(Posted April 27, 2005)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - A total of 23 Juniata College student-athletes were honored at the ninth annual Mailand McIlroy Athletics Awards Ceremony, held Sunday evening at Ellis Hall.

McIlroy worked at the Huntingdon Daily News for 41 years and was the sports editor for the local newspaper for 37 of those years. "Mac," who died on April 1, 1998, was a friend and confidante to many Juniata coaches and athletes during five decades of covering sports on College Hill.

Each team's most valuable player award winners were announced at the ceremony, while the recipients of the "Big Five" senior awards - Stanford Mickle, Charles Bargerstock, Carolyn Stambaugh, William R. Smaltz and John E. Blood - were also recognized.

Senior Carli Dale (Cochranton/Cochranton) was honored with the Charles Bargenstock '47 Award for Outstanding Woman Athlete, recognizing an overall love of athletics and outstanding performance on the playing surface. This season, Dale became in the first woman's volleyball player in Juniata history to be named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Player of the Year while leading the Eagles to their first ever national championship. Dale is also a member of the 2004 AVCA All-American Team, as well as the Commonwealth Conference player of the year the past two seasons. Her career total of 6,296 assists ranks her second in school history and in the top-five nationally. Her assist per game average of 13.4 is the best all-time mark in Division III history.

Matt Garner (Bellwood-Antis/Bellwood), a senior standout on both the football and baseball teams, was awarded the Stanford Mickle Award for Outstanding Male Athlete, which recognizes overall athletic achievement and contribution. On the gridiron, Garner finished the season with 50 tackles, including eight for loss and a sack, from his safety position. He also forced a fumble and recovered three. As an outfielder for the Juniata baseball team, he is currently hitting .278 this season with a pair of doubles, a triple and a home run. His 65 career RBI tie him for eighth all-time in school history.

The Carolyn Stambaugh Memorial Award, recognizing strong leadership on the playing surface, solid academic credentials in the classroom and involvement within the campus community was presented to senior soccer player Rebecca Shoaf (Madison/Madison, N.J). During her senior season, Shoaf set the single-season record for goals with 12 and points with 27. She will graduate as Juniata's all-time leading goal scorer, and she is also tied as the school's all-time leader in points.

Senior Paul Evans (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) was presented The William R. Smaltz Award, given to a male athlete who displayed hard and perseverance in his endeavor. He also received the Dr. J Harold Engle '23 most valuable back award, given annually by the football team. Evans was named second team all-conference as a defensive back this season. He led the conference in pass breakups with 21. Five of those breakups were interceptions, which led the team, and was just one off the conference lead. He also registered 56 tackles during the season. In addition to his cornerback duties, Evans handled the punt return responsibilities as well, where he finished fifth in the conference with a 19-yard average per return.

The John E. Blood Memorial Award was awarded to senior Erin Wisor (Altoona/Altoona). The award recognizes a senior student-athlete with one of the highest grade point averages and at least four varsity letters who was a major contributor to the college community. The outside hitter was one of Juniata's most versatile players, helping the women's volleyball team to its first ever NCAA Championship. She finished the season with 247 kills and a 2.76 game per kill average. She also compiled 237 digs, as well as 37 service aces and captured All-Region recognition.

Wisor's teammate and fellow outside hitter Lindsey Habel (Glen Oaks/Canton, Ohio) picked up the Arthur Evans Most Valuable Women's Volleyball Player Memorial Award. Habel finished her senior season with 176 kills and 229 digs in helping the woman's volleyball capture the NCAA Championship.

Fred Wall (Big Spring/Newville) was chosen as George Weber '40 most valuable lineman, given annually to the top lineman on the Eagle's football team. The senior totaled 57 tackles, including a conference-best 18 for loss. He also led the team with seven sacks, good for third in the conference.

Senior Setter Ricky Zeigler (Northeastern/Manchester) was named the Mike Wojcik '87 Men's Volleyball MVP. For the second straight season, Zeigler was named to the EIVA All-East Teams, honoring the top 20 players in the EIVA, including players from Divisions I, II and III. Zeigler was also named the AVCA Division III Player of the Year. This season, Zeigler led Juniata in assists with 1,127, giving him 3,132 for his career. That total ranks him fourth all-time in school history. During his senior campaign, Zeigler, who also led the team in aces, cracked the 50-assist mark eight times, including a season-high 77.

Will Russell (Tyrone/Tyrone) was named the Charlie Goodale '39 Most Valuable Baseball Player. Through 32 games, the junior leads the Eagles in hitting with a .382 batting average and 42 hits. He is also second on the team with 26 RBIs. He also leads the team in assists from his position at second base with 72. For her efforts on the diamond, Allison D'Ambrosia (State College/Boalsburg) was named the Judith Rodgers Pheasant '65 Most Valuable Softball Player. The lone senior on this year's team, D'Ambrosia led the Eagles in RBIs, with 12. She is hitting .349, including seven doubles, placing her in the top ten in the conference in both categories. The first baseman also boasts a stellar .995 fielding percentage with a team-high 186 putouts.

In just her first season, freshman Jess Winemiller (Dallastown/York) earned the Gale Wampler Pollock Award for most valuable woman basketball player. Winemiller led the Eagles at both ends of the court, leading the team in scoring with 14.3 points per game -fourth in the conference - and steals, with 37. For her efforts, she was named second team All-Conference, as well at the Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year. Sophomore Aaron Chamberlain (Tussey Mountain/Wood) was voted the Jack Oller Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player. The sophomore made his mark in virtually every statistical category, finishing third on the team in scoring with 9.8 points per game, second in steals with 35, and fifth in rebounding.

Janine Hartman (Whitehall/Whitehall) was selected as the field hockey most valuable player, donated by Dr. Thomas Robinson. Hartman played and started all 19 games as Juniata earned its first berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. She anchored a defense that allowed just 14 goals in 19 contests, and boasted a team goals against average of 0.68. Juniata recorded nine shutouts on the season and Hartman led the team with two defensive saves.

Senior Kathy Trainor capped a terrific career in the pool by being named the women's swimming team MVP. She won two gold medals at the MAC Championships, helping the match their best-ever team finish by placing third. Trainor defended her titles in both the 50 and 100-yard freestyles, breaking her own conference record in the 50 with a 24.66 and also broke the school mark in the 200 freestyle. She was also a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team that finished second and broke the old school record.
3 Juniata College Athletics Award Ceremony

Junior Justin Fritzius (Central York/York) was named the Mr. C. Clifford Brown cross country Most Valuable Runner. He was one of two Juniata runners to finish in the top-20 at the Conference Championship meet as he posted a 19th-place finish in the event. That effort topped his mark from the previous year by more than 10 places. Fritzius then added a top-50 finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. For the women, the William Ferrier award was given to junior Katey Glunt (Bellefonte/Bellefonte). Glunt became the first female cross country competitor in more than a decade to earn All-Region honors when she raced to a 32nd-place finish in the meet. She also posted a top-15 finish at the Conference Championships when she earned a 12th-place finish.

Libby Cooney (Forest Hills/South Fork) earned the J.M. Haskell '65 award for most valuable women's tennis player. The lone senior on a young Eagle squad, Cooney posted three doubles victories on the season, and closed her career with five singles wins to her credit. David Bullock (Central Bucks East/Jamison) was named the most valuable player on the men's tennis team. Bullock finished his senior season with a team-best 8-3 record in singles and also picked up three victories in doubles competition. He helped Juniata earn a program-best six victories on the season.

Sophomore Randy Anderson (DuBois/DuBois earned the Mr. J. Foster Gehrett award as the track and field team's most valuable athlete. Anderson has emerged as one of the top sprinters in the conference in his junior season, as he has claimed numerous top-3 finishes and victories in both the 100 and 200-meters during the outdoor season. He claimed first place in the 55-meter dash in the MAC Indoor Championships, and has already broken the school record in the 200 in the outdoor season. Debbie Delaney (Franklin/Reisertown, Md.) earned the distinction for the women. Delaney has been a top thrower for the Eagles in 2005 having broken the school record in the hammer throw twice during the season. She has also posted the top result in the discus for Juniata in 2005 and has the second-best toss in the shot put.

The Fran Zimmerman '54 award for most valuable men's soccer player was awarded to Jeff Gehring (Exeter Township/Reading). The junior forward led the team in assists, was second in points and third in goals scored. He also earned Academic All-District honors following his junior season. Senior Emily Endres (Warren/Warren) was named the women's soccer team most valuable player. Endres endured a broken wrist and a change of position in her senior season and still finished the year with two points on two assists. She also played a strong role for a defense that recorded a team goals against average of 2.58 for the season.

Senior Mary Heaton (Central/Roaring Springs) was honored as the Most Outstanding Cheerleader. Heaton was a four-year member of the cheerleading squad and was a captain of the team in her senior season.

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