Landmark Honors Thirty-Two Student-Athletes On Winter All-Academic Team

MADISON, N.J. – The Landmark Conference has announced that 32 student-athletes have been honored with selection to the 2009Winter Landmark All-Academic Team. Two male and two female athletes from each of the eight Landmark institutions were selected for the team which honors athletes who have excelled athletically and academically. Nominees could compete in any of the Landmark winter sports and must be a sophomore or older with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. The Landmark Conference sponsors men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, and men’s and women’s indoor track and field during the winter season.

The Winter All-Academic Team features 17 seniors, 11 juniors and four sophomores. Seven honorees are earning winter All-Academic honors for the second time in their careers. In addition all six winter sports sponsored by the Landmark Conference are represented with at least one student-athlete. The Landmark Conference will select an All-Academic Team for each of the three athletics seasons during the year.

2009 Winter Landmark All-Academic Team
Name, School, Class, Sport, Major
Jason Banzhaf, Catholic, So., M. Basketball, Undecided
Lisa Brooks, Catholic, So., W. Swimming/Diving, Biology
Andrew Kalna, Catholic, Sr., M. Swimming/Diving, Engineering & Philosophy
Jessica Schiavoni, Catholic, Sr., W. Basketball, Business Management
Nelson Albino, Drew, Sr., M. Basketball, Sociology
Travis DeNapoli, Drew, Jr., M. Basketball, Economics
Alexssa Todd, Drew, Sr., W. Swimming/Diving, Art & Spanish
Jessica Reid, Drew, So., W. Basketball, Biology & Chemistry
Ryan Comstock, Goucher, Sr., M. Basketball, Management
Zachary Martin, Goucher, Jr., M. Indoor Track/Field, English
Bethany Natoli, Goucher, Sr., W. Swimming/Diving, International Relations
Amber Smith, Goucher, Jr., W. Basketball, Communications & Media Studies
Jeff Berkey, Juniata, Jr., M. Basketball, Business Management
Emily Hauser, Juniata, Sr., W. Basketball, International Politics
Meghan Jones, Juniata, Sr., W. Indoor Track/Field, International Business
Sam Williams, Juniata, Jr., M. Indoor Track/Field, Mathematics
Blair Maginnis, Moravian, Sr., M. Indoor Track/Field, Secondary Education & History
Jessica Posimo, Moravian, Jr., W. Indoor Track/Field, Biochemistry
Rachel Riggs, Moravian, Jr., W. Indoor Track/Field, Elementary Education & Psychology
Robert Shaffer, Moravian, Sr., M. Indoor Track/Field, Elementary Education
Jack Cook, Scranton, Sr., M. Swimming/Diving, Accounting
Paul Hawk, Scranton, Sr., M. Basketball, Accounting
Ryan Mooney, Scranton, Jr., W. Basketball, History
Lauren Wieland, Scranton, Jr., W. Swimming/Diving, Occupational Therapy
J.J. Brooks, Susquehanna, Sr., M. Indoor Track/Field, Accounting
Joel Patch, Susquehanna, Sr., M. Basketball, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Cait Pflaum, Susquehanna, Jr., W. Indoor Track/Field, English & Secondary Education
Amy Thiele, Susquehanna, Sr., W. Swimming/Diving, Elementary Education
Kristen Hetsko, USMMA, Sr., W. Basketball, Logistics & Intermodal Transportation
Tom Izzo, USMMA, So., M. Basketball, Marine Engineering
John Murphy, USMMA, Jr., M. Swimming/Diving, Marine Engineering & Shipyard Mgmt.
Karen Taylor, USMMA, Sr., W. Basketball, Logistics & Intermodal Transportation

Jason Banzhaf from Livingston, N.J. enjoyed an outstanding season for the Catholic men’s basketball team. A first-team All-Conference and first-team All-Region pick, he led the Landmark in scoring on the season at 20.3 points per game and was second in the Landmark in rebounding at 7.8 per game. He has not yet decided on a major but has earned Landmark Academic Honor Roll and Dean’s List distinction.

Lisa Brooks of Fairfax, Va. has already enjoyed great success in two years as part of the Catholic women’s swimming team. This season she became the first Landmark female swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships and she won two races at the Landmark Championships for the second time in as many years. She is studying biology and was named to the Dean’s List with Honors.

Andrew Kalna, a native of Stafford, Va., earns All-Academic honors for the second time after another strong season for the Catholic men’s swimming team. He helped the Cardinals finish third at the Landmark Championships, highlighted by his 10th-place finish in the 200 butterfly. He will earn his degree in engineering and philosophy and is a member of the Tau Beta Phi and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies.

Jessica Schiavoni from Winchester Va. claims her second All-Academic honor after closing her career with the Catholic women’s basketball team. Playing in all 25 games she averaged four points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a senior. She was a Dean’s List student while majoring in business management.

Nelson Albino, from Parlin N.J., was a captain for the Drew men’s basketball team his senior season and enjoyed his finest year on the hardwood. The team’s point guard he ranked in the top-5 in the conference in assists and assist/turnover ratio. Off the court he twice earned Landmark Academic Honor Roll recognition and raised his GPA each of his four years while pursuing a degree in sociology.

Travis DeNapoli, a native of Dunellen, N.J., was a valuable, versatile performer for Drew’s basketball team. He came off the bench early in the season before moving into the starting lineup and scored 70 points and grabbed 45 rebounds. An economics major he is a member of Drew’s Wall Street Semester program.

Alexssa Todd of Falls Church, Va. excelled in the classroom and the pool for the Rangers during her career. She was a four-year member of the swim team and had her strongest season as a senior when she earned three top-10 finishes at the Landmark Championship. She is working towards a double degree in art and Spanish and was a Dean’s List honoree each of her four years at Drew.

Jessica Reid of Nazareth, Pa. wasted little time in making an impact for the Drew women’s basketball team as well as succeeding in the classroom. She started 22 games in her sophomore season, averaging 4.4 points and nearly five rebounds per game. Off the court she is a biology and chemistry major with a near 4.0 GPA and helped the Rangers rank in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Academic Top-10.

Ryan Comstock, a native of Frederick, Md., captured two letters for the Goucher men’s basketball team after transferring from Frederick Community College. He played in 18 contests as a senior, averaging 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. A management major he twice earned Landmark Academic Honor Roll status.

Zachary Martin of Victor, N.Y. had a strong season for the Goucher indoor track & field team. He recorded a ninth-place finish in the 5,000 at the Landmark Indoor Track & Field Championships and had times ranked in the top-15 in the conference in both the 3,000 and 5,000. He’s studying English at Goucher and boasts a strong GPA that has twice earned him Academic Honor Roll distinction.

Bethany Natoli from Alexandria, Va. earns All-Academic status for the second time after capping a standout swimming career for the Gophers. She earned second-team All-Landmark honors at the Landmark Swimming Championships as a relay participant and added a third and two fourth-place individual finishes. She will earn her degree in international relations and is one of just seven repeat All-Academic picks.

Amber Smith of Baltimore, Md. was a second-team All-Conference pick in women’s basketball after a breakout junior season. She led the Landmark in rebounding and was third in scoring with averages of 9.4 and 13.4 respectively. She also ranked in the top-five in the conference in steals and blocks. She has twice earned a spot on the Landmark Academic Honor Roll and is a communications and media studies major.

Jeff Berkey, a native of Stoystown, Pa., led the Juniata men’s basketball team in scoring in his junior season en route to earning second-team All-Conference recognition. He was also a team captain for the Eagles. Off the court he is studying business management and has been named to the Dean’s List each semester. He has studied abroad in Senegal and received the Juniata Calvert Ellis Presidential Scholarship.

Emily Hauser of Pittsburg, Pa. was a leader on and off the court for the Juniata women’s basketball team. She saw action in 24 games in her senior year helping Juniata win 18 games on the year. She is studying international politics and is the secretary for the Juniata Student Government. She also participated in an academic seminar program at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Meghan Jones of Meadville, Pa. competes in cross country and track and field for Juniata and earned second-team All-Conference honors in cross country in 2007. This season she was third in the 5,000 at the Landmark Indoor Championships. An international business student she has earned Dean’s List recognition three semesters and is a member of the Tau Pi Phi accounting, business and economics honor society.

Sam Wililams of Roaring Spring, Pa. has earned All-Conference honors in cross country and track & field at Juniata including a second-team spot at the 2009 Landmark Indoor Championships. He is studying math at Juniata and earns All-Academic honors for the second time after claiming a spot on the 2008 Fall Team.

Blair Maginnis, a native of Asbury, N.J., has been a standout for the Moravian track and field team. He was named the Field Athlete of the Year at the 2009 Landmark Indoor Championships after winning a pair of events, and he’s been first-team All-Conference three times. He is pursuing a degree in secondary education and history and has earned Landmark Academic Honor Roll recognition three times.

Jessica Posimo of Philadelphia, Pa. earns a spot on the All-Academic Team for the second time after another stellar season for the Moravian indoor track team. She was named the Field Athlete of the Year at the Landmark Indoor Championships after winning three events, and qualified for the NCAA Championships. She is a biochemistry major who has earned Academic Honor Roll status three times.

Rachel Riggs, from Gettysburg, Pa., helped Moravian win its second Landmark Indoor Track & Field Championship. She earned first-team All-Conference honors in a relay, and placed second in three other individual events at the Landmark meet. She is pursuing a degree in elementary education and psychology.

Robert Shaffer of Pottsville, Pa. has been a big contributor to the Moravian men’s track and field program throughout his career. He earned first-team All-Conference honors as part of the 4x200-relay at the Landmark Indoor Championships, and also posted a runner-up performance in the 55-meter dash. He will earn his degree in elementary education and is a three-time Academic Honor Roll honoree.

Jack Cook of Springfield, Pa., is a key performer for the Scranton men’s swimming and diving team. He is a two-time second-team All-Conference selection having finished as the runner-up in the 200 backstroke at the Landmark Championship and also owns a pair of Scranton individual records. He has twice been named to the Landmark Academic Honor Roll and has been on the Dean’s List six times as an accounting major.

Paul Hawk, a native of Audubon, Pa., was a key player for the Scranton men’s basketball team that claimed back-to-back Landmark Championships and made two-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He is fourth in Scranton history in career blocked shots and averaged 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds as a senior. He’s studying accounting and has been named to the Dean’s List four times while at Scranton.

Ryan Mooney of Spring City, Pa. is a key piece for the Scranton women’s basketball team that has won the first two Landmark Championships. She earned second-team All-Conference honors this season as she led the landmark in assists. She is studying history and has twice earned a spot on the Scranton Dean’s List.

Lauren Wieland from Blue Bell, Pa. has played a vital role in helping Scranton claim two Landmark Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. She has been a part of three relay teams that earned wins at the Championship meet, and has finished as a runner-up three times in individual events at the Landmark meet. She is an occupational therapy major and has earned Landmark Academic Honor Roll distinction.

J.J. Brooks of Cogan Station, Pa., earns a spot on a Landmark All-Academic Team for the fifth time in his career after being selected to three teams last year and the Fall All-Academic Team in 2008. He played a big role in Susquehanna winning the men’s 2009 Indoor Track & Field Championship as he scored 10 points, with his top finish coming with a fourth-place effort in the mile. He is studying accounting.

Joel Patch from Conklin, N.Y. capped a stellar career for the Susquehanna men’s basketball team as he was named the Landmark Player of the Year. The leading rebounder and second-leading scorer in the conference he was also a Jostens Trophy (Division III Player of the Year) finalist. He is studying earth and environmental sciences and was a 2009 ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-District selection.

Cait Pflaum of York, Pa. earned second-team All-Conference honors for the Susquehanna women’s indoor track team. She placed second in the 5,000 at the Landmark Championships, helping the Crusaders finish second as a team. An English and secondary education student, she’s been named to the Landmark Academic Honor Roll five times.

Amy Thiele, a native of New Providence, N.J., helped the Susquehanna women’s swimming and diving team finish second at the Landmark Championships as she earned 21 points highlighted by a sixth-place finish in the 1,650 freestyle. A two-time Academic Honor Roll choice, she’s studying elementary education.

Kristen Hetsko, a native of Killingworth, Conn., caps a stellar career for the USMMA women’s basketball team by earning All-Academic honors for the second-straight season. She closed her career ranked second in school history in points, and first in made three pointers. She led the Landmark in three pointers and three-point field goal percentage in her final season. She is a logistics and intermodal transportation major.

Tom Izzo from Bridgeport, W.V. captured first-team All-Landmark Conference honors for the USMMA men’s basketball team. He led the team in scoring, at 10.9 points per game, and steals, and was tops in the conference in steals per game and averaged 4.2 rebounds per game. He earned Academic Honor Roll honors and is studying marine engineering.

John Murphy of Fairfax, Va. was a significant contributor as the USMMA men won their second-straight Landmark Swimming & Diving Championship. He placed first in two events at the meet, winning the 100 and 200 backstroke, and was also a pair of two first-place relay teams. He was a provisional NCAA qualifier in three events. He is studying marine engineering and shipyard management at USMMA

Karen Taylor of Amarillo, Texas had a strong career for the USMMA women’s basketball program. The senior appeared in 24 games in her final season, scoring 54 points and grabbing 53 rebounds. A three-time Academic Honor Roll choice she is majoring in logistics and intermodal transportation.