SPORTSSHORTS STUDENT-ATHLETES SHINE IN THE CLASSROOM One hundred and four Manhattan College student-athletes were named to the Dean’s List at the conclusion of the fall semester, highlighting their academic excellence, according to the College’s Athletic Academic Advisement report. The Dean’s List figure represents 30.1 percent of the Jaspers’ entire student-athlete population. As a whole, the College’s 346 student-athletes carry an impressive 3.04 cumulative GPA, to date. During the fall 2010 semester, 59.8 percent of Manhattan’s student-athletes earned a 3.0 grade point average or higher. Additionally, 56.9 percent carry a cumulative grade point index of 3.0 or higher. In total, 10 Manhattan studentathletes earned a perfect 4.0 grade point index during the fall. The College has also placed 59 student-athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team for their respective sport. Since 1997-98, at least 52 percent of Manhattan’s student-athletes have carried a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better per academic year. During this 14-year span, student-athletes have been named to the Manhattan College Dean’s List more than 3,000 times.
also hosted their annual Pink Zone game on Feb. 14 and knocked off Iona, 63-47. In addition, the team manned a water station at the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in September. That event, one of the largest single-day breast cancer awareness fundraisers in the nation, drew more than 25,000 runners to Central Park West.
KEVIN LAUE FEATURED ON ESPN Manhattan College sophomore men’s basketball center Kevin Laue was featured on ESPN’s College GameDay in January, which aired live from Lawrenceville, Kan., the site of the national television program’s game of the week between Big 12 powers Kansas and Kansas State. Laue, a 6-foot-11-inch sophomore from Pleasanton, Calif., who is believed to be the first one-handed student-athlete to earn a Division I men’s basketball scholarship, appeared in 22 games last season, starting in three and averaging 5.0 minutes per contest. The GameDay feature portrayed Laue’s journey to Manhattan College and his role as an inspiration to people around the world. After airing on the jumbo-tron in Kansas’ historic Allen Fieldhouse, the piece garnered a loud round of applause by the thousands of fans in attendance.
LADY JASPERS RAISE MONEY FOR AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
RIZZOTTI ADDED TO PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 40-MAN ROSTER
The women’s basketball team raised more than $1,300 for cancer research this season, which was donated to the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program. Manhattan hosted Hoops for Cancer Night against Rider on Jan. 24. The Lady Jaspers asked family, friends and fans to make either a flat donation or pledge a certain amount per basket or per three-pointer at the game. They sank 22 field goals and 10 treys in the 63-47 victory. Hoops for Cancer Night was just one of the Lady Jaspers’ breast cancer awareness initiatives this season. They
Former Jasper Matt Rizzotti received an invite to 2011 spring training after the Philadelphia Phillies added the 24-year-old first baseman to the organization’s 40-man roster in November. Rizzotti led the entire Phillies organization with a .343 batting average, while hitting 17 home runs in the minors during the 2010 season, and finishing in Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
NEW FACES IN ATHLETICS Victoria Latino ’08 is the new head women’s lacrosse coach. Latino, who enjoyed an outstanding four-year playing career for the Lady Jaspers, returned
to Riverdale after serving as a head coach and camps and clinics director in 2009 and 2010 at the Tri-State Lacrosse Club in Highstown, N.J. Fellow alumna and former teammate Alicia Psillos ’08 also returned to the program to serve as an assistant coach on the Lady Jaspers’ staff. Psillos enjoyed a decorated playing career at Manhattan and still ranks as one of the top offensive players in program history. The three-time All-MAAC honoree, ranks second alltime in points (187 and goals (119). Former Jasper baseball standout Rene Ruiz ’07 returned to Manhattan to serve as an assistant coach on Kevin Leighton’s staff. Ruiz was an All-MAAC shortstop during his playing career in Riverdale and helped the Jaspers win the program’s first MAAC title and advance to the NCAA Regional Finals in 2006. The Miami native spent the last two years playing professionally with the majority of his work in the Continental Baseball League. The men’s lacrosse program added former player Kyle Ochwat ’10 as an assistant coach on the staff for the 2011 campaign. Ochwat was a four-year letter winner at Manhattan and graduated as one of the top defenders in the College’s history. He helped guide Manhattan to three MAAC playoff teams and was named to the 2010 MAAC AllTournament Team. Ariel Pesante was appointed Manhattan athletics compliance coordinator in January after former coordinator Lindsay Darcy filled the department’s academic advisor position.
STAY TUNED Steve Masiello has been named men’s basketball head coach. Check out the fall issue for a feature on the new coach and the upcoming season. CORRECTION The softball team played in the NCAA Tournament in 1999 and was mistakenly left off the Fun Facts list in the fall issue. This brings the total to eight Manhattan teams that have played in the tournament. We apologize for the error.
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