2018 Athlete Recognition Night
Dunmore, PA – On May 3, 2018, Penn State Scranton's Athletic Department hosted their Annual Athlete Recognition Night to highlight and honor the Penn State Scranton student-athletes for their performance, dedication and hard work in the classroom and in their respective sports throughout the year. The night kicked off with the presentation of the academic awards from both the PSUAC and USCAA given to the student-athletes who maintained at least a 3.0 GPA or higher in their seasons of play, presented by Sara Rinkunas, Coordinator of Athletic Programs. The PSUAC Academic All-Conference (3.0 GPA or higher) team for each team are:
Volleyball:
Jessica Berger, freshman
Ashley Fuentez, senior
Jayonna Geffrand, freshman
Soccer:
Summer Czekaj, freshman
Thomas Epsom, freshman
Matthew Hayner, junior
Jacob Karnick, freshman
Thomas Miller, freshman
Cossette Orehek, sophomore
Omar Paramo, sophomore
Jacob Tinklepaugh, freshman
Aron Tregaskis, freshman
Women's Cross Country:
Leah Byman, freshman
Alexis Karayanis, sophomore
Alicia Kasson, sophomore
Ashley Reyes, freshman
Cheyenne Tussel, junior
Hannah Woody, senior
Men's Cross Country:
Kyle Franceski, junior
Robert Murphy, sophomore
Jimmesh Patel, sophomore
Women's Basketball:
Jessica Berger, freshman
Mikaela Brutico, senior
Monique Hicks, sophomore
Rachel Lewis, freshman
Sara Moss, senior
Men's Basketball:
Brody Dial, junior
Thomas Gonzales, sophomore
Ty Herbert, sophomore
Jeff Panetti, junior
Softball:
Jessica Duff, sophomore
Gabrielle Glover, freshman
Gabrielle Percival, freshman
Myranda Polcha, senior
Britney Reinhart, freshman
Kelsey Sarafinko, junior
Emily Scarfo, freshman
Lauren Sciabbarrasi, freshman
Yasmine Smith, freshman
Abby Turner, freshman
Baseball:
John Abda, freshman
Vidal Baez, sophomore
RJ Kilmer, freshman
Noah Novotka, freshman
Brett Seidita, junior
Stephen Wegener, freshman
The USCAA National All-Academic (3.5 GPA or higher, 24 total passed credits) team for each team are:
Volleyball:
Ashley Fuentez, senior
Soccer:
Matthew Hayner, junior
Women's Cross Country:
Alicia Kasson, sophomore
Alexis Karayanis, sophomore
Hannah Woody, senior
Men's Cross Country:
Kyle Franceski, junior
Robert Murphy, sophomore
Women's Basketball:
Mikaela Brutico, senior
Men's Basketball:
Thomas Gonzales, sophomore
Jeff Panetti, junior
Softball:
Jessica Duff, sophomore
Britney Reinhart, freshman
Lauren Sciabbarrasi, freshman
The program continued with the presentation of the PSUAC athletic awards, given to the student-athletes nominated by their coaches and voted on by the coaches in the conference.
First team All-Conference:
Men's Cross Country: Matthew Murray, sophomore, men's individual champion
Women's Cross Country: Alicia Kasson, sophomore
Second team All-Conference:
Soccer: James Cole, senior
Women's Cross Country: Cheyenne Tussel, junior
Women's Cross Country: Alexis Karayanis, sophomore
Honorable Mention:
Soccer: Brandon Hall, sophomore
Men's Basketball: Jeff "Benji" Griffin, senior
Women's Basketball: Jessica Berger, freshman
This year the PSUAC instituted a new sportsmanship award in honor of former PSUAC Comissioner John Fritz. Each campus nominates one student-athlete per team that demonstrates excellent sportsmanship, while displaying ethical, appropriate, polite and fair behavior while participating in events for Penn State University and the PSUAC. This year's recipients for each team are:
Volleyball: Jessica Berger, freshman
Soccer: Jacob Tinklepaugh, freshman
Women's Basketball: Rachel Lewis, freshman
Men's Basketball: Thomas Gonzales, sophomore
Softball: Britney Reinhart, freshman
Baseball: Kenny Paltzer, freshman
Following the academic and athletic awards the program shifted to individual and special awards. The first special award given out went to senior, guard Jeff "Benji" Griffin from the Men's Basketball team who received his 1,000-point basketball for becoming the latest member of the exclusive 1,000-point club following the conclusion of his senior season. Griffin reached this career milestone in his last game of his career on the road at Penn State Greater Allegheny early in the first half.
Jeff Mallas, Athletic Director, presented the Kelly Ann Sledzinski Memorial Award given annually to a female student-athlete who excels both academically and athletically while demonstrating pride and integrity. The award is presented, in remembrance of former three sport student-athlete Kelly Ann Sledzinski, an exemplary student-athlete who conveyed strength, courage and honor during her time at Penn State. This year's recipient of the Kelly Ann Sledzinski Memorial Award is freshman, guard Jessica Berger from the Women's Basketball team.
Mar Tsakonas, Assistant Softball Coach and Athletic Department Administrative Assistant, presented the Larry Ellett Memorial Award, also given to a female student-athlete who excels both academically and athletically while demonstrating pride and integrity. The Larry Ellett Memorial Award is presented annually in honor of late Assistant Softball and Volleyball coach Larry Ellett. This year's recipient is junior, shortstop Kelsey Sarafinko from the Softball team. Both recipients of our special awards excelled as one of the top athletes on their respective teams and maintained a 3.0 GPA while working hard to lead their teams on the court and field while encompassing the true meaning of these awards.
Each year the Athletic Department sets aside a part of the program to thank and appreciate the graduating seniors from each team for their hard work, dedication to their sport and their accomplishments throughout their careers at Penn State Scranton. This year's seniors recognized were:
Ashley Fuentez, Volleyball, 4 years
James Cole, Men's Soccer, 3 years
Hannah Woody, Women's Cross Country, 2 years
Sara Moss, Women's Basketball, 4 years
Mikaela Brutico, Women's Basketball, 4 years
Molly Burke, Women's Basketbaall, 3 years
Angelia Migliaccio, Cheerleading, 2 years
Jeff "Benji" Griffin, Men's Basketball, 4 years
Myranda Polcha, Softball, 4 years
The night wrapped up with Jeff Mallas introducing the latest inductee to the Penn State Scranton Athletics Wall of Fame. Each year the department selects a former member of the Penn State Scranton Athletics staff, who while serving the university left a stamp and legacy on Penn State Scranton Athletics history. The newest inductee for 2018 is Mike Adballa, former Men's Basketball coach and longtime faculty member on campus. Mike was the founder of the Men's Basketball program in 1967 and served as the first head coach of the team from 1967-1983. Coach Abdalla briefly addressed the student-athletes and coaches present upon becoming just the third inductee into the Wall of Fame joining former Athletic Director, coach and kinesiology instructor, Joe Simoncelli and former Men's Basketball coach, Joe Walsh.