PSAC Scholar-Athletes

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - On Thursday, the PSAC commissioned 99 student-athletes from Shippensburg University as Scholar Athletes for the 2007-08 academic year. Over the course of the last two years, the Raider athletic programs have fostered 208 scholar-athletes from its 20 intercollegiate athletic teams.

Shippensburg's group of scholar-athletes is highlighted by baseball senior Justin Garber and women's basketball sophomore Lauren Beckley, who were selected as the PSAC Athletes of the Year in their respective sports. Earlier in the year, both were chosen as PSAC Top 10 award winners.

Garber, the PSAC's all-time hits leader with 288, graduated in May with a degree in finance and a 3.337 cumulative grade point average. Beckley is now a two-time PSAC Scholar Athlete who became the first woman in PSAC history to score 1,000 career points as a sophomore.

Three of Shippensburg's athletic groups had at least 10 scholar-athletes, with the women's cross country and track and field programs leading the way with 17 athletes. Among that group is sophomore Mary Dell, a biology major with a 3.96 cumulative GPA who broke two school records this season and was an integral part of the first 4x400-meter relay team to receive All-American status in the history of the PSAC.

The women's swimming team continued its strong track record by garnering 12 selections under 10th year head coach Tim Verge. The Lady Raiders boasted the highest team GPA on campus for the second consecutive academic year and has been ranked in the top five among Division II schools in their sport for the last five consecutive semesters. In 2007, Shippensburg posted the fourth-highest GPA among all Division II schools over the course of the Winter 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters and in 2006, also ranked fourth with a 3.44 GPA.

Also under 10th year head coach Bertie Landes, the Lady Raider field hockey team had 10 of its players deemed Scholar-Athletes for the third consecutive year. Under Landes, Shippensburg has produced 31 scholar-athletes since the start of the 2005-06 academic year.

To be eligible for the scholar-athlete awards, student-athletes must attain at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average while competing in an intercollegiate varsity sport. The 1,488 scholar-athletes eclipsed last year's total of 1,420 and accounts for nearly 30 percent of the approximately 5,200 student-athletes in the PSAC. 

PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray will award each scholar-athlete with a certificate of distinction. 

The 2007-08 PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athletes of the Year are Mansfield's Chris Cummings and Slippery Rock's Jennifer Hansen. In its 18th year of existence, the awards were renamed last year to honor East Stroudsburg's long-time sports information director Pete Nevins, who passed away in January of 2007.

The following is the list of Shippensburg's PSAC Scholar-Athletes for the 2007-08 academic year:

Baseball (3):  Justin Garber, Phil Harnick, Kevin Scholly.

Field Hockey (10):  Jenna Blain, Kristen Brooks, Kim Davies, Jamie Doughty, Danielle Haas, Megan Keener, Allison Shirley, Carolyn Swift, Erica White, Laura Wylde.

Football (5):  Eric Bonshock, Riley Bowen, Andy Casale, Brad Catherman, Jim D'Annibale.

Lacrosse (8):  Erin Bergstrom, Kelsey Browning, Kristen Crutchfield, Allie Eiseman, Kelly Erisman, Katie Irwin, Stephanie Sleboda, Hannah Sperber.

Men's Cross Country/Track and Field (8):  Eric Baker, Brad Bechtel, Bryan Beegle, Christian D'Annibale, Eric Haidinger, Adam Henderson, Todd Phillips, Jordan Shick.

Men's Soccer (2):  Keith Kassel, Alex Terrell.

Men's Swimming (3):  Will Kane, Kevin Riley, Chris Torrens.

Softball (4):  Amanda Bardo, Jill Kirby, Maggie Sander, Sarah Stengl.

Tennis (5):  Monica Berardi, Kathy Henley, Ali Horvath, Robin Light, Jess Lodek.

Volleyball (7):  Kali Antolik, Kelsi Hoffman, Renee Parseghian, Hannah Sorber, Mandy Taylor, Colleen Toomey, Jacklyn Tuccio.

Women's Basketball (4):  Lauren Beckley, Chrissy Minnick, Sheila Wasser, Shelley Wasser.

Women's Cross Country/Track and Field (17):  Mary Britsch, Mary Dell, Amanda Dubs, Emily Dubs, Amanda Emig, Katie Frey, Krysten Goetter, Shannon Hare, Laura Henzy, Erica Hess, Abby Huber, Samantha Jones, Erica Koser, Chelsea Lacko, Margaret Merlie, Alli Rineer, Sara Wlazelek.

Women's Soccer (9):  Lauren Baumgardner, Allison Dowdrick, Lauren Estrain, Lisa Findley, Amanda Greenawalt, Megan Knoster, Kristin Mack, Katelyn O'Brien, Hannah Sanders.

Women's Swimming (12):  Maggie Albertson, Michelle Edmiston, Amy Fisher, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Mandi Foltz, Anna Kinard, Noelle Knupp, Molly McNeil, Rachel Perugini, Theresa Simcic, Nicole Tritsch, Suzy Wiechelt.

Wrestling (2):  Steve Fittery, Nathan Reese.