Moon Township, Pa. - A pair of Robert Morris University student-athletes were honored by the Northeast Conference Thursday, as junior linebacker Adam Lawrence (Big Run, Pa. / Dubois Area) was named the 2008 NEC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year for football, while senior libero Alaina Gibson (Muncie, Indiana / Muncie Borris) grabbed the 2008 NEC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year for volleyball.
In addition, a total of 67 Colonial student-athletes across seven fall sports were named to the 2008 NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, including 13 each from the RMU field hockey and football programs, 12 from the women's soccer team and 10 each from volleyball and women's cross country. To be eligible for the honor roll, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and participate with distinction as a member of a varsity team.
Lawrence, a two-year starter at outside linebacker, finished second for the Colonials in 2008 with 83 tackles, a total that was good enough to rank eighth in the NEC. He led Robert Morris with three and-a-half sacks while adding six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He will enter his senior season in 2009 with 170 career stops, which ranks 19th in school history. Named to the ESPN The Magazine District II Academic All-America Team, Lawrence owns a 3.98 grade point average as an environmental science major.
Gibson helped lead Robert Morris to its first NEC regular-season championship since 2004 with a perfect 8-0 record in league play by leading the conference in digs per game (4.14). In 2008 Gibson finished with 447 digs, helping push her career total to 1,884, a new school record. A two-time ESPN The Magazine District II Academic All-American (2007, 2008), Gibson was named to the All-NEC Second Team in 2008 after earning first team accolades in 2006. As a human resources management major, Gibson carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.92.
A look at the student-athletes named to the 2008 NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll:
Men's Cross Country
| Name |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
Major (GPA) |
| Brian Mitchell |
Fr. |
Allison Park, Pa. / Hampton |
Accounting (3.63) |
| Sonny Pinto |
Fr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield |
Elementary Education (3.85) |
Football
| Name |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
Major (GPA) |
| Matt Catanzarite |
So. |
Coraopolis, Pa. / Montour |
Accounting (3.33) |
| Nick England |
So. |
Pickerington, Ohio / Central |
Communication (3.35) |
| Regis Flowers |
Sr. |
Irwin, Pa. / Norwin |
Accounting (3.27) |
| Erik Frund |
Fr. |
Scottdale, Pa. / Southmoreland |
Environmental Science (3.31) |
| Josh Keil |
So. |
Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area |
Sport Management (3.45) |
| Chris Kozak |
Sr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin |
Accounting (3.44) |
| Jon Krepps |
Fr. |
Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon |
Undecided (3.50) |
| Adam Lawrence |
Jr. |
Big Run, Pa. / Dubois Area |
Environmental Science (3.98) |
| Mike Lovely |
So. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Keystone Oaks |
Actuarial Science (3.89) |
| Logan Miles |
Fr. |
Scottdale, Pa. / Southmoreland |
Computer Info Systems (3.94) |
| Ryan Nearhoof |
So. |
Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area |
Environmental Science (3.68) |
| Mark Szymanski |
Jr. |
Cadogan, Pa. / Ford City |
Computer Info Systems (3.34) |
| Joey Wines |
Fr. |
East Liverpool, Ohio/East Liverpool |
Accounting (3.27) |
Men's Soccer
| Name |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
Major (GPA) |
| Dan Braun |
Fr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson |
Undecided (3.94) |
| Colin Deep |
Fr. |
Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park |
Undecided (3.21) |
| Tyler Gardner |
Fr. |
Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish |
Undecided (3.77) |
| Matt Metzger |
Fr. |
Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg |
Nuclear Medicine Tech. (3.40) |
| John Morihlatko |
Sr. |
Moon Township, Pa. / Moon |
Marketing (3.26) |
| Chase Raymond |
Fr. |
Coraopolis, Pa. / Montour |
Computer Info Systems (3.61) |
| Neil Shaffer |
So. |
Aliquippa, Pa. / Beaver |
Media Arts (3.78) |
Women's Cross Country
| Name |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
Major (GPA) |
| Jessica Duffell |
Fr. |
Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney |
Finance (3.89) |
| Sarah Ellsworth |
Fr. |
Burgettstown, Pa. / Burgettstown |
Accounting (3.88) |
| Marie George |
Fr. |
Johnstown, Pa. / Richland |
Nursing (3.91) |
| Emily Ingle |
Jr. |
Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone |
Nursing (3.44) |
| Samantha Kunes |
Fr. |
Butler, Pa. / Home Schooled |
Media Arts (3.44) |
| Jera Mennetti |
So. |
Coolspring, Pa. / Punxsutawney |
Applied Psychology (3.51) |
| Debra Ostrander |
Fr. |
Denton, Md. / North Caroline |
Media Arts (3.23) |
| Samantha Simile |
So. |
Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston |
English (3.52) |
| Ashley Slifko |
Fr. |
Carnegie, Pa. / Chartiers Valley |
Media Arts (3.50) |
| Gillian Stern |
Fr. |
Wharton, N.J. / Wharton |
Media Arts (3.22) |
Women's Soccer
| Name |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
Major (GPA) |
| Christy Baldesberger |
So. |
South Park, Pa. / South Park |
Elementary Education (3.76) |
| Kathleen Caggiano |
So. |
Moon Township, Pa. / Moon |
Hospitality & Tourism (3.52) |
| Caitlin Dilal |
Sr. |
Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy |
Environmental Science (3.32) |
| Kelly Hilderbrand |
Jr. |
Fenelton, Pa. / Butler |
Accounting (4.00) |
| Caitlyn Lizik |
Jr. |
West Mifflin, Pa. / West Mifflin |
Management (3.42) |
| Jamie Morra |
So. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills |
Elementary Education (3.35) |
| Emily Schock |
Sr. |
Latrobe, Pa. / Latrobe |
Communication (3.49) |
| Jessica Sharik |
Fr. |
North Huntington, Pa. / Norwin |
Marketing (3.61) |
| Holly Sieradzki |
Fr. |
Clifton, N.J. / Clifton |
Elementary Education (3.88) |
| Daneen Stevenato |
Jr. |
North York, Ontario / Newtonbrook |
Sport Management (3.76) |
| Jessica Stubbs |
So. |
Sewickley, Pa. / Avonworth |
Finance (3.54) |
| Jessica Weary |
Sr. |
Enola, Pa. / East Pennsboro |
English (3.34) |
Volleyball
| Name |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
Major (GPA) |
| Alyssa Bennett |
Fr. |
Ramona, Calif. / Ramona |
Communication (3.44) |
| Alaina Gibson |
Sr. |
Muncie, Indiana / Muncie Borris |
Human Resource (3.92) |
| Amanda Graham |
So. |
Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie |
Nuclear Med. Tech. (3.99) |
| Jaye Hellmich |
So. |
Costa Mesa, Calif. / Estancia |
Communication (3.73) |
| Addie Jennings |
So. |
Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos |
Biology (3.89) |
| Corinne Moser |
So. |
Meyersdale, Pa. / Meyersdale |
Finance (3.87) |
| Jessica Nelko |
Jr. |
Aliquippa, Pa. / Hopewell |
Environmental Science (3.72) |
| Melissa Thompson |
Sr. |
Marysville, Wash. / Pilchuck |
Applied Psychology (3.50) |
| Hannah Veith |
Fr. |
Columbus, Ohio / Worthington |
Management (3.56) |
| Emily Wolthuis |
Sr. |
Byron Center, Mich./ S. Christian |
Elementary Education (3.69) |
Field Hockey
| Name |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
Major (GPA) |
| Hayley Botha |
Fr. |
Johannesburg, S. Africa/St. Mary's |
Finance (4.00) |
| Maddy Carroll |
Sr. |
Birdsboro, Pa. / Twin Valley |
Environmental Science (3.23) |
| Jessica Charles |
Jr. |
Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg |
Social Science (3.85) |
| Mary Kate Egan |
Sr. |
Lynch, Md. / Kent County |
Nursing (3.95) |
| Ally Flood |
Fr. |
Louisville, Ky. / Mercy Academy |
English (3.61) |
| Julie Gabriel |
Fr. |
Kraainem, Belgium / Emil Jacqmain |
Communication (3.56) |
| Samantha Hayden |
Fr. |
Louisville, Ky. / Assumption |
Undecided (3.50) |
| Emily Himmel |
Jr. |
Columbus, Ohio / Kilbourne |
Nursing (3.52) |
| Ally McGuire |
Fr. |
Duncannon, Pa. / Susquenita |
Undecided (3.38) |
| Anna Miller |
Fr. |
Louisville, Ky. / Ballard |
Nursing (3.65) |
| Stephanie Seeley |
Fr. |
Louisville, Ky. / Ballard |
Communication (3.22) |
| Laura White |
Jr. |
Pennsauken, N.J. / Collingswood |
Marketing (3.68) |
| Stacie Woodle |
Jr. |
Boalsburg, Pa. / State College |
Elementary Education (3.91) |
