Empire 8 athletes of The Week: March 4, 2013
Men’s Indoor Track Athlete - Nazareth
Jake Lafaver, Junior – Syracuse, NY/West Genesee
Jake Lafaver lowered his personal-best time in the 800-meter run yet again as he placed third at the ECAC Championship meet in New York City. His time of 1:53.24 was a provisional qualifying time.
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete – Stevens
Victor Servito, Senior – Teaneck, NJ/Bergen Catholic
Senior Victor Servito finished second in the heptathlon at the ECAC Championship with a school record 4,719 points. Servito took first in the 60-meter hurdles (8.56 seconds), second in the high jump (1.90 meters) and fourth in the 60-meter dash (7.38 seconds). He also cleared 3.80 meters in the pole vault, recorded a toss of 9.99 meters in the shot put, leaped six meters in the long jump and clocked a 2:49.26 in the 1000 meter run.
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete – Ithaca
Jenn Randall, Senior – Cincinnatus, NY/Cincinnatus
Senior Jenn Randall scored 18 individual points at the ECAC Indoor T&F Championship helping the Bombers to their second victory in four years and third in program history. Randall rewrote her own 800-meter run school record with a second-place finish of 2:14.38. She also won the mile run in 4:55.88, just .35 seconds shy of the school record. She also ran a leg of the Bombers' school-record setting 4x400 relay that placed third in 3:56.19.
Women’s Indoor Field Athlete – Stevens
Alina Duran, Senior – West New York, NJ/Memorial
Senior Alina Duran claimed the weight throw title with a toss of 16.84 meters (55 feet, 3 inches) and won by nearly two feet in a field of 23 competitors. She guided the women's team to a ninth place finish overall out of 50 teams and was selected to compete in the upcoming NCAA Championships.
Baseball Player of the Week – Stevens
Curt Lowenstein, Junior, Cather – Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor
Curt Lowenstein batted .444 (4-for-9) in two games last week for Stevens. In an 8-7 loss to No. 24 Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday, Lowenstein collected two hits in five trips to the plate, scoring one run and driving in one. Lowenstein went 2-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base, a run scored and RBI in the 4-3 win over Lehman College on Sunday.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week – Stevens
Tyler Courter, Senior – Glenwood, NJ/Vernon
Tyler Courter threw six innings to earn the victory in a 4-3 win over Lehman on Sunday out of the bullpen. The Lightning tallied three-straight singles to start the fourth before Courter entered the game. Courter walked in a run and then gave up the second on a groundout. He got out of the fourth with no further damage and gave up just one hit over the final six innings of the game. He walked just one batter and struck out five.
Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week – Nazareth
Luke Wooters, Freshman, Attack – White Plains, NY/Iona Prep
Freshman Luke Wooters scored six of Nazareth’s goals and added one assist against Geneseo on Saturday. He also collected three ground balls and caused one turnover. Wooters scored the first two goals of the game as Nazareth held a 2-0 lead after the first quarter. He scored once in the second and assisted on a man-up possession for a 4-2 halftime advantage. Wooters added two more goals in the third quarter and scored unassisted with 11:33 left in the fourth quarter to give the Golden Flyers their last lead of the day at 9-8.
Men’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week – Stevens
Matthew Deiner, Sophomore – Millstone Township, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy
Matthew Deiner earned two victories in goal for Stevens last week. He stopped a total of 27 shots with a .628 save percentage. Deiner made 14 saves in a 16-8 win over Eastern Connecticut State on Wednesday and then registered 13 saves in a 16-8 triumph over No. 20 Springfield on Saturday.
Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week – Stevens
Spencer Waybright, Senior, midfielder – West Hartford, CT/Ethel Walker
Senior Spencer Waybright scored six goals and handed out six assists as Stevens opened the season 1-1. Waybright scored five times and had five assists as the Ducks rolled 20-3 over Mount Saint Vincent Wednesday. The 10 points were a career high and her fifth and final tally gave her 100 for her career. Waybright also added five ground balls, four draw controls and three caused turnovers to her line. On Saturday she finished with one goal and one assist in the 10-8 loss to Montclair State.
Women’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week – Utica
Stephanie Belanger, Senior – Lewiston, ME/Lewiston
Senior Stephanie Belanger earned her first win of the season as the Pioneers defeated Houghton College, 20-1, in their season opener on Saturday, March 2. She stopped four of the Highlanders five shots, compiling a save percentage of 80%. The senior starter also scooped up six groundballs in the Pioneers victory.