January 12, 2015
SUNYAC athletes of the week named for the week ending Jan. 11
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) honors 13 athletes for outstanding performances in their sport during the week of January 5 - 11, 2015.
MALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – John Nasky (SR) Â
Geneseo (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton)
Nasky won two individual events to lead the Knights to a 169-130 victory over visiting RIT on Saturday. He posted the fastest time in the SUNYAC this season by over 16 seconds in winning the 1,000 freestyle (9:53.52) and also won the 500 free (4:50.41).
MALE DIVER OF THE WEEK – Sam Randall (FR) Â
Geneseo (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland)
Randall won the 3-meter diving event (304.45) and finished second on 1-meter (302.70) to help lead Geneseo to a 169-130 victory over visiting RIT on Saturday. Both scores were NCAA Zone Diving Championship qualifiers by over 20 points.
FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Jenna Gibbons (JR) Â
Geneseo (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech)
Gibbons won two individual events and swam on a winning relay to lead Geneseo to a 157-128 home victory over RIT on Saturday. Gibbons posted victories in the 200 butterfly (2:14.45) and the 200 individual medley (2:17.25) while also adding a leg to the victorious 200 medley relay (1:53.92).
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FEMALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Miranda Fergus (JR) Â
Cortland (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Millbrook)
Fergus on both diving events in Cortland's dual-meet loss at Hartwick Saturday. She scored six-dive scores of 263.30 points on the 3-meter board and 258.80 points on the 1-meter board.
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ICE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nick Zappia (SR) Â
Cortland, Forward (Manlius, NY/Kingston Voyageurs)
Zappia recorded five points on four goals and one assist in a 2-0 week for the Red Dragons, moving into 15th place in career scoring at Cortland with 89 points on 51 goals and 38 assists. In a 5-0 win at Worcester St. on Thursday, Zappia netted a pair of goals, one shorthanded. In a 9-4 victory at Becker on Friday, Zappia recorded two goals and one assist as the Red Dragons improved to 7-6-2 on the season. For the year, Zappia leads Cortland with 27 points on a team-best 17 goals and 10 assists.
ICE HOCKEY GOALIE OF THE WEEK – Spencer Finney (JR) Â
Plattsburgh, Goalie (Pontypool, Ontario/Colgate University)
Spencer Finney enjoyed a 2-0-0 weekend including a win over the top-ranked Norwich Cadets. On Tuesday versus the Cadets the junior made 30 saves on 31 shots for a .968 save percentage. It was a game that saw Finney carry a shutout through the first 59:42 as Norwich scored with just 18 seconds left in regulation. On Friday, Finney made 19 saves on 21 shots to help the Cardinals improve to 12-2-1. Finney is now 8-0-1 and finished this week with a .942 save percentage and a 1.5 goal allowed.
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ICE HOCKEY ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Drew Weigman (FR) Â
Cortland (Annapolis, MD/Northern Cyclones)
Weigman posted a 35-save shutout in his only appearance in goal last week as the Red Dragons defeated Worcester St., 5-0, on the road. With the shutout, Weigman tied the school record for single-season shutouts with two, last set during the 2006-07 season. Weigman has posted a 6-3-2 record with a .926 save percentage and 3.06 GAA in 11 games this season.
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MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – R.J. Rosa (SR) Â
New Paltz, Guard/Forward (North Branch, N.Y./Sullivan West)
New Paltz senior guard/forward R.J. Rosa averaged 21.0 points per game in a 3-0 week for the Hawks, helping stretch the team's win streak to four. Rosa shot 48 percent (24-of-50) from the field on the week, including a 42.9 percent (9-of-21) clip from 3-point range, and he shot 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the line. Rosa also averaged 4.3 steals per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game and 0.3 blocks per game. On Tuesday, he scored a career-high 31 points and shot 7-of-9 from 3-point range, including a 6-of-6 mark in the second half, to help New Paltz hand SUNY Cortland its first loss of the season by a 78-73 final. Rosa then scored a game-high 19 points and added seven steals, four rebounds and two assists on Friday, helping the Hawks edge The College at Brockport, 57-55. Finally, on Saturday, he scored 13 points and chipped in three steals, two rebounds and two assists as well in New Paltz's 75-62 victory over SUNY Geneseo. Rosa currently leads the SUNYAC in steals per game (3.2) and ranks third in the conference in scoring (16.6 points per game). New Paltz (6-6, 4-1 SUNYAC) next faces SUNY Oneonta on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 4 p.m. in Oneonta, N.Y.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ashley Wallace (SR) Â
Buffalo State, F (Lockport, NY/Starpoint)
Wallace averaged 16.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in three SUNYAC wins last week. She poured in 24 points while grabbing eight rebounds in a win over Brockport Tuesday, and scored 18 points, including hitting two free throws with just five seconds remaining to earn a 59-58 victory over Plattsburgh on Saturday. She averaged 69% from the field and had five assists, eight steals and three blocks in the three games.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Melique Garcia (SR)  Cortland (Watervliet, N.Y./Watervliet)
Garcia placed second out of 29 sprinters in the 200-meter dash at the Cornell Southern Tier Open. His time of 22.52 seconds ranks third nationally in Div. III and is an ECAC qualifier. Garcia also finished fifth in the 400-meter dash (52.81).
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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Nick Vachon (SO) Â
Cortland (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell)
Vachon finished second in the high jump at the Cornell Southern Tier Open with a height of 2.04 meters (6 feet, 8.25 inches). His effort, which is the best at Cortland since 2003, is an ECAC qualifier and currently ranks third nationally in Div. III.
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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Kenya Outram (JR) Â
Cortland (Brooklyn, N.Y./Victory Collegiate)
Outram won the 60-meter hurdles at the Cornell Southern Tier Open. After qualifying for the finals in 9.49 seconds, she won the event with an ECAC-qualifying time of 9.30 seconds that currently ranks sixth nationally in Div. III.
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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Taylor Hudson (SR)
Cortland (Victor, N.Y./Victor)
Hudson tied her own school record in the high jump with her winning height of 1.70 meters (5' 7") at the Cornell Southern Tier Open. Her performance is an ECAC qualifier and ranks second nationally in Div. III. Hudson also finished fifth in the 200-meter dash (26.91) and sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.67, 9.54 in prelims).
MALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – John Nasky (SR) Â
Geneseo (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton)
Nasky won two individual events to lead the Knights to a 169-130 victory over visiting RIT on Saturday. He posted the fastest time in the SUNYAC this season by over 16 seconds in winning the 1,000 freestyle (9:53.52) and also won the 500 free (4:50.41).
MALE DIVER OF THE WEEK – Sam Randall (FR) Â
Geneseo (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland)
Randall won the 3-meter diving event (304.45) and finished second on 1-meter (302.70) to help lead Geneseo to a 169-130 victory over visiting RIT on Saturday. Both scores were NCAA Zone Diving Championship qualifiers by over 20 points.
FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Jenna Gibbons (JR) Â
Geneseo (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech)
Gibbons won two individual events and swam on a winning relay to lead Geneseo to a 157-128 home victory over RIT on Saturday. Gibbons posted victories in the 200 butterfly (2:14.45) and the 200 individual medley (2:17.25) while also adding a leg to the victorious 200 medley relay (1:53.92).
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FEMALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Miranda Fergus (JR) Â
Cortland (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Millbrook)
Fergus on both diving events in Cortland's dual-meet loss at Hartwick Saturday. She scored six-dive scores of 263.30 points on the 3-meter board and 258.80 points on the 1-meter board.
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ICE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nick Zappia (SR) Â
Cortland, Forward (Manlius, NY/Kingston Voyageurs)
Zappia recorded five points on four goals and one assist in a 2-0 week for the Red Dragons, moving into 15th place in career scoring at Cortland with 89 points on 51 goals and 38 assists. In a 5-0 win at Worcester St. on Thursday, Zappia netted a pair of goals, one shorthanded. In a 9-4 victory at Becker on Friday, Zappia recorded two goals and one assist as the Red Dragons improved to 7-6-2 on the season. For the year, Zappia leads Cortland with 27 points on a team-best 17 goals and 10 assists.
ICE HOCKEY GOALIE OF THE WEEK – Spencer Finney (JR) Â
Plattsburgh, Goalie (Pontypool, Ontario/Colgate University)
Spencer Finney enjoyed a 2-0-0 weekend including a win over the top-ranked Norwich Cadets. On Tuesday versus the Cadets the junior made 30 saves on 31 shots for a .968 save percentage. It was a game that saw Finney carry a shutout through the first 59:42 as Norwich scored with just 18 seconds left in regulation. On Friday, Finney made 19 saves on 21 shots to help the Cardinals improve to 12-2-1. Finney is now 8-0-1 and finished this week with a .942 save percentage and a 1.5 goal allowed.
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ICE HOCKEY ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Drew Weigman (FR) Â
Cortland (Annapolis, MD/Northern Cyclones)
Weigman posted a 35-save shutout in his only appearance in goal last week as the Red Dragons defeated Worcester St., 5-0, on the road. With the shutout, Weigman tied the school record for single-season shutouts with two, last set during the 2006-07 season. Weigman has posted a 6-3-2 record with a .926 save percentage and 3.06 GAA in 11 games this season.
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MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – R.J. Rosa (SR) Â
New Paltz, Guard/Forward (North Branch, N.Y./Sullivan West)
New Paltz senior guard/forward R.J. Rosa averaged 21.0 points per game in a 3-0 week for the Hawks, helping stretch the team's win streak to four. Rosa shot 48 percent (24-of-50) from the field on the week, including a 42.9 percent (9-of-21) clip from 3-point range, and he shot 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the line. Rosa also averaged 4.3 steals per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game and 0.3 blocks per game. On Tuesday, he scored a career-high 31 points and shot 7-of-9 from 3-point range, including a 6-of-6 mark in the second half, to help New Paltz hand SUNY Cortland its first loss of the season by a 78-73 final. Rosa then scored a game-high 19 points and added seven steals, four rebounds and two assists on Friday, helping the Hawks edge The College at Brockport, 57-55. Finally, on Saturday, he scored 13 points and chipped in three steals, two rebounds and two assists as well in New Paltz's 75-62 victory over SUNY Geneseo. Rosa currently leads the SUNYAC in steals per game (3.2) and ranks third in the conference in scoring (16.6 points per game). New Paltz (6-6, 4-1 SUNYAC) next faces SUNY Oneonta on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 4 p.m. in Oneonta, N.Y.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ashley Wallace (SR) Â
Buffalo State, F (Lockport, NY/Starpoint)
Wallace averaged 16.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in three SUNYAC wins last week. She poured in 24 points while grabbing eight rebounds in a win over Brockport Tuesday, and scored 18 points, including hitting two free throws with just five seconds remaining to earn a 59-58 victory over Plattsburgh on Saturday. She averaged 69% from the field and had five assists, eight steals and three blocks in the three games.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Melique Garcia (SR)  Cortland (Watervliet, N.Y./Watervliet)
Garcia placed second out of 29 sprinters in the 200-meter dash at the Cornell Southern Tier Open. His time of 22.52 seconds ranks third nationally in Div. III and is an ECAC qualifier. Garcia also finished fifth in the 400-meter dash (52.81).
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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Nick Vachon (SO) Â
Cortland (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell)
Vachon finished second in the high jump at the Cornell Southern Tier Open with a height of 2.04 meters (6 feet, 8.25 inches). His effort, which is the best at Cortland since 2003, is an ECAC qualifier and currently ranks third nationally in Div. III.
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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Kenya Outram (JR) Â
Cortland (Brooklyn, N.Y./Victory Collegiate)
Outram won the 60-meter hurdles at the Cornell Southern Tier Open. After qualifying for the finals in 9.49 seconds, she won the event with an ECAC-qualifying time of 9.30 seconds that currently ranks sixth nationally in Div. III.
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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Taylor Hudson (SR)
Cortland (Victor, N.Y./Victor)
Hudson tied her own school record in the high jump with her winning height of 1.70 meters (5' 7") at the Cornell Southern Tier Open. Her performance is an ECAC qualifier and ranks second nationally in Div. III. Hudson also finished fifth in the 200-meter dash (26.91) and sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.67, 9.54 in prelims).
