Men's and Women's Basketball Success

TRIUMPHANT SEASONS DESPITE TRAGEDY

“Twenty-three! Twenty-three!”

To this resounding chant, the men’s basketball team accomplished something that had never been achieved in the history of AMU’s athletic team sports—a Sun Conference Championship.

In an emotional championship game, the Gyrenes defeated Coastal Georgia by a score of 83-67, capping off an impressive turnaround season that saw them win 19 more games than the previous season. The victory was enhanced by the presence of the girls’ basketball and softball teams, and hundreds of classmates who chanted the number “23” in honor of their fellow student, Emily Acosta, who was killed in a tragic car accident three days before the game (see related story). In a stunning coincidence, the championship game was the Gyrenes’ twenty-third victory of the season, played on the twenty-third of the month. Draped on an empty chair on the bench was Emily’s jersey, #23. The men’s season came to an end on March 7 in Sioux Falls, SD with an 89-80 loss to

Southwestern (Kan.) in the NAIA Division II National Tournament.

The tremendous job by fourth-year head coach John Lamanna won him the Sun Conference Co-Coach of the Year award. “It was a season of firsts,” exclaimed Coach Lamanna. Aside from the first coaching award, came the first conference championship, the first trip to the NAIA national tournament, and the first to have three players nominated for first team all-conference recognition--Romello Bates, Leo Behrend, and Gianpoalo Riccio. Returning junior Behrend ranked as one of the top 3 scorers in the conference tournament in a season that saw him average 20 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Behrend earned conference player of the week recognition three times, while teammate Gianpaolo Riccio was named player of the week twice. Significantly, several players distinguished themselves in the classroom as well as on the court. Greenan Sullivan, Jovan Grujicic, and Steven Krusevac were all honored for their academic efforts and were named Academic All-Conference.

AMU men's basketball team following their Sun Conference championship game

The women’s team, too, enjoyed a remarkable season with a 21-9 overall record. The team ended their season with a tough 76-70 loss to Florida Memorial in the quarter-finals of the Sun Conference Tournament. Overall, the team exceeded expectations despite being in rebuild mode. Under a new coach with several new players, the team received outstanding leadership from its three captains, Emily Acosta, Katie Houbolt, and Sarah Miller. “These three showed great leadership in creating a team chemistry that contributed to much of our success,” said first year Coach Megan Becker. “We look to build on what they started, continue to improve our team culture, and create

an environment that is not only successful, but a joy to be a part of.” It was the performance of the team’s underclassmen that really surprised, notably sophomores Taylor Allen and Danielle Weinmann. Allen broke the school record for 3-point field goal percentage and Weinmann finished second in scoring and rebounds.

Vice President Pence with the AMU women’s basketball team

Official White House Photo by Myles Cullen

The team standout was junior Sarah Miller who capped off a record setting year by reaching a career 1,000 points. Miller broke several school records, earned First Team All-Sun Conference honors, and was recognized as the Conference’s Champion of Character. Her achievements in the classroom also earned Sarah a place on the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team. Miller was joined on the Academic All-Conference team by teammates Georgia Slay and Danielle Domino. Other major contributors were senior Katie Houbolt, who was named Second Team All-Conference, and junior Amanda Kasprzak, who led the team in blocked shots.

“It’s exciting looking at all the season records that were achieved this year knowing the majority of our players were sophomores and juniors, and their careers aren’t over yet,” said Coach Becker.

No doubt #23 will serve as an inspiration for even greater things in 2019-20.

AVE CAMPUS GRIEVES THE LOSS OF EMILY ACOSTA

The day after the Ave Maria women's basketball season ended, a bright light at AMU suddenly went out. Twenty-year-old Emily Acosta, a junior and captain of the team, was killed in an auto accident only a few miles from campus. That evening, a shocked and grief-stricken campus community turned out on the Mall in droves for an impromptu Mass, followed by a memorial candlelight vigil to pray for Emily’s soul and the consolation of her family, and for teammate Katie Houbolt’s full recovery.

The following morning the University’s students, faculty, and staff packed the Ave Maria Church to remember Emily in an emotional memorial Mass. “Our shock and sorrow over the loss of Emily are beyond words,” President Towey said. “Emily’s smile lit up the lives of so many, from her former basketball and softball teammates, to her many friends privileged to know her. The void she leaves on our campus and in our lives cannot be measured. Emily was one of a kind. It will take a long time for all of us to process what happened.”

Emily’s coach, Megan Becker, who was at the hospital to be with Katie and console her teammates, as well as comfort Emily’s parents when they were notified by law enforcement of their loss, was optimistic despite this awful setback. “Losing Emily will be a big void in our program,” she said. “She was the glue that held this team together. I know the girls are going to work extra hard in the off-season, and everything they do will be for Emily. We all know how much she loved the game and, more importantly, loved her teammates, and we want to honor her by continuing to lift each other up and build on our success.”