2013-2014 Wagner College Swimming & Diving Media Guide

Wagner College SWimming & Diving

WagnerathletiCS.ComWagnerathletiCS.Com


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2013-2014 Schedule

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

10/5/2013 C.W. Post Staten Island, NY 1:00 p.m.

10/11/2013 Manhattan New York, NY 6:30 p.m.

10/12/2013 UVM Staten Island, NY 1:00 p.m.

10/19/2013 Bryant Staten Island, NY 1:00 p.m.

10/25/2013 Rutgers Piscataway 4:00 p.m.

10/26/2013 Iona/St. Francis/ New Rochelle, NY 11:30 a.m Sacred Heart

11/2/2013 Mount St. Mary’s Emmitsburg, MD 1:00 p.m.

11/9/2013 Siena College Loudonville, NY 2:00 p.m.

11/22 - 24/2013 Frank Elm Invitational Piscataway, NJ TBA

12/5 - 7/2013 US National Short - Knoxville, TN 12:00 p.m. Course Championship

1/17/2014 NYU Staten Island, NY 4:00 p.m.

1/18/2014 Rhode Island Staten Island, NY 1:00 p.m.

2/1/2014 CCSU Staten Island, NY 2:00 p.m.

2/19-22/2014 Northeast Conference Boston, MA TBD Swimming & Diving Championships

Wagner College QuiCk FaCtslocation ...................................................staten island, nYenrollment ..............................................2,100 (1,700 undergraduate)President .................................................Dr. richard guarasciFounded ..................................................1883nickname ................................................seahawksColors .......................................................green and WhiteConference ..............................................northeast (neC)Facility .....................................................Wagner Pool (spiro Center)athletics Director .................................Walt Hamelineathletics Phone .....................................(718) 390-3433athletics Fax ..........................................(718) 390-3347

seaHaWks sWimming & Diving CoaCHing staFFHead Coach ............................................Colin shannahanalma mater .............................................Columbia, 2002Years at Wagner ....................................third seasone-mail .......................................................colin.shannahan@wagner.eduOffice Phone ...........................................(718) 390-3191

Diving Coach ..........................................megan marcoalma mater .............................................Penn state, 2011Years at Wagner ....................................second seasone-mail .......................................................megan.marco@wagner.eduOffice Phone ...........................................(718) 390-3191

assistant swim Coach .........................sarah tanneralma mater .............................................north Carolina, 2012Years at Wagner ....................................First seasone-mail .......................................................sarah.tanner@wagner.eduOffice Phone ...........................................(718) 420-4063

Wagner meDia inFormationsports information Director ..............John Beisserswimming & Diving Contact ............lauren lovalloOffice Phone ...........................................(718) 390-3213Cell Phone ...............................................(203) 561-8193e-mail ......................................................lauren.lovallo@wagner.eduFax ............................................................(718) 390-3347 Official Wagner Website ....................www.wagnerathletics.commedia relations mailing address ....one Campus road....................................................................staten island, nY 10301

2012-2013 Year in revieWoverall Dual record .............................3-6 (.333)neC Dual record..................................2-0 (.1.000)neC Finish .............................................second Place

taBle oF Contents2013-2014 schedule ............................................................... 2Quick Facts/Credits .............................................................. 32013-2014 season outlook ................................................... 4-5this is Wagner ....................................................................... 6-7We are seahawks .................................................................. 8-9Facilities ................................................................................... 10-11administration ....................................................................... 13-15support staff & Coaches ..................................................... 16-17Directions ................................................................................. 18the northeast Conferernce ................................................ 19-23Coaching staff ......................................................................... 24-25meet the seahawks .............................................................. 26-452012-2013 review .................................................................. 46top-time list ......................................................................... 47

meDia guiDe CreDitsthe 2013-2014 Wagner College swimming & diving guide was designed and written by lauren lovallo, swimming & diving contact and media relations assistant, with editorial assistance from John Beisser, kevin ross, gabe gilson, Colin shannahan, sarah tanner, and meg marco.

Photography by David saffran and the Wagner College media relations Department.

tHe nortHeast ConFerenCeThe NEC office, located in Somerset, New Jersey, provides weekly releases and updated statistics to working media and fans. media relations intern erin Bean can be reached at 732-469-0440, ext. 208 or by e-mail at [email protected].

all neC releases, standings and statistics are posted on the league web site (www.northeastconference.org) on a daily basis.




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2013-2014 Season Outlook 2013-2014 Season OutlookAfter a wildly successful 2012-2013 season, the Wagner swimming & diving team looks to carry the momentum they possessed last year into a highly anticipated 2013-2014 campaign. The Seahawks had one of the most successful seasons in memory, setting a flurry of school records, and finishing in second place overall at the 2013 Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships that took place in Boston, MA. Head swimming coach Colin Shannahan, the 2013 NEC Coach of the Year, returns for his third season alongside head diving coach Meg Marco, who is in her second season. Joining the staff this year is Sarah Tanner, an accomplished former athlete for the University of North Carolina.

Shannahan asserts that the Wagner swimming & diving team is well-balanced overall, and is excited not only for the ad-dition of four new student-athletes, but also for the strength present in the returning classes. Citing the talent of his nine swimming and diving seniors, Shannahan trusts Wagner will earn what has alluded the Wagner swimming & diving program up to this point: and NEC Championship. With a deep hunger for the championship title, Shannahan believes the determination and work ethic inherent in his swimmers and divers, as well as the unheard of amount of flexibility in the line-up, will be enough to finally achieve the program’s goal.

FREESTYLEWagner possesses a strong class of sprinters, as evidenced by the three freestyle records that were set last year. Leading the way is senior Sarah Menendez, who not only earned the school record in the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle this past season, but also won the 100-yard freestyle event at NEC Championships this past year. Fellow senior and co-captain Meredith Ketchmark swims many of the same events as Menendez, and is billed as the Seahawks’ best consistent anchor leg of relays in the past three years.

Also in the sprint core is junior Sam Sides, a member of the record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay. Sides has been a positive presence in the pool, and Shannahan expects Sides to continue with her success. Sophomore Corinne Rondina, the last piece of the 200-yard freestyle relay puzzle, also returns after a pair of life-time best times at NEC Champion-ships. Shannahan is counting on senior Megan DiBenedetto to provide the needed depth in the sprint events. Rookie Marisa Petrarca is also expected to strengthen the squad with her speedy times and solid work ethic.

Along with the multitude of sprinters, Wagner also possesses one of the deepest distance cores in the NEC. Shannahan believes the team has a lot of strength in the senior class, and is counting on them to handle the distance events. Return-ing for the Seahawks is senior middle-distance swimmer Alexandra Cooney, who not only set the 500-yard freestyle record this year, but also had quality showings in her other events, such as the 400 and 800-yard freestyle relay and the mile.

Bolstering the distance core is senior Kristiana Kalibat, a top-tier, top-flight distance swimmer for the Seahawks for the past four years, sophomore Maggie Shaw, who had an outstanding NECs this past season, and newcomer Grace Baird, whose impressive times speak volumes about her versatility in the pool. Shannahan is confident in the concrete founda-tion of the distance swimmers, and looks to improve even more this coming season.

BREASTSTROKESenior co-captain Kristen Lee, alongside fellow senior Kelsey Thomas, have proven to be consistent breaststroke swim-mers for the Green & White over the past few seasons. Thomas, the former record holder in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke, is expected to maintain her role as the breaststroke leg in the relays. Shannahan believes the pair will have a breakout year and finish their career very well.

Shannahan notes that junior Michelle Greenough was a great last minute addition to the squad last season, as she fina-led in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke at NEC Championships. Freshman Katja Claesson, who is expected to swim the 50, 100, and 200-yard breaststroke events, is one of the fastest breaststroke recruits on paper the program has ever seen, and she is expected to make quite the impression this coming season.

BUTTERFLYSophomore Amanda Lucia returns to lead the brigade of Seahawk butterflyers. Lucia not only won the 200-yard but-terfly in last year’s NEC Championships, but also earned Rookie of the Meet and Co-Outstanding Swimmer of the Year. With her are fellow sophomores Erin Malone, who swam life-time best times in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly events at NEC Championships, and Kaitlin Murtha, who Shannahan believes will be a positive addition on the front line. Sides and Ketchmark, noted for their versatility, are also expected to compete in a handful of butterfly events.

BACKSTROKEWagner is loaded with an incredible amount of backstroke specialists, a fact Shannahan is excited about. The Seahawks have a solid backstroke foundation in sophomores Meghan Mendez, Kara Lacoste, and Erin Malone. This past season, Mendez and Lacoste broke the school record for the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events, respectively. Described as a 57-low, Malone has a good shot at leading off the relay squads.

In addition to the trio of sophomores is Kalibat, as well as freshman Anu Nihipali, whose grace in the water is unparal-leled. Rounding out the backstrokers are NEC Championship backstroke finalists Sides and Murtha, who are expected to provide even more depth in the already strong core of backstrokers.

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEYShannahan plans to use the talents of versatile junior Morgan Stoner to reinforce Wagner’s presence in the pool. A back-stroker and individual medley (IM) swimmer, Shannahan describes Stoner as a consistently good talent. Also in the IM event is reigning 400-yard IM NEC Champion Lucia, as well as Murtha, a top-eight finalist.

DIVINGThe Wagner swimming & diving team also returns three, top-tier divers in seniors Mallory Lee and Cara Walker, and sophomore Erica Curry. With all three divers on both the one-meter and three-meter boards, Lee, Walker, and Curry are invaluable additions to the program, and are expected to produce even better results this coming season as they have worked to increase their degree of difficulty on each dive. Though faced with a variety of potential career-ending injuries last season, the Wagner diving team persevered through them, effectively proving they are quite a force to be reckoned with.

In only its third year, the Wagner diving program has already established itself in the NEC as a consistent source of talent. In the 2012-2013 season, Lee and Curry earned NEC Diver of the Week accolades almost every single week. A finalist on both boards at the 2012 NEC Championships, Lee aplaced second on both the one-meter and the three-meter boards. She also received All-NEC accolades for both boards while breaking the school record for the one-meter board. Also a finalist at the 2012 NEC Championships, Curry broke her hand after hitting the board on a dive. She continued to compete, placing fourth on both the one-meter and the three-meter boards, and breaking the school record.

As tenacious as any Seahawk, Wagner College enjoys a bucolic perch atop Grymes Hill overlooking Manhattan and the other boroughs of New York City. Founded in 1883 as a Lutheran proseminary, Wagner has evolved to become an independent residential liberal arts college enrolling a capacity of over 2,000 students. The location of the College above the gateway to one of the world’s greatest financial and cultural capitals was the work of alumnus Frank Sutter who convinced the College’s Board of Trustees to relocate Wagner here from Rochester in 1918. In this, the Rev. Sutter and the trustees were extraordinarily prescient. Their wisdom provided Wagner with a distinct geographical advantage over all other all liberal arts colleges in the country. Wagner is New York State’s southernmost college and its 105 park-like acres represent the highest elevation on the eastern seaboard from Maine to Key West Florida. The College’s signature curriculum – the Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts – capitalizes on the best of a traditional, suburban, liberal arts college campus and the infinite array of educational opportunities afforded by New York City. Students intern in the world’s leading financial institutions. They observe and experience diversity from the sophisticated workings of the United Nations to melting pots of multicultural neighborhoods. They circulate in the city’s unparalleled creative environment of museums, media, and performing arts. This is their laboratory. They immerse themselves and are inspired by the city’s sheer energy. The contrast between the frenetic life of the city and the almost pastoral setting of the campus is the perfect metaphor for the melding of experiential and theoretical education that is the hallmark of The Wagner Plan. In small learning communities, students and faculty explore the conceptual foundations of the arts, humanities, and sciences. The faculty challenges students to consider new ideas, to master new skills and technologies, and to reflect and draw meaning from what they have experienced in and out of the classroom. A lush canopy of mature maples and oaks shades Wagner’s 105-acre campus of manicured lawns and

gardens; historic and modern buildings; and sweeping views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New York Harbor. In early 2009, former U.S. President Bill Clinton recognized Wagner College and President Richard Guarasci, at the second annual Clinton Global Initiative University. Wagner was cited for the Port Richmond Partnership, an innovative program that will focus the school’s community resources in an effort to improve quality of life in a specific Staten Island neighborhood. Movie companies have frequently used the campus as a classic college setting, most recently for a movie titled “School of Rock” starring Jack Black (Shallow Hal). The picturesque campus was also used in a fall 2001 television series, The Education of Max Bixford, starring Richard Dreyfus and as the site of a prospective private military

school in the HBO series, The Sopranos.

Anthropology*Art*Art History (minor only)Arts Administration Art, Music, Theatre, Combined ArtsBiology*BiopsychologyBusiness Administration Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management, MarketingChemistry* BiochemistryComputer Science*Dance (minor only)Economics*Education DualCertificationinChildhood (Elementary) and Special Education, Theater Arts (K-12), Minor in Adolescent (Secondary) EducationEnglish*Environmental StudiesFrenchGender Studies (minor only)German (minor only)History*Information Systems (minor only)International Affairs International Politics International EconomicsItalian Studies (minor only)Journalism (minor only)Mathematics*Microbiology*Music*

Majors & PrograMs

Wagner’s unique location offers students a campus setting that feels hundreds of miles away from anywhere, while actually only a ferry ride away from the professional and cultural riches of the world’s most dynamic

city - New York City

Since the adoption of the Wagner Plan in 1997, enrollment has increased by nearly 40 percent and student quality as measured by high school average and SAT scores have improved as well. Once largely a commuter campus, now 82 percent of all undergraduates live on campus in residence halls that offer “million dollar” views. Though continuing to serve students from metropolitan New York, the college draws most of its enrollment from beyond the immediate region. By every measure – enrollment, endowment, and national reputation – Wagner is ascending the ranks of America’s strongest small colleges that blend the liberal arts with a commitment to service and preparation for the professions. Campus life includes the array of sports provided by an NCAA Division I program which is housed in a 93,000-square-foot sports center featuring an extensive fitness center, an indoor NCAA swimming pool and a basketball arena. A football and track & field stadium showcases a variety of playing fields throughout the campus including baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer venues. Wagner’s alumni include Broadway Tony award winners, movie stars, film producers, playwrights, and Fortune 500 CEO’s including the chairman of GE Investments, the chairman of Dupont Europe, the chairman Emeritus of The Oppenheimer Management Company and the chairman of the New York Power Authority. Visitors to and residents of New York City alike enjoy access to a rich and diverse array of museums, cultural organizations, arts performances, sports teams, societies and attractions. Some of the best and most famous attractions in the world call New York City home. We encourage you to find out more about them, so that you can plan a visit to what is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world. To get to Manhattan from Staten Island, you can take a ride on the world-famous Staten Island Ferry, a well-recognized icon of New York City transportation, and incidentally, a free ride into the heart of New York City.

NursingPhilosophy (minor only)Physician Asst. (Jan. 1 deadline)Physics*Political Science*Psychology*Public Policy and AdministrationReligious Studies (minor only)Sociology Academic Sociology, Criminal Justice, Family StudiesSpanish*Theatre* (Dec. 15 deadline) Performance; Design/Technology/ Management

Pre-Professional ProgramsHealth: Chiropractic, Dental, Medical, Optometry, Pharmacy, Podiatry, VeterinaryOther: Law, Engineering, Ministry

5-Year Master’s ProgramAccounting

Graduate DivisionAdvanced Physician Assistant StudiesBusiness AdministrationEducationMicrobiologyNursing

*=major and minor availableItalics=concentration




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In September of 2012, Wagner College Stadium was renamed in honor of longtime athletic director and head football coach Walt Hameline. Hameline Field serves as the home for Wagner football, women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s lacrosse. The stadium features the Lebovitz Family Scoreboard, which was donated in

2010, and a synthetic field turf surface. Gregory P. Knapp ‘65 Strength Room

Dr. richard guarasci is the 18th President of Wagner College, where he was previously the Provost and senior vice President, responsible for academic and student affairs, admissions, and support service, in addition to serving as the chief operating officer. He holds the rank of Professor of Political Science and he teaches in the areas of democracy, citizenship and american diversity.

at Wagner, Dr. guarasci founded the Wagner Plan for the Practical liberal arts, the four-year curriculum for all undergraduates, that draws together a substantive liberal arts core into a series of learning communities and experiential learning tutorials.

Dr. guarasci was Dean of the College and Professor of Political science at Hobart College from 1992-1997. Previously he served as Dean and founding Director of the First Year Program at st. law-rence university, a nationally celebrated model program of democratic living and learning required for all first year students that joined first year housing to a two semester schedule.

Dr. Guarasci is the author of Democratic Education in the Age of Difference: Redefining Citi-zenship in Higher education (Jossey-Bass, 1997), and numerous other publications including 3 books, more than 20 articles and more than 50 conference presentations. He is now a national leader in higher education with many speaking engagements throughout the united states. He is an active educational consultant for more than 20 universities and colleges. time magazine selected him as a national un-dergraduate educator and he received awards from the sears Foundation, the glitz Family Prize and many other citations including a day of recognition by proclamation of the City Council in geneva, new York. recently, Congressman vito Fossella and the staten island Civic association both cited him for public service on staten island. He served on the national Board of Directors of the american association of Colleges and universities,the Board of trustees of the independent Colleges Fund of new York and he is co-chair of new York state Campus Compact. He is a Fellow of the society for values in Higher education (svHe) and a PeW Foundation Fellow with the Washington Center for learning in building natural leadership in learning Communities. He is a member of the faculty for the Asheville Institute and an Advising Board Member for the Models for Democracy Project of SVHE. Dr. guarasci recently authored ‘Developing the Democratic arts” in about Campus (Feb. 2001) and “on Becoming the good College: lessons learned” in liberal education.

Dr. guarasci holds a Bachelor of science from Fordham university. He received his m.a. in economics and Ph.D. in Political science from indiana university.

Dr. Richard GuarasciWagner College President

entering his 32nd year, the relentlessly energetic and optimistic Walt Hameline continues to amass an astounding record of achievement and consistency. On Nov. 6, 2010, Hameline became just the eighth active Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) coach to win 200 games with a 31-20 victory over monmouth and ranks 66th (tied) on the all-time nCaa wins list (any level). He is one of just 36 coaches to win 200 games at one school and enters the 2012 season with an overall record of 204-122-2 (.624) over his 31-year head coaching career at Wagner. Hameline has enjoyed a long and proud association with metropolitan area basketball and the NIT. For more than two decades, he was one of five metro area athletic directors, along with his peers at NYU, Fordham, Manhattan and St. John’s, who helped comprise the metropolitan intercollegiate Basketball association (miBa). along with nit executive Director Jack Powers and the sitting eCaC Commissioner. miBa, of which Hameline was a past president, selected teams for both pre-season and post-season nit’s while directing other functions such as the annual nit all-star summer tour. While his coaching success is immense, Hameline has been equally effective as an administrator. under Hameline’s leadership, the seahawk athletic department has undergone an ambitious expansion in both sport offerings and facility im-provements. Hameline was influential in establishing the Seahawk Golf Classic, and the Seahawk Club, a pair of initiatives aimed at increasing funds for the scholarship endowment and complete financial support for the athletic department. most recently, under Hameline’s leadership and thanks to the generosity of one of his former offensive lineman, Marc Lebovitz, Wagner College Stadium was the beneficiary of a striking state-of-the-art video scoreboard in 2010. Lebo-vitz, a member of the seahawks’ 1987 Division iii national Championship football team and a 1991 Wagner graduate, is now a highly-successful New Jersey businessman. The scoreboard represents a major facility upgrade for the Seahawk foot-ball program, while also benefiting the women’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s track and field programs who share Wagner College Stadium. Hameline’s overall coaching ledger includes five ECAC Championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1987 nCaa Division iii national Championship — all told, 10 post-season appearances in 29 seasons. Hameline won his 175th career game - all at Wagner with a come-from-behind victory over St. Francis (PA) in the 2005 season finale. He became the winningest coach in Wagner College history in 1990. the highlight, of course, is the 19-3 win over heavily-favored Dayton in the amos alonzo stagg Bowl for the 1987 nCaa Division iii national Championship. against one of the toughest schedules in the nation, Hameline’s seahawks rolled to a 13-1 record, winning more games than any college football team in america. the team earned the school’s sec-ond lambert trophy, symbolic of football superiority in the east among Division iii schools, and eCaC team of the Year recognition. Following the season, in addition to sports illustrated writing a feature story, a host of national and regional organizations recognized Hameline, highlighted by his being named the Chevrolet national Coach of the Year. the 60-year old administrator has been a key developer of the neC, serving on numerous committees, and is a past president of the league. nine years ago, Hameline was honored for his playing, coaching and administrative achievements when he was inducted into the utica sports Hall of Fame. in addition, Hameline was given the all-america Football Foun-dation Johnny vaught lifetime achievement award in 1998. an outstanding defensive back at Brockport state, Hameline received his Bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1975, and went on to earn his master’s Degree in education from the university of albany in 1977. Hameline resides in Colts neck, nJ, with his wife, Debi, and they are the proud parents of daughters kristen and kelly.

Walter HamelineDirector of Athletics / Head Football Coach

Dr. Richard Guarasci is the 18th President of Wagner College, where he was previously the Provost and Senior Vice President, responsible for academic and student affairs, admissions, and support service, in addition to serving as the chief operating officer. He holds the rank of Professor of Political Science and he teaches in the areas of democracy, citizenship and American diversity.

At Wagner, Dr. Guarasci founded The Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts, the four-year curriculum for all undergraduates, that draws together a substantive liberal arts core into a series of learning communities and experiential learning tutorials.

Dr. Guarasci was Dean of the College and Professor of Political Science at Hobart College from 1992-1997. Previously he served as Dean and founding Director of the First Year Program at St. Lawrence University, a nationally celebrated model program of democratic living and learning required for all first year students that joined first year housing to a two semester schedule.

Dr. Guarasci is the author of Democratic Education in the Age of Difference: Redefining Citizenship in Higher Education (Jossey-Bass, 1997), and numerous other publications including 3 books, more than 20 articles and more than 50 conference presentations. He is now a national leader in higher education with many speaking engagements throughout the United States. He is an active educational consultant for more than 20 universities and colleges. Time Magazine selected him as a National Undergraduate Educator and he received awards from the Sears Foundation, the Glitz Family Prize and many other citations including a day of recognition by proclamation of the City Council in Geneva, New York. Recently, Congressman Vito Fossella and the Staten Island Civic Association both cited him for public service on Staten Island. He served on the National Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges and Universities,The Board of Trustees of the Independent Colleges Fund of New York and he is co-chair of New York State Campus Compact. He is a Fellow of the Society for Values in Higher Education (SVHE) and a PEW Foundation Fellow with the Washington Center for Learning in building natural leadership in Learning Communities. He is a member of the faculty for the Asheville Institute and an Advising Board Member for the Models for Democracy Project of SVHE.

Dr. Guarasci recently authored ‘Developing the Democratic Arts” in About Campus (Feb. 2001) and “On Becoming the Good College: Lessons Learned” in Liberal Education.

Dr. richarD GuarasciWaGner colleGe PresiDent

Wagner College has developed a curriculum that unites deep learning and practical application. The Wagner Plan incorporates our longstanding commitment to the liberal arts, experiential learning and interdisciplinary education with our geographical location and enduring bond with New York City.

Beginning their very first semester at Wagner, students not only study issues and learn critical-thinking, writing and problem-solving skills, but they also see and practice what they are learning. This “practical” side of liberal education is clearly seen in our Learning Communities and Reflective Tutorials and in the investment faculty make in connecting students with the world outside the classroom.

Under the Wagner Plan, students complete a liberal arts core program and a major, totaling 36 units/courses. As part of these requirements, students complete three Learning Communities (LC’s)-one in the first year, one during the intermediate years, and one in the senior year in the major.

For students admitted to the Honors Program, courses are designed to stimulate and challenge them intellectually and to offer exceptional academic and co-curricular opportunities. Honors courses are more challenging, involve more discussion/debate, and often (if not always) require longer and more in depth research papers and oral presentations by students. The Program is affiliated with the National Collegiate Honors Council.

the WaGner Plan




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Walt Hameline, who completed one of the most magical and memorable of his 32 years as Wagner athletic Director/Head Football Coach in 2012, continues to amass an astounding record of achievement and consistency in college athletics while approaching each day with relentless energy, passion and enthusiasm.

In 2012, Hameline led the Seahawks to their first-ever Northeast Conference (NEC) Football Championship with a thrilling 23-17 come-from-behind victory over Duquesne on november 17,

2012, while clinching a berth in the 2012 Division I FCS Championship. The win personified the Green & White’s exhilarating season. Wagner began the season with three straight losses, before winning its next nine games.

the eighth victory of the winning streak came in the neC title win over Duquesne, with the ninth straight coming the following week over Colgate in the first round of the NCAAs. The Seahawks then took their 9-3 record to Eastern Washington where they stood-to-shoulder with no. 4 eastern Washington in the nCaa second round game, seizing a third quarter lead before falling 24-14.

In defying the odds throughout its triumphant march to the school’s first-ever Northeast Conference (NEC) title and the conference’s first-ever NCAA FCS win, Wagner compiled a 9-4 record, including a 7-1 mark in the NEC. The Seahawks finished the season ranked 21st in The Sports Network Final Top-25 Poll and 22nd in the Final FCS Coaches Poll, an achievement that marked the first time an NEC team has ended the season with an appearance in both official Top-25 polls.

the accolades for soon began to pour in for Hameline. after being named the 2012 neC Football Coach of the year, he was tabbed the 2012 Football Championship subdivision (FCs) national Coach of the Year by both College Football news (CFn) and the College sports Journal (CsJ). Hameline was also named as one of the 20 nominees for the eddie robinson award, which since 1987 has been awarded annually to college football’s top head coach in the Division i Football Championship subdivision (FCs).

shortly after receiving the news of his twin national Coach of the Year honors, Hameline, who owns a 213-127-2 (.626) record in his 32-year career, was inducted into the new Jersey sports Writers association Hall of Fame

not to be lost amid the host of accomplishments by the 2012 team, is the fact that Hameline helped lead the school to a 30-0 victory at nationally-ranked albany in the week following Hurricane sandy. after returning from the state capital, Hameline joined many of his team members aiding in the recovery efforts in some of Staten Island’s hardest-hit areas.

in the 2012 home opener against monmouth, Wagner College stadium was renamed Hameline Field in his honor. additionally, Hameline had his first former player crack the NFL ranks when Julian Stanford made the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 53-man roster to become the first Seahawk in the NFL since Wagner Hall of Famer Rich Kotite suited up for the New York Giants in 1972.

Two years ago, on November 6, 2010, Hameline became just the eighth active FCS coach to win 200 games with a 31-20 victory over Monmouth, is 54th on the all-time NCAA wins list (any level) and one of just 36 coaches to win 200 games at one school.

Walter hamelineDirector of athletics / heaD football coach

Hameline has also had tremendous success in his role as athletic Director of the seahawks’ now 20-sport program. in april of 2012, Hameline, who has enjoyed a long and proud association with metropolitan area basketball and the National Invitation tournament (nit), was the recipient of the 2012 Distinguished service award from the metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA). Distinguished Service Awards are presented by the MBWA to individuals that have made significant contributions to college basketball.

For more than two decades, he was one of five metro area athletic directors, along with his peers at NYU, Fordham, manhattan and st. John’s, who helped comprise the metropolitan intercollegiate Basketball association (miBa). along with nit executive Director Jack Powers, Hameline helped select teams for both preseason and postseason nit’s, while directing other functions such as the nit all-star summer tour.

under Hameline’s leadership, the Wagner athletic Department has undergone an ambitious expansion in both sport offerings and facility improvements. Hameline was influential in establishing the Seahawk Golf Classic, and the Seahawk Club, a pair of initiatives aimed at increasing funds for the scholarship endowment and complete financial support for the athletic department.

most recently, under his tutelage and thanks to the generosity of one of his former offensive lineman, marc lebovitz, Hameline Field was the beneficiary of a striking state-of-the-art video scoreboard in 2010. Lebovitz, a member of the seahawks’ 1987 Division iii national Championship football team and a 1991 Wagner graduate, is now a highly-successful New Jersey businessman. The scoreboard represents a major facility upgrade for the Green & White football program, while also benefiting the women’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse and men’s & women’s track and field programs that also call Hameline Field home.

Prior to the momentous 2012 season, Hameline’s overall coaching ledger included five ECAC Titles and three NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by 1987 nCaa Division iii national Championship. in the magical Championship season of 1987, Wagner posted a 19-3 win over heavily-favored Dayton in the amos alonzo stagg Bowl to earn the nCaa Division iii national Championship. against one of the toughest schedules in the nation, Hameline’s seahawks rolled to a 13-1 record, winning more games than any college football team in america.

the team earned the school’s second lambert trophy, symbolic of football superiority in the east among Division iii schools, and eCaC team of the Year recognition. Following the season, in addition to sports illustrated writing a feature story, a host of national and regional organizations recognized Hameline, highlighted by his being named the Chevrolet national Coach of the Year. In 1990, just three years winning the school’s only National Championship, Hameline became the winningest coach in school history.

the 61-year old administrator has been a key developer of the neC, serving on numerous committees, and is a past president of the league. nine years ago, Hameline was honored for his playing, coaching and administrative achievements when he was inducted into the utica sports Hall of Fame. in addition, Hameline was given the all-america Football Foundation Johnny vaught lifetime achievement award in 1998.

an outstanding defensive back at Brockport state, Hameline received his Bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1975, and went on to earn his master’s Degree in education from the university of albany in 1977.

Hameline resides in Colts neck, nJ, with his wife, Debi, and they are the proud parents of daughters kristen and kelly.




16 17

Brendan FaheyAssociate AD/

Business Manager

Peg HefferanAssociate AD/

Senior Women’s Administrator

Jim GibbonsAssistant AD for

Academics & Compliance

John BeisserAssistant AD of Media Relations

Sierra AchinDirector of

Business & Finance

Mike MillerAssistant AD for

Marketing & Promotions

D’Mya ClayAssistant for Academics & Compliance

Bill DowdAcademicResource

Coordinator

Franziska BlumCoordinator of

Business & Finance

Whitney JonesTicket Manager/

Marketing Coordinator

Kevin RossAssistant Director of Media Relations

Miles McQuigganMedia Relations

Assistant

Gabe GilsonMedia Relations / Marketing Assistant

Ed ArnoldDirector for

Facilities & Operations

Roger RickettsAssistant for


Danielle ParenteauManager of Operations

Joe AbruzzoAssistant AD/Head Athletic

Trainer

Javier JimenezAssociate

Athletic Trainer

Gerald CharlesAssistant

Athletic Trainer

Laura CobbAssistant

Athletic Trainer

Fall Sports

Walt HamelineHead Coach

Football

Mike MinielliHead Coach

Women’s Soccer

Winter Sports

Colin ShannahanHead Coach

Swimming

Megan MarcoHead Coach

Diving

Bashir MasonHead Coach

Men’s Basketball

Lisa CermignanoHead Coach

Women’s Basketball

Spring Sports

Jim CaroneHead Coach

Baseball

Glen PayneHead Coach

Softball

Matt PoskayHead Coach

Men’s Lacrosse

Cristina CurialeHead Coach

Women’s Lacrosse

Chris RadmonovichHead CoachWater Polo

Chris FourmanHead Coach

Men’s & Women’s Golf

Emily MilhalikHead CoachDance Team

Joe StasiHead Coach

Men’s & Women’s X-C Indoor & Outdoor

Track & Field

Kevin SzeAssistant

Athletic Trainer

Juliana FormicaMarketingAssistant


Business Manager



Jim GibbonsAssistant AD for




Business & Finance



Kristen CasamentoAssistant for

Academic Compliance

D’Mya ClayAssistant for

Academic Compliance

Bill DowdAssistant for

Academic Compliance


Business & Finance

Whitney JonesTicket Manager/



Miles McQuigganMedia Relations

Assistant




Roger RickettsAssistant for


Danielle ParenteauManager of Operations


Trainer

Javier JiminezAssociate

Athletic Trainer


Athletic Trainer

Laura CobbAssistant

Athletic Trainer

Juliana FormicaMarketingAssistant

Walt HamelineHead Coach

Football

Mike MinielliHead Coach

Women’s Soccer

Colin ShannahanHead Coach

Swimming

Megan MarcoHead Coach

Diving

Bashir MasonHead Coach

Men’s Basketball

Lisa CermignanoHead Coach

Women’s Basketball

Jim CaroneHead Coach

Baseball

Glen PayneHead Coach

Softball

Matt PoskayHead Coach

Men’s Lacrosse

Liz FrisoliHead Coach

Women’s Lacrosse

Chris RadmonovichHead CoachWater Polo

Chris FourmanHead Coach

Men’s & Women’s Golf

Emily MilhalikHead CoachDance Team

Joe StasiHead Coach

Men’s & Women’s X-C Indoor & Outdoor

Track & Field


Business Manager



Chris FourmanAssistant AD for




Business & Finance



Tatum ColitzAssistant for

Academic Compliance


Business & Finance

Juliana FormicaTicket Manager/


Lauren LovalloMedia Relations

Assistant




Maria TommasiniAssistant for


Roger RickettsManager of Operations


Trainer

Javier JiminezAssociate

Athletic Trainer


Athletic Trainer

Laura CobbAssistant

Athletic Trainer

Winter Sports

Spring Sports

Katie JordanMarketingAssistant

Fall Sports

Brian WalshMedia Relations/

Marketing Assistant - Video

Jen benderEquipment manager

Josh DiLoretoAssistant

Athletic Trainer

Salome MkervalidzeHead Coach

Women’s tennis

Danny kreyman Head CoachMen’s Tennis



WagnerathletiCS.ComWagnerathletiCS.Com 19

From Points SouthMid Atlantic States and Southern New Jersey: Take the New

Jersey Turnpike north to Exit 10 (Outerbridge Crossing).

After crossing the bridge, take Route 440 North (West Shore

Expressway) for approximately 6 miles to I-278 East (Staten

Island Expressway). Take I-278 East for approximately 5

miles, following signs to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge

and Brooklyn. Take Exit 13 (Clove Road/Richmond Road/

Hyland Boulevard). At the first traffic light, turn left onto

Clove Road. At the second light on Clove Road, turn right

onto Howard Avenue. A sign for the College is visible at this

intersection. Follow Howard Avenue to the top of Grymes Hill.

Southern New Jersey Shore: Take the Garden State Parkway

north to Exit 127 (Outerbridge Crossing/Staten Island).

Follow directions from Outerbridge Crossing provided above.

From points north and eastNew England (via New York) and Long Island: Take either

the Belt Parkway or the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the

Verrazano Bridge onto Staten Island; remain on I-278 West.

Take Exit 13 (Clove Road/Richmond Road). Follow the service

road to the third traffic light and turn right onto Clove Road.

Take the first right onto Howard Avenue and proceed to the

top of Grymes Hill.

New England (via New Jersey): Take I-95 South. Cross the

George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. Follow signs

to the New Jersey Turnpike. Follow the Turnpike to Exit 13

(Goethals Bridge). Cross the Goethals Bridge onto Staten

Island and follow I-278 East. Follow directions from I-278

East provided above.

Northern New Jersey: Take the New Jersey Turnpike to either

Exit 13 (Goethals Bridge) from northern New Jersey, or Exit 10

(Outerbridge Crossing) from southern/central New Jersey.

Follow directions provided above from the Goethals Bridge

or Outerbridge Crossing.

By plane/train/public transportationPlane: Three major airports serve New York City. Wagner

College is most easily accessed from Newark Liberty

International Airport in New Jersey, though LaGuardia and

JFK Airports are within reasonable travel distance. Car

service is available between Wagner College and all three

airports for around $40-$50 each way.

Train: Amtrak, Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit

trains arrive at Penn Station in Manhattan at 34th Street

and 7th Avenue. Wagner College can be reached from

Manhattan by taking the Staten Island Ferry, leaving at

regular intervals throughout the day from the ferry terminal

in lower Manhattan. From Penn Station, take either a cab or

the New York City Subway (IRT Downtown #1 or #9 train to

South Ferry; IRT #4 or #5 train to Bowling Green; IRT N or

R to Whitehall Station) to the Battery Park Ferry Terminal.

Take the Staten Island Ferry (no fare) to Staten Island. From

the ferry terminal on Staten Island, the College is a short

ride via car service, which can be picked up at the terminal.

The Staten Island Ferry is run by the City of New York for

one pragmatic reason: To transport Staten Islanders to and

from Manhattan. Yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a

majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic,

boat ride, for free! One guide book calls it “ One of the worlds

greatest (and shortest) water voyages.” For a complete ferry

schedule visit www.siferry.com

DirectionsFrom Points southMid Atlantic States and Southern New Jersey: Take the New Jersey Turnpike north to Exit 10 (Outerbridge Crossing). After crossing the bridge, take Route 440 North (West Shore Expressway) for approximately 6 miles to I-278 East (Staten Island Expressway). Take I-278 East for approximately 5 miles, following signs to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and Brooklyn. Take Exit 13 (Clove Road/Richmond Road/Hyland Boulevard). At the first traffic light, turn left onto Clove Road. At the second light on Clove Road, turn right onto Howard Avenue. A sign for the College is visible at this intersection. Follow Howard Avenue to the top of Grymes Hill.

Southern New Jersey Shore: Take the Garden State Parkway north to Exit 127 (Outerbridge Crossing/Staten Island). Follow directions from Outerbridge Crossing provided above.

From Points north and eastNew England (via New York) and Long Island: Take either the Belt Parkway or the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the Verrazano Bridge onto Staten Island; remain on I-278 West. Take Exit 13 (Clove Road/Richmond Road). Follow the service road to the third traffic light and turn right onto Clove Road. Take the first right onto Howard Avenue and proceed to the top of Grymes Hill.

New England (via New Jersey): Take I-95 South. Cross the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. Follow signs to the New Jersey Turnpike. Follow the Turnpike to Exit 13 (Goethals Bridge). Cross the Goethals Bridge onto Staten Island and follow I-278 East. Follow directions from I-278 East provided above.

Northern New Jersey: Take the New Jersey Turnpike to either Exit 13 (Goethals Bridge) from northern New Jersey, or Exit 10 (Outerbridge Crossing) from southern/central New Jersey. Follow directions provided above from the Goethals Bridge or Outerbridge Crossing.

By Plane/train/Public transportationPlane: Three major airports serve New York City. Wagner College is most easily accessed from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, though LaGuardia and JFK Airports are within reasonable travel distance.

Car service is available between Wagner College and all three airports for around $40-$50 each way.

Train: Amtrak, Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit trains arrive at Penn Station in Manhattan at 34th Street and 7th Avenue. Wagner College can be reached from Manhattan by taking the Staten Island Ferry, leaving at regular intervals throughout the day from the ferry terminal in lower Manhattan. From Penn Station, take either a cab or the New York City Subway (IRT Downtown #1 or #9 train to South Ferry; IRT #4 or #5 train to Bowling Green; IRT N or R to Whitehall Station) to the Battery Park Ferry Terminal. Take the Staten Island Ferry (no fare) to Staten Island. From the ferry terminal on Staten Island, the College is a short ride via car service, which can be picked up at the terminal.

The Staten Island Ferry is run by the City of New York for one pragmatic reason: To transport Staten Islanders to and from Manhattan. Yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One guide book calls it “ One of the worlds greatest (and shortest) water voyages.” For a complete ferry schedule visit www.siferry.com.

About the northeAst conference

Northeast Conference History

It is with great pride and anticipation that the Northeast Conference (NEC) enters its 33rd year as an NCAA Division I athletic conference. Ten strong and committed to strengthening the conference from within, the NEC comes off the most successful year in league history in terms of athletic and academic success. Poised for a new era of growth, innovation and achievement under the leadership of Noreen Morris, the Conference will continue to build around the theme of #NECPride. The NEC and its member institutions are committed to providing opportunities for student-athletes to achieve their fullest potential both in athletic competition and in the classroom. Likewise, the Conference continually strives to be an NCAA Division I leader for student-athlete achievement, academic excellence, integrity, sportsmanship, equity and diversity, community partnership and national engagement. When the Northeast Conference (NEC) was first established as the ECAC-Metro Conference back in 1981, the league’s founders had one goal in mind: to create a competitive NCAA Division I men’s basketball conference for unaffiliated schools on the Eastern seaboard. A single-sport entity a t its inception, the NEC has grown far beyond expectations over the past three plus decades, having transformed itself into a 10-member, 22-sport conference. The remarkable success story of the Conference began to unfold in 1985, when the league began sponsoring additional sports. Three years later, a change of name was in order and the Northeast Conference as we know it today was born. With membership and sport sponsorship continuing t o grow over the years, the NEC now enjoys qualification or play-in access to 14 different NCAA Championships (baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s volleyball). Though the NEC has featured various incarnations since its inception, charter members Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Robert Morris, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner remain part of the current 10-school alignment. They are joined by Mount St. Mary’s (admitted in 1989), Central Connecticut (1997), Sacred Heart (1999) and Bryant (2012). The NEC’s six-state geographic footprint includes access to such major media markets as New York City, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Hartford and Providence. NEC member institutions now compete in 22 championship sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.

The NEC has embraced new and social media to convey its message to a growing fan base. The conference has attracted a loyal following in recent years on its Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, and the NEC Overtime! blog continues to grow in popularity.




20 21

Attempting to revolutionize the way its fans follow and interact with their favorite teams, the Conference launched NEC Front Row at the start of the 2012 fall season. The online digital network with free multi-platform access features a rich set of content, including live events, on-demand video, highlight packages, coaches shows, features, original programming and access to league’s extensive digital library, all free of charge to users. The network gives fans inside access to the NEC and its student-athletes on the field, in the classroom, across campus, and in the community. By the end of May, over 700 events had been broadcast on NEC Front Row with viewership approaching 200,000 for the year. All NEC championship webcasts in 2012-13 were produced in HD for the first time. Championships broadcast in their entirety were men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, women’s volleyball, women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball and baseball. The Conference also aired portions of the women’s bowling championship and two women’s basketball semifinal games. NEC Front Row proudly presented its first documentary short, #NECPride, Moon Magic, in April, recounting the events of a 48-hour period in March that culminated with Robert Morris defeating defending national champion Kentucky in the Postseason NIT. The NEC Front Row studio set made its debut last winter two new segments. A weekly NEC on the Run video podcast spotlighted the best and brightest in NEC men’s and women’s hoops and featured and the popular NEC9 countdown of the week’s top plays from around the league. The Conference also debuted NEC Now, a segment devoted to breaking news and current hot topics in and around NEC sports. For the first time in more than a decade, the NEC hosted a basketball preseason media day, but with a special twist. Combining social media and a state-of-the-art venue, the NEC hosted “Social” Media Day last October at the brand-new Barclay’s Center on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The festivities aired live on NEC Front Row and a tape-delayed broadcast received multiple airings on Fox College Sports. The Front Row broadcast was an interactive one during which fans were encouraged to tweet comments and questions with the best making it on air. NEC Front Row was there when the basketball season tipped off at “Social” Media Day, and returned for the climax as well via NEC Front Row Live! presented by Pilot Pen. The online digital network was on the scene at the men’s and women’s title games, providing live pre- and post-game coverage via an ESPN-style floor level set. Providing an alternate take on the world of NEC sports, the NEC Overtime! blog continued to grow its following during the 2012-13 academic year. The blog, along with the league’s Facebook page, served as the home for numerous fan-based contests throughout the year, including #NECRoadTrip and #SweetGetaway promotions. The blog also served to reward the most rabid NEC fans who participated in social media-related activities (#NEC13 Sixth Man Award, #NECPridePix, #NECElite) throughout the NEC Basketball Tournament. The NEC continued its partnership with sports talk stations WFAN Sports Radio 66 (New York) and KDKA 93.7 FM “The Fan” (Pittsburgh) to air 60-second NEC Notebook radio spots throughout the basketball season. With increased support through the NEC’s basketball enhancement fund, the Conference was also able to add new markets in Baltimore (CBS Radio/ESPN Radio), Hartford (ESPN Radio/Fox Sports Radio) and Altoona (ESPN Radio) to its radio advertising mix last winter and help increase the league’s exposure in these areas. Over the last five years, the NEC has regionally televised over 125 basketball and football games, as the league’s coverage area has expanded to over 50 million homes. Along with flagship station MSG Network, other regional television partners include Root Sports-Pittsburgh, MASN and Cox Sports. The NEC has also partnered with ESPNU, ESPN3 and Fox College Sports to bring games to a national audience. In 2013, ESPN2 broadcast the NEC men’s basketball championship game for the 26th straight year, while ESPNU carried the women’s championship for the sixth year in a row.

Success in the ClassroomThe NEC and its member institutions raised the bar once again with respect to the academic excellence displayed by the 4,800+ student-athletes who represented the Conference during the 2012-13 academic year. NEC student-athletes averaged a record-high 3.18 GPA for the 2012-13 academic year and nine of the ten core member institutions finished the year with at least a 3.0 GPA. A record 2,339 student-athletes - nearly half of the league’s competitors – were named to the NEC Academic Honor Roll in 2012-13, while an all-time high 585 were tabbed to the Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll with GPAs of 3.75 or higher. Likewise, eight NEC student-athletes were tabbed Capital One Academic All-Americans. Additionally, the NCAA honored 44 NEC teams with public recognition awards for exceptional academic performance with respect to their latest Academic Progress Rate scores. The 44 teams earning Public Recognition established a new league record. NEC institutions also ranked among the nation’s elite in Graduation Success Rate (GSR) figures released by the NCAA with 42 teams achieving a perfect 100 percent GSR in their respective sports and nearly 40 percent earning a GSR of over 90 percent. Student-athletes at Wagner posted an NEC all-time high 3.31 GPA to win the 2012-13 NEC Institutional Academic Award.

Athletic AchievementThe NEC sent representatives to NCAA Championship events in 15 different team sports in 2012-13, with a record five teams claiming victories on the grandest stage. Likewise, there were 15 NEC teams who were ranked in national polls at some point during their respective campaigns. A total of seven men’s and women’s track and field performers individually qualified for NCAA championships, and the Conference also sent a representative to the NCAA men’s golf championship. Individually, 13 NEC student-athletes earned All-America honors in their respective sports. For the second straight year and third time in league history, the NEC sent three men’s basketball teams (LIU, Robert Morris and Bryant) to the postseason. In the 30+ years of NEC men’s basketball history, no team had ever “three-peated” as champion until LIU Brooklyn etched its name in the league recordbook last March. The Blackbirds once again hoisted the trophy on their home court, beating Mount St. Mary’s, 91-70, before a raucous, sellout crowd at the WRAC and nationwide ESPN2 audience. The Blackbirds have now won 72 games and posted a 44-10 record in NEC play over the last three seasons. In perhaps the most talked about win in league history, Robert Morris became the toast of the college basketball and social media world with its stunning 59-57 win over Kentucky in the first round of the Postseason NIT. Hosting the game before a record crowd at the Sewall Center, the Colonials raced out to an early lead and held on to beat the defending national champions, setting off a madcap postgame celebration that wasn’t just confined to Moon Township. RMU and head coach Andrew Toole also trended worldwide on Twitter following the win. NEC women’s basketball also matched an all-time high with three teams earning invitations to the postseason (Sacred Heart, Saint Francis U and Quinnipiac).

In just the third year the NEC has earned an autobid to the NCAA FCS playoffs, Wagner made history with its 31-20 win over Colgate in the first round of the FCS playoffs at Hameline Field. It marked the first-ever NCAA football victory for the NEC, and the Seahawks gave No. 2 Eastern Washington all it could handle in the second round, leading late in the third quarter before coming up short by a 29-19 final score. Wagner was ranked No. 21 in the final Sports Network FCS Poll and 22nd in the final FCS Coaches’ Poll. The NEC continued to earn national acclaim in men’s soccer. Reminiscent of its run to the Elite Eight more than a decade earlier, Fairleigh Dickinson advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament after capturing its seventh NEC championship. The Knights ousted No. 18 St. John’s (1-0) and No. 12 St. Louis (2-1 in 2 OT) on the road in the first two rounds, before dropping a 1-0 overtime decision at No. 9 North Carolina. FDU,




22 23

which finished the season ranked 20th in the final NSCAA poll, has posted six of the NEC’s eight all-time wins in NCAA men’s soccer competition.

Arguably the most dominant women’s bowling program of the last decade, Fairleigh Dickinson qualified for the NCAA Championship for the ninth time in ten years and reached the quarterfinals. FDU is a two-time national champion in the sport and has advanced to the national semis on eight occasions. Incredibly, every member of the 2013 NEC women’s bowling tourney field ranked in the NTCA Top-20 in 2012-13. The NEC also produced five NTCA All-Americans this past season, including FDU’s Danielle McEwan, who was named the NTCA Division I Player of the Year for the second consecutive year It was a historic season for Bryant baseball. The Bulldogs not only won a league-record 45 games and the NEC Tournament crown in their first year of eligibility, but also became the first NEC team to win an NCAA Tournament game with a 4-1 victory over SEC power Arkansas in the opener of the Manhattan, KS Regional. Bryant won 19 straight games at one point, the longest win streak in the nation last season. The Bulldogs also achieved their first national ranking in April, and became the first Northeast team ranked nationally since the 2011 season. It was a year of firsts for CCSU softball. The Blue Devils won their first NEC Tournament in May, then claimed their first NCAA Tournament victory with a 9-1 win over Northwestern St. in the Baton Rouge regional. Bryant’s men’s lacrosse became the first in school history to qualify for the NCAA Tournament at the DI level, defeating Robert Morris, 14-7, in the conference final in Smithfield, RI. The Bulldogs, who finished the year ranked 20th nationally, batted top-seeded Syracuse evenly through the first two quarters in NCAA first round play, before succumbing, 12-7, in front of a national audience on ESPNU. Bryant’s Kevin Massa enjoyed a historical year, setting new NCAA single-season marks for faceoff wins, ground balls and ground balls per game. In the NCAA first round against Syracuse, he won an astounding 22-of-23 at the faceoff X. Fairleigh Dickinson swept the NEC men’s and women’s tennis titles for the second straight season last April. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, FDU’s Arvis Berzins became just the second player in NEC history to win a set in NCAA competition, beating No. 3 ranked Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia in the first set by a 6-3 score. Scintillating Saint Francis U junior forward Tesa McKibben became the first three-time NEC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. She ranked in the top-five nationally in points per game, goals per game and game-winning goals. CCSU men’s cross country and Saint Francis U women’s swimming and diving both won their fourth straight NEC championships.

Achieving All-American status in their respective sports during the 2012-13 academic year were Bryant’s Kevin Brown (baseball), Jordan Harris (football) and Kevin Massa (lacrosse), FDU’s Danielle McEwan (bowling) and Liat Vizenfeld (bowling), LIU Brooklyn’s Brendon Rodney (men’s indoor track and field), Robert Morris’ Nolan Nearhoof (football), Sacred Heart’s Jackie Carbonetto (bowling) and Marcello Castro (soccer), Adelphi’s Samantha Morlack (bowling), Duquesne’s Doran Bell (football), NJCU’s Kelly Daunno (bowling) and Rider’s Sandra Penas (field hockey).

Sacred Heart’s John Murphy (sixth round, Yankees), Wagner’s Ian Miller (14th, Mariners), LIU Brooklyn’s Justin Topa (17th, Pirates), and Bryant’s Kevin Brown (22nd, Cubs), Joe Michaud (33rd, Athletics) and Peter Kelich (38th, Padres) were all taken in the 2013 MLB Draft. The NEC announced its third Hall of Fame class in January, 2013. The three-member class was comprised of Fairleigh Dickinson men’s basketball player Desi Wilson, Mount St. Mary’s women’s basketball player Vanessa Blair and longtime Sacred Heart Executive Director of Athletics Don Cook.

On Campus & In The CommunityThe NEC welcomed the class of 2016 to campus last summer as part of its annual outreach program designed to raise awareness and develop the league’s growing fan base. Over 10,000 freshman students were introduced to the Conference with a promotional gift bag and informative NEC Fan Guide. The NEC, its member institutions and student-athletes have made community involvement an important piece of its mission. In 2012-13, the NEC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) were instrumental in spearheading Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in their communities and met in New York City during the holiday season to donate toys to the Toys for Tots program. The SAAC also participated in a “Penny Wars” fundraiser for a fourth straight year that resulted in a significant donation to the Cancer Recovery Foundation. To assist in raising breast cancer awareness, NEC women’s volleyball teams supported “Dig Pink” and women’s basketball teams participated in the WBCA’s “Pink Zone” promotion. For the third straight year, Sacred Heart was awarded the NEC Building Communities award. The award recognizes the institution that demonstrates the highest dedication to making an impact in the community through the efforts of its student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Over the course of the 2012-13 academic year, Sacred Heart donated over 8,100 hours of community service. In total, Conference members logged over 20,000 hours of community service. Commitment to SportsmanshipThe NEC continued its participation in the NCAA’s Respect Campaign, an effort to promote an environment of respect and integrity at Conference events. The NEC Team Sportsmanship Award program recognized those teams and student-athletes who adhere to the principles of sportsmanship and pursue victory with honor. Saint Francis U finished the year with a league-high five NEC Team Sportsmanship awards. The Red Flash have led the NEC in sportsmanship honors in each of the five years since the program was instituted in 2008-09. What’s Next?The NEC opened the 2013-14 academic year by introducing a modernized version of its primary and secondary marks, giving the Conference a fresh, yet familiar look moving forward.

In recent years, the NEC has taken aim at elevating the brand awareness of the league, elevating the caliber of its championship events and enhancing the opportunities and experiences for student-athletes that compete in the Conference. The NEC has raised its commitment to basketball through a host of strategic initiatives, most notably via a Brand and Basketball Enhancement fund, revised scheduling parameters and the implementation of state-of-the-art LED signage at all arenas. The NEC has also provided each institution with a basketball marketing grant that resulted in the highest attendance on the men’s side in 15 years and the highest per-game average in women’s basketball history last season. The next evolution of NEC Front Row will come this fall with the debut of HD quality webcasts around the league. Likewise, with HD Tricasters being provided to each institution, schools will be able to record games in broadcast quality high definition from multiple angles. With this long-term upgrade, highlights from Front Row broadcasts can be fed to local news stations, regional sports networks and ESPN (SportsCenter Top-10), or used during NEC-TV games. The equipment will also come bundled with an HD replay system to be implemented for the 2013-14 basketball season. Beginning in the fall of 2013, the NEC’s online digital network will also have its own iPhone/iPad application that can be downloaded at no cost. Live and on-demand events will also be free of charge, and fans can take part in the conversation through the app’s built-in social media capabilities. Coming off the success of its #NECPride, Moon Magic documentary short, the NEC also plans to go back and revisit some of the greatest teams, student-athletes and moments that have shaped the league’s history, all under the #NECPride film banner.




24 25

Entering his third season at the helm, Shannahan looks to carry the momentum from last year’s fantastic showing and second-place Northeast Conference (NEC) finish to this year’s highly anticipated campaign. After two solid seasons on Grymes Hill that saw a multitude

of Seahawks achieve lifetime-bests and school record-breaking times, Shannahan is poised to lead the Seahawks to even greater heights.

Shannahan comes to Staten Island after a successful eight-year tenure at the University of Rhode Island. In his last two seasons as a full-time coach, he helped coach the team to 20 varsity records and had a three-time NCAA qualifier. In addition to his coaching responsibilities the last two years, Shannahan was also the programs recruiting coordinator, recently bringing in 19 talented swimmers to the URI program forming the largest recruiting class in four years.

“We’re excited to have Colin on board as our swimming & diving coach,” said Athletic Director Walt Hameline. “His knowledge of the sport as a standout Division I swimmer and his work with an extremely competitive team at Rhode Island makes him a valuable asset to our already strong squad. Colin also brings a great deal of experience on the recruiting trail, which should protect the longevity of our storied program.”

A 2002 graduate of Columbia University, Shannahan was a four year letterwinner with the Lions where he holds the school record in the 200 freestyle relay, and was named team captain as a junior and senior.

The Lincoln, RI, native was a three-time all-state swimmer at Lincoln High School, where he won the 200 and 500 freestyle titles in both his junior and senior years with the Lions. His record times stayed intact

SArAh TANNErASSISTANT COACh

fIrST SEASONNOrTh CArOLINA, 2012

COLIN ShANNAhANhEAD COACh

ThIrD SEASON

COLuMbIA, 2002

Sarah Tanner, a highly-accomplished student-athlete at the University of North Carolina from 2008-2012, and an assistant coach this past year at powerhouse St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH, as well as with the renowned Cincinnati Marlins Swim Team, enters her first season as

assistant swimming coach. Known for her versatility, Tanner competed at a high level throughout her career in the freestyle sprints, butterfly, backstroke and the individual medley. Equally impressive in the classroom, Tanner was a seven-time member of the North Carolina Dean’s List while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History.

Marco is in her second season with the Wagner women’s swimming & div-ing staff, as the program’s diving coach.

Marco joins the Seahawks after a four-year career at Penn State as a member of the women’s swimming and diving program. While with the

Nittany Lions, Marco was honored in both her junior and senior seasons with the Robert E. Galbraith Award for the single most outstanding performance during the diving season. In addition, she was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team in her sophomore, junior, and senior campaigns, and was given the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award as a senior.

In addition to her time as a student-athlete, Marco worked as a diving coach for multiple programs on Penn State’s campus. Following graduation, she worked as a marketing and promotions intern in Penn State’s athletic department.

MEg MArCODIvINg COACh

SECOND SEASON

PENN STATE, 2011




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Junior Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, was member of school record-breaking 800 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays that finished third ... Broke school’s 500 freestyle record with a time of 4:58:72 ... Placed sixth in the 200 freestyle ... Placed fifth in the 1650 ... At CCSU Invite, placed second

in the 500 freestyle ... Placed third in the 200 freestyle ... Placed second in the 1650 ... Member of first-place 800 freestyle relay.

Sophomore Season (2011-2012): Finished first in the 1000 freestyle against Bryant (10/15) with a time of 10:38.67 … Won three events at Mount St. Mary’s (10/22), finishing the 800 freestyle in 9:31.63, the 50 freestyle in 28.39, and 100 freestyle in 1:00.74 … Captured two first-place finishes in a quad meet at Iona (10/29), posting a time of 10:40.89 in the 1000 freestyle and 5:16.60 in the 500 freestyle … Also part of a 400 freestyle relay team at Iona, winning in a time of 3:47.35 … Captured the 500 freestyle at Rutgers (11/4) in a time of 5:11.98 … Contributed to the 200 freestyle relay team that finished first at Rutgers (11/4), winning in a time of 1:43.32 … Took the 1650 freestyle at the ECAC Championship, finishing in 17:22.24 … Part of a 800 freestyle relay team that won at the ECAC Championship, posting a time of 7:40.82 … Won the 500 freestyle at Central Connecticut (1/28) in 5:13.80.

Freshman Season (2010-2011): Was the Seahawks’ top performer at the Northeast Conference Championship meet, finishing fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:01.27) and the 1650 freestyle (17:19.11) ... Also earned seventh place points at the NEC’s in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.31 ... part of Wagner’s record-setting 800 freestyle relay team ... Took third in the 500 free at New Hampshire (10/17).

Before Wagner: Swam four years with the Miniskin Valley Warriors under coach Leyla Johnson … named the team’s most valuable swimmer as a sophomore and senior … holds four school records in various distances … was the first swimmer from Minisink Valley to qualify for the New York State meet in eight years … broke several team records with her Aqua Gems Swim Club team … was also a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Daughter of James and Daniela Cooney … has three brothers, Casey, Dylan and Hunter … majoring in business.

ALExANDrA COONEySENIOr - frEESTyLE/DISTANCE

hOMETOwN: Port Jervis, NYhIgh SChOOL: MiNisiNk valleY

MEgAN DIbENEDETTOSENIOr - frEESTyLE

hOMETOwN: BrooklYN, NYhIgh SChOOL: BishoP kearNeY

Junior Season (2012-2013): Achieved best 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle times at CCSU Invite with 2:04 and 57.6, respectively ... Achieved best 50 freestyle time at NEC Championships with a 26.5.

Sophomore Season (2011-2012): Part of the third-place 200 freestyle relay team at Rutgers (11/4) … Helped Wagner’s 200 freestyle relay team at Columbia (1/3).

Freshman Season (2010-2011): Competed in the NEC Championships, taking on the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events ... Finished seventh in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events in Wagner’s dual meet against Mount St. Mary’s ... Earned third place points in the 200 freestyle against Columbia with a time of 2:19.42.

Before Wagner: A four-year letterwinner for the Bishop Kearney high school swim team … helped her squad to four consecutive Top-5 team finishes in Class A … earned the Wendy’s Heisman Award her senior year … was also a member of the National Honor Society and finished with academic first honors, earning the President’s Education-Outstanding Academic Excellence award … also named the U.S. Army Reserve Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was given the Coaches Award by her team … was a member of the Tigers girls soccer team that won four straight State Championship titles.

Personal: Daughter of Carmelo and Madeline DiBenedetto … has one brother, Vincent … plans on majoring in Biology.




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Junior Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, earned 18th place in the 500 freestyle ... Placed 15th in the 200 backstroke ... Placed 12th in the 1650 ... At the CCSU Invite, placed seventh in the 1650 ... Placed 13th in the 200 backstroke ... Placed 10th in the 500 freestyle.

Sophomore Season (2011-2012): Part of Wagner’s winning 400 freestyle relay team in a quad meet against Iona, St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart (10/29), winning in a time of 3:47.35 … Part of a 800 freestyle relay team that won at the ECAC Championship, posting a time of 7:40.82 …Won the 1000 freestyle at Rhode Island (1/21) in a time of 10:43.05 ... Finished sixth in the 1650 freestyle at the Northeast Conference Championships in a time of 17:30.40.Freshman Season (2010-2011): Had two sixth place finishes at her first Northeast Conference Championship meet, taking the 500 freestlye with a time of 5:04.18 and the 1650 freestyle in 17:36.81 ... Earned points for her 12th place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:55.85) ... Earned a first place finish in her first collegiate event, taking gold in the 1000 freestyle in 10:45.05 vs. Bryant (10/16) ... Also took first in the 1000 free against Iona ... Part of Wagner’s record-setting 800 freestyle relay team.

Before Wagner: Swam for the Princeton High School team as a freshman and earned Rookie of the Year … Member of the Eastern Express Swim team for 12 years prior to Wagner ... currently holds three all-time Top-10 records … Currently holds three all-time top-10 records ... attended numerous sectional and Grand Prix meets.

Personal: Daughter of Peter and Rebecca Kalibat … Has one sister, Natalie, who is a diver at USC ... Brother, Peter, swims for Eastern Express Swimming … Majoring in Biopsychology, Pre-Dental ... Was the first female finisher in the 2013 1-Mile “Rough Water Swim” in Ft. Lauderdale ... Was the first female finisher in both the 2011 and 2012 2.5-mile “Race for the Conch” in Turks and Caicos ... Was the first female finisher in the 2009 7.25k “Round the Sound” swim in Bermuda.

KrISTIANA KALIbATSENIOr - bACKSTrOKE/DISTANCE

hOMETOwN: PriNcetoN, NJhIgh SChOOL: PriNcetoN

MErEDITh KETChMArKSENIOr - frEESTyLE/MID-DISTANCE

hOMETOwN: PlaiNsBoro, NJhIgh SChOOL: West WiNdsor-PlaiNsBoro

Senior Season (2013-2014): Team Co-Captain.

Junior Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, achieved personal-best times in all individual events ... Third leg of the school record-breaking 800 freestyle relay

that placed third with a time of 7:29.01... Placed fourth in the 200 IM ... Second leg of the school record-breaking 200 freestyle relay that placed fourth with a time of 1:35.33 ... Placed eighth in the 200 freestyle ... Anchored the 400 Medley Relay ... Placed fourth in the 100 freestyle ... Second leg of the school record-breaking 400 freestyle relay that placed third with a time of 3:27.26 ... At the CCSU Invite, swam the second leg of the 200 freestyle relay that finished second in a time of 1:38.17 ... Placed fourth in 200 IM with a 1:38.17 ... Placed third in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.66 ... Anchored the 400 Medley Relay that placed third as well as the 200 Medley Relay that placed second ... Placed second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:53.66 ... Third leg of the winning 800 freestyle relay.

Sophomore Season (2011-2012): Finished fourth in the 200 IM at the NEC Championships, posting a time of 2:07.09 ... Placed fifth in the 100 freestyle in a time of 51.97 … Won the 200 freestyle against Bryant (10/15), finishing in 1:56.69 … Part of a 200 medley relay team that won at Mount St. Mary’s (10/22), finishing in 2:05.32 … Placed first in the 200 freestyle at Mount St. Mary’s (10/22), posting a time of 2:11.78 … Contributed to a 400 medley relay team that won at a quad meet against Iona, St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart (10/29), winning in a time of 4:04.45 … Also won the 200 freestyle at the quad meet on 10/29, finishing in 1:58.60 … Took the 100 butterfly at Rutgers (11/4) in a time of 1:00.50 … Part of a 800 freestyle relay team that won at the ECAC Championship, posting a time of 7:40.82 … Also captured the 200 freestyle at the ECAC Championship, finishing in 1:52.91 … Won the 500 freestyle at Columbia (1/3) in a time of 5:18.21 … Finished first in the 100 freestyle at Rhode Island (1/21), posting a time of 54.05 … Took two events at Central Connecticut (1/28), winningthe 100 freestyle in 53.59 and 200 freestyle in 1:55.53 … Also part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team at Central Connecticut, finishing in a time of 1:40.04.Freshman Season (2010-2011): Finished fifth in her first Northeast Conference Championship meet event, wrapping up the 500 freestyle in 5:02.38 ... Also earned a fifth place finish in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.04 ... Narrowly missed out on the podium in the 100 freestyle, finishing one second off the pace, earning sixth place points in 52.28 ... Anchored Wagner’s record-setting 800 freestyle relay team.

Before Wagner: Earned four varsity letters as a member of the Pirates swim team … helped her team to four consecutive CVC County Championship titles and two State titles in 2009 and 2010 … individually won two county titles and broke the 200 freestyle school record … qualified for individual states and placed in the top eight … awarded the Most Valuable Swimmer award her senior year … has been a member of the Hamilton Aquatic Club for the past nine years … has qualified for the YMCA Nationals the past four years ... member of the National Honor Society and German National Honor Society.

Personal: Daughter of Timothy and Janis Ketchmark … has two sisters, Jenna and Keri … majoring in Anthropology.




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KrISTEN LEESENIOr - brEASTSTrOKE/IM

hOMETOwN: cherrY hill, NJhIgh SChOOL: cherrY hill east

Senior Season (2013-2014): Team Co-Captain.

Junior Season (2012-2013): Top-16 finisher in the 200 yard breastroke, the 100 yard breastroke, and the 400 yard IM at NEC Championships

Sophomore Season (2011-2012): Finished third in the 100 breaststroke against Bryant (10/15) … Finished third in the 100 breaststroke at Mount St. Mary’s (10/22) … Part of the third-place 400 medley relay team in a quad meet at Iona (10/29) … Part of the third-place 200 freestyle relay team at Rutgers (11/4) … Finished second in the 100 breaststroke at the ECAC Championship, and third in the 200 breaststroke ... Top-16 finisher in the 200 breaststroke and the 100 breastroke at NEC Championships.Freshman Season (2010-2011): Finished third on the team in the 200 IM at the Northeast Conference Championships, earning four points in a time of 2:12.60 ... Came in second on the team in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.04), picking up six points ... Made her first NEC championship heat in the 200 breaststroke, finishing in seventh place with a time of 2:27.59.

Before Wagner: Earned four varsity letters for the Cherry Hill East High School swim team … named the Cougars Most Valuable Player three times … was a two-year high school All-American and Scholastic All-American, and was twice named to the All South Jersey team … Junior National qualified twice in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke … holds the 200 medley relay high school record and won the 2008 New Jersey State Championships in the 200 medley relay … holds numerous Top-10 records at the Jersey Wahoos Swim Club and the Burlington County YMCA.

Personal: Daughter of Thomas and Kathy Lee … has one brother, Matt, and one sister, Monica … Majoring in Biopsychology.

SArAh MENENDEzSENIOr - SPrINT-frEESTyLE/buTTErfLy

hOMETOwN: laNd o’lakes, FlhIgh SChOOL: WhartoN

Junior Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, earned fourth place in the 50 freestyle ... Earned fourth place in the 200 freestyle ... At the CCSU Invite, earned second place in the 100 freestyle ... Earned second place in the 50 freestyle.

Sophomore Season (2011-2012): Finished third in the 200 freestyle at the Northeast Conference Championships in a time of 1:51.19 … Placed fourth in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle … Won the 100 freestyle against Bryant (10/15), finishing in 54.61 … Contributed to a 400 medley relay team that won at a quad meet against Iona, St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart (10/29), winning in a time of 4:04.45 … Also won the 100 freestyle in the quad meet at Iona, finishing in 54.70 … Part of a 800 freestyle relay team that won at the ECAC Championship, posting a time of 7:40.82 … Part of a 200 freestyle relay team that won at Columbia (1/3), finishing in a time of 1:42.28 … Part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team at Central Connecticut (1/28), finishing in a time of 1:40.04.Freshman Season (2010-2011): Made an immediate impact in her first season with the Seahawks, setting school records in the 50 freestyle (24.08), the 100 freestyle (51.61) and the 200 freestyle (1:51.65), and leading off the record breaking 800 freestyle relay team ... Led the Green & White at the Northeast Conference Championship meet in the 50 free, taking fifth place ... Named Third Team All-NEC in the 200 freestyle ... Missed out on the podium in the 100 freestyle by .38 seconds ... Finished first in the 200 butterfly against Iona (10/29).

Before Wagner: A four-year varsity swimmer for the Wharton Wildcats … helped her team to four consecutive Conference Championship titles from 2006-2009 and District Championships titles in 2008 and 2009 … made two straight State Championship appearances her junior and senior seasons … honored as the 2008 Big Cat Most Valuable Player … named to the 2009-2010 All-County team and was named to the All-District team all four years with the Wildcats … swam for the Aquatic Club of Temple Terrace, leading her team to the finals in the Junior Olympic Championships, the Senior Championships and the Speedo Sectional Championships.

Personal: Daughter of Manny and Loretta Menendez … has one younger brother, Matthew.




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KELSEy ThOMASSENIOr - brEASTSTrOKE/IM

hOMETOwN: haMMoNtoN, NJhIgh SChOOL: holY sPirit

Junior Season (2012-2013): Finished first in the 100-yard breastroke at the CCSU Invite with a time of 1:07.35 and fifth in the 200-yard breastroke with a time of 1:07.94 ... At NEC Championships, placed 7th in the 200-yard breastroke with a time of 2:23.40, 10th in the 200-yard IM with a time of

2:09.81, and ninth in the 100-yard breastroke with a time of 1:07.35.

Sophomore Season (2011-2012): Finished fifth in the 200 breaststroke at the Northeast Conference Championships ... Won the 100 breaststroke against Bryant (10/15), finishing in 1:09.15 … Part of a 200 medley relay team that won at Mount St. Mary’s (10/22), posting a time of 2:05.32 … Captured the 100 backstroke at Mount St. Mary’s (10/22), finishing in 1:16.87 … Contributed to a 400 medley relay team that won at a quad meet against Iona, St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart (10/29), winning in a time of 4:04.45 … Won the 200 breaststroke at Rutgers (11/4), posting a time of 2:29.90.Freshman Season (2010-2011): Played a key role in her first collegiate season ... finished first on the team and seventh overall at the Northeast Conference Championship meet in the 200 IM ... led the Seahawks in the 100 breaststoke, picking up fifth place points in a time of 1:07.74 ... named Third Team All-NEC in the 200 breaststoke, finishing in 2:22.36 ... both championship meet breaststoke times set Wagner school records.

Before Wagner: Was a member of the Holy Spirit swimming team from 2007-2010 under the coaching of Mike Schaivo … holds eight school records and is in the top-5 in the record books in 11 events … a four-time All State Non-Public All Star, a four-time All South Jersey All Star and a four-time All Conference team member … helped her team to four consecutive South Jersey Championship titles … was a member of the 2007 State Championship team.

Personal: Daughter of Sean and Liz Thomas … has one brother, Sean, and one sister, Ali.

MALLOry LEEJuNIOr - DIvINg

hOMETOwN: NeWark, cahIgh SChOOL: Moreau catholic

Sophomore Season (2012-2013): Earned NEC Diver of the Week accolades ... Placed second in both the one-meter and three-meter at NECs with scores of 225.6 and 244.1, respectively ... Awarded Most Valuable Diver.

Freshman Season (2011-2012): Finished second in the three-meter at the Northeast Conference Championships … Set a school record in one-meter diving, scoring 223.50 to win the one-meter against Bryant (10/15) …Took the three-meter with a score of 175.95 … Won the one-meter at Rhode Island (1/21) with a score of 196.57, and the three-meter, posting a score of 170.02. Finished second in both the one-meter and three-meter in a quad meet at Iona (10/29), scoring 185.20 in the one-meter and 169.10 in the three-meter … Finished second in the one-meter and three-meter at Central Connecticut (1/28) ... NEC Diver of the Week five times ... Athlete of the Month November 2011 and January 2012 ... Pole vaulted for the Wagner Track and Field team.

Before Wagner: Spent three years on the Moreau Catholic diving team … named a North Coast sectional qualifier all three years … was a Hayward Area Athletics league (HAAL) champion in 2010 and 2011 … broke league records in 2011 with a score of 414 on an 11 dive … swam for the Mariner’s her freshman year before becoming her school’s first diver.

Personal: Daughter of Brandon and Colleen Lee … has two siblings, McKenzie and Morgan … sister, McKenzie, is on the rowing team at the University of Oklahoma … Majoring in English, Minoring in Spanish ... is the Sports Editor for the Wagnerian.




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Sophomore Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, placed in top-16 in the 50 freestyle, the 100 freestyle ... and the 100 backstroke ... Member of record-breaking 200 Medley Relay squad.

Freshman Season (2011-2012): First collegiate win was in the 50 freestyle in a quad meet against Iona, St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart (10/29), finishing in 25.32 … Part of a 400 freestyle relay team in a quad meet against Iona, St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart (10/29), winning in a time of 3:47.35 … Contributed to the 200 freestyle relay team that finished first at Rutgers (11/4), posting a time of 1:43.32 … Part of a 200 freestyle relay team that won at Columbia (1/3), finishing in a time of 1:42.28 … Part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team at Central Connecticut (1/28), finishing in a time of 1:40.04.

Before Wagner: Earned four varsity letters with the Cherry Hill varsity swim team … has accumulated All-American, All-Conference, All-Olympic, All-South Jersey, and All-Courier Post awards during her four seasons … named the Cougar’s MVP all four years … team co-captain her senior season … took 10th place at the 2010 YMCA Nationals in the 50 freestyle … holds multiple records with the Willowdale Swim Club.

Personal: Daughter of David and Laurene Sides … In the Nursing program.

SAM SIDESJuNIOr - frEESTyLE/SPrINTS

hOMETOwN: cherrY hill, NJhIgh SChOOL: cherrY hill east

Sophomore Season (2012-2013): Scored in the top-16 in NEC Championships for the 200 breastroke, the 400 IM, and the 200 backstroke.

Freshman Season (2011-2012): Won the 200 breaststroke at Mount St. Mary’s (10/22), posting a time of 2:52.84 … Finished first in the 200 IM in a quad meet against Iona, St. Francis (NY) and Sacred Heart (10/29), finishing in 2:16.13 … Captured the 200 IM at Rutgers (11/4), winning in 2:15.70 … Took the 200 IM at Columbia (1/3) in a time of 2:18.08.

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner for Hempfield Area Senior ... Captain during senior season ... Qualified for States all four seasons ... Member of Alleghany Mountain Swimming Elite Group ... First female in history of her high school to qualify for all swimming events in the Pennsylvania WPIAL division.

Personal: Daughter of Patrick and Vicki Stoner … has two brothers, Patrick and Tyler … major is undecided.

MOrgAN STONErJuNIOr - bACKSTrOKE/MID-DISTANCE

hOMETOwN: GreeNsBurG, PahIgh SChOOL: heMPField area




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SOPhOMOrE - DIvEr

ErICA Curry

hOMETOwN: FouNtaiN valleY, cahIgh SChOOL: FouNtaiN valleY

Freshman Season (2012-2013): Captured four consecutive Northeast Conference Diver of the Week award in her first season with the Seahawks ... Only the second athlete to win the award four consecutive times since the award began ... Competing in her first collegiate dual meet she

picked up her first win on the 3-meter board and second place on the 1-meter ... Followed with next meet with wins on both boards ... Highest score is 241.20 on 3-meter ... Finished fourth at NEC Championships.

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner for Fountain Valley ... Qualified for CIF all four years ... MVP all four years ... Captain her senior season ... Qualified for AAU Nationals three years ... Sunset League Finalist for four years ... Brove her high school’s dive record with a score of 415 on an 11-dive meet ... All-American on one and three meter boards in 2012 ... Winner of Coronet for Outstanding Girls’ Athletics and Diver of the Year in Sunset League ... Competed with McCormick Dive team of Long Beach, CA since age of 11.

Personal: Born in Long Beach, CA ... Daughter of David and Mary Curry ... Has one sister, Haley ... Majoring in Psychology.

KArA LACOSTESOPhOMOrE - brEASTSTOKE/bACKSTrOKE/IM

hOMETOwN: chicoPee, MahIgh SChOOL: chicoPee coMPreheNsive

Freshman Season (2012-2013): At CCSU Invite, finished second in the 200 IM, the 200 backstroke, the 200 breakstroke, and the 100 breakstroke ... At NEC Championships,

finished third in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.43, effectively setting new school record ... Finished fourth in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:02.13, re-breaking her own school record ... Finished fourth in the 200 breastroke, setting school record with a 2:21.72 ... Achieved personal bests at NEC Championships.

Before Wagner: Swam for Chicopee Comprehensive High School in Chicopee, MA, under coach Dayle Cushing … State champion in 100 yard backstroke as a senior … Western Massachusetts champion in 100 yard breaststroke in senior year … Western Massachusetts champion in 200 IM as a freshman … Placed seventh in 200 yardbackstroke at the 2011 YMCA Long Course Nationals with a time of 2:23.10, and 12th in the 100 yard backstroke at 1:06.89 … Lacoste’s team from the Greater Holyoke YMCA finished third overall.

Personal: Daughter of Lynn and David Lacoste … Has one sibling, Kelsey … Planning to major in the Physician Assistant program.




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ErIN MALONESOPhOMOrE - buTTErfLy/IM

hOMETOwN: seWell, NJhIgh SChOOL: WashiNGtoN toWNshiP

AMANDA LuCIASOPhOMOrE - buTTErfLy/IMhOMETOwN: easthaMPtoN, Ma

hIgh SChOOL: easthaMPtoN

Freshman Season (2013-2013): At CCSU Invite, placed first in three events: the 400 IM with a time of 4:24.76, the 100 fly with a time of 56.79, and the 200 fly with a time of 2:04.01 ... At NECs, earned Rookie of the Meet ... Earned Co-Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet ... Partook in the 200 Medley Relay

Team that placed third with a time of 1:46.17 ... Placed first in the 400 IM with a time of 4:23.63 ... Placed second in the 200 fly with a time of 56.21 ... Partook in the 400 Medley Relay Team that placed fourth with a time of 3:53.50 ... Placed first in the 200 fly with a time of 2:02.38.

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner at Easthampton (MA) High School … Western Mass recordholder in 100 fly … Won Western Mass and Division 1 State Championships in senior year … Also swam for the Greater Holyoke YMCA Vikings National Team … Junior National qualifier and US Winter Senior National qualifier in 200 fly … Placed in the top-10 in the 200 fly at YMCA Nationals in 2011 and 2012. Personal: Born in Northampton, MA … Daughter of Donna Link and Mark Lucia … Has one sibling, Tyler … Undecided on a major.

Freshman Season (2012-2013): Captured her first college victory in the 100-yard backstroke at UVM ... Took third-place in the 100-yard backstroke at Rutgers ... At NEC Championships, placed ninth in the 100-yard backstroke

with a time of 57.88 and the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:07.49 ... Placed 10th in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 57.50 ... Broke 100-yard backstroke record ... All NEC Championships times were personal bests

Before Wagner: Swam at Washington Township (NJ) High School ... Gloucester County 1 Fly Champion ... Three-time state qualifier ... Team MVP ... Four-time YMCA National qualifier.

Personal: Born in Princeton, NJ ... Daughter of Jeff and Patty Malone ... Has two brothers, William and Patrick, who both swim at Rowan University ... Majoring in Nursing with a minor in Spanish.




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MEghAN MENDEzSOPhOMOrE - bACKSTrOKE

hOMETOwN: exPort, PahIgh SChOOL: Pa cYBer

Freshman Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, member of 200 Medley Relay that came in third ... Member of the 400 Medley Relay that came in fourth ... Earned sixth place in the 100 backstroke ... Earned 10th place in the 200 backstroke ... School record-holder in the 100 backstroke with

a time of 57.30 ... Member of school recording-holding 200 Medly Relay with a time of 2:07.43 ... Third Team All-NEC for the 200 Medley Relay.

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner at PA Cyber in Midland, PA … Three-time All-American … Won the WPIAL 200 medley relay as a junior … Finished third in the 100 back at the WPIAL meet in her junior year … Placed third in the 200 medley relay at the PIAA meet in her junior year … Also swam for the JCC Sailfish. Personal: Born in Monroeville, PA … Daughter of Robin and Bill Mendez … Has two siblings, Samantha and Benjamin … Majoring in Government.

KAITLIN MurThASOPhOMOrE - bACKSTrOKE/IMhOMETOwN: NeW FairField, cthIgh SChOOL: NeW FairField

Freshman Season (2012-2013): Earned first collegiate win at the Iona Invitational ... at NEC Championships, placed seventh in the 400 IM ... Placed 12th in the 100 backstroke ... Placed seventh in the 200 backstroke.

Before Wagner: Competed for New Fairfield (CT) High School and the New Fairfield Aquaflyers club team ... All-State selection in 2010 and 2011.

Personal: Native of New Fairfield, CT ... Daughter of Kathleen and Francis Murtha ... Has one sister, Kellie ... Majoring in Biopsychology.




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MAggIE ShAwSOPhOMOrE - DISTANCE

hOMETOwN: chaNtillY, vahIgh SChOOL: chaNtillY

COrINNE rONDINASOPhOMOrE - SPrINT/frEESTyLE

hOMETOwN: stateN islaNd, NYhIgh SChOOL: Notre daMe acadeMY

Freshman Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, placed 13th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.30 ... Member of the school record-breaking 200 freestyle relay that placed fourth with a time of 1:35.33 ... Placed 20th in the 200 freestyle ... Placed 11th in the 100 freestyle ... Member of Dean’s List.

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame Academy in Staten Island, NY ... Undefeated in all four years of high school competition ... City champions all four years ... NYC Catholic Schools MVP and team MVP in 2010 and 2011 ... Three-time Staten Island Advance All-Star ... Team captain ... Also a one-year member of the golf team in high school.

Personal: Born in Staten Island, NY ... Daughter of Rick and Michele Rondina ... Father played baseball at Suffolk Community College and West Virginia University ... Has three sisters, Megan, Christine, and Rebecca ... Undecided on a major.

Freshman Season (2012-2013): At NEC Championships, tied for 12th in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:54.75 ... Finished 10th in the 1650 with a time of 17:37.69 ... Finished 12th in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:06.92.

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner for Chantilly High School ...Four-year state finalist ... Swam in USA Swim League for Dan Jacobs at Machine Aquatics ... Regional Sectional Meet qualifyer for four years ... Also swam for NVSL and the Greenbriar Swim Club.

Personal: Born in Chantilly, VA ... Daughter of Susan and Scott ... Has two siblings, David and Allison ... Majoring in Biology.




44 45

grACE bAIrDfrEShMAN

hOMETOwN: lexiNGtoN, NchIgh SChOOL: West davidsoN

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner for West Davidson High School … Helped the Green Dragons to three Conference Championships and one North Carolina (NC) State Championship … All-Conference Swimmer all four years at West Davidson High School … Three-time team MVP … Central Carolina Conference Swimmer of the Year for both the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons … Central

Carolina Conference Champion in the 500 yard Freestyle for her Sophomore, Junior, and Senior seasons … Central Carolina Conference Champion in the 200 yard Freestyle during her Sophomore season … NC High School State Champion in the 500 yard Freestyle in her Junior and Senior seasons … Member of both the State Champion 200 yard Medley Relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay teams during the 2009-2010 season … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American … Honor Graduate with a 3.78 GPA.

Personal: Born Margaret Grace Baird in High Point, NC … Daughter of Boyd and Suzanne … Has one sister, Kelly, who swims for Ohio State University, and one brother, Braxton, who attends the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics … Dual Major in Education and Psychology.

KATJA CLAESSONfrEShMAN

hOMETOwN: FullertoN, cahIgh SChOOL: troY

Before Wagner: Four-year letterwinner for Troy High School … During her tenure, helped the Warriors to four undefeated League Championship seasons as well as the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division II Championship … Holds school and league records for the 100-yard Breaststroke, the 200-yard Medley Relay and the 400-yard Freestyle events … Earned National

Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) All-American for the 100-yard Breaststroke her Junior season … Four-time league champion in 100-yard Breaststroke event … League champion in the 200-yard Medley Relay … Swam her club career with FAST, where she is a multiple record-holder … Member of the National Honor Society … A California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer and National Merit Commended Scholar … Named to Principal’s Honor Roll all four years of high school … In 2011, qualified for Swedish Junior Nationals in 50,100, 200 breast, spent summer in Sweden swimming and competing for a Swedish national team.

Personal: Born in Orange, CA … Daughter of Peter Claesson and Sanh Pham … one sibling, Hana … Majoring in Biopsychology.

ANu NIhIPALIfrEShMAN

hOMETOwN: hoNolulu, hihIgh SChOOL: haWaii PreParatorY acadeMY

Before Wagner: Three-year letterwinner at Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) … Holds the record in the 100 yard backstroke event for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) … Also won the state championship for the 100 yard backstroke event … Earned MVP honors her Junior and

Senior seasons … Played water polo in her final two years at HPA … Voted both team captain and MVP for her Senior season.

Personal: Born Bryee Ho’o-Mau Anuhea Nihipali in Honolulu, HI … Daughter of Paul Nihipali … Comes from a family of collegiate athletes: sisters Mounia and Crisi played volleyball, brother Stanley played

MArISA PETrArCAfrEShMAN

hOMETOwN: ProvideNce, rihIgh SChOOL: JohNstoN seNior

Before Wagner: Four-year member of the independent swim team she founded at Johnston Senior High School … Competed in State Finals in the 50 yard Freestyle, the 100 yard Freestyle, and the 100 yard Backstroke … Swam for the Cranston YMCA under Louis Arruda … Competed in State

and National Competitions for Academic Decathlons … Member of the Jr. National Honor Society and the National Honor Society … Member of the All-State Band … Two-year letterwinner in Soccer, Hockey and Cheerleading … Captain of Track team her Freshman and Sophomore seasons … Captain of Cross Country team her Junior and Senior Seasons.

Personal: Born in Providence, RI … Daughter of Jane Beth and Robert … Only child … Majoring in Biology.




46 47

2012-2013 rESuLTS

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION RESULT

10/6/2012 LIU Post Brookville, NY L, 104-155

10/13/2013 Vermont Burlington, VT L, 121-177

10/20/2012 Bryant Smithfield, RI L, 111-151

10/20/2012 CCSU Blue Devil Invite New Britain, CT -

10/26/2012 Rutgers Piscataway, NJ L, 117-174

10/27/2012 Iona New Rochelle, NY W, 143-97

10/27/2012 Sacred Heart New Rochelle, NY W, 179-51

10/27/2012 St. Francis Brooklyn New Rochelle, NY W, 185-43

10/3/2012 St. Francis Brooklyn Staten Island, NY Cancelled

11/30-12/2/2012 CCSU Invitational New Britain, CT 2nd of 4

1/7/2013 Southern Connecticut Coral Springs, FL -

1/19/2013 Rhode Island Kingston, RI L, 132.5-167.5

2/2/2013 Central Connecticut New Britain, CT L, 100-200

2/9/2013 Saint Francis U Staten Island, NY Cancelled

2/27-3/2/2013 NEC Championships Boston, MA 2nd of 7

WAGNER COLLEGESWIMMING & DIVING

TOP TIME LISTName Year Event Time

Menendez ’13 50 Freestyle 23.78

Menendez ’13 100 Freestyle 51.05

Menendez ’12 200 Freestyle 1:51.19

Cooney ’13 500 Freestyle 4:58.72

Lees ’05 1000 Freestyle 10:14.72

Lees ’05 1650 Freestyle 16:56.48

Lacoste ’13 200 Individual Medley 2:06.43

Lucia ’13 400 Individual Medley 4:23.63

Hart ’09 100 Butter y 54.07

Hart ’09 200 Butter y 2:00.46

Mendez ’13 100 Backstroke 57.30

Lacoste ’13 200 Backstroke 2:02.13

Greenough ’13 100 Breaststroke 1:06.34

Lacoste ’13 200 Breaststroke 2:21.72

Mendez, Thomas ‘13 200 Medley Relay 1:46.17

Lucia, Sides

Guenther, Brown ’09 400 Medley Relay 3:51.70

Hart, French

Mendez, Ketchmark ’13 200 Freestyle Relay 1.35.33

Rondina, Sides

Mendez, Ketchmark ‘13 400 Freestyle Relay 3:27.26

Cooney, Colitz

Mendez, Ketchmark ‘13 800 Freestyle Relay 7:29.01

Cooney, Colitz

Lee ’13 1 Meter Diving 225.60

Lee ’12 3 Meter Diving 244.10

Wagner College

Documents

2013-2014 Wagner College Swimming & Diving Media Guide