E8 Athletes of the Week: March 24
Weather continues to force league schools to jumble spring schedules, but the changes have had little affect on Empire 8 student-athlete performances. Those earning weekly honors include...
Baseball Player of the Week – St. John Fisher
Cody Wiktorski, Sophomore, Third Base – Penfield, NY/Penfield
Cody Wiktorski went 8-for-14 at the plate (.571) including a double and two homeruns to go along with five RBI, five runs scored and three stolen bases as the nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College baseball team picked up four wins last week to stretch its winning streak to 11 games. Wiktorski went 3-for-5 with a double and a homerun in Fisher's win against Haverford before blasting a three-run homer as the Cardinals won the second leg of the doubleheader as well. Wiktorski slugged four singles in five plate appearances against Widener on Sunday as Fisher earned yet another win.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week – Stevens
Greg Jakusik, Sophomore – The Woodlands, TX/The Woodlands College Park
Sophomore Greg Jakusik tossed a complete game victory over Staten Island in a 2-1 win on March 22. Jakusik allowed just three hits and struck out 11 batters, including four while looking, for his first win of the season.
Softball Player of the Week – Stevens
Jamie DeGennaro, Junior, Catcher – Pearl River, NY/Pearl River
Jamie DeGennaro went four for seven (.571) including a double in a doubleheader sweep over New Jersey City University on March 22. She also added two RBIs, scored twice, and made no errors while catching all 12 innings.
Softball Pitcher of the Week – Utica
Abby Monroe, Sophomore – Watertown, NY/General Brown
Abby Monroe went 3-0 last week in four appearances. In 18.1 total innings, she gave up only two earned runs, struck out 11, and gave up 14 hits. Her best game came last Thursday against Washington & Jeffers where she pitched seven innings in a 2-1 victory. In the game she gave up one run that was not an earned run, struck out four, and walked none.
Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week – Ithaca
John Januszkiewicz, Freshman, Attack – Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park
Freshman John Januszkiewicz netted a career-high four goals in Ithaca victories at Oneonta and Elmira. He added one assist in each game for a team-best 10 points on the week. Eleven of his 13 shots were on goal. Januszkiewicz also scooped up a air of ground balls against the Red Dragons.
Men’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week – Stevens
Kevin Rafferty, Freshman – Bay Shore, NY/Islip
Freshman Kevin Rafferty repeats as Goalie of the Week after he held No. 10 Montclair State to six goals below its season average in a 10-7 victory on March 19. Rafferty stopped 14 shots in the win, including seven in the third quarter, and only allowed one second half goal.
Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week – Elmira
Ashton Hogan, Junior, Attack – Shelburne, ONT/Robert F. Hall C.S.S
Ashton Hogan returned to the Soaring Eagles this week following the conclusion of the women's ice hockey season and had an immediate impact on the field. After scoring one goal in 14 minutes off the bench against the University of Rochester on Tuesday, the junior exploded for nine goals over the weekend. Ashton netted four goals and added an assist against Buffalo State, then followed that up with a career-high five goals in EC's 15-8 win over Houghton.
Women’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week – Ithaca
Emily Ross, Freshman – Stony Brook, NY/Ward Melville
Freshman Emily Ross made 25 saves in goal during a 1-1 week for the Bombers against two nationally ranked opponents. She had 11 stops against second-ranked Cortland Wednesday before a career-best 14-save performance against 11th-ranked St. John Fisher on Saturday. Ross earned a save percentage of .568 for the week.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week – Stevens
Matthew Heinrich, Sophomore – Henderson, TN/Hendersonville
Matthew Heinrich took the win at No. 1 singles 6-2, 7-6 on Saturday against No. 9 Kenyon College. Heinrich has competed in the No. 1 spot for all 10 of matches this season and has gone 7-3. The schedule has included six matches against opponents currently ranked in top 30 nationally.