General | 4/30/2018 9:03:00 PM

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University Department of Athletics named junior Morgan DeFloria (women's volleyball & women's outdoor track and field) and senior Ryan Zapoticky (football) as its 2017-18 Student-Athletes of the Year on Monday, April 30 at an on-campus dinner hosted by President Carter.  
 
The selection process for the 2017-18 SU Student-Athlete of the Year awards are based on achievements in academics, leadership, sportsmanship, community service and athletics. Nominees are submitted to a campus committee who reviews the candidates and selects winners based on these criteria.
 
It is the second Student-Athlete of the Year honor for Zapoticky, who was recognized as a sophomore in 2016. He is the second two-time award winner, joining baseball player Pat Kregeloh (2013, 2014). It is the first such honor for DeFloria.
 
Also on Monday evening, Dr. Roger Serr, vice president for student affairs, was recognized as the 2017-18 Raider of the Year. Serr, who is retiring in May, has served the university for more than 20 years in the division of student affairs. He has served as the vice president for student affairs since 2005 after previously after serving as an associate vice president and dean of students.
 
Serr has been integral to helping advance the athletic department with numerous initiatives, including enhancements in staffing and financial aid assistance. He has been a steady, supportive presence at SU athletic events during his long tenure.
 
The Raider of the Year Award commemorates individuals who provide genuine support to the athletics department and work toward the betterment of all the intercollegiate athletic teams on campus, among other qualities.
 
Men's Student-Athlete of the Year: Ryan Zapoticky
 
Zapoticky started all 12 games at quarterback for the football team and was a team captain on a squad that reached the NCAA Division II Football Championships. This past weekend, Zapoticky was invited to participate in rookie camp with the Buffalo Bills.
 
A 2017 All-PSAC East First Team selection at quarterback, Zapoticky ranked second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in yards per completion (14.12), third in points responsible for (192), and fourth in both passing yards (2,952) and passing touchdowns (25). All of those totals rank among the Top 25 players nationally. On the ground, Zapoticky rushed for 396 yards and a career-high seven rushing touchdowns.
 
At this year's Football awards banquet, Zapoticky received the John M. "Jack" Roddick Centurion Award as the team's most valuable player, in addition to the John Bay Award as the team's most outstanding offensive player.
 
A biology major concentrating in pre-med, Zapoticky graduated magna cum laude in December with a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.69. Zapoticky was named an Academic All-America Second team selection, earned a spot on the PSAC Fall Top 10 squad, and was recently named to the 2018 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.
 
A semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, Zapoticky finished his career with a 23-7 record as a starter. Zapoticky ranks second all-time at Shippensburg in career passing yards (7,102) and career total offense (8,361). He is SU's all-time leader for rushing yards as a quarterback (1,259), a total that ranks seventh in PSAC history.
 
Outside of the classroom, Zapoticky has served as a youth sports coach in his hometown of Dallas, Pa. He also has been active through the years in "Ship Shape" Day. Last summer, Zapoticky completed his dental school exam with a 99.9 percent test score.
 
Women's Student-Athlete of the Year: Morgan DeFloria
 
DeFloria is a two-sport athlete who competes in volleyball and women's outdoor track & field. Her performances in the 2017 volleyball season and 2017 outdoor track & field seasons were considered for her award.
 
In volleyball, DeFloria was named to the All-PSAC Second Team after leading the Raiders with 386 kills and 3.27 kills per set. Those totals ranked sixth and 10th in the PSAC respectively. She produced double-digit kills in 25-of-32 matches. DeFloria was also named to the 2017 NCAA Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team after a 19-kill, 18-dig performance in the regional against Gannon.
 
As a six-rotation player, DeFloria recorded a career-high 403 digs – second-most on the team – resulting in 17 double-doubles this season. She also ranked third on the team with 26 aces and contributed to 41 blocks. DeFloria also surpassed the 1,000 career kills plateau on Nov. 3 at California.
 
In track & field, DeFloria earned All-America First Team honors in the javelin, placing third at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, and won the PSAC championship in the javelin to highlight a banner second season.
 
At the national championships, DeFloria stepped up and delivered a huge season best of 157 feet, 6 inches on her first attempt during the first flight of throwers that proved to be good enough for third place. Her spectacular throwing sequence included five throws on the day that traveled farther than any of the efforts by 16 of the 21 competitors in the field.
 
At the conference championships, DeFloria won the conference title in the javelin, becoming SU's first champion in the event in more than 10 years. Her victorious throw of 145 feet, 6 inches came on her final attempt; she had first gained the lead in the competition on her first throw of finals (140 feet, 6 inches). It was her second straight All-PSAC performance after placing second as a freshman.
 
DeFloria earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for her balance of athletic and academic success as a track & field athlete. She is a pre-optometry major and active with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Tau Kappa – SU's women's athletics honors sorority. She has assisted with the Project Prom Dress initiative and active with tree planting for Earth Day.
 
Listed below are the nominees submitted for consideration for the 2017-18 SU Student-Athlete of the Year award. Note: Spring sports athletes were considered for their athletic performances in the 2017 season; their class years are listed in accordance with this practice.
 
2017-18 FEMALE NOMINEES:
 
Emily Barnard
Senior
Field Hockey
 
Barnard served as one of three captains for the 2017 field hockey team that claimed the NCAA Division II National Championship with a 4-1 victory over LIU Post. She was named an NFHCA First Team All-American and the 2017 PSAC Field Hockey Athlete of the Year as she led the PSAC with 20 goals. Her 0.95 goals-per-game average ranked fifth in NCAA Division II. The goal total is a career high, and the most by a Raider since Kristina Taylor had 23 in 2011. An economics major and mathematics minor, Barnard has volunteered with the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA in Chambersburg. She is also a member of Tau Kappa.
 
Tara Bicko
Junior
Softball
 
Bicko was named to the All-PSAC Eastern Division Softball Team following the 2016-17 season for her work as the team's starting left fielder. She batted .365 with 14 doubles, five home runs and 31 RBI in addition to a team-high .419 on-base percentage after drawing 16 walks and striking out only 11 times. In last year's PSAC Tournament, Bicko hit .600 in five games, hitting three home runs and three doubles while recording eight RBIs. Throughout 2017-18, Bicko has served SU as secretary for SAAC and Tau Kappa. She was elected a softball team captain by her teammates. Academically, Bicko is a NFCA Scholar-Athlete and dean's list student who is a member of the Exercise Science Honors Society. An exercise science major, Bicko has interned with local physical therapy outfits to gain further knowledge on injury rehabilitation.
 
Valerie Hertz
Sophomore
Lacrosse
 
Hertz was named to the All-PSAC First Team squad for her work as an elite defender on the Raider lacrosse team. She was a leader on SU's defensive unit that allowed the fewest goals by a Raider team since 2012. Hertz finished second in the PSAC with 42 caused turnovers, which was one shy of the single-season school record at SU. The sophomore's 2.6 caused turnovers per game ranked eighth nationally. She was also 10th in the PSAC in groundballs with 46. Her work as a sophomore led to her being named a team captain this season in 2018. Academically, Hertz shines with a 3.98 GPA as an accounting major. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity, and intends to join Beta Gamma Sigma. The IWLCA honor roll selection is also active with Tau Kappa and has volunteered many hours through Alpha Kappa Psi with efforts at local children's hospitals and animal shelters.
 
Gabriella Johnson
Sophomore
Women's Swimming & Volleyball
 
Johnson is a dual-sport athlete who competes in volleyball and women's swimming at Shippensburg. In volleyball, Johnson is an unsung hero who serves as a six-rotation player. She tied for the team lead with 38 service aces, ranked third on the team with 353 digs and 55 blocks, and fourth on the team with 218 kills. In the pool, Johnson had another dynamic season as a breaststroke swimmer. She produced personal best times of 1:03.51 in the 100-yard breaststroke and 2:18.43 in the 200-yard breaststroke that rank second all-time in school history. Both efforts resulted in All-PSAC, third-place finishes at the conference championships. Johnson also won the 'C' group final of the 200-yard freestyle at the conference championships. Her work on relays resulted in her being part of the school-record setting squads in both the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relays that earned All-PSAC merits at the conference championships. She is also active in Tau Kappa and SAAC while serving as a member to the campus climate change survey group.
 
Makenzie Magnotta
Junior
Lacrosse
 
Magnotta completed her second consecutive year as a team captain as a junior defender for the Raider lacrosse team. She was an integral figure on a defense that yielded the fewest goals by an SU team in four seasons. Magnotta started all 17 games, ranking second on the team with 26 caused turnovers and third on the team with 42 groundballs. Academically, Magnotta is a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and IWLCA honor roll performer who is a member of the Exercise Science Honors Society. She has been especially active with Tau Kappa, serving as its social media coordinator. She has participated in numerous TK initiatives, including Bras Across Campus, Project Prom Dress and Women in Sports Day.
 
Ally Mooney
Redshirt-Junior
Field Hockey
 
Mooney served as one of three captains for the 2017 field hockey team that claimed the NCAA Division II National Championship with a 4-1 victory over LIU Post. As SU's starting goalkeeper, Mooney made 12 saves over the course of SU's three tournament victories. Her leadership helped captain a defense that yielded eight shots or less to all three opponents in the NCAA Tournament. For the season, Mooney posted a 17-4 record and made 96 saves, including a career-high 13 stops in a win over Millersville. An exercise science major and coaching minor, Mooney was elected by her peers to serve as the president of Tau Kappa. Her work has been instrumental in initiatives such as Project Prom Dress, Bras on Campus and Women in Sports Day. She contributed to numerous fund-raising efforts for Four Diamonds in support of her teammate Megan Hart. Following SU's national championship, Mooney was featured in Sports Illustrated as a December selection for "Faces In the Crowd."
 
Maddie Mulhall
Junior
Softball
 
Mulhall was a team leader as the starting second baseman for the softball team in 2017, and was unanimously selected to be a team captain in 2018. She produced career highs as a junior with 25 hits and five doubles while starting 38 games. She totaled eight RBIs and scored six runs to go along with a .954 fielding percentage. Mulhall is a beloved member of SU Athletics, serving numerous roles. She is the President of both SAAC and the SU chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She is active in Tau Kappa, and also serves as the female athletics representative for the Student Government Association. Academically, she is a PSAC Scholar Athlete and Dean's List student. She is a valuable employee to the SU Athletics Department and has served as an event manager. Mulhall also volunteers her time to serve as a coach to the PA Outlaws 18U fastpitch softball team. For 2017-18, Mulhall was the recipient of the APSCUF-SU Jane Goss Coaches' Student Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Service.
 
Madison Scarr
Senior
Field Hockey
 
Scarr emerged as a starting forward late in the season for the 2017 field hockey team that claimed the NCAA Division II National Championship with a 4-1 victory over LIU Post. She scored the first goal of the national championship game, which proved to be the first and only game-winning goal of her career. Scarr ranked fifth in scoring (16 points) and fourth on the team with a career-high seven goals. Her incredible service to Shippensburg University includes her term in 2017-18 as the Student Government Association President along with roles as the vice president of the board of directors for SU Student Services and the recreation chair for SGA. She has worked with Dr. Donta Truss to provide assistance with university enrollment and retention efforts. She has been active in countless SGA initiatives, including a free spaghetti dinner for students. Scarr is also active in Tau Kappa. Academically, Scarr has shined in the classroom with a 3.81 cumulative GPA. An accounting major, she is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) honor society. This year, Scarr received the BGS Alumni Scholarship award for the Philadelphia BGS Alumni Chapter. In March, Scarr became the 10th SU athlete in history to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
 
Danielle Sciremammano
Senior/Junior
Women's Indoor T&F/Outdoor T&F
 
Sciremammano is a team captain on the SU indoor and outdoor track & field teams that won conference championships and maintained a tradition of excellence. Indoors, Sciremammano is the 2018 USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the 2018 PSAC Indoor Championships Most Valuable Athlete who broke the all-time PSAC indoor record in the 60-meter hurdles. At this year's conference championships, Sciremammano ran 8.53 seconds in the 60-meter hurdle prelims to break the record for the first time. She then ran 8.47 seconds in the finals to win the conference title and break her own record set in the prelims. Sciremammano also won the PSAC title in the long jump with a top mark of 19 feet, 2 ½ inches. Her efforts resulted in being named the 2018 PSAC Women's Indoor Championships Most Valuable Athlete. At the NCAA Indoor Championships, Sciremammano earned All-America honors in the hurdles with an eighth-place finish – becoming SU's first-ever All-American in the event. She also finished 13th in the long jump. Outdoors as a junior, made her NCAA Championships debut in the long jump after earning All-Region honors with a PR of 19 feet, 7 ½ inches. At the PSAC Outdoor Championships, Sciremammano finished second in the 100-meter hurdles and fourth in the long jump. Academically, Sciremammano has thrived as an education major with a 3.69 GPA who produced 4.0 semester GPAs this fall and last spring. She is a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and USTFCCCA All-Academic performer. She has also volunteered with research efforts at the Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School and helped assist the start of a fitness program at Nancy Grayson Elementary School. Earlier this month, she was named to the PSAC Winter Top 10 Squad for her outstanding work on the track partnered with her academic excellence.
 
2017-18 MEN'S NOMINEES:
 
Alex Balla
Senior/Junior
Men's Cross Country/Indoor T&F/Outdoor T&F
 
Balla is a three-sport athlete who excels as a distance runner. This indoor season, Balla was named the 2018 PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Most Valuable Track Athlete after claiming conference championships in both the 3K and the 5K. He is just the sixth man in PSAC history to claim the "long-distance double" at the PSAC Indoor Championships. In cross country, Balla was named the PSAC Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year – the first Raider in 27 years to earn the honor. He is the only men's cross country runner from the PSAC to earn All-America honors this season after placing 37th at the 2017 NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championships. Balla finished third at the 2017 NCAA Atlantic Region Championships and second at the 2017 PSAC Championships. Last outdoor season, Balla was a second-place finisher in the 10K and a fifth-place finisher in the 5K at the 2017 PSAC Outdoor Championships. In addition to his running prowess and his leadership, Balla has thrived academically to the tune of a 3.77 cumulative GPA as a double-major in marketing and entrepreneurship. He is the only male athlete in the PSAC so far this season to be selected to both the PSAC Fall Top 10 and PSAC Winter Top 10 squads. He is also a 2016-17 CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree. He completed a marketing internship last summer in Denver. The multi-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree and PSAC Scholar Athlete also earned CoSIDA Academic All-Region accolades last spring. Balla also volunteers his time as a track coach in his hometown along with assistance at local rail-trail races in the area.
 
Jeff Beyer
Sophomore
Men's Swimming
 
Beyer was an anchor for the SU men's swimming team that placed sixth at this year's conference championships – posting four individual scoring efforts and three relay scoring efforts. He produced three All-PSAC performances by placing second in the 500-yard freestyle and 1,000-yard freestyle in addition to a third-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle. He also placed eighth in the 200-yard freestyle. His top PR performances this season rank him third in school history for the 1,000-yard freestyle, ninth all-time in the 500 freestyle and 10th all-time in the 200 freestyle. Academically, Beyer is a member of the honors program at SU and is majoring in computer science. He has posted a 3.63 cumulative GPA. Beyer assists SAAC as an active committee member with the annual Special Olympics Swim Meet and Athlete's Got Talent events.
 
Clay Conner
Senior
Men's Basketball
 
Conner was a captain who started all 33 games for the SU Men's Basketball team that advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Regional final this season. He achieved single-season bests in points (277), assists (151) and three-pointers (49) while leading the PSAC with a 2.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Conner was an 83-percent free-throw shooter who had five or more assists in 18 games and committed one turnover or less in 19 games. Academically, Conner is a finance major with a 3.6 cumulative GPA. He is a Dean's List student and PSAC Scholar-Athlete designee who is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Conner also serves as a team representative with SAAC and has been active with Team Impact member Jerrick Griffin and in volunteer efforts with Inclusive Basketball.
 
Winston Eubanks
Redshirt-Freshman
Football
 
Eubanks emerged as one of the top wide receivers in the PSAC in a breakout debut season for the football team. He was the first SU player to be named the PSAC Eastern Division Freshman of the Year since 2013 and earned both All-PSAC First Team and All-Region Second Team honors. He ranked second in Division II in averaging 26.98 yards per reception. His 1,202 receiving yards ranked third in the PSAC and eighth nationally. His 12 receiving touchdowns ranked second in the PSAC and 14th nationally. Both marks set SU freshman receiving records. At the team's postseason awards banquet, Eubanks was named the Red Raider "Impact" Player of the Year. Off the field, Eubanks has been active in volunteer efforts with participation in Ship Shape Day and WinterFest at James Burd Elementary School. He is a member of the football team's leadership council. Academically, Eubanks has excelled in the classroom and boasts a 3.67 cumulative GPA.
 
Jack Goertzen
Sophomore
Baseball
 
Goertzen serves as a designated hitter and catcher for the Raider baseball team. In a strong sophomore campaign, Goertzen started 52 games and posted a career-high .286 batting average in addition to career highs with four home runs, nine doubles, 21 RBIs and 21 runs scored. He produced a walk-off single in a PSAC East victory over Millersville. For his work in the classroom, Goertzen was named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District squad in addition to spots each semester on the Dean's List. The PSAC Scholar Athlete is a biology major and business minor who boasts a 3.94 cumulative GPA. His volunteer efforts include fund-raising assistance for Four Diamonds and Vs. Cancer and trips to local elementary schools to assist the team's reading program. He has participated in the Walk for Gender Equality. An active member of SAAC, Goertzen has served as a host at Athlete's Got Talent in addition to serving as a co-chair for the event. He has also volunteered with the Special Olympics Swim Meet. Goertzen also is a member of the food committee with Student Government.
 
Colin McDermott
Graduate Student
Football
 
McDermott had a career year in his final season as a running back for the football team. In 2017, he totaled more carries (146), receptions (24), rushing yards (736) and rushing touchdowns (8) than in his first three seasons combined. McDermott ranked ninth in the PSAC in rushing touchdowns (8) and 15th in the PSAC in rushing yards per game (61.3) despite splitting carries. He also totaled 24 receptions for 151 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per catch. At the team's postseason awards banquet, McDermott received the Red Raider Pride Award. A gifted student, McDermott earned the prestigious distinction as an Academic All-America First Team honoree – the first Red Raider to achieve the classification since John Kuhn in 2004. Currently studying toward his MBA after graduating with a degree in supply chain management, McDermott has been involved in Beta Gamma Sigma (the international business honor society for AASCB schools) and was listed as a Who's Who Among College Students honoree in 2017. He served as a graduate assistant for the business internship program in the John L. Grove College of Business. His volunteer efforts include assistance at Chambersburg IceFest. He currently works as a logistics coordinator at Victaulics World Headquarters in Easton while continuing his MBA studies.
 
Dustin Sleva
Senior
Men's Basketball
 
Sleva completed what was arguably the best season in school history by a men's basketball player as he helped guide the Raiders to the NCAA Atlantic Regional final this season. He repeated as a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II All-American, the only Raider to ever do so. Sleva led the PSAC with 706 points – breaking his own single-season school record. That totals ranked ninth in NCAA Division II this season and 11th all-time in PSAC single-season history. Sleva totaled 356 rebounds – second-most in the PSAC and a total that ranks fourth in NCAA Division II. He scored 10 or more points in 32 of 33 games, including 21 games with 20 or more points, and ranked second in the PSAC and third in NCAA Division II with 22 double-doubles. For the second consecutive season, Sleva was named to the NCAA Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team; he scored 54 points, grabbed 33 rebounds and had 14 assists in three regional games. He achieved a 3.0 semester GPA in the fall semester. Sleva served as a team representative to SAAC and has volunteered time with both Team Impact and Inclusive Basketball. He graduates as SU's all-time leading scorer (2,071 points – eighth in PSAC history), all-time leading rebounder (1,140 – tenth in PSAC history), and all-time leader in double-doubles (58) and one of four players in PSAC history with at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
 
HISTORY:
 
SU's Student-Athletes of the Year
2017-18: Ryan Zapoticky (M), Morgan DeFloria (F)
2016-17: Caleb Bartlett (M), Casey Norton (F)
2015-16: Ryan Zapoticky (M), Rikki Sargent (F)
2014-15: LeQuan Chapman (M), Lucy Kauffman (F)
2013-14: Pat Kregeloh (M), Bre White (F)
2012-13: Pat Kregeloh (M), Katie Spratford (F)
2011-12: Mike Frenette (M), Kristina Taylor (F)
2010-11: Stephen Schelander (M), Neely Spence (F)
2009-10: Kyler Ford (M), Lauren Beckley (F)
2008-09: Bryan Beegle (M), Mary Dell (F)
2007-08: Steve Fittery (M), Lauren Beckley (F)
 
SU's "Raider of the Year" honorees
2017-18: Dr. Roger Serr
2016-17: Diana Worden
2015-16: Dr. Chris Carlton
2014-15: Stephanie Erdice
2013-14: Nick Iula
2012-13: Galen Piper
2011-12: Dave Osanitsch
2010-11: Becky Fitz
2009-10: Bill Morgal
2008-09: Will Kane
2007-08: Tim Verge