E8 Athletes of the Week: November 17
Men's and women's basketball opened their seasons over the past weekend as the football regular season came to an end. Those earning weekly honors for the week of Nov. 10-16 are:
Football Offensive Player – Utica
Jesse Baldassare, Senior, RB – Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai
Senior running back Jesse Baldassare rushed for four touchdowns as the Utica College football team cemented its best record in program-history with a convincing 47-24 victory over host Hartwick College in Empire 8 Conference play Saturday afternoon. Baldassare rushed the ball 30 times for 197 yards and became the College's all-time leading rusher to cap his career-day. He needed 195 yards rushing headed into the contest to break the school-record for yards rushing in a career. His 197-yard effort did just that, as he surpassed Mike Capra as the College's all-time leading rusher.
Football Defensive Player – Buffalo State
Marquis Artis, Junior, LB – Amherst, NY/Amherst
Marquis Artis paced the Bengals' defense in a 55-21 I-90 Bowl victory over Brockport on Saturday. Artis had a team best 14 tackles, including nine solo stops and a sack and also had an interception.
Football Special Teams Player – Buffalo State
Marc Montana, Junior, K – E. Amherst, NY/St. Joe’s
Marc Montana was 2-for-2 on field goals including a long of 40 yards in a 55-21 I-90 Bowl victory over Brockport on Saturday. He also was 5 of 6 on extra point attempts. He set new school single-season records with 43 extra points and 10 field goals
Men’s Cross Country Runner – Ithaca
Sawyer Hitchcock, Junior – Fishers, Ind/Hamilton Southeastern
Sawyer Hitchcock placed ninth with a time of 25:26 on the 8-kilometer course at the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional at Genesee Valley Park. His performance earned him All-Region honors and a bid to the NCAA Division III Championships on Nov. 22 in Mason, Ohio.
Women’s Cross Country Runner – Stevens
Amy Regan, Junior – Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills
Amy Regan made school history with a first place finish in the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional. Regan ran a race of 21:05.8 to finish 11 seconds better than the second place winner in a field that featured nearly 300 runners from 40 different institutions. The Stevens All-American previously took second in this race in 2013 after a ninth place finish in 2012. With the win, Regan was named All-Region for the third time in her career.
Men’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Alfred
David Luke, Senior – Ocala, FL/West Port
In a dual meet win over visiting Fredonia, David Luke won the 50 free in 21.14 seconds, a new pool record, and swam on the winning 200 medley relay (1:41.34). He also swam a lead leg of 21.41 seconds in the Saxons' winning 200 free relay (1:27.77).
Women’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Alfred
Dylan Staniszewski, Sophomore – Oakton, VA/Oakton
Dylan Staniszewski won four individual races and swam on two winning relays in the Saxons' two dual meets last week. In a loss to Fredonia, she won the 200 free (2:00.88) and 500 free (5:28.35) and swam the anchor on the winning 200 free relay (1:43.70). In a win at Pit-Bradford, she won the 400 IM (4:56.00) and 100 free (55.37) and anchored the winning 400 free relay (3:49.04).
Men’s Basketball Player – Houghton
Johnathan Stowe, Sophomore, F – Toronto, ONT/Don Mills Collegiate Institute
Johnathan Stowe posted a double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds as Houghton College opened its 2014-15 season with a 95-86 non-conference win over Wells. Stowe went 9 for 14 from the field to go with five blocks and five assists.
Men’s Basketball Rookie – Ithaca
Marc Chasin, Freshman, G – Coral Gables, FL/Gulliver
Freshman Marc Chasin led the Bombers with 29 points in his first collegiate game, adding four rebounds, two assists and a steal in his debut against Skidmore on Saturday night. Chasin was a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond-the-arc, falling one basket shy of the school record for three point percentage. Andrei Oztemel holds the record, going 7-for-7 from three-point range in an 81-59 win over Nazareth on Feb. 3, 2012.
Women’s Basketball Player – Nazareth
Lindsey Kelly, Junior, C – Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks East
Lindsey Kelly helped Nazareth open its season with two victories as she scored 32 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in wins over Sage Colleges and Brockport. She had 14 points with 6 rebounds and 3 steals in a 66-56 win over Brockport, then had a game-high 18 points with 11 rebounds in a 60-47 win over Sage. Overall she shot 16 for 27 from the field and was named to Brockport's all-tournament team.
Women’s Basketball Rookie – Elmira
Danielle Cleary, Freshman, G – Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy
Danielle Cleary had an impressive debut for the Soaring Eagles, leading the team in scoring with 14 points. She was also a force on the defensive end, recording a team-high three blocks and also tallying two steals.