Reading, Pa. (Apr. 30, 2019) – Alvernia University recognized its senior student-athletes at the annual Senior Athlete Dinner on Monday evening at the Reading DoubleTree Hotel.
This year’s Senior Athlete Dinner recognized the individual and team accomplishments of the student-athlete class of 2019, which consists of 72 student-athletes this year. Among the 72 senior athletes recognized, Director of Athletics Bill Stiles recognized 14 athletes for the accomplishments on and off the field of play.
Outstanding Senior Athletes
The Outstanding Senior Athlete Award is given annually to the male and female student-athlete who have demonstrated superior excellence in their sport, or sports, garnering conference, regional, and national acclaim throughout their four-year career at Alvernia:
Nathan Sides (Baseball) – Nathan Sides has his name written all over Alvernia history. Earlier this season, Sides became the all-time hits, all-time triples, and all-time at-bats leader, surpassing three ten-year old records held by Alvernia Hall of Famer Eric Bonds. Sides currently stands at 272 career hits and 20 career triples. He currently leads all of NCAA Division III with 80 hits this season. Sides is the 2016 MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year, and the earned MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year honors in 2017. He has also earned All-Region and All-American honors during his historic career.
Emily Gilbert (Women’s Golf) – Emily Gilbert is a two-time MAC Women’s Golfer of the Year, a 24-time low-medalist, four-time MAC First Team All-Conference honoree, and is the MAC and Alvernia single-round record holder with a round of 1-under 72 at York Country Club earlier this spring. She was named MAC Women’s Golf Senior Scholar Athlete earlier this month, and is a three-time Academic All-MAC recipient. After earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, Gilbert went on the break the MAC Women’s Golf Championship single-round record on the first day of the 2017 MAC Championship at Hershey Country Club with a 6-over 77. She would go on to win the 2017 MAC Championship with a two-day score of 161. In 2019, Gilbert won the MAC Championship again while also helping lead Alvernia to a team championship and its first NCAA appearance. Gilbert finished out her historic career this past weekend with a third place finish at the 2019 MAC Women’s Golf Championship.
Senior Scholar Athletes
The Scholar Athlete Award is given to the male and female senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA. Its purpose is to encourage, recognize, and reward outstanding academic achievement of an intercollegiate four-year varsity sport letter winner. The award is also presented at the University’s Honors Convocation:
Annie Rose (Women’s Soccer) – Annie Rose completed her athletic eligibility during her fourth year of the five-year Occupational Therapy program. Rose is a four-time MAC Academic Honor Roll member and is a two-time MAC All-Sportsmanship
Matthew Junio (Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field) – Matthew Junio, is an Athletic Training major, is a seven-time MAC Academic Honor Roll member. He is a four-year letter winner in Cross Country, Indoor Track and Field, and Outdoor Track and Field.
Student-Athlete Leadership Award
The Student-Athlete Leadership Award is given annually to a student-athlete, or student- athletes, who exhibit exemplary leadership skills in their athletic endeavors, across campus, and/or in the community. These students are looked up to by their peers, hold leadership positions in their teams or in their respective clubs, and are engaged in community service activities. The recipient of this year’s Student-Athlete Leadership Award is Julia Malpass of the Women’s Cross Country and Women’s Track and Field team.
Athletic Director’s Award
The Athletic Director’s Award is presented annually to the male and female student-athletes who embody the mission of the institution through their actions on and off the field of play. The Athletic Director’s Award is awarded to those who embrace the core values of Alveria: service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation, and collegiality, and who have excelled in their sports, in the classroom, and in the community. The recipients of this year’s Athletic Director’s Award are Ian Shaffer of Baseball and Jordan Kissner of Women’s Golf.
Athletics Excellence Award
The Athletics Excellence Award is given annually to up to five senior student-athletes who have excelled in athletics. These students have excelled on the field in their sport, and have earned conference, regional, and/or national recognition for their accomplishments. The recipients of this year’s Athletics Excellence Award is Amanda Phillips of Women’s Tennis, Morgan Psiuk of Softball, Alex Salesky of Baseball, and Jarret Abernethy of Men’s Lacrosse.
The Franciscan Award
The Franciscan Award is presented annually to student-athletes who embody the core values and Mission of Alvernia University by demonstrating integrity, commitment, sportsmanship, and passion. The recipients of this year’s Franciscan Award are Jill Baker of Women’s Volleyball, Nick Tait of Men’s Soccer, and Franco Esposito of Baseball.
Student-Athlete Honors Cords
Student-Athlete Honors Cords are presented to all student-athletes who have met the following criteria:
- 3.3 Cumulative GPA following the fall semester of their senior year of last year of eligibility.
- Transfers who have competed in the last two seasons of their sport(s) at Alvernia and used all of their eligibility.
- Four year Alvernia students must have competed all four years.
- Includes Club and NCAA Sport student-athletes.
The following student-athletes received honors cords to be worn at Commencement:
| Rachel Dzik | Spirit | Occupational Therapy |
| Liza Callueng | Spirit/Track | Nursing |
| Lauren Callueng | Spirit/Track | Finance |
| Taylor Dorrin | Field Hockey | Occupational Therapy |
| Kyle Millard | Men’s Golf | Accounting |
| Jordan Kissner | Women’s Golf | Athletic Training |
| Emily Gilbert | Women’s Golf | Healthcare Science |
| Jacob Waltz | Men’s Ice Hockey | Criminal Justice |
| Matthew Junio | Cross Country/Track | Athletic Training |
| Julia Malpass | Cross Country/Track | Occupational Therapy |
| Mitchell Kinek | Men’s Soccer | Business Management |
| Gabriel Hochenberger | Men’s Soccer | Finance |
| Todd Unger | Men’s Tennis | Business Management |
| Maya Cooper | Women’s Basketball | Healthcare Science |
| Michelle Draper | Equestrian | Business Management |
| Courtney Dumais | Equestrian | Occupational Therapy |
| Jada Alexis | Women’s Soccer | Forensic Science |
| Melissa Stahl | Women’s Soccer | Occupational Therapy |
| Hailey Myers | Women’s Soccer | Occupational Therapy |
| Johanna Shank | Women’s Soccer | Marketing |
| Annie Rose | Women’s Soccer | Occupational Therapy |
| Emily Thek | Women’s Tennis | Occupational Therapy |
| Amanda Phillips | Women’s Tennis | Finance |
| Jillian Baker | Women’s Volleyball | Marketing |
| Colin Rieger | Baseball | Healthcare Administration |
| Zack Landy | Baseball | Sport Management |
| Thomas Malik | Baseball | Marketing |
| Ian Shaffer | Baseball | Sport Management |
| Jarret Abernethy | Men’s Lacrosse | Accounting |
| Emily Carmella | Softball | Biology |
| Morgan Psiuk | Softball | Marketing |
| Rachel Judge | Women’s Lacrosse | Business Management |
| Casey Rusk | Women’s Lacrosse | Occupational Therapy |
| Amanda Moyer | Women’s Lacrosse | Occupational Therapy |
TEAM CAPSULES
Cross Country
Cross Country coaches: Tim Hartung, Joe McCool, and Zachary Barker
Cross Country seniors: Matt Junio, and Julia Malpass
Junio posted his best 5K cross country time of 17:38 at Ramapo in 2017. Malpass posted her best 5K time in 2015 at Dickinson in 2015 with a time of 22:26.
Football
Coaches: Ralph Clark
Men’s Soccer Senior: Ben Strausser
Strausser was the place kicker for the first Alvernia University Football team. He went 1-for-1 on field goal attempts kicking a 24-yarder at Delaware Valley.
Men’s Soccer
Coaches: Casey Moore, Bret Krotee, Justin Allegra, and Atif Molki
Men’s Soccer Seniors: Gabe Hochenberger, Mitch Kinek, Adam Orndorff, Jay Ringer, Nick Sincavage, Nick Tait, and Austin Young.
The Men’s Soccer class of 2019 led the team to an overall record of 33-39-10. In their four years, this class has made three MAC tournament appearances and two ECAC appearances. The seniors reached the MAC Commonwealth semifinals in 2016, and, as freshman, they won three games on the road to win the ECAC Title. They knocked off Frostburg State, 2-1 in the quarterfinal then beat Geneva College, 1-0, in the semifinal at Penn State-Behrend and beat the Lions in the final in penalty kicks.
Women’s Soccer
Coach: Emily Gingrich, Eric Puls, and Kristen Mantle.
Women’s Soccer Seniors: Hailey Myers, Annie Rose, Johnna Shank, and Melissa Stahl.
The Women’s Soccer Class of 2019 finishes with an overall record of 20-48-2. Both Rose and Shank are four-time MAC honor roll recipients. Annie is also a two-time MAC All-Sportsmanship honoree. Shank finishes her career sixth all-time in Alvernia history with 14 career goals. Rose, a defender, finishes her career with two goals and an assist.
Men’s Tennis
Coach: Don Hutchison
Men’s Tennis Seniors: Todd Unger
Over the last four years, Men’s Tennis has posted a record of 21-26. The team had its best season in terms of wins with a 9-7 record in 2016-17. On his career, Todd is 20-27 in singles matches and 22-31 in doubles. Todd also just earned MAC Senior Scholar for Men’s Tennis, and is the first men’s tennis player to earn the award since Alvernia joined the MAC.
Women’s Tennis
Coach Jennifer Perry and Jennifer Myers
Women’s Tennis Seniors: Emily Thek and Amanda Phillips
The 2019 senior class holds a four-year record of 35-28. The seniors have appeared in two MAC Commonwealth team tournaments thus far, and will appear in their third this week. Thek was also part of the 2015 team that won the MAC Commonwealth and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Over her career, Phillips has a 43-22 singles record and 46-25 doubles record. Thek has a 52-10 singles record and a 38-22 doubles record. Phillips has earned All-MAC Academic and All-MAC Commonwealth honors, and Thek is a two-time All-MAC Commonwealth honoree.
Women’s Volleyball
Coaches: Kelly Nicodemus, Mike Marks, Steven Nicodemus, Jordan Robinson
Women’s Volleyball Seniors: Jill Baker
Jill Baker has helped lead the women’s volleyball program to an overall record of 43-66 over the past four years. In 2017, the team made its first MAC Commonwealth postseason appearance, advancing to the semifinals with a win over Messiah in the first round. Baker is third in Alvernia’s history with 138 blocks assists, and eighth all-time with 357 sets played.
Men’s Basketball
Coaches: Mike Miller, Sr. and Mike Miller, Jr.
Men’s Basketball Senior: Anthony Dadson
Anthony Dadson has helped lead the men’s basketball team to an overall record of 53-49 over the last four seasons. Alvernia made two first round MAC Commonwealth appearances in that time. Dadson was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Christopher Newport Captains’ Shootout this past season.
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball Senior: Maya Cooper
The Class of 2019 has a four-year record of 17-83. Cooper has been named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll the past three years, and finished her career with 679 career points and 73 career steals.
Spirit Team
Head Coach April Haligan Rostek
Dance team seniors: Representing Cheer: Rachael Dzik, Lauren Callueng, Liza Callueng, and Representing Dance: Caitlin Kelly
In the words of Coach Haligan Rostek
“The Alvernia University Spirit Team continues to develop and excel as a team on and off campus. The team now embodies cheer, dance, and mascot, for support of Alvernia University Athletics, and received the Superior Award, Leadership Award, and Most Improved Award at the University of Delaware for UDA & UCA College Camp. They were invited to compete at UDA College Nationals in Walt Disney World where they made it to the semi-final round of competition. The Alvernia Spirit Team continues to be ambassadors for the university on and off campus through community service activities with young children and performances around the area.”
Ice Hockey
Coaches Steve Rowe, Joe Borelli, Tim Eroh
Ice Hockey Seniors: Mike Simmerman, Matt Klosinksi, Philip Satz, Justin Guevarez, Kevin Duggan, Bryan Sobczak, and Jacob Waltz.
The Ice Hockey Class of 2019 led the program to an overall record of 35-64-4, with two DVCHC tournament appearances. As a Division II DVCHC team this year, Alvernia captured a 6-3 win over Lafayette College in the first round of playoffs before falling to Drexel University. Seniors Max Horn and Jake Waltz and head coach Steve Rowe represented Alvernia at the DVCHC All-Star Game.
Baseball
Coaches Yogi Lutz, John O’Mara, Todd Louviaux, Rich Gaynor, Kevin Becker-Menditto, and Dan Louviaux
Baseball Seniors: Connor Boyle, Matt Briner, Tim Carfrey, Franco Esposito, Kyle Gaynor, Zack Landy, Logan Levan, Tom Malik, Nick Marotta, Colin Rieger, Alex Salesky, Ian Shaffer, and Nate Sides
The Class of 2019 has an overall record of 108 wins, 57 losses, and 4 ties, with a conference mark of 61 and 20. This class has kept alive the streak of postseason appearances, making the playoffs for the 33rd straight year. They reached the championship game in 2017, and are seeded second heading into this week’s Championship. Matt Briner, Tom Malik, Alex Salesky and Nate Sides are all been awarded as All-MAC Commonwealth honorees, with Sides also earning Player of the Year, All-Region, and All-American Honors during his career. Sides and Salesky both broke Alvernia career records this season. Sides in hits and triples, and Salesky as the catcher with the most base runner caught stealing.
Men’s Golf
Coaches: Jon King and Tom O’Connell
Men’s Golf Seniors: Kyle Millard
Men’s Golf graduated one senior this year. Kyle Millard completed his degree this past fall. In the Yocum Cup–our annual match play even against Albright–Millard’s class was part of three straight wins. Millard posted an 85 average this past fall and finished with a team-best 83 at the Arcadia Invitational and earned MAC Golfer of the Week honors.
Women’s Golf
Coaches: Tom O’Connell and Rose Thress
Women’s Golf Seniors: Emily Gilbert and Jordan Kissner
The Women’s Golf senior class led Alvernia to its second MAC Title in 2018 and its first NCAA appearance. Emily Gilbert graduates with 24 low-medalist honors, two MAC Golfer of the Year awards, and both the Alvernia and MAC record for lowest 18-hole score when she fired a 1-under 72 at York earlier this spring. Jordan Kissner–our go to student photographer who provided many of the images used tonight–has been a consistent contributor to Alvernia’s top five. She saved her best for last firing a career-low 83 just yesterday in the final round of the MAC Championships to finish 11th overall.
Men’s Lacrosse
Coaches: Carl Haas, and Andrew Haas
Men’s Lacrosse Seniors: Jarret Abernethy, Tyler McDonnell, Jacob O’Donnell, Andrew Ritchie, Brett VanderMeyde, and Chase Whaley
The Men’s Lacrosse Class of 2019 has led the team to an overall record of 11-53. Andrew Ritchie will finish first all-time for Alvernia with 81 career assists, Jarret Abernethy will also sit atop the record book with 133 career goals and 182 career points. Chase Whaley has 83 caused turnovers on his career, and currently sits atop the MAC Commonwealth this season with 32 caused turnovers. Jacob O’Donnell has played 52 games in net for Alvernia, and will finish second all-time in saves for the Golden Wolves.
Women’s Lacrosse
Coaches: Megan Corrigan, Lauren Worthington
Women’s Lacrosse Seniors: Rachel Judge, Amanda Moyer, Samantha Rothman, Casey Rusk
The Class of 2019 has led the Women’s Lacrosse team to an overall record of 17-35 over the past four years. Rachel Judge finishes her career with 68 goals and 18 assists. Moyer, Rusk and Judge have combined for 216 grounds balls and have caused 118 turnovers. In net, Samantha Rothman has made 151 saves over 40 games.
Softball
Coaches: Wes Landrum, Jenn Schroeder, Marisa Lombardo
Softball Seniors: Emily Carmella and Morgan Psiuk
The Class of 2019 has helped lead the Softball program to an overall record of 78-67-2. They will be making their second MAC Commonwealth postseason appearance this weekend as the number 3 seed. To date, Carmella has 82 career hits and 56 RBIs. Psiuk stands at 161 hits and 64 RBIs, and is a two-time MAC Commonwealth All-Conference honoree, including a first team selection as a junior.
Track and Field
Coaches: Tim Hartung, LeQuan Chapman, Tim Katzman, Zack Barker, Joe McCool, Daniel Klase, Alex Smith, Chris Lockhart and Heather Wanner
Track and Field Seniors: Dylan Bennett, Gabriel Fernandez, Matt Junio, Kristen Sipling, Lauren Callueng, Liza Callueng, Theresa Hillbish, and Julia Malpass.
The Class of 2019 graduates three seniors on the men’s team and six on the women’s side. This class finishes with five first place finishes, 32 second place finishes, and a total of 99 top five finishes, including 19 top three finishes by Lauren Callueng. Both Lauren and Liza were members of the 4×400 relay team that finished second at both the 2016 indoor and outdoor MAC Championship. Theresa Hillbish graduates as the Alvernia record holder in the javelin with a throw of 34.34m at Millersville. All five ladies in this class hold season best marks for Alvernia in their chosen discipline.
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