2016-17 Crimson & Gray Awards Home Page
INDIANA, Pa. - IUP Athletics has announced the finalists for the 2016-17 Crimson & Gray Awards. The combined 59 finalists for the inaugural awards were chosen from an initial list of 104 nominees spread out across IUP's 19 varsity sports.
The Crimson & Gray Awards consist of 18 total categories - nine women, nine men - with top performers and performances from the 2016-17 year eligible. The inaugural year of awards include: Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, Performance of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, Postseason Performer of the Year, Senior of the Year, Team of the Year and Athlete of the Year.
RELATED | 104 nominees announced for inaugural Crimson & Gray Awards
IUP's 2016-17 Scholar-Athletes of the Year have already been selected, as men's golf's
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa. /Central Cambria) and softball's
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) were honored during the annual All-American Banquet at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on April 20.
Process
The IUP Sports Information Office collected award nominations from its coaches and others within the athletic department. Those nominations were then voted on within the office to choose 3-to-5 finalists for each award. The finalists will now be voted on by additional members of the IUP Athletic Department and Sports Information Office to choose a winner for each award.
Those winners will be announced over a two-week period starting June 5 on IUPAthletics.com.
FINALISTS FOR 2016-17 CRIMSON & GRAY AWARDS
Men's Team Coach of the Year
Frederick A. Joseph
Men's Golf
2016 PSAC Champions … 27th title in program history … Earned automatic bid to program's 21st consecutive NCAA regional championships appearance (fifth seed) … Finished 8th of 20 teams at regionals … Sr.
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa. /Central Cambria) won PSAC individual title and was named All-Atlantic Region
Joe Lombardi
Men's Basketball
Won PSAC West regular season title (21-1) … Most regular season conference wins (21) in PSAC history … 28-4 overall record … PSAC tournament semifinalists … Advanced to second round of NCAA Atlantic Region Championships … Soph.
Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) named PSAC West Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American
Anthony Rebyanski
Baseball
First year head coach … Led IUP to program's first PSAC tournament appearance since 2011 … Earned second seed in PSAC West (18-10) … Picked to finish seventh of eight teams in PSAC West preseason poll … 22-25 overall record … One All-PSAC West selection
Women's Team Coach of the Year
Tom McConnell
Women's Basketball
2016-17 PSAC Champions … IUP finished second in PSAC West (18-4) … Earned second seed for NCAA Atlantic Region Championships, advanced to second round … 24-7 overall record … No seniors on team … Three second team All-PSAC West selections
Scott Pennewill
Women's Volleyball
Led IUP to program's first PSAC Championships berth since 2004 … Upset Edinboro in quarterfinals to advance to PSAC final four ... Finished second in PSAC Southwest Division (10-8) … Picked fourth (out of four) in preseason coaches poll … 20-11 overall record … Jr.
Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) was a unanimous All-Atlantic Region selection
Larry Peterson
Women's Tennis
Guided IUP to program's first ever PSAC championship … Top seed in Atlantic Region for first time … Seventh straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearance … 20-6 overall record, 5-1 PSAC … Went 3-2 against nationally-ranked, top 50 teams ... Coached PSAC doubles champions in the fall, second PSAC individual champion in program history
Women's Performance of the Year
Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic)
Women's Basketball
Career-high 30 points (7-15 FGs, 6-8 3FGs, 10-10 FTs) with six rebounds and five assists to lead Crimson Hawks to 84-79 win over Cal in PSAC Championship Game (March 5)
Liz Coppella (Bradford, Pa. /Bradford)
Women's Track & Field
Broke own school record in outdoor pole vault at season-opening CalU Early Bird (March 25) with height of 3.75 meters … Finished fifth overall at the meet … Fourth best height in the PSAC, 24th in Division II this year
Jarka Petercakova (Bratislava, Slovakia/Sport Gymnasium) and
Luise von Agris (Castrop-Rauxel, Germany/Adalbet-Stifter-Gymnasium)
Women's Tennis
Won PSAC doubles title at PSAC Individual Championships in the fall (Oct. 7-9) ... First doubles title in IUP history … Defeated Mercyhurst's doubles team - which won the regional title week prior – by a score of 8-1 in the semifinals … Beat West Chester's duo 8-2 in title match, a duo ranked fifth in region
Carissa Smith (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick)
Women's Lacrosse
Season-high three goals, including game-tying score with 17 seconds left, in 14-13 overtime win over Mercyhurst (April 18) … Also had three caused turnovers and three draw controls
Nicole Smith (Dover, PA/Dover)
Women's Swimming
Won four events (three individual, one relay) and finished second in two additional relays at Pidgeon Memorial Invitational (Jan. 27-28)
Men's Performance of the Year
DJ Horton (Kane, Pa./Kane Area)
Men's Track & Field
Broke own IUP record with pole vault of 5.20 meters (17-0.75) at Penn Relays (April 29) … Height was an NCAA automatic mark and the third best in Division II at that point … Also finished third overall at meet full of Division I athletes
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa. /Central Cambria)
Men's Golf
Shot 3-under 68 in second round of PSAC Championships (Oct. 16) to rally from seven strokes back to win individual title in a playoff hole … 68 was the best round of the tournament, and best of his career … Helped IUP win team championship
Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox)
Football
Combined for 465 yards and six touchdowns in 73-42 win at East Stroudsburg (Sept. 10) … 465 total yards is second most in IUP history, six TDs are tied for the most … His 380 passing yards and three passing touchdowns were both career-highs ... Also had 88 rushing yards and three touchdowns ... Team had school record 789 yards of total offense in the win
Men's Freshman of the Year
Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan)
Football
First team All-PSAC West running back … Third team All-Super Region One … Led IUP with 989 rushing yards and 82.4 rushing yards per game … Third on team with nine rushing TDs … Five 100-yard rushing games
Chris Eisel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin)
Baseball
Second on the team with a .331 batting average … Played in all 47 games, starting 42 in the outfield … Transitioned to team's leadoff hitter for PSAC Championships … Four doubles, three triples, three home runs, 23 RBI, 10 steals in 10 attempts … Just one error in center field
Justin Jones (Lansdown, Pa./Cardinal O'hara)
Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Seventh in the 800 meters at the PSAC Outdoor Championships despite battling flu … Ran second leg of school record breaking 4x800 relay at PSAC Indoor Championships … Finished third on the team at the PSAC & NCAA Regional Cross Country Championships
Women's Freshman of the Year
Kaitlyn Beers (Reynoldsville, Pa./DuBois Area High School)
Softball
First team All-PSAC Central at second base … Started 42 of 43 games … Led team with six home runs … Finished second to
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) in six major offensive categories
Maura D'Anna (Springfield, Va./West Springfield)
Women's Basketball
Averaged 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game … Two-time PSAC West Freshman of the Week … 53.5 field goal percentage, 15 blocks, 17 steals in 30 games off the bench
Kelly Shields (Grasonville, Md./Kent Island)
Women's Lacrosse
Led team and finished 10th in PSAC with 23 assists despite missing five games with injury … Third on team with 37 points … Scored 14 goals on 22 shots on goal (.957 pct)
Nicole Smith (Dover, PA/Dover)
Women's Swimming
Redshirt … Top scorer on team with 289.50 points ... 11 first place finishes during season … Three top-four finishes at PSAC Championships … Two-time national swimmer of the week … Three NCAA "B" standards
Women's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Emily Dubler (Johnsonburg, Pa. /Johnsonburg)
Women's Track & Field
Eighth in the 100 meters at the PSAC Outdoor Championships – first time finalist … Member of two school record breaking teams - 4x200 (indoor) and 4x400 (outdoor)
Mollie Gallagher (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley)
Women's Lacrosse
Third team All-PSAC defender in first year as a starter … Third on team with 20 caused turnovers, fourth with 27 ground balls … Played in 13 games (no starts) in 2016 with 9 ground balls and 3 caused turnovers
Kassie Kesneck (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston)
Softball
Walk-on freshman in the fall … Third on team with .294 batting average and .424 slugging percentage … Fourth with 15 RBI … Nine steals in 10 attempts
Lily McWilliams (Rockville, Md./Thomas Sprigg Wootton)
Women's Volleyball
Turned into six-rotation player as a senior … Career-highs of 286 kills (second on team) and 2.42 kills/set (3rd) … Second on team with 353.0 points
Men's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Nate Dickey (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin)
Baseball
Finished fourth on team with .314 batting average … Played in 35 games, starting 30 in first year as position player … Pitched in 11 games with 10.45 ERA last season
John Michael Mihalek (Coal Center, Pa./California Area)
Men's Cross Country
IUP's second best finisher in the last five meets … All-Atlantic Region, finishing 25th at regional championships … Was not a top-10 runner for IUP in 2015
Dalton Trump (Lancaster, Pa. /J.P. McCaskey)
Men's Track & Field
Second in 3000 steeplechase at PSAC Outdoor Championships in first year competing in event … All-Atlantic Region in the steeplechase and the mile (indoor) … Never scored in PSAC Championship meet previous three seasons
Men's Postseason Performer of the Year
Austin Cooper (King of Prussia, Pa. /Upper Merion )
Men's Cross Country
Finished fourth at PSAC Championships, ninth at NCAA Atlantic Regionals, and 67th at NCAA Championships … Program's best individual finish at PSAC's since Hillary Mugun in 2009 (third) and best at NCAA Championship since Mugun in 2009 (33rd)
DJ Horton (Kane, Pa./Kane Area)
Men's Track & Field
First team All-American at NCAA Outdoor Championships, tying for eight ... Won PSAC Outdoor title in pole vault (second career) … Second at PSAC Indoor Championships and 11th at NCAA Indoor Championships, earning second team All-American honors
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa. /Central Cambria)
Men's Golf
Won PSAC individual title at conference championships with 4-over 146 … Tied for first officially, before winning a playoff … Shot career-best three-under 68 in second round to rally from seven strokes back
Women's Postseason Performer of the Year
Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic)
Women's Basketball
Earned PSAC Tournament MVP honors by averaging 22.3 points and 6.0 assists to lead IUP to championship … Went 22-for-23 from foul line in three games … Double-double (13 points, 10 assists) vs. Mercyhurst in quarterfinals … 6-of-8 from three-point range vs. Cal
Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana)
Women's Volleyball
Had 42 kills and just six errors (.373 hitting pct.) with 33 digs in PSAC tournament … 24 kills in quarterfinal upset over Edinboro was second highest total of the season … 28.0 points vs. Edinboro was also her second highest output… .373 hitting pct. was Cignetti's best combined two-game total all season
Raquel Gonzalez (San Sebastian, Spain/Colegio Sagrado Corazon)
Women's Tennis
PSAC Tournament MVP, helping IUP to first ever conference title … Went combined 4-0 in PSACs, including 3-0 in doubles … Tournament clinching singles win (6-1, 6-4) vs. Mercyhurst … Doubles victory vs. Mercyhurst was "key win" in the match (8-5), avenging an 8-1 regular season loss
Women's Senior of the Year
Hannah Bertolo (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional)
Women's Lacrosse
Second team All-Region defender … First team All-PSAC … Broke IUP record with 62 ground balls … 3.65 ground balls/game was fourth in PSAC and 17th in Division II … 40 caused turnovers are second most in single season history, fourth in the PSAC this year … IUP went 11-7 and was PSAC semifinalists
Lizzy Cunningham (Hastings, Pa. /Northern Cambria)
Women's Track & Field
First team All-American in 400 meter hurdles, finishing fourth at NCAA Outdoor Championships ... Had eighth fastest time in event going into NCAAs ... Led IUP women in points at PSAC Outdoor Championships … Finished second in 400 hurdles and 800 meters at PSACs … Ran lead leg on PSAC champion and IUP record breaking 4x400 relay
Raquel Gonzalez (San Sebastian, Spain/Colegio Sagrado Corazon)
Women's Tennis
ITA Atlantic Region Senior of the Year … First team All-PSAC in singles and doubles … Ranked eighth singles player in region by ITA … Finished season on 13-match win streak in singles … Played at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles for IUP … Fourth on team with 43 combined wins
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area)
Softball
First team All-PSAC Central shortstop … Four-time All-PSAC … Led team in 10 major offensive categories, including .378 batting average, .559 slugging pct., 54 hits, 25 RBI, 11 doubles, .400 on-base pct. … Broke IUP records for career hits, runs, total bases and at-bats ... CoSIDA Academic All-America
Lindsay Moeller (Troy, Mich./Troy)
Women's Volleyball
Third team All-PSAC setter … Career-high 1,081 assists are seventh most in IUP single season history … 9.83 assists per set ranked fourth in PSAC … 10 40-assist matches, including career-high 58 vs. Concord
Men's Senior of the Year
Greg Beaudette (Johnston, R.I./Bishop Hendricken)
Men's Track & Field
PSAC Outdoor Champion in 10,000 meters (did not score previous three years) … 30:32.4 10,000 mters time ranked 33rd in Division II … Finished third in 5,000 meters at PSAC Outdoor Championships … At PSAC Indoor Championships, finished second in 3,000 meters and third in 5,000 meters
Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East)
Football
Signed by Pittsburgh Steelers as undrafted free agent … First team All-American ... First team All-Super Region One Region and All-PSAC West … Moved to right tackle as a senior and anchored offensive line that paved the way for 279.8 rushing yards per game, fourth in Division II
Scott Hess (Erie, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep)
Baseball
Set career-highs with .314 batting average (third on team), seven home runs (second), 26 runs, 44 hits (third), and .536 slugging pct. (first) … 12 multi-hit games, eight multi-RBI games (led team) … Finished season on team-best nine-game hitting streak
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa. /Central Cambria)
Men's Golf
PSAC Individual Champion at conference championships … Led IUP to 27th PSAC title … Second player in program history to be named All-Atlantic Region four times ... Also lock to be a four-time All-PSAC selection … CoSIDA Academic All-District … 17th in Atlantic Region with 76.04 scoring average … Four top-10 finishes in 11 events ... CoSIDA Academic All-District
Men's Team of the Year
Baseball
Earned berth in PSAC tournament for first time since 2011 … Finished second in PSAC West (18-10) … Picked to finish seventh of eight in PSAC preseason poll … Four-game series sweeps of Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown ... 22-25 overall record
Men's Basketball
Won PSAC West regular season title (21-1) … Most regular season conference wins (21) in PSAC history … 18-game win streak is third best in program history ... 28-4 overall … PSAC tournament semifinalists … Advanced to second round of NCAA regionals
Football
Went 10-2, finishing second in the PSAC West and earning fifth seed in NCAA Division II Super Region One … Ranked in top 25 all year, reaching as high as sixth in Division II… Broke several offensive school records
Men's Golf
2016 PSAC Champions … Two second place team finishes in 11 events … Earned 21st straight NCAA regional championships nod (fifth seed) … Finished eighth of 20 at NCAA Atlantic/East Regionals
Women's Team of the Year
Women's Basketball
2016-17 PSAC Champions … Earned second seed in NCAA Atlantic Region Championships … Advanced to second round of NCAAs … Season-best 12-game win streak from November thru start of January ... Finished 24-7 overall, 18-4 in PSAC
Women's Lacrosse
Finished 11-7 overall, 9-3 in PSAC ... Tied for second in PSAC, was fourth seed in conference tournament … PSAC semifinalists … Picked third in PSAC preseason poll … Ranked in Division II top 20 each week of the season
Women's Tennis
2017 PSAC Champions, Atlantic Region Champions … First PSAC and region title in program history … Advanced to 7th straight NCAA sweet 16 … Had nine shutout wins ... Went 3-2 against nationally-ranked, top-50 opponents ... 20-6 overall, 5-1 in PSAC
Women's Volleyball
PSAC tournament semifinalists … Earned first PSAC Championships berth since 2004, and first PSAC semifinal appearance since 2002 … Finished second in PSAC Southwest Division (10-8) … Picked to finish fourth of four teams in coaches preseason poll … Upset Edinboro 3-1 in PSAC quarterfinals on the road
Women's Athlete of the Year
Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana)
Women's Volleyball
Unanimous All-Atlantic Region selection … First team All-PSAC … PSAC Fall Top 10 … Had one of the best offensive seasons in program history – 446 kills are sixth most in IUP history, ranked second in PSAC this year … 3.75 kills per set are seventh most in IUP history, third in PSAC this year … 28 kills vs. Cal was one of best single game performances in Division II this year … Double-digit kills in 25 of 30 matches, including 13 straight during heart of season
Lizzy Cunningham (Hastings, Pa. /Northern Cambria)
Women's Track & Field
First team All-American in 400 meter hurdles, finishing fourth at NCAA Outdoor Championships ... Had eighth fastest time in event going into NCAAs ... Led IUP women in points at PSAC Outdoor Championships … Finished second in 400 hurdles and 800 meters at PSACs … Ran lead leg on PSAC champion and IUP record breaking 4x400 relay
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area)
Softball
First team All-PSAC Central shortstop … Four-time All-PSAC pick … Led team in 10 major offensive categories, including .378 batting average, .559 slugging pct., 54 hits, 25 RBI, 11 doubles, .400 on-base pct. … Broke IUP records for career hits, runs scored, total bases and at-bats … Ranks in the top-10 in 12 career offensive categories ... CoSIDA Academic All-America
Jarka Petercakova (Bratislava, Slovakia/Sport Gymnasium)
Women's Tennis
PSAC doubles champion at conference's individual championship in the fall … First PSAC doubles champion in IUP history … First team All-PSAC West in singles and doubles … Third-ranked singles player in Atlantic Region … Doubles team is No. 1 in Atlantic and No. 16 in Division II … Second on team with 48 combined wins (20-12 singles, 28-9 doubles)
Men's Athlete of the Year
Austin Cooper (King of Prussia, Pa. /Upper Merion )
Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
XC: All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC … IUP's top finisher in each race competed …Third at PSAC Championships, ninth at NCAA Regional Championships, and 67th at NCAA Championships … TF INDOOR: All-Atlantic Region in 800 and mile … Anchor leg of PSAC champion and IUP record breaking 4x800 relay … Second at PSACs in 800 meters and mile … TF OUTDOOR: PSAC Champion in 1500 … Third in 800 meters
DJ Horton (Kane, Pa./Kane Area)
Men's Track & Field
First team All-American at NCAA Outdoor Championships, tying for eight ... Won PSAC Outdoor title in pole vault (second career) … Second at PSAC Indoor Championships and 11th at NCAA Indoor Championships, earning second team All-American honors
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa. /Central Cambria)
Men's Golf
PSAC Individual Champion at conference championships … Led IUP to 27th PSAC title … Second player in program history to be named All-Atlantic Region four times ... Also lock to be a four-time All-PSAC selection … CoSIDA Academic All-District … 17th in Atlantic Region with 76.04 scoring average … Four top-10 finishes in 11 events ... CoSIDA Academic All-District
Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox)
Football
Harlon Hill nominee … Third team All-Super Region One quarterback … Second team All-PSAC West … Led Division II in three categories – pass efficiency (214.0), yards per attempt (13.47) and yards per completion (19.70) … 214.0 passer rating broke 63-year old Division II record in the minimum 15 attempts/game category … Fifth in Division II with 68.4 completion percentage and 21st with 17.3 points responsible for per game … 2,426 total yards and 26 total touchdowns
Schedule of announcements
April 25 – Announcement of inaugural Crimson and Gray Awards
May 17 - Announcement of awards nominees
May 24 – Announcement of award finalists
June 5-8 – Announcements for Coach, Performance, Freshman and Breakthrough Athlete
June 12-15 – Announcements for Postseason Performer, Senior, Team and Athlete
Definition of awards
Below is a list of the nine awards selected to be given for the 2016-17 year, along with the eligibility definitions. Each of the nine awards will be given to a member of a men's and women's team, for 18 total awards.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Presented to senior men's and women's student-athletes who have displayed a combination of success both on the playing field and in the classroom during their time at IUP. The awards are currently announced at the annual All-American Banquet in April and were presented to
Max Kirsch (Ebensburg, Pa. /Central Cambria) (Men's Golf) and
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) (Softball).
Coach of the Year: Presented to the men's and women's coaches who did the most outstanding job leading his or her team.
Performance of the Year: Presented to the student-athletes who had the most significant or extraordinary performance in a single game, event, or outing.
Freshman of the Year: Presented to a true freshman or redshirt freshman men's and women's student-athlete, who put together the best all-around season for a first-year college player.
Breakthrough Athlete of the Year: Presented to a first-year starter or first-time key contributor who has improved their season performance dramatically over the last year.
Postseason Performer of the Year: Presented to the student-athletes who put together the most significant combined performances in a PSAC or NCAA championship tournament.
Senior of the Year: Presented to senior eligible men's and women's student-athletes who had the most successful individual seasons.
Team of the Year: Presented to the men's and women's teams who had the most outstanding seasons.
Athlete of the Year: Presented to the men's and women's student-athletes, regardless of class eligibility, who had the best individual seasons.
History of IUP's year-end awards
The year-end IUP athletic awards began as a singular Athlete of the Year honoree after the 2012-13 season, and was determined by fan voting. For the 2013-14 season, both men's and women's Athletes of the Year were named, with fan voting eliminated. That format ran for three years before today's expansion and announcement of the Crimson and Gray Awards.
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