Athletes of the Week: Jan. 18-24, 2016
A full week of action in the conference brought about several exciting outcomes from the past week, highlighted by school records and top marks in Division III. Those earning Empire 8 Athlete of the Week recognition for the week of January 18-24, 2016 include...
Men's Swimming & Diving Athlete - Stevens
Ravi Sun, Senior – Arkadelphia, Ark./Arkadelphia
Ravi Sun collected four first place wins (three individual, one relay) in a dual-meet loss to No. 5 TCNJ. He was lead in the first place 200-yard medley relay which set a Schaefer Center Pool record (1:33.51) while also placing first in the 100-yard backstroke (51.74), 200-yard backstroke (1:54.41) and the 200-IM (1:56.14).
Women’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Ithaca
Anna Belson, Sophomore – Hartland, WI/Arrowhead
Anna Belson of the Ithaca College women's swimming and diving team captured both diving events on Saturday as the Bombers dispatched of Alfred University. The sophomore would go on to sweep both diving events on Sunday in the Dick Comanzo Diving Invitational. Against the Saxons, Belson won the 1-meter with 267.95 points before compiling an NCAA qualifying total of 302.80 in the 3-meter. The sophomore diver would win her third and fourth events of the weekend after earning 449.15 points in the 1-meter and 483.80 in the 3-meter at the Dick Comanzo Invite.
Men's Basketball Player - Utica
Robert Tutein, Senior, Guard – Nanuet, NY/Nanuet
Senior guard Robert Tutein averaged 26.0 points, 4.5 rebounds this past weekend as well as shooting 70 percent behind the arc and 71 percent from the floor. Tutein helped the Pioneers to victory against Ithaca on Friday scoring his season-high 29 points, Tutein also had nine rebounds and went 11-for-16 on field-goal attempts. Tutein put up another 20 point effort the following day in a loss against Nazareth. He had 23 points and shot 75 percent on 3-pointers.
Men's Basketball Rookie - Elmira
Justin Porrett, Freshman, Guard – Dumont, NJ/Dumont
Justin Porrett averaged 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in a 1-1 week for the Soaring Eagles. He was 10-for-22 from the field (.455) and 12-of-15 from the free-throw line (.800). Porrett scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed seven boards, his second-highest total of the season, in a 76-72 win over Alfred. T
Women's Basketball Player - Nazareth
Lindsey Kelly, Senior, Center – Doyletown, PA/Central Bucks East
Lindsey Kelly averaged 21 points and 12.7 rebounds in a 2-1 week for the Golden Flyers. She shot .676 percent from the field on 23-of-34. Posted 22 points (7-of-10) and 14 boards in an 87-74 victory over Hartwick. Also notched 22 points (9-of-13) and 15 rebounds in Nazareth's 66-61 loss at Stevens. Closed out the week with 19 points (7-of-11) and pulled down nine rebounds. She also registered a career-high five blocks in the game.
Women's Basketball Rookie - Elmira
Lindsey Heaton, Freshman, Guard – New Milford, CT/New Milford
Lindsey Heaton averaged 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals, as the Soaring Eagles picked up back-to-back wins over Houghton College and Alfred University. She made a career-high four steals in the win over Houghton and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line against Alfred. Two of Heaton's makes from the charity stripe occurred late in the fourth quarter, which helped Elmira secure its first home win of the season against the Saxons.
Men’s Indoor Track Athlete – Nazareth
Tom Sippie, Senior – Toms River, NJ/Toms River South
Tom Sippie ripped off the fifth-best time in the country on Saturday, running to a first place finish (49.73) in the 400-meter dash at the Highlander Invite. He also was a part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team that was victorious in a time of 3:25.73, nearly five seconds ahead of second place St. Lawrence.
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete – Nazareth
Luis Rivera, Senior – Rochester, NY/James Monroe
Luis Rivera set the top mark in Division III in the weight throw over the weekend. He won the weight throw at the Highlander Invitational Saturday with a toss of 18.84 meters (61 feet, 9 and 3/4 inches).
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete – Stevens
Amy Regan, Senior – Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills
Amy Regan placed fourth in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:38.68 at the NYC Gotham Cup. The time broke the school record, Regan's personal best, and is currently the fastest 3K in Division III this year.
Women’s Indoor Field co-Athlete – Ithaca
Katherine Pitman, Junior – Swampscott, MA/Swampscott
Junior Katherine Pitman won the pole vault at Cornell's Upstate Challenge with a mark of 3.90 meters (12 feet, 9.5 inches), which is the top height in all of NCAA Division III and surpasses her previous school record performances of 3.80 meters set earlier this year. She cleared 3.90 on her first attempt, while Binghamton's Christy DiMichele surpassed 3.90 on her third try.
Women’s Indoor Field co-Athlete – Stevens
Gladys Njoku, Senior – Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove
Gladys Njoku tied for second in the high jump at the Gotham Cup, jumping 1.75-meters which is the high mark in Division III to date.