Athletic Accomplishments
sportsscan
BY DAN TELISKI ’97, director of athletics media relations
The 2010-11 athletics campaign had a spectacular kickoff with a successful fall season. Four of the five fall programs that record won-loss records posted winning seasons, and several student-athletes garnered numerous postseason awards, continuing Gannon’s fine showing in the classroom and in competition.
Football The Gannon football team
concluded the 2010 campaign with a 6-5 record for the second consecutive season, marking the program’s first back-to-back winning seasons since 1995. Seniors Tyler Batts and Zach Boedicker became the first Gannon players ever to be selected to play in the FCS Senior Scout Bowl, a postseason all-star game. The Gannon duo represented two of only five non-NCAA Division I-AA players selected to play in the event. Chris Cook received the 29th all-region honor in program history when he was named to the Daktronics All-Super One Region second team. Cook posted 65 tackles (37 solo, 28 assisted), one tackle for a loss (11 yards), four interceptions, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. The junior cornerback ranked seventh among PSAC players in interceptions per game (0.36).
Six Golden Knights landed spots on the AllPSAC teams. Senior Sam Geldmaker, senior Kevin Minor and junior Randy Colling were named to the first team. Cook, senior Matthew Neal-Mink and sophomore Matt Jones earned second-team honors.
Volleyball The Gannon volleyball team
recorded its second consecutive 20-win season, finishing 20-10 overall. The Lady Knights finished fourth in the PSAC, falling to eventual
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The program also recorded Lauren Sazama back-to-back 20-win seasons and back-to-back NCAA Division II Tournament appearances for the first time since 1995. Lauren Sazama and Kara Cullen received a plethora of postseason awards. Sazama was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Atlantic Region first team, the Daktronics All-Atlantic Region second team and the All-PSAC first team. The sophomore outside hitter finished second among PSAC players in kills per set (3.69). She was the PSAC leader and ranked 12th nationally in aces per set (0.58). Sazama averaged 3.69 kills, 0.58 aces, 2.89 digs and 0.26 assists per set. She was the team leader in total kills (387) and aces (61), while finishing second in digs (303). After two seasons at Gannon, Sazama’s career pace of 0.66 aces per set is more than double the current all-time mark (0.31).
Tyler Batts
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champion Clarion University in the PSAC tournament quarterfinals. The NCAA Tournament selection was Gannon’s eighth in the program’s 37year history.
winter 2011
Cullen earned spots on the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region All-Tournament team, the Daktronics All-Atlantic Region second team and the AVCA All-Atlantic Region honorable-mention squad. The junior middle hitter averaged 2.53 kills, 1.07 blocks and 0.34 digs per set. She ranked third among PSAC players in hitting percentage (.324) and fourth in blocks per set (1.07). The Marstons Mills, Mass., native led the team in total blocks (103) and finished third in kills (243).
Women’s & Men’s Cross Country Both Gannon cross country
teams concluded their seasons by qualifying for the postseason, completing the season with top-20 finishes at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. The women’s team finished 17th out of 26 teams while the men’s squad placed 19th out of 28 squads. Noelle Blank was Gannon’s top female runner, placing 68th with a time of 24 minutes and 44.5 seconds. Carter Denne was Gannon’s top male runner, placing 81st with a time of 35 minutes and 18.4 seconds.
The women’s team opened the season with a third-place finish at the California (Pa.) Invitational. It also recorded a third-place finish at the Roberts Wesleyan Invitational, a fourth-place finish at the Gannon/Mercyhurst Invitational and a sixth-place finish at the Slippery Rock Invitational. The men’s squad kicked off the 2010 campaign with a second-place finish at the California (Pa.) Invitational. Other top performances included a third-place finish at the Roberts Wesleyan Invitational and a fifth-place finish at the Gannon/Mercyhurst Invitational.
Women’s & Men’s Golf
The women’s golf team was among others receiving votes in three consecutive Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division II Coaches Polls last fall. The Lady Knights concluded the fall season by finishing second out of seven teams at the 2010 PSAC Championship. Three Lady Knights averaged fewer than 80 strokes per round during the fall season. Amanda Teodorsson led the team with a 78.3 average through 11 rounds. The freshman placed in the top 10 during five of six events, including three top-five finishes. Kelly Nickerson (79.3) and Kiersten Klekner-Alt (79.4) also owned scoring averages under 80. The men’s golf team had a solid fall season, posting top-three finishes during three of six events. The Golden Knights won the Kenyon Fall Classic, finished second at the Gannon Invitational and placed third at the Mercyhurst Invitational.