by Megan DePrimio, Staff Writer
On January 27th, the Presidents Athletic Conference released the Fall 2010 Honor Roll, which totaled 357 student-athletes, of which Saint Vincent College constituted an impressive number of 47. Student-athletes are chosen based on their grade-point average (GPA) which must be a 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale during their semester of competition.
SVC led all ten schools in the PAC with 47 student-athletes earning PAC Academic Honor Roll, while Waynesburg University came in second with 45. Geneva College followed with 44, Washington & Jefferson College with 39, Grove City College and Westminster College with 37, Thiel College and Thomas More College with 36, Bethany College with 22, and Chatham University with 14.
Of the SVC athletes honored, thirteen are football players, nine are men’s and women’s cross country runners, five are women’s soccer players, four are women’s tennis and volleyball players, and three are men’s soccer players.
Head Football Coach Bob Colbert was happy with his team’s classroom performance. “I was pleased with the number of players on our team who qualified for the PAC Honor Roll. It demonstrated to me the message was getting through to them about the importance of striving for excellence in the classroom as well as on the field,” Colbert said.
Additionally, the football team promotes designated study time in order to give all the players an opportunity to do well. Colbert stated, “We have a mandatory study session on Sunday evenings during the fall for all of our freshman and upperclassmen who need the extra study hour. We also will have players come to our office complex to have extra study sessions if needed.”
While coaches stress the importance of good grades, it is helpful when student-athletes are dedicated outside of the playing field. Women’s soccer captain, junior math/engineering major Kirstie Mills said, “It is an inner motivation [to achieve good grades]. I hate getting bad grades. I found that as long as I know when my tests and labs are and talk to my teachers beforehand, it eases the load of a hard schedule.”
Athletic Director Rev. Myron Kirsch, O.S.B., was also pleased with SVC being represented well not only on the field and court but also in the classroom.
“I like the consistency of the [PAC Honor Roll] number. Student-athletes themselves must have discipline. They have to be able to manage time. It has to be a priority of the coaches too. The coaches work very well with the student-athletes,” Fr. Myron stated.
Student-athletes are not allowed to miss class for a practice in any circumstance. Prior to a game, the student-athlete must give the professor an excused absence form from the coach. Many coaches would agree that their players are students first and athletes second. It takes a certain individual to be a student-athlete since it requires lots of hard work, dedication and time management.
The list of student-athletes who were named to the PAC Honor Roll includes: Claudia Arrunategui (WXC); Claire Badman (WXC); Lucas Briola (MXC); Gloria Bullock (WXC); Kaley Burkardt (Volleyball); Josh Catalano (Football); J.R. Creese (Football); John DeSantis (Men’s Soccer); Josh Diamond (Football); Brittany Fidazzo (WXC); Armando Fortunato (Football); Julianne Forzano (Women’s Soccer); Amanda Gans (Women’s Tennis); Jacob Gilbertson (Men’s Soccer); Taylor Guido (Volleyball); Matt Hagg (MXC); Mike Hannon (MXC); Emily Helbling (WXC); Jeff Hite (MXC); Dean Jordan (Men’s Soccer); Nicholas Killen (MXC); Jessica Legg (Women’s Soccer); Rebecca Leonard (WXC); Megan Mahoney (Women’s Tennis); Laura Marino (Volleyball); Jessica McKetta (Women’s Tennis); Tom McLaughlin (MXC); Zach Mihalko (Football); Kirstie Mills (Women’s Soccer); Rob Minjock (Football); Emily Morris (Women’s Tennis); Joe Mylant (Football); Alex Peffley (Football); Diana Petrovich (Volleyball); Justin Petrovich (MXC); Theresa Pitassi (WXC); Andrew Razanauskas (MXC); Alex Rowan (Football); Anna Rutledge (Women’s Soccer); Crystal Sherlock (WXC); Mike Stevens (MXC); Joe Strickland (Football); Emily Taylor (Women’s Soccer); Josh Vigna (Football); Zara Wallace (Football); Beth Anne Weiber (WXC); Joe Yezovich (Football).