December 7, 2015
12 athletes honored with SUNYAC weekly awards
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) honors 12 athletes across seven winter sports for performances during the week of Nov. 30 - Dec. 6.
MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Justin Ringen (JR) Â
Geneseo, Guard (Huntington, N.Y./Harborfields)
Justin Ringen was named to the Wendy's College Classic All-Tournament First Team after averaging 27.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and shooting 58.0 percent from the field, including 66.7 percent from long-range over three games. He scored 30 points and hit 7-of-8 three-pointers, including the game-winning strike from long-range with 2.9 seconds left, to lead the Knights to the 83-81 win at Nazareth on Wednesday. In Friday's 85-82 setback to Division II Roberts Wesleyan, he totaled 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists before finishing the tournament with 21 points, 5-of-9 three-pointers and seven rebounds in Saturday's 91-80 win over RIT.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Devona Paul (SR)
Plattsburgh, Forward (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappen Zee HS)
Devona Paul averaged a double-double (28 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists) in a three game week for the Cardinals. In addition, Paul smashed the school record for points in a single game of 36 when she dropped 49 points in an 81-71 win over the St. Lawrence Saints on Tuesday.
FEMALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Meghan Bartlett (JR) Â
Fredonia (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown)
A junior from Johnstown, N.Y., Bartlett was the 2015 Blue Devil Invitational champ in 1-meter and 3-meter springboard diving. Her winning scores of 445.20 points in the 3-meter and 427.25 points in the 1-meter exceeded both NCAA zone qualifying standards.
FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Nancy Nasky (FR)
Geneseo (Brighton, N.Y./Brighton)
Nancy Nasky helped lead Geneseo to third place out of 11 teams at the Ithaca Winter Invitational over the weekend, competing against a field that included Division I Cornell and La Salle as well as Division II Le Moyne and Shippensburg. She finished second in the 1,650 freestyle with the 11th-fastest time in the nation (17:12.38) this season and NCAA B-Cut that also bested a five-year old school record by over 10 seconds. Her weekend also included a fourth-place effort in the 500 freestyle (5:02.94) with the nation's 22nd fastest time this year and an eighth-place finish in the 200 free (1:56.50).
MALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Rafael Santiago (SR) Â
Fredonia (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown)
Rafael Santiago won both boards during the nine-time Blue Devil Invitational held Friday through Sunday. He posted 11-dive scores of 490.00 points in the 1-meter and 523.80 points in the 3-meter. Each score far exceeded the NCAA zone qualifying standard for 11 dives. In each event, Santiago edged teammate Arron Carlson, a junior and 2015 NCAA Division III championship meet participant.
MALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Dylan Burns (JR)
Cortland (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall)
Dylan Burns won an individual event and swam on four winning relay teams as Cortland finished second at the six-team Hamilton Invitational. He was first in the 100-yard backstroke (56.57) and third in the 50-yard freestyle (22.51). He also swam the opening legs of the winning 200-yard medley relay (1:38.55), 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.79) and 400-yard medley relay (3:41.14), and the second leg of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay (3:15.53).
ICE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK - David Ripple (SR) Â
Geneseo, Forward (Winter Springs, Fla.)
David Ripple was credited with a goal and an assist in the Knights' 6-2 victory over Potsdam on Friday before also notching the game-winning goal to go along with an assist in Saturday's 5-4 victory over top-ranked Plattsburgh. Opposite the Cardinals, he scored the deciding goal with 2:05 remaining in regulation on a rising slap shot from the top of the right face-off circle that made its way through a crowded crease to complete the upset.Â
ICE HOCKEY ROOKIE AND GOALIE OF THE WEEK – Devin McDonald (FR) Â
Geneseo, Goalie (Calgary, Alta.)
Devin McDonald picked up victories over Potsdam and top-ranked Plattsburgh last week to improve to 7-0-1 on the season. In Friday's 6-2 victory over Potsdam, he totaled 29 saves before compiling 27 opposite Plattsburgh in the 5-4 upset. Opposite the Cardinals, he made 12 stops during the decisive third period, shutting out the Cardinals over the final 10 minutes as the Knights scored the game-winner with 2:03 to play.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Dana Kupiec (JR) Â
Cortland (Salem, N.Y./Salem)
Dana  Kupiec broke a 12-year-old school record in the 300-meter dash with a time of 41.79 seconds at the Cornell University Greg Page Relays. She finished 11th out of 83 competitors in the event and was the second Division III finisher.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Kayla Koelbel (SR) Â
Cortland (Bradford, Pa./Kings Park, NY)
Kayla Koelbel won the pentathlon at the Cornell University Greg Page Relays with a score of 3,045 points. Her performance included an ECAC-qualifying time of 9.43 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles, and she also had the best scores in the shot put (9.29 meters) and 800 meters (2:40.62).
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Nate Lo Parco (SR) Â
Geneseo (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C. W. Baker)
Senior Nate Lo Parco bested the field in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:23.95 to lead the Knights to first place out of nine teams at Brockport's Early Season Invite, Saturday. Lo Parco's winning time now stands second all-time in Geneseo Indoor Track & Field history.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Jack Flood (JR)
Cortland (Blue Point, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point)
Jack Flood broke the Cortland school record in the heptathlon with his score of 4,923 points at the Cornell University Greg Page Relays. He finished third overall and was the top Division III finisher. Flood posted two ECAC-qualifying performances during the heptathlon with a high jump of 2.04 meters (6' 8.25") and a time of 8.59 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.
MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Justin Ringen (JR) Â
Geneseo, Guard (Huntington, N.Y./Harborfields)
Justin Ringen was named to the Wendy's College Classic All-Tournament First Team after averaging 27.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and shooting 58.0 percent from the field, including 66.7 percent from long-range over three games. He scored 30 points and hit 7-of-8 three-pointers, including the game-winning strike from long-range with 2.9 seconds left, to lead the Knights to the 83-81 win at Nazareth on Wednesday. In Friday's 85-82 setback to Division II Roberts Wesleyan, he totaled 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists before finishing the tournament with 21 points, 5-of-9 three-pointers and seven rebounds in Saturday's 91-80 win over RIT.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Devona Paul (SR)
Plattsburgh, Forward (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappen Zee HS)
Devona Paul averaged a double-double (28 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists) in a three game week for the Cardinals. In addition, Paul smashed the school record for points in a single game of 36 when she dropped 49 points in an 81-71 win over the St. Lawrence Saints on Tuesday.
FEMALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Meghan Bartlett (JR) Â
Fredonia (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown)
A junior from Johnstown, N.Y., Bartlett was the 2015 Blue Devil Invitational champ in 1-meter and 3-meter springboard diving. Her winning scores of 445.20 points in the 3-meter and 427.25 points in the 1-meter exceeded both NCAA zone qualifying standards.
FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Nancy Nasky (FR)
Geneseo (Brighton, N.Y./Brighton)
Nancy Nasky helped lead Geneseo to third place out of 11 teams at the Ithaca Winter Invitational over the weekend, competing against a field that included Division I Cornell and La Salle as well as Division II Le Moyne and Shippensburg. She finished second in the 1,650 freestyle with the 11th-fastest time in the nation (17:12.38) this season and NCAA B-Cut that also bested a five-year old school record by over 10 seconds. Her weekend also included a fourth-place effort in the 500 freestyle (5:02.94) with the nation's 22nd fastest time this year and an eighth-place finish in the 200 free (1:56.50).
MALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Rafael Santiago (SR) Â
Fredonia (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown)
Rafael Santiago won both boards during the nine-time Blue Devil Invitational held Friday through Sunday. He posted 11-dive scores of 490.00 points in the 1-meter and 523.80 points in the 3-meter. Each score far exceeded the NCAA zone qualifying standard for 11 dives. In each event, Santiago edged teammate Arron Carlson, a junior and 2015 NCAA Division III championship meet participant.
MALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Dylan Burns (JR)
Cortland (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall)
Dylan Burns won an individual event and swam on four winning relay teams as Cortland finished second at the six-team Hamilton Invitational. He was first in the 100-yard backstroke (56.57) and third in the 50-yard freestyle (22.51). He also swam the opening legs of the winning 200-yard medley relay (1:38.55), 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.79) and 400-yard medley relay (3:41.14), and the second leg of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay (3:15.53).
ICE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK - David Ripple (SR) Â
Geneseo, Forward (Winter Springs, Fla.)
David Ripple was credited with a goal and an assist in the Knights' 6-2 victory over Potsdam on Friday before also notching the game-winning goal to go along with an assist in Saturday's 5-4 victory over top-ranked Plattsburgh. Opposite the Cardinals, he scored the deciding goal with 2:05 remaining in regulation on a rising slap shot from the top of the right face-off circle that made its way through a crowded crease to complete the upset.Â
ICE HOCKEY ROOKIE AND GOALIE OF THE WEEK – Devin McDonald (FR) Â
Geneseo, Goalie (Calgary, Alta.)
Devin McDonald picked up victories over Potsdam and top-ranked Plattsburgh last week to improve to 7-0-1 on the season. In Friday's 6-2 victory over Potsdam, he totaled 29 saves before compiling 27 opposite Plattsburgh in the 5-4 upset. Opposite the Cardinals, he made 12 stops during the decisive third period, shutting out the Cardinals over the final 10 minutes as the Knights scored the game-winner with 2:03 to play.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Dana Kupiec (JR) Â
Cortland (Salem, N.Y./Salem)
Dana  Kupiec broke a 12-year-old school record in the 300-meter dash with a time of 41.79 seconds at the Cornell University Greg Page Relays. She finished 11th out of 83 competitors in the event and was the second Division III finisher.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Kayla Koelbel (SR) Â
Cortland (Bradford, Pa./Kings Park, NY)
Kayla Koelbel won the pentathlon at the Cornell University Greg Page Relays with a score of 3,045 points. Her performance included an ECAC-qualifying time of 9.43 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles, and she also had the best scores in the shot put (9.29 meters) and 800 meters (2:40.62).
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Nate Lo Parco (SR) Â
Geneseo (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C. W. Baker)
Senior Nate Lo Parco bested the field in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:23.95 to lead the Knights to first place out of nine teams at Brockport's Early Season Invite, Saturday. Lo Parco's winning time now stands second all-time in Geneseo Indoor Track & Field history.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Jack Flood (JR)
Cortland (Blue Point, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point)
Jack Flood broke the Cortland school record in the heptathlon with his score of 4,923 points at the Cornell University Greg Page Relays. He finished third overall and was the top Division III finisher. Flood posted two ECAC-qualifying performances during the heptathlon with a high jump of 2.04 meters (6' 8.25") and a time of 8.59 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.
