Siena Heights a NAIA Five-Star Institution

Siena Heights University was named a Five-Star Institution by the NAIA. Each year, NAIA schools use the Champions of Character scorecard to measure the pursuit of character driven athletics. Schools scoring a minimum of 60 out of 100 points earn the Five-Star Institution Award. Based on points, there are three distinction levels including gold (90-100 points), silver (75-89 points), and bronze (60-74 points). Siena Heights earned a silver designation in 2016-17.

Student-Athletes Excel in the Classroom

In the fall 2017 semester, 586 Siena Heights student-athletes had a cumulative 3.05 grade point average. The women’s golf team led the way with a 3.69 team GPA, with the softball team right behind with a 3.47. Ten of the 11 women’s teams earned better than a 3.0 GPA, while soccer was one of four men’s teams better than a 3.0, leading with a 3.21.

In the winter 2017 semester, 562 SHU student-athletes earned a 3.07 GPA in the winter semester of 2017. Leading the way was the women’s golf team with a 3.69 GPA, followed by the softball team with a 3.61 GPA. Every women’s team once again achieved a 3.0 or higher, with an aggregate GPA of 3.30. The men’s teams were lead by the men’s soccer team with a 3.19 GPA; following was the baseball team with a 3.11 GPA. The men’s aggregate GPA was a 2.91.

Watson Plays Professional Basketball in Spain

Former SHU All-American April Watson became the first player in Siena Heights women’s basketball program to sign a professional basketball contract. Watson, a 6 foot, 3 inch forward/center, signed with TGN Spain in Tarragona, Spain. She averaged 19.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game to earn first team NAIA All-American honors in 2016-17.

Crawford Named New Men’s Soccer Coach

Andrew Crawford was hired as its new men’s soccer head coach on Feb. 1. The former Saint All-American who had a standout professional playing career brings more than 25 years of coaching experience. A 1989 Siena Heights graduate, Crawford ranks second on the Saints’ all-time scoring list with 169 points, including second in career goals with 70. A two-time NAIA All-American and four-time All-District performer, he was named MVP of the 1989 NAIA Senior Bowl. After his collegiate career, Crawford had a 10-year professional career, including two seasons as a National Premier Soccer League All-Star. He played for several teams, including the Detroit Thunder, Arizona Sandsharks, Detroit Rockers, Buffalo Blizzard and Detroit Ignition. His coaching career also includes a stint as the head coach for Hilbert (N.Y.) College from 1996-2001, and coaching various high school and club teams around the country. He also coached the Buffalo Premier Soccer Club, and is currently the head coach for the Canton (Mich.) Soccer Club.

Martin Signs Pro Contract in Argentina

Former SHU standout Jerrell Martin played professional basketball with Deportivo Norte de Armstrong in Argentina. The 6-foot-8 forward average 13.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in earning second team all-conference honors for the Saints in 2016-17.

Kolasinski Named to ABCA Board

SHU head baseball coach John Kolasinski was named the first vice president of the American Baseball Coaches Association. Kolasinski will take over as the ABCA president in January 2019.

Baseball

Five Saints earned a spot on the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference all-academic team. Seniors Kyle Kuhr, Alex Robbins and Ty Schafer, junior Carson Wlad and sophomore Jesse Stires each made the list. Bradley Connochie was the recipient of the team’s Champions of Character Award. Stires and Wlad were also named NAIA Scholar Athletes. The Saints were also honored as an American Baseball Coaches Association Scholar-Team for the 2016-17 season. SHU was one of four NAIA schools honored two consecutive years. The Saints had a team 3.05 grade point average. The Saints finished the season 16-32 overall, 12-17 in the WHAC.

Cross Country

Women: The Saints placed fifth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships in Grand Rapids. Ashley Russo was the top finisher for SHU, placing seventh overall in a time of 18 minutes, 32 seconds to earn first team all-conference honors. Russo, competing in her fourth consecutive women’s race at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships, was 43rd overall in a time of 18 minutes, 27 seconds.

Men: The Saints finished fifth as a team and Esrom Woldemichael earned first team all-conference honors at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Woldemichael was seventh overall in a time of 25 minutes, 52 seconds. Woldemichael represented the Saints at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Vancouver, Wash., finishing 227th overall. Anthony Vermilye was named a NAIA Scholar Athlete.

Football

Senior cornerback Darius Price was named the Mid-States Football Association Mideast Division Defensive Player of the Year. Price is a four-time All-MSFA Mideast selection. He had 41 tackles and nine pass break-ups this season. He was also named a first team NAIA All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, and was also the top vote recipient in the NAIA for the Cliff Harris Award, which is given to the top defensive players in NCAA Division II, Division III and the NAIA. Price is the first Saint to receive this award. Junior defensive lineman Malik Edwards was also named first team All-MSFA Mideast after leading SHU with eight tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks. Junior wide receiver Damon Wright, junior guard Colton Pfaendtner and junior placekicker Brady Tanguay were each named to the second team, while linebacker Logan Smith, defensive lineman DeVonte Collins Anderson and senior center D.J. Haskins received honorable mention. Redshirt junior safety Zachary Flack was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Four Saints earned NAIA Scholar Athlete recognition. Seniors Braelen Bader and Ronnie Giles Jr. and juniors Izayah Newsom and Brady Tanguay received the honor. The MSFA all-academic team included honorees included Bader, Lucas Barner, Flack, Adam Glanders, Newsom, Brock Quinlan, Tanguay, Kris Grodi, Andrew Loria, Mitchell Meger, Jarrad Whited, Justin Carrabino, Nick Pagano and Jerrold King. The Saints finished 5-5 overall, 3-3 in the MFSA Mideast.

Lacrosse

Women: Seniors Aliisa Mason and Tabitha Ferguson and juniors Kayla Parks and Marissa Cirino were each named second team All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. Ferguson is a three time all-conference honoree and a goaltender. Parks had a team-leading 61 goals, with Cirino adding 46 and Mason 45. Earning all-conference academic and NAIA Scholar Athlete honors were Ferguson, Mason and Parks. Sophomore Megan Byers was the recipient of the team’s Champions of Character Award. The Saints finished 11-7 overall, 7-7 in the conference.

Men: Junior goaltender Tyler Hooper was named an NAIA second team All-American. He had a .621 save percentage with a total of 126 saves. Hooper was also named to the All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference first team to lead the Saints’ honorees. Earning second team all-conference were junior attacker Shane Lewandowski and junior defender Patrick Albrant. Receiving academic all-conference recognition were John Holowaty, Seth McIntosh, Mitchell Sulfaro, Chris Acton, Derek Martin and Albrant, with Cody Ross receiving the team’s Champions of Character Award. Holowaty, Seth McIntosh, Acton and Martin were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes for the Saints. The Saints finished 7-3 overall, 4-3 in the conference.

Outdoor Track and Field

Women: The Saints had eight All-American performances to finish ninth overall at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. Senior Marissa Johnson lost the high jump national title on a tiebreaker, going 5 feet, 8 1/2 inches. Other All-American efforts were Asia Gardner in the 100 (eighth, 12.02), 200 (eighth, 24.56), Sheila McKinley (fifth, 12-7 1/2) and Tasha McKinley sixth (12-5 1/2) in the pole vault, Alexis Moore in the 400 (eighth, 57.19), Ashley O’Neill in the discus (eighth, 148-5 1/4) and the 4×100 relay of Mildranae Young-Brooks, Emily Hill, Moore and Gardner (third, 45.21). The Saints had 25 points, with Wayland Baptist winning with 75. The Saints nipped Aquinas and Indiana Tech to win their second straight Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference championship. Siena Heights edged second place Aquinas 176-175 with Indiana Tech right behind with 174. O’Neill was named the Most Outstanding Performer after winning the hammer throw (53.05m), shot put (13.35m) and discus (47.7m). Other first place finishes included Moore in the 400 (56.43), Johnson in the high jump (1.74m), McKinley in the pole vault (3.7m) and Tina Miller in the javelin (37.74m). Gardner was named the Newcomer of the Year, with Kirk Richards named Coach of the Year. The Saints had 11 named NAIA Scholar Athletes, including Johnson, Morgan Kulwicki, Kristin Stobinski, Mariah Ridal, Kara Boskee, Sheila McKinley, Tasha McKinley, Lauren McMahon, Rachel O’Neill, Olivia Dameron and Haley Hudson.

Men: Five Saints earned All-American honors at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The 4×800 relay of Jareb Duggan, Dominic Muessig, Anthony Vermilye and Brent Rodden led the way, finishing third in a time of 7 minutes, 34.08 seconds. Also earning All-American honors were Keith Jordan in the high jump (fifth, 6-9), Zach Kunst in the discus (seventh, 165-8), Devonte Johnson in the pole vault (fifth, 16-0 3/4) and Rodden in the 800 (fifth, 1:52.8). The Saints finished with 20 points, good for 13th. The Saints placed second behind only defending national champion Indiana Tech at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Winning conference titles for SHU were Rodden in the 800 (1:56.31), Torin Anderson in the 400 hurdles (53.9) and Joshua Jenkins in the javelin (53.82m). The Saints had three named NAIA Scholar-Athletes, including seniors Stefan Wilkinson, Kyler VanWormer and Vermilye.

Soccer

Women: The Saints stunned No. 2 ranked and regular season champion Northwestern Ohio on its home turf, defeating the Racers 3-2 in overtime to claim the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament championship. That earned the Saints an automatic berth in the NAIA National Tournament, where they battled No. 10 Columbia (Mo.) before falling 1-0 in the opening round. Senior defender Emily Burkman was named first team All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference for the second straight season. She finished the regular season with three goals and four assists. Burkman was also tabbed to the United Soccer Coaches NAIA All-Mideast Region second team and a NAIA/NCCAA Scholar All-American by the USC. Earning second team all-conference honors were junior midfielder Paige Rachut and senior forward Samantha Bartelotti. Freshmen Kaleigh Mahaz and Ashley Strong were tabbed to the All-Newcomer Team. Eleven Saints were named to the academic all-conference team, including Alexis Gainer, Taylor Hill, Erin Scheidel, Rachel Sherman, Meghan Bogg, Morgan Siterlet, Bartelotti, Burkman, Kelsey Cheaney, Madison Tedora and Taylor Mulder. Burkman was also named NAIA honorable mention All-American. It is the third consecutive year she has received the honor, while Hill, Scheidel, Sherman, Mulder and Tedora were tabbed NAIA Scholar Athletes. The Saints finished 12-7-2 overall, 6-2-2 in the conference.

Men: Senior midfielder Rahbar Khan was named second team All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference after scoring seven goals and adding a conference high 12 assists this season. Earning conference all-academic honors were Khan and juniors Elmedin Celovic, Matt Lentine, Brent Rodden and Matt Wilkie. Celovic was also selected as the team’s Champions of Character recipient. Khan, Celovic, Lentine, Rodden and Wilkie were also each named NAIA Scholar Athletes. The Saints finished 6-11 overall, 4-7 in the conference.

Softball

Senior second baseman Kyndle Wolfinger was named a second team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She led the Saints with a .460 batting average with 18 stolen bases and a school record 52 runs scored. She was also named a second team All-American by the NAIA, to the All-Great Lakes Region first team by the National Fast-pitch Coaches Association and the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team. Hannah Bleikamp was also tabbed first team All-WHAC after recording a .389 average with 17 doubles. Earning second team all conference honors were Kris Forest, Kenya Keller and Megan Jones. Thirteen Saints garnered all-academic recognition, including Bleikamp, Jones, Wolfinger, Keller, Ashley Best, Lauren Best, Kelsey Cherry, Skylar Crenshaw, Lesley Ducat, Hailey Fox, Katie Hybl, Kelsey Lampkowski and Jessica Sierak. Lauren Best was the recipient of the team’s Champions of Character Award. SHU also led the NAIA with a total of nine Scholar Athletes. Those making the list were Jones, Lampkowski, Wolfinger, Bleikamp, Ducat, Hybl, Cherry, Fox and Sierak. Finally, the Saints were named the NAIA’s top academic team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for the second consecutive year. The team had a 3.78 grade point average during the 2016-17 academic year. SHU was second overall in all college divisions, trailing only NCAA Division II Upper Iowa (3.813). The Saints finished 26-19 on the season.

Volleyball

Women: Senior setter Amanda Metz was named All-Mideast Region honorable mention by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Metz led SHU with 1,022 assists and 39 aces this season. She was also named to the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team, while four Saints earned second team honors. Sophomore Paige Hudgin, junior Christine Tylutki and seniors Gabrielle Kalugar and Libby Breton were each named to the second team. Earning academic all-conference recognition were Julie Bonk, Breton, Rachel Cornish, Kalugar, Metz, Taylor Purcell, Abby Whitehead, Taylor Felver and Ashleigh Slay. Anna Tartarian was the team’s Champions of Character recipient. Metz, Breton and Hudgin were each named to the CoSIDA Academic All District Team, while Taylor Felver, Whitehead, Bonk, Breton, Kalugar, Purcell and Metz were each named NAIA Scholar Athletes. Breton and Metz were also each named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American team. Breton, a two-time honoree, was named to the first team, while Metz was selected to the second team. Finally, SHU head coach Kim Berrington earned her 500th career win during the 2017 season. Berrington is in her third year at SHU. The Saints finished 25-7 overall, 10-5 in the conference, one of the best seasons in program history.

Baseball

The Saints had three players named second team All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. Junior first baseman Brendan Green, senior shortstop Freddy Jehle and junior outfield Brenden Baker each received the honor. Green was also a Gold Glove award winner at his position. A total of 13 earned academic all-conference honors, including Baker, Green, Carson Wlad, Cameron Best, Delver Freites, Riley Guntrip, Jacob Jones, Erich Klingelhofer, Landon Lumbrezer, Reid Olmstead, Ryley Overacker, Jesse Stires and Snyder Torres. Guntrip, Green and Olmstead were each tabbed to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Siena Heights also had nine named NAIA Scholar Athletes, which was one of the best showings in the nation. Earning the honor were Wlad, Stires, Best, Freites, Guntrip, Jones, Olmstead, Baker and Green. The Saints finished 18-34 overall, 9-19 in the WHAC.

Basketball

Women: Sophomore forward Demi Russell was named to the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference second team. She averaged 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game during the regular season. Earning academic all-conference recognition were Haley Hoffman, Alyssa Larson, Clara Waidley and Sharmaine Wills. Waidley was also the team’s Champions of Character recipient. The Saints finished 18-13 overall, 11-9 in the conference.

Men: Senior guard Tony Jackson II was named a second team All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference performer. He averaged 14.9 points and eight rebounds a game this season. Trevor Holston was the team’s Champions of Character recipient. The Saints finished 12-17 overall, 7-13 in the conference.

Bowling

Women: The Saints placed seventh at the American Heartland Intercollegiate Bowling Conference Championships and fourth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships.

Men: The Saints finished 14th at the American Heartland Intercollegiate Bowling Conference Championships. They also were seventh in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference final standings.

Cheer

The Saints finished third at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Freshman Kaileah Sweet was named second team All-WHAC, with Jessie Barnhart, Alicia Devers and Lucielle Gould each earning honorable mention. Samantha Wright was the team’s Champions of Character recipient. The Saints finished seventh at the 13-team NAIA Northeast Regional Qualifier, with Alicia Devers named a NAIA Scholar Athlete.

Dance

The Saints placed third at the NAIA Northeast Regional Qualifier, which qualified them for the NAIA Championships. The Saints finished a program-best sixth at nationals. SHU was the top Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference finisher with 79.83 points. For that effort, head coach Angie Heath was named the NAIA Coach of the Year. Senior Victoria Owens and sophomore Jenna Stahl were each named honorable mention NAIA All-Americans after performing a choreographed routine at regionals.

Golf

Women: Freshman Dakota Spears was named to the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference second team. The Saints finished fifth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Lauren Cojei finished seventh overall with a three-round total of 240. Katherine Carlson and Cojei, Amy Nordstrom and Carley Hall were each named NAIA Scholar Athletes as well as to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference all-academic team. Cojei also received the team’s Champions of Character Award.

Men: Nick Sanscrainte was named a second team All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference performer after placing ninth individually this fall. The Saints finished fifth in the conference team standings and sixth at the WHAC Championships. Sanscrainte finished seventh place overall, firing a two-day, 54-hole total of 220. He was also named a NAIA Scholar Athlete.

Indoor Track and Field

Women: Tasha McKinley edged out twin sister Sheila McKinley to claim the national title in the pole vault at the NAIA Indoor Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas. Tasha cleared the bar at 3.85 meters to win the win. Sheila placed third (3.8m) to earn third place and All-American honors. Also earning All-American status were Asia Gardner in the 60 (sixth, 7.67 seconds) and 200 (25.19) and Alexis Moore in the 400 (eighth, 58.04). The Saints finished eighth in the final team standings at the NAIA Indoor Championships last weekend. It was their sixth top 10 finish in the last seven years. The Saints also finished third at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Gardner and Sheila McKinley shared the Performer of the Meet award. Gardner won the 60 dash in 7.64 seconds and also took first in the 200 (24.99), while McKinley won the pole vault with an effort of 12 feet, 4 1/2 inches. Also earning firsts for SHU were Charlena Williams in the triple jump (37-5), Haley Hudson in the shot put (75-7 1/4) and Rachel O’Neill in the weight throw (56-0). Earning all-academic honors were Tasha and Sheila McKinley, Emily Hill, Hudson, Ruth Ann Letherer, O’Neill and Brianna Pekel. Tasha McKinley received the team’s Champions of Character Award.

Men: Brent Rodden, Devonte Johnson and Jacob Compagner each earned All-American status at the NAIA National Championships. Rodden finished second in the 800 in a photo finish time of 1:51.26, only .05 behind the champion. Johnson was third in the pole vault (4.9 meters) and Compagner sixth in the hammer throw (17.89m). The Saints had two conference champions and finished fourth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships at Grand Rapids. Rodden won the 800 in a time of 1:54.64, with Compagner taking the weight throw in 60 feet, 5 3/4 inches. Compagner was the recipient of the team’s Champions of Character Award.

Lacrosse

Women: Attacker Jenna Sommerville and defender Reilly Winn were each named first team All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference for the Saints. Sommerville led SHU with 62 goals during the regular season, while Winn had 39 caused turnovers and 46 ground balls. Receiving second team honors were Marissa Cirino, Kayla Parks and Samantha Pawlowski, while Parks, Megan Byers, Alyssa Hopkins, Pawlowski and Casey Rappuhn earned all-academic recognition. Taylor Swartz received the team’s Champions of Character Award. Parks and Hopkins were also named NAIA Scholar Athletes. The Saints, who were nationally ranked all season, were invited to their first NAIA National Tournament, where they lost to No. 2 Cumberlands (Ky.) 24-13 in the opening round. SHU finished 13-5 on the season, the best in program history.

Men: Senior midfielder Danny Orr was named a second team NAIA All-American after leading the Saints with 31 goals and four assists this season. Orr and midfielder Michael Birt III were each named to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team, with Birt causing 20 turnovers and adding 38 ground balls. Seniors Shane Lewandowski and Tyler Hooper, junior Nolan Mince and sophomore Parker Richards each received second team All-WHAC. Earning all-academic honors were Mince, Sam Lehouiller, Derek Martin and Patrick Albrant. Albrant and Martin were also named NAIA Scholar Athletes. Broderick Ames was the team’s Champions of Character Award recipient. The Saints finished 11-5 on the season, falling to Cumberlands (Ky.) 7-5 in the opening round of the NAIA National Invitational.

Outdoor Track and Field

Women: Senior Sheila McKinley claimed the national title in the pole vault at the NAIA National Championships. She cleared 13 feet, 2 inches to earn the title. Her twin sister, Tasha, who won the indoor national title earlier this year, was fifth overall (11-11.75) to also earn All-American honors. Two Saints relays also earned All-American honors. The 4×100 relay of Madisyn Kleinschmit, Mildranae Young-Brooks, Asia Gardner and Alexis Moore finished fifth in a time of 47.10 seconds. The 4×400 relay of Tyriah Pryor, Delaney Stersic, Brianna Pekel and Moore finished eighth in 3:54.46. Siena Heights finished with 18 points as a team. The Saints finished second to powerhouse Indiana Tech at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Earning individual championships for the Saints were Haley Hudson in the shot put (45 feet, 4.5 inches), Courtney Taylor in the discus (127-5), Tina Miller in the javelin (37.66m), Pryor in the 300 hurdles (1:04.21) and Sheila McKinley in the pole vault (12-5.5). Placing second were Taylor in the shot put, Miller in the discus, Tasha McKinley in the pole vault, Rachel O’Neill in the hammer throw, the 4×100 relay of Kleinschmit, Young-Brooks, Moore and Gardner, Gardner in the 100 and the 4×400 relay of Pryor, Stersic, Pekel and Moore.

Men: The Saints had two All-Americans at the NAIA National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. Keith Jordan earned sixth place in the high jump (2.05 meters) while Brent Rodden was fifth in the 800 (1:52.39). The Saints placed fifth as a team at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Earning conference championships were Rodden in the 800 (1:51.49), Jordan in the high jump (6-8.75) and Jacob Compagner in the hammer throw (55.52m). Robert Drew took second in the hammer throw.

Softball

Racquel Ward was named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year as five Saints earned spots on the all-conference first team. Ward, a junior, finished 16-5 during the regular season with 15 complete games and 83 strikeouts. She also had a conference-best .429 batting average with seven home runs and a .522 on-base percentage. Also making the first team were sophomore catcher Haley Turk, senior first baseman Kris Forest, junior second baseman Ashley Helmink and senior outfielder Kelsey Cherry. Turk had a .267 average, with Forest having a .378 average with 16 doubles and 19 RBI. Helmink, who also was named first team All-Region VI by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, had a .363 average with six homers and 24 RBI, with Cherry adding 22 RBI and a .356 average.

Senior outfielder Skylar Crenshaw and freshman shortstop Taylor Mowery each earned second team all-conference, with the Saints earning a conference-best 11 academic all-conference spots, including Cherry, Crenshaw, Helmink, Lexi Agers, Ashley Bearden, Kayla Boland, Paige Dean, Amy Nordstrom, Erika Schwartz and Ashley and Lauren Best. Cherry and Helmink were also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Cherry was the recipient of the team’s Champions of Character Award. Siena Heights led the NAIA with nine Scholar Athletes during the 2018 season. Earning the honor were Cherry, Agers, Bearden, Boland, Dean, Ashley Best, Lauren Best, Helmink and Nordstrom. Finally, Cherry was named a first team CoSIDA Academic All-American. The nursing major finished with a 3.86 grade point average. To earn the honor, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.3 GPA. The Saints finished 21-15 overall, 13-7 in the WHAC.