Academic-Athletic Excellence

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Twenty-two Susquehanna University winter sports student-athletes are on the 1999-2000 Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll 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 7-3 women’s swimming team of 21st-year head coach Ged Schweikert has the most Academic Honor Roll selections with eight. Juniors making the team are tri-captain Charlotte Murray (Hummelstown/Hershey H.S.), Sarah Hancock (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford H.S.) and Mackenzie Pfeifer (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Arlington H.S.). Sophomores earning academic honors are Michelle Badorf (Lancaster/Penn Manor H.S.), Emily Jaworski (Annville/Lebanon Catholic H.S.), Anja Santiago (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk H.S.), Christy Shulick (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck H.S.), and Michelle Thurstlic (Chadds Ford/Garnettville H.S.). The women’s swimmers had their highest finish ever at the MAC Championships, placing third while hosting the event for the first time in the 21-year history of the sport at Susquehanna. Their dual meet record was also their best since 1988-89.

Schweikert’s men’s swimming team also put three members on their MAC Academic Honor Roll in senior tri-captain Steve Fischer (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood H.S.) — who became the first MAC swimming champion in the history of the school this season — along with fellow tri-captain and junior J.C. Owens (Mt. Carmel/Mt. Carmel H.S.), and sophomore Mike Pfeiffer (York/West York H.S.). Together, this group helped the Crusader men’s swimmers record their first winning dual meet season since 1991-92, finishing 5-4. They went on to place fifth at MAC Championships as a team.

Both the Crusader men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams have four members of their teams on the conference Academic Honor Rolls in their sports respectively.

Senior tri-captain Jerry Evangelista (Sheppton/Hazleton Area H.S.) joins fellow senior Ryan Neumyer (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley H.S.), junior Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) and sophomore Mike Lehtonen (Laurens, N.Y./Morris Central H.S.) as men’s track and field academic honorees. They helped the Crusaders place third at the recent MAC Indoor Championships for 22nd-year coach Jim Taylor.

Senior co-captain Jen Becker (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury H.S.) joins junior Emily Dugan (Athens/Athens H.S.), and sophomores Delina Cefaratti (Topton/Brandywine Heights H.S.) and Katrina Emery (Easton/Wilson H.S.) as Susquehanna’s representatives on the women’s track Academic Honor Roll. The Crusaders were eighth at the conference indoor championships for their new head coach Craig Penney.

The Crusader men’s and women’s basketball teams both went 13-11 this season and just missed the MAC playoffs. Both had players make their Academic Honor Rolls.

Senior guard and co-captain Garrett Thompson (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East H.S.) and junior two-guard Mike Witcoskie (Annville/Palmyra H.S.) are men’s honorees for 11th-year head coach Frank Marcinek.

Senior center and tri-captain Karyn Kern (Brodheadsville/Pleasant Valley H.S.) is the lone women’s basketball player to make the Academic Honor Roll under 13th-year head coach Mark Hribar.

Murray was third in the 1,650-yard freestyle as Susquehanna hosted the MAC Championships this season, finishing with a time of 19:07.83. She was sixth in 500-free with a time of 5:38.16, and 12th in the 200-yard free with a time of 2:12.81. Murray also was on two placewinning relays at MACs — swimming on the fifth-place 400-yard free relay team (3:53.30) and the sixth-place 800-free relay (8:25.28).

For the year, Murray had the team’s best times in the 500 (5:32.65), 1,000 (11:30.10) and 1,650 (19:07.83) freestyle, and swam on the fastest relays in three events.

Murray holds school records in the 500 (5:26.26, 1999), 1,000 (11:13.98) and 1,650 (18:43.80) free, also swimming on the school record 800-free relay (8:19.45, 1999).

She has now earned MAC Academic honors twice as a biology and German major and the daughter of W. Bosseau and Jannette Murray.

Hancock swam both butterfly and freestyle this season, qualifying for the MAC Championship in the 200-yard butterfly. She swam a 2:48.65 at MACs, but did not make the top 12.

She is an elementary education and Spanish double major and the daughter of Craig and Deborah Hancock of East Hartford.

Pfeifer saw limited time this season, swimming in the distance freestyle events and the relays during the dual meet season. She had a 7:05.51 in the 500-free vs. Albright on December 11, and a 14:44.39 in the 1,650-free vs. Western Maryland on November 20.

She is a mathematics and English double major, and the daughter of Gary and Mary Ann Pfeifer.

Badorf won three medals for the second straight year at the MAC Championships — taking second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:15.63), and third in both the 100-back (1:04.22) and 200-individual medley (2:19.64). Badorf also participated in four placewinning relays — swimming on the fifth-place 400-yard medley (4:21.14), 200 (1:46.13) and 400 (3:53.30) freestyle relays, as well as the sixth-place 800-yard freestyle (8:25.28).

For the year, Badorf had the team’s best times in the 100-yard freestyle (:58.37), the 200-IM (2:19.64), and both the 100 (1:03.95) and 200-back (2:16.54). The three relays at the MACs also were the team’s best times on the year.

Badorf holds the school records in both the 200-free (2:00.92, 1999) and 200-back (2:15.10, 1999), and has swam on the school record 800-yard free relay (8:19.45).

She is a biology major and the daughter of John and Patricia Badorf of Lancaster.

Jaworski swam both the backstroke and individual medley, qualifying for the MAC Championship meet in two events. She was 16th out of 31 swimmers in the 200-yard IM (2:31.02), and was 13th out of 20 in the 100-back (1:07.83).

She is a music education major and the daughter of Stanley and Kathy Jaworski of Annville.

Santiago swam the backstroke, distance freestyle and individual medley events this season — qualifying for the MAC Championship meet in three events. She was 10th out of 23 swimmers in the 1,650-yard freestyle (19:42.58), 19th out of 30 swimmers in the 200-yard backstroke (2:30.49), 24th out of 31 swimmers in the 200-individual medley (2:34.61).

She is a liberal arts major and the daughter of Ranjit Santiago and Carol Solheim.

At the conference meet, Schulick was part of the sixth-place 200-yard medley relay team which set a season best time (1:59.84). Individually, she qualified for the championships in the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard backstroke. She was 16th out of 25 swimmers in the 200-back (2:29.59), 17th in the 100-back (1:09.99), and 18th out of 31 in the 200-IM (2:31.50).

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

Thurstlic swam the sprint freestyle events and relays this season. She qualified for the conference meet in the 100-yard freestyle, but didn’t advance past the preliminaries as she swam a time of 1:03.58.

She is a history and international studies major and the daughter of Joseph and Catherine Thurstlic.

Fischer won the MAC Championship in the 200-yard butterfly while shattering the school record with a time of 2:01.92. He also finished second in both the 100-yard butterfly (:55.07) and the 400-individual medley, setting another school record in the IM (4:28.61). He also helped set new school records in both the 200 (1:41.96) and 400-yard (3:44.20) medley relays as the teams both finished third. Fischer also swam the anchor leg on the fourth-place 400-yard freestyle relay team (3:23.94).

For the year, Fischer had the team’s best times in the 200-yard IM (2:05.31), 400-IM (4:28.61), 100-butterfly (:55.07), and the 200-fly (2:01.92), also swimming on three of the squad’s fastest relays this season.

He earned MAC academic honors three times during his career as a biology major, and the son of Raymond and Corinne Fischer.

A shoulder injury prohibited Owens from full participation this season, limiting him to swimming sprint freestyle events and relays. He was part of a first-place 200-meter medley relay team at Lebanon Valley (2:08.27), ans finished second in the 50-yard freestyle with a season best time (:25.20) in the home opening win over Western Maryland on November 20.

Owens repeats on the MAC Academic Honor Roll as a biology major. He is the son of John and Debbie Owens.

Pfeiffer qualified for the meet in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles, but failed to advance to the finals in those events. He swam :24.65 in the 50, and :54.34 in the 100 at the championship meet.

He is a biology major and the son of Paul and Jeannette Pfeiffer of York.

Evangelista ran the 55-meter and 200-meter dashes indoors, and was part of the 800-meter relay team which finished second at the MAC Indoor Championships.

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

Neumyer ran distance events for the men’s team indoors this season, but was unable to participate at the conference indoor championships because of academic commitments.

A three-time member of the MAC Cross Country Academic Honor Roll who has now made it twice for indoor track as a political science major, Neumyer is the son of William and Suszanne Neumyer.

Hollis was one of the team’s best jumpers during the indoor season and finished fifth in the long jump (20-3½) at the MAC Indoor Championships. He won the triple jump (42-0½) at the Lebanon Valley Indoor Invitational on January 22.

Also a member of the Football Academic Honor Roll as a finance major, he is the son of Gordon and Joan Hollis.

Lehtonen was the men’s team’s top distance runner indoors and just missed scoring in the 5,000-meter run at the conference indoor meet (16:28.79).

He also made MAC cross country Academic Honor Roll in the fall as a mathematics major, and the son of William and Nancy Lehtonen.

Becker was unable to run competitively on the indoor season as she was recovering from a pair of leg stress fractures suffered last outdoor season. She was the 1999 MAC indoor champion in the 400-meter dash (1:01.67). She is activily competing again during the outdoor campaign.

She is an elementary-education major and the daughter of Sharon and Dave Becker of Simsbury.

Dugan was the top sprinter during the indoor season and also the team’s top hurdler. She was fifth in the MAC in the 200-meter dash (:29.08) at the indoor championships, and also ran on the successful 1,600-meter relay.

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.

Emery ran lead-off on Susquehanna’s third-place 1,600-meter relay indoors at MACs (4:27.18). She is also a hurdler and 800-meter runner.

A Spanish major, she is the daughter of Donald Emery and Maria Emery, both of Easton.

Cefaratti ran distance for the women’s team indoors, finishing 11th at the conference meet in the 1,500-meter run (5:37.00).

A corporate communications major, she is the daughter of Victor Cefaratti of Topton, and Arlene Albright of Ottsville.

The 6-2 Thompson played in all 24 games for the men’s basketball team this season, starting all but one of them at two-guard as the team’s top defensive player. He had the job of guarding the other team’s top guard each game. A transfer from the Division I University of Delaware three years ago, he was third on the team in steals this season with 30 (1.3 per game) and tied for fourth in assists with 29 (1.2 per game). He also averaged 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game – finishing second on the team in free throw percentage at 81.8 percent (27 of 33), hitting 13 of 33 three-pointers (39.4%).

In his two seasons at Susquehanna, Thompson played in 45 games, starting 35, and scored 267 points (5.9 ppg) while grabbing 124 rebounds (2.8 per game) and making 45 steals (1.0 per game). He was a career 73.6 percent free throw shooter (39 of 53).

A broadcasting major who earned MAC All-Academic honors for the second-straight year, he is the son of Dr. Sterling and Barbara Thompson of Harrisburg.

The 6-2 Witcoskie played in all 24 games this season, starting two at the off-guard position. He led the team in three-point field goals, hitting on 49 of 112 for 43.8 percent – finishing third in the Commonwealth Conference in three-point percentage and third in treys per game (2.0). Witcoskie was third on the squad in scoring (9.0 ppg) while averaging 19.1 minutes per game. He also averaged 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He was the team’s most productive bench player – leading the Crusaders in points during three games and scoring in double figures nine times this year.

A biology major who is also a two-time member of the MAC Men’s Basketball Academic Honor Roll, Witcoskie is the son of James and Jeanette Witcoskie.

A three-time MAC Commonwealth League All-Star and 1998-99 honorable mention Division III All-American, the 6-2 Kern had her season cut short in the fifth game by a ligament knee injury — forcing her to undergo reconstructive surgery. Also a Preseason All-American, Kern averaged 26.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game, while shooting 64.5 percent from the field (49 of 76) and 78.6 percent from the free throw line (33 of 42) in those five games. She is fifth on the program’s career scoring list with 1,358 points, and fourth in career rebounds with 796.

A five-time selection to the MAC All-Academic teams, earning honors three times in the winter and twice in the spring, Kern is a psychology major. She is the daughter of Carol and Peter Kern.