Athletes of the Week: Jan. 23-29, 2017
The final full week of January is complete and those in winter sports continue to perform at a high level. Those earning weekly awards for the week of January 23-29, 2017 include...
Men’s Basketball Player – Utica
Ivan Iton, Junior, Forward – Ossining, NY/Ossining
Ivan Iton shot a combined 20-for-30 (.666) as the Pioneers went 1-1 in conference play last week. Iton averaged 24.5 points and 9 rebounds and also went 9-for-10 (.900) from the free throw line. Against Ithaca, the junior finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and five blocks before adding 29 points and nine rebounds against Stevens.
Men’s Basketball Rookie – Houghton
Samuel Ortega, Freshman, Guard – Phoenix, AZ/Scottsdale Christian
Samuel Ortega averaged 8.5 points on a 85.7 field goal percentage (6-for-7) in 28 minutes of play over the course of two games. He went 3-for-3 from the field with three free throws made for nine points against St. John Fisher on Tuesday. He canned 3-of-4 field goals en route to eight points verse Alfred on Thursday.
Women’s Basketball Player – Elmira
Danielle Cleary, Junior, Guard – Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy
Danielle Cleary became the sixth player in Elmira College history to reach 1,000 career points last week thanks to a 26-point performance in a 69-50 win over Wells. Cleary became the third Soaring Eagle in the last three years to join EC's 1,000-point club. She also became the first junior to reach the 1,000-point plateau since 2013. Of Cleary's 26 points against Wells, 12 came from behind the arc (4-for-8), while also pulling down 11 boards for her second double-double of the season.
Women’s Basketball Rookie – Nazareth
Rachel Benedict, Freshman, Forward – Brockport, NY/Brockport
Rachel Benedict averaged 11 points on a 46.2 field goal percentage (12-for-26) and grabbed 13.3 rebounds in a 2-1 week for Nazareth. She scored 12 points (5-for-10) and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 71-56 win at Elmira on Tuesday. On Thursday, she scored 11 points (3-for-6) and notched 15 rebounds in a 63-56 loss to Fisher. She closed out the week with 10 points (4-for-10) and 15 rebounds in a 74-39 victory over Alfred. After the three double-doubles this week, Benedict now has six on the season. Her 15 rebounds against Fisher and Alfred are both career-highs.
Men’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Alfred
Gabriel Smith, Sophomore – Campbell, NY/Campbell-Savona
Sophomore Gabriel Smith shattered his personal best scores on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards against LeMoyne. Smith was the only men’s diver for the Saxons against LeMoyne’s two. He swept both diving events on Saturday afternoon. First, he broke his 3-meter score of 168.50 with a new standard of 180.45 points. Then, on the short board, he broke his PR of 174.80 with a score of 202.40 points.
Women’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Ithaca
Katie Helly, Junior – Florence, MA/Northampton
Katie Helly broke a program record for six dives in the three-meter springboard, posting a score of 323.55 to take first-place in the event in the Bombers meet against the Union this past weekend. She also added a second-place finish on the one-meter board with a score of 278.15.
Men’s Indoor Track Athlete – Utica
Nicodemus Gambill, Senior – Rochester, NY/East High
Utica’s Nicodemus Gambill won both the 60 meter and 200 meter dash at the Pioneer Invitational on Saturday. He broke his own facility and school-record in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.87. He added a season-best 22.12 to win the men’s 200 meter dash. Gambill currently holds the fourth fastest times on the NCAA Division III Indoor qualifying list in both the 60 meter and 200 meter dash.
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete – Ithaca
Larry Cass, Senior – Weston, CT/Weston
Senior Larry Cass notched an individual top finish in the weight throw at the Utica Pioneer Invitational, as he breezed past the field with a mark of 16.34 meters, which was nearly 1.3 meters further than the runner-up.
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete – St. John Fisher
Chelsea Cleveland, Senior – Oakfield, NY/Oakfield Alabama
Chelsea Cleveland ran a season-best time of 27.27 in the 200-meter dash at the Terrier Classic at Boston University. She was also part of the 4X400 relay team that crossed finish in 4:12.71 (4:16.08 converted). The relay team currently sits third in the E8.
Women’s Indoor Field Athlete – Ithaca
Brandy Smith, Senior – Miami, FL/Ransom Everglades School
Senior Brandy Smith measured out 14.29 meters (46' 10.75") in the shot put to finish third overall, and surpassed her own school record by nearly a meter (13.31 meters) at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Invitational. The mark of 14.29 meters is good for third in DIII this season. Smith also finished sixth in the weight throw with a mark of 16.71 meters (54' 10").