for Chapman University's Sun West Tournament. She was a starting rightfielder for most of her eight games, recording one double in 16 at-bats with a pair of runs batted in. Sheets also scored two runs and laid down a pair of sacrifice bunts in her limited time over the injury-plagued season.

She is a communications major and the daughter of Tom and Karen Sheets.

Zimmeman was the recipient of the team's Best Defensive Player Award as she made just seven errors in 81 total fielding chances (.914 percentage) while starting all 27 games at "the hot corner" this season. Offensively, she batted .289 (24-for-83) with a team high seven doubles to rank fourth in the Commonwealth Conference in doubles per game (0.26). Also with a triple, Zimmerman was also tied for second on the team for runs scored (21) and tied for third in runs batted in (14). She was also tied for third in walks and was hit-by-pitches three times, helping her compile a .372 on-base percentage.

She is as biology major and the daughter of George and Pat Zimmerman.

Becker returned from a pair of leg stress fractures suffered last outdoor season to earn the women's track and field team's Most Valuable Athlete Award this season. She finished second in the 400-meter dash (1:00.16) and seventh in the 200 (28.07) at the recent MAC outdoor meet — breaking her own school record in the 400 (Old Record: 1:00.41, 1998) in the process. The 1999 MAC indoor champion in the 400-meter dash (1:01.67), Becker also anchored Susquehanna's second place 1,600-meter relay (4:09.74) and fourth-place 400-meter relay (52.59) teams.

Also on the MAC All-Academic Indoor Track and Field team as an elementary-education major, she is the daughter of Sharon and Dave Becker of Simsbury.

Dugan also ran legs on both of Susquehanna's placewinning relays at MACs while being the team's top hurdler again. She finished third in the conference in the 400-meter hurdles with her career best time (1:05.99), also placing seventh in the 100-hurdles (16.85). Dugan also had the team's best long (13-6) and triple jumps (30-6) this spring.

Dugan has made the MAC All-Academic indoor and outdoor track and field teams throughout her career as an elementary-education major. She is the daughter of John and Bonnie Dugan of Athens.

Cefaratti qualified for the MAC outdoor meet in the 5,000-meter run (20:16.0) and went on to improve her seed by five places while finishing 14th (20:44.73).

A corporate communications major who also earned MAC academic honors in cross country and indoor track this season, she is the daughter of Victor Cefaratti of Topton, and Arlene Albright of Ottsville.

Franks earned the golf team's Low Stroke Average Award this spring as he averaged 79.5 for 11 rounds this spring, shooting a low of 76 at Western Maryland. He finished second among the Crusaders and fourth overall at MACs with a 240 (79-39-81-39), and is presently second on the team and tied for 80th overall through 36 of the 72 holes at the NCAA Division III Championships with 161 (80-81). Franks averaged 77.6 in limited action during the fall.

He is a finance major and the son of John and Karyn Franks.

Crowell played in two rounds this spring and averaged 87.0, with a low score of 13-over-par 83 at the Susquehanna Valley Country Club during the team's Tee-Off Tournament on March 23.

He is an accounting and information systems double major and the son of David and Virginia Crowell.

Eckert played all 14 matches this spring at either third or fourth singles — going 3-8 at number-four and 1-2 at three for a season record of 4-10. He also played with four different partners to go 3-11 in doubles — primarily at number-two.

Now a two-time MAC All-Academic selection as an information systems major, he is the son of Doris and Richard Eckert.

Despite playing through a sore shoulder all season, Logan posted one of the team's best singles records at 4-6 — going 3-2 at number-five. He is 12-10 (.545) for his collegiate career in singles. He also teamed up with four different partners for a 4-6 record at third doubles.

Logan is a computer science major and the son of Emerson and Carol Logan.

Adams helped lead the men's lacrosse team to its first victory in program history with three goals against King's in an 11-8 win on April 4. He went on to finish tied for fifth on the team in goals with eight, adding one assist for nine points (0.69 ppg). He started all 13 of the team's games while recording 74 ground balls, third best on the team.

He is a journalism major and the son of Robert and Marianne Adams.

Sanders started all 16 games this season at attack wing and tied for sixth on the team in scoring with 16 goals and five assists for 21 points (1.31 ppg). She was also sixth on the squad in groundballs with 29, and had six interceptions. Despite missing last season while studying abroad, she still finished with 44 goals and 14 assists for 58 points in 44 career games (1.32 ppg) to finish seventh in career goals and eighth in scoring all-time at Susquehanna.

A two-time MAC All-Academic Team selection as a corporate communications major, she is the daughter of Michael and Aggie Sanders.