Empire 8 Athletes of The Week: January 21, 2013
Men’s Basketball Player – Ithaca
Travis Warech, Senior, Guard – Pine Brook, NJ/Montville
Warech paced the Bombers to a 2-1 road week averaging 22.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He scored a career- and game-high 28 points in the Bombers' 90-87 victory at St. John Fisher on Friday, before hitting game-highs of 25 points and 13 rebounds, also a career-high, in the Bombers' 74-64 victory at Alfred on Saturday. He started the week with 13 points against Elmira on Tuesday night. For the week, Warech totaled five assists, four blocks and four steals, while committing just four turnovers.
Men’s Basketball Rookie – St. John Fisher
Chaz Lott, Guard – Wynantskill, NY/Christian Brothers Academy
Chaz Lott had two solid games for the Cardinals as he averaged 13.5 points and five rebounds. On Tuesday night, Lott finished with seven points and seven rebounds in a loss to Nazareth. St. John Fisher dropped a 90-87 decision to visiting Ithaca College on Friday night. Lott finished the game with a career-high 20 points, half of them coming in the final 3:24 of play.
Women’s Basketball Player – Hartwick
Kate Purcell, Junior, Guard – Buffalo, NY/Mount Mercy Academy
Purcell broke the all-time Hartwick program record for three-pointers made on Friday in a win over Houghton. With 5:55 left in the first half, she netted her second three-pointer of the game that not only set the record, but ignited a 20-8 run to close the half. She would finish with 10 points, season-high nine assists, a career-high six steals, and she tied for a team-high seven rebounds on her record-setting night. On Saturday, she scored 14 points and added 8 rebounds in a win over Nazareth. She added four assists, three steals, and three treys in the game.
Women’s Basketball Rookie – Nazareth
Lindsey Kelly, Center – Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks East
Kelly averaged 17 points and 7.7 rebounds in a 1-2 week for the Golden Flyers.
On Tuesday, she shot 9-of-13 for 21 points and added seven rebounds against St. John Fisher. Kelly had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead Nazareth to a 56-53 road victory over Stevens in women's basketball on Friday night. The victory was the first-ever for the Golden Flyers over the Ducks in women’s basketball, as Nazareth had lost the previous 11 meetings with the Ducks. The following day, Kelly finished with a team-high 11 points and seven rebounds against Hartwick. On the week she shot 59 percent from the field and 79 percent from the foul line.
Men’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Ithaca
Jake Lichter, Senior – Weston, MA/Weston
Jake Lichter won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:00.27 and the 200 breast in 2:13.90. He was also on Ithaca's winning 200-yard medley relay team (1:36.23). The Bombers dominated Rochester in a dual-meet, winning by a score of 217-77 and Ithaca improved to 13-1 on the season.
Women’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Ithaca
Korie Fackler, Junior – Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East
Korie Fackler's scores of 272.70 on the 1-meter board and 279.05 on 3-meter were pool records and also met the NCAA qualifying standard. She won both events to lead Ithaca to a 196-104 dual-meet win over Rochester. The Bombers are 10-0 on the season.
Men’s Indoor Track Athlete – St. John Fisher
Eric Riley, Sophomore – Wampsville, NY/Oneida
Sophomore Eric Riley set a school record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.33 at the North Coast Indoor Open in Geneva, Ohio. He also finished second in the triple jump (12.94 meters), third in the high jump (1.93 meters) and ninth in the long jump (6.22 meters).
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete – Stevens
Andrew Kraemer, Senior – Budd Lake, NJ/Mt. Olive
Senior Andrew Kraemer took top honors in the weight throw with a toss of 15.03 meters (49 feet, 3.75 inches) at the Wesleyan University Invitational. He finished first out of 17 competitors and threw a full meter farther than the runner-up.
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete – Stevens
Amy Regan, Freshman – Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills
Stevens Institute of Technology freshman Amy Regan established a school record in the mile at the Wesleyan University Invitational. Regan qualified for ECAC's in the event and finished third out of 26 runners. The day before, Regan took part in the distance medley relay at the Great Dane Invitational and placed fifth with a time of 12:58.52.
Women’s Indoor Field Athlete – Stevens
Gladys Njoku, Freshman – Cedar Grove, NJ/ Cedar Grove
Stevens Institute of Technology freshmen Gladys Njoku established a school record in the high jump for women's indoor track & field at Wesleyan University Invitational. Njoku qualified for ECAC's with her school record of 1.62 meters (5' 3.75”) in the high jump and placed first out of 12 athletes.