Athletes of the Week: Feb. 26 - March 4, 2018
The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced that 15 student-athletes in eight different sports have been recognized for outstanding play during the week of February 26 - March 4, 2018....
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete – Stevens
Mary Visca, Junior – Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland
Mary Visca was second in the 16-person field 3,000-meters with a time of 10:03.88 at the Atlantic Region Meet.
Women’s Indoor Field Athlete – Stevens
Katie Weeks, Junior – Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan
Katie Weeks was second in the weight throw at the Atlantic Regional Meet with a personal best mark of 17.29 meters. She also took third in shot put, with a toss of 13.24 meters.
Men’s Indoor Track Athlete – Stevens
Nick Zickgraf, Senior – Kenilworth, NJ/Brearly
Senior Nick Zickgraf of the Stevens Institute of Technology men's track & field team won the mile as the Ducks took tenth overall at the All-Atlantic Region Championships this weekend. Zickgraf won the mile out of a field of 17 with a time of 4:14.26.
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete – Utica
Keanu Heedram, Sophomore - Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta
Keanu Heedram put on another great performance in the shot put event, breaking the school-record again with his first place toss of 16.71 meters at the Atlantic Regional Meet. Heedram's throw on ranked eighth on the NCAA indoor qualifying list as he took home the Atlantic Region title.
Men’s Volleyball Player – Elmira
Matthew Buffum, Senior, MB - Chesterfield, MO/Parkway Central
Matthew Buffum was critical to Elmira going a perfect 2-0 at the Nazareth College Invitational on Saturday, March 3. The Chesterfield, Missouri, native paced the Soaring Eagles with eight blocks and was second in kills with 30. Buffum was the model of efficiency, as committed just four errors on his 54 attacks, which resulted in a stellar .481 hitting percentage. The 6-foot-7-inch middle began the event with 12 kills, six digs, two blocks and an ace, all while hitting at a .526 clip, in EC’s 3-1 triumph over D’Youville. In the following match against Medaille, he floored a season-high 18 kills in addition to recording six blocks and hitting at a .457 attack percentage. Buffum accounted for three of Elmira’s final five points in the critical fifth set to guide EC to the 3-2 victory over the Spartans.
Men’s Volleyball Rookie – Stevens
Ryan Byrne, Freshman, OH – Mastic, NY/Eastport-South Manor
Ryan Byrne provided a big left to Stevens against No. 9 New York University. The freshman outside hitter tallied nine kills and six blocks as Stevens rallied to defeat its cross-river rival in four sets. The Mastic, New York native followed up his performance against NYU with two kills and an ace as No. 3 Stevens swept Lancaster Bible College.
Baseball Player– Utica
Matthew Fitzgerald, Junior, Catcher – Clinton, NY/Notre Dame
Junior catcher Matthew Fitzgerald had an impressive start to the season in UC’s sweep over Yeshiva on Sunday. Fitzgerald went 5-for-6 (.833) with five hits, four RBIs, one stolen base and scored two runs. He was 2-for-3 in the opening game and a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI in the second game.
Baseball Pitcher– Houghton
Brandon Joslin, Sophomore – Lockport, NY/Starpoint
Brandon Joslin made his season debut and picked up the win against Eastern Nazarene. Brandon tossed six complete innings with eight strikeouts and one hit allowed. He faced 21 batters holding the opponent to a .056 batting average.
Softball Player– Houghton
Taylor Sile, Sophomore – Hilton, NY/Hilton
Taylor Sile led the Houghton offense on its spring training trip in Florida. Over ten games Siles batted .423 (11-for-26) with two doubles, one triple, one homerun and five RBI. She scored nine runs, stole two bases on two attempts and drew seven walks.
Softball Pitcher– Alfred
Jessica Wilcox, Sophomore – Forestville, NY/Pine Valley
Jessica Wilcox racked up 11 strikeouts during Alfred’s first game of the 2018 as the Saxons earned the victory over WPI. Wilcox allowed only one earned run in the complete game and WPI to a .207 batting average.
Men’s Lacrosse Player – Stevens
Eric Radbourne, Junior, Midfield – Guelph, ONT/Trinity-Pawling
Eric Radbourne scored four times, including the game-winner with 19 seconds remaining as Stevens found the back of the net four times in the final 5:26 to rally from a four-goal deficit to defeat Springfield, 13-12. The junior scored his four goals on seven shots, with all four of the Guelph, Ontario, Canada's shots-on-goal finding the back of the net.
Men’s Lacrosse Goalie – Stevens
Carson White, Junior – Downingtown, PA/Downingtown STEAM Academy
Carson White earned his third victory of the year with a 16-save performance against Springfield. White also picked up three ground balls.
Women’s Lacrosse Player – Nazareth
Jamie Martin, Graduate, Attack – Camillus, NY/West Genesee
Jamie Martin had a career-high seven goals and added one assist as Nazareth defeated No. 14 Brockport 14-12 on Wednesday. She also had one ground ball and two draw controls.
Women’s Lacrosse Goalie – Utica
Hali Vandermeulen, Sophomore – Walden, NY/Valley Central
Sophomore Hali Vandermeulen picked up her first win of the season in the 14-5 victory over SUNY Potsdam. She allowed five goals and made nine saves.
Men’s Tennis Player – Elmira
Patrick Tracey, Senior – Bardonia, NY/Clarkstown South
Patrick Tracey went 2-0 in Elmira's match against Oswego State on Saturday, winning at both first doubles and first singles He teamed up with EC's Stephen Gervase for an 8-1 victory, the duo's first doubles win of the season. Despite an 0-2 start in the first set of his singles match, Tracey responded and rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at the No. 1 singles spot.