SHU Athletics Unveils New Bus Wrap

Siena Heights University Athletics unveiled its newly designed bus wrap at a special ceremony Jan. 13, 2016 in the stadium parking lot. SHU President Sister Peg Albert officially introduced the new design that will represent the Saints on the road. Watch the bus being created in this 30 second video!

Hall of Fame Class Chosen

SHU’s 17th Athletic Hall of Fame class was announced. The class is composed of Perry Gilbert (men’s basketball), Adam Hartle (track and field), Jameel Jones (track and field), Stephanie Schaffron Casida (women’s soccer) and the 1980-81 men’s basketball team. The inductees will be honored during Homecoming Weekend Oct. 6-8, 2016.

Soccer

Women: The Saints lost to second-ranked Northwestern Ohio 2-0 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament championship to finish 17-4. Freshman Taylor Mulder and sophomores Samantha Bartelotti and Emily Burkman were each named honorable mention NAIA All-Americans. Mulder scored 20 goals and 47 points in 21 games, while Bartelotti added eight goals. Burkman led a defense that produced 13 shutouts this season. Burkman was also named to the All-Mideast First Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Burkman led a Saints defense that recorded 13 shutouts this season. Bartelotti and Mulder were each named to the NSCAA All-Mideast Second Team. Senior Madison Phillips and juniors Morgan Behn, Gabi Corbin, Brittany Trout and Emily Loar were all named NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Senior Jessica Behnke was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. The Saints finished 16th in the NAIA national poll.

Men: Sophomore Luis Miguel Anaya and junior Alexandre Santos were each named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Senior Keith Swistock and juniors Lucas Hidalgo Carneiro, Collin McLaughlin and Santos earned spots on the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference all-academic team. Nathaniel Kraus was the recipient of the team’s Champions of Character award, while coach Aldo Zid was named the WHAC Coach of Character. Carneiro, McLaughlin, Santos and Matt Vang were each named NAIA Scholar-Athletes. The Saints finished 7-8-2 on the season.

Softball

The Saints had an NAIA-best 17 players named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete team for the 2014-15 academic year. Those honored were Kelsie Abbott, Jessie Arnold, Hannah Bleikamp, Julie Bonk, Mariah Boss, Kelsey Cherry, Hailey Fox, Taylor Hayes, Taylor Heisler, Megan Jones, Kelsey Lampkowski, Lindsay Postal, Jessica Sierak, Bitty Treece, Stephanie Tylicki, Morgan Warfield and Kyndle Wolfinger. As a team, the Saints earned a 3.55 cumulative GPA. Also, the Saints were third in the nation in team grade point average of all NAIA institutions. SHU had a team GPA of 3.562, with only William Woods (Mo.) and Bethel (Ind.) higher. In all college divisions, including NCAA Division I, the Saints were 18th.

Golf

Women: Andrea Richards earned a spot on the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team after leading the Saints with a 80.3 average this fall. Jessa Rappleye earned the team’s Champions of Character award. The Saints finished fourth in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference standings.

Men: The Saints clinched the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season title this fall (right). Freshman Ian Martin was selected as both the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year after leading the Saints to the title. Martin was the overall conference medalist to earn first team all-conference honors. Tim Combs and Nicklaus Zanotti each earned honorable mention all-conference, with Joe Forest, Michael MacLean, Parker Ross, Collin Smith and Gage Snyder earning academic all-conference. Ross was the team’s Champions of Character recipient. The Saints won the conference championship by four strokes over Davenport and hosted the WHAC Championships this spring at the Lenawee Country Club. The winner gains an automatic berth to the NAIA Championships.

Women’s Volleyball

Sophomore hitter Leze Vukaj was named to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team after leading the conference in blocks and kills. Vukaj also earned a spot on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Mideast Region team. She led the Saints in kills (359) and hitting percentage (30.8). Senior Nicole Morgan was named honorable mention, with freshman Taylor Felver earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Morgan and seniors Carly Tillotson and Haley Mercy each earned academic all-conference honors, with Morgan receiving the team’s Champions of Character award. Mercy, Morgan and Tillotson were also named to the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Team. Tillotson, a setter, finished as the program’s all-time assist leader with 3,587. Mercy and Morgan were also each named NAIA Scholar-Athletes. The Saints finished 21-11 overall, and 13-9 in conference play.

Football

Senior receiver Reggie Blackmon was named to the All-Mid-States Football Association Mideast first team as a return specialist. Also making the first team was sophomore cornerback Darius Price, who earned a spot on defense. Earning second team recognition for the Saints were Blackmon, senior offensive lineman Kendric Thomas, sophomore defensive lineman Tyaire Bragg and junior linebacker Nate Yeloushan, while senior linebacker Nic Acton, senior wide receiver Aaron Doriot and junior safety Cha’Quan Love received honorable mention. Earning MSFA All-Academic honors were junior Seth McIntosh, freshman Jordan Riley, sophomore Stefan Wilkinson, Acton, junior Martin Giannola, Love, senior Anthony Saurine and senior Travis Zajkowski. Acton and Love were also named to the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Team. Recognized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes were Action, McIntosh, Wilkinson and Riley. The Saints finished 4-6 overall, 2-4 in the MSFA Mideast.

Cross Country

Women: The Saints earned a second place tie at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championships. Ashley Russo was eighth in 18 minutes, 51 seconds while Elaine Johnson was 14th (19:14) to earn second team all-conference honors. Erica Oram received the team’s Champions of Character award. The team also received a bid to the NAIA Champion-ships, finishing 27th place at the 35-team event. Russo was the top finisher with a time of 18 minutes, 57.8 seconds, good for 72nd place. Senior Elaine Johnson and junior Kristin Stobinski were each named NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Men: The Saints finished sixth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championships in Grand Rapids. Timothy Young had the top finish, running to 17th place in 26 minutes, 35 seconds. Terrell McGee received the team’s Champions of Character award.

Cheer

The Saints placed fourth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships at Aquinas. Senior Celsey Robinette was named to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team, and junior Kortney Ouellette received honorable mention status. Safiya Best, Danielle Lee, Ouellette and Robinette each earned all-academic recognition. Taiylor Hofbauer was selected for the team’s Champions of Character Award. The Saints also finished sixth at the NAIA East Regional. Ouellette was named to the NAIA honorable mention All-American team, the first Saint cheerleader to receive national recognition. Best and Robinette were each selected as NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Indoor Track and Field

Women: Kasey Renshaw and Stephanie Marquardt won national titles in their respective events while Renshaw was named the Outstanding Performer as the Saints finished fourth at the NAIA Indoor Championships. Renshaw set an NAIA record by winning the weight throw. Her effort of 69 feet, 6.5 inches easily beat the field. She also placed eighth in the shot put (44-10.5) to earn All-American honors. Marquardt won the 60 meter hurdles in a time of 8.5 seconds to claim her national title. Other All-American efforts for SHU were Rebecca Cousineau in the weight throw (third, 60-8), Marissa Johnson in the high jump (third, 5-7.25), Phoenix Duncan in the high jump (fourth, 5-6), Haley Hudson in the shot put (fourth, 46-1.5), Madison Pierce in the long jump (18-7) and pole vault (11-10.5), Tasha McKinley in the pole vault (fourth, 12-4.5) and Sheila McKinley sixth (11-10.5). The Saints finished fourth place as a team with 59.5 points, trailing third place Indiana Tech by just 1.5 points. The Saints also finished second at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. The Saints had five first place finishers, including Marquardt in the 60 hurdles (8.55), Duncan in the high jump (5-6), Renshaw in the shot put (47-3.75) and weight throw (68-2.5) and Mildranae Young-Brooks in the triple jump (38-0.75).

Men: Richard DePalma and Dominic Muessig each won national titles to lead the Saints to a fourth place finish at the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tenn. DePalma placed first in the pole vault with an effort of 16 feet, 8.75 inches, while Muessig won the 800 run in a time of 1:53.11. Also earning All-American honors were Zakary Haines in the 400 (fourth, 48.56), Gerald Richardson in the high jump (third, 6-10.75), Tre’ Goynes in the high jump (seventh, 6-8.25), Frederick Boyd in the 60 hurdles (8.24), Brent Rodden in the 800 (fifth, 1:55.18) and the 4×400 relay of Muessig, Haines, Joshua Miles and Juarrezz Smith (fourth, 3:14.79). The Saints also placed second at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Winning events for SHU were DePalma in the pole vault (16-9.25), Logan Gray in the shot put (53-3.5) and Muessig in the 800 (1:54.57). SHU’s Tim Bauer received the WHAC’s Coach of Character Award.

Dance

The Saints placed fourth at the Wolver-ine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships at Aquinas. The Saints also finished third at the six-team NAIA East Regional. Senior Madeline Soave was named an NAIA All-American for the third consecutive year for the Saints. Lauren Nowak and Lauren Fultz were each named honorable mention All-Americans for SHU. Soave and junior Olivia Smith earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Basketball

Women: Junior forward April Watson was named an honorable mention NAIA All-American after leading the Saints in scoring and rebounding this season. The all-conference and all-defensive team member averaged 13.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and also led the team in blocks with 61. She is the fifth Saint to earn the honor. Watson was also named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year. She was earned a spot on the conference first team as well as the all-defensive team. Junior guard Jaaliyah Arrington was named to the honorable mention all-conference squad, with freshman guard Avery Chezem receiving the team’s Champions of Character Award. Senior guard Ra’Shawn Calvert was selected to compete in the ninth annual “Champions of Character” College All-Star Basketball Showcase March 30 at Davenport University. The Saints finished 19-12 on the season.

Men: Senior guard George Goodman was named to the honorable mention All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference team. He averages 15.5 points and 3.5 assists per game. The Saints finished 11-20 on the season.