(Posted May 6, 2002)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - A total of Juniata College 22 student-athletes were honored at the sixth Mailand McIlroy Athletics Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening held in Oller 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, 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 Brandy Workinger (Dallastown/Dallastown) was bestowed the Carolyn Stambaugh Memorial Award for her strong leadership role on the playing surface and her solid academic credentials. She was also presented the John E. Blood Memorial Award as a senior student-athlete with one of the highest grade point averages and at least four varsity letters. Workinger was a first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III All-American for the second straight year and ended her tenure with 1,736 kills to place fourth on the all-time list at Juniata, while her 1,786 digs rank second in College Hill annals.

The William R. Smaltz Award, presented for to a male athlete for excellence in the classroom and on the playing surface, was given to both Jamie Campbell (Muncy/Muncy), a senior football and baseball standout, and senior basketball player Brian Dietrich (Wilson/Wyomissing). Campbell was an all-conference pick at quarterback during his football career and was a four-year starter on the baseball field at Juniata as an infielder and a pitcher. Dietrich played basketball for four years at Juniata and made three straight appearances on the Middle Atlantic Conference all-academic team. He bounced back to appear in 13 contests this winter after sustaining a knee-injury during the off-season and he made 85 three-pointers in his career to rank 10th all-time at Juniata.

Senior Lucas Kelleher (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona), who has played both baseball and football on College Hill for four years was presented the prestigious Stanford Mickle Award for overall athletic achievement and contribution. He also earned the baseball squad's most valuable player award, which is donated by Charles Goodale '39. Kelleher had 52 receptions in 2001 and that ties for 10th on the single-season list at Juniata, while his 914 yards receiving is the fifth-highest mark in the blue and gold one-year history book. Kelleher ended his Juniata tenure ranked seventh in career receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,707). On the baseball diamond, he ends his four-year tenure ranked first on the career list in runs scored (117), fourth in hits (154), fifth in at-bats (412), sixth in doubles (26) and seventh in batting average (.374). He hit .406 this year with 38 runs scored, 12 doubles and 26 RBI.

Senior Brandy Preslovich (Bald Eagle Area/Moshannon), a member of the women's basketball and softball teams at Juniata during her four-year career, earned the Charles Bargerstock '47 Athletic Memorial Award for overall love of athletics and outstanding performance on the playing surface. Preslovich also earned the Gayle Wampler Pollock '68 most valuable women's basketball player award for the second straight year. She led the Eagles in scoring average (16.4) and rebounds per game (7.5) this past fall while shooting .474 from the field and .726 from the foul line. She was also named a Commonwealth Conference first-team all-star for the second straight year. On the softball field, she ended her career ranked first in batting average (.395), runs scored (62), doubles (36) and RBI (56) on the Juniata career lists.

Senior defensive end Kevin DeCarlo (Francis Scott Key/Westminster, MD) was presented the George Weber '40 most valuable lineman award, which is given to the top lineman on the Juniata football team each year. This past fall, he tallied 51 tackles, including 19 solo stops. He also had six quarterback sacks, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Senior linebacker Josh Seiders (Wyomissing/Wyomissing Hills) earned the Dr. J Harold Engle '23 most valuable back award given out annually by the football program. He was named to the 2001 Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American Third Team and was tabbed as an all-South Region pick and an MAC second-team member. He led the Eagles in tackles this fall with a program-record 135.

Junior back Nathan Ayers (Clearfield/Clearfield), who tallied one goal and a team-best three assists for Juniata this past season, picked up the Fran Zimmerman '54 most valuable men's soccer memorial award. He was also part of a defensive unit that recorded a program standard for fewest goals allowed (30) and a squad-best 1.49 goals-against average. Senior Lisa Dumansky (Nutley/Nutley, NJ) was selected as the winner of the J.M. Haskell '65 women's tennis most valuable player award. Dumansky posted a 6-2 singles record and a 10-2 doubles mark for an overall record of 16-4 during the 2001 season and she finished her career with a 62-31 overall record. Senior back Amber Byers (Chambersburg/Chambersburg) copped the women's soccer most valuable player award. She recorded one assist for Juniata in 2001and completed her tenure with one goal and four assists for six points. Junior Jess Hebel (Northern Lebanon/Grantville) was presented the Dr. Thomas Robinson '66 most valuable field hockey plaque for the first time in her career. Hebel was a first-team Commonwealth Conference all-star this past fall and was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) all-academic team after starting all 16 games for Juniata and recording nine defensive saves.

For the second straight year sophomore Stefanie Rynkewitz (Lewistown/Lewistown) was selected as the women's cross-country most valuable athlete donated by William F. Berrier '60. She was the top runner for Juniata for the majority of the season and she placed first among the Eagles at the MAC Championship (31st - 21:15.4) and the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional (99th - 20:45.95). Freshman Justin Norris (Warren/Warren) earned the C. Clifford Brown '29 most valuable runner award. He helped set the pace for the blue and gold harriers all season long and recorded a season's-best time of 28:01.65 at the Lehigh Paul Short Invitational. He was the club's top runner at the MAC Championship as well with a clocking of 28:50.4 (43rd). Junior middle hitter Niki Mueller (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) picked up the Arthur Evans Most Valuable Women's Volleyball Player Memorial Award. Mueller was as a second-team all-conference member in 2001, as well as an AVCA all-region selection. She earned a spot on the NCAA Division III championship all-tournament team and led Juniata in hitting percentage (.345) and blocking average (0.84) this past fall.

Sophomore Kim Allen (Susquehanna Township/Harrisburg) received the women's swimming most valuable competitor award for the second straight year. Allen placed first in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.74) at the MAC championship for the second straight year. She paced Juniata in first-place finishes (20), top-five showings (32) and total points (254.25). Senior guard Shane Crandall (North Allegheny/Doylestown) was given the Jack Oller '23 Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player Memorial Award for his performance in 2001-02. Crandall was a captain for Juniata this year and he completed this past season ranked first on the team in assists (56), three-pointers made (49) and was second on the squad in scoring average (13.6).

Sophomore opposite Javier Garcia (San Ignacio/Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) picked up the Mike Wojcik '87 most valuable men's volleyball player award. Garcia paced Juniata in total kills (294) and kill average (3.59), and he also had 85 digs, 55 blocks and 28 service aces on the year. He was also named to the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division III first team. Senior Ethan Gibbel (Warwick/Lititz) picked up the men's tennis most valuable player award. He posted a club-best 5-8 record on the doubles court this spring in Juniata's first varsity season since 1995. Senior pitcher Christie Matthews (South Williamsport/South Williamsport) copped the Judith Rodgers Pheasant '65 Most Valuable Softball Player honor for the first time in her career. She posted a personal-best record of 9-8 this spring with a 3.07 earned run average. Matthews also threw a team-best 105 innings, struck out 26 and tossed 13 complete games and one shutout.

In track and field, freshman Kira Troutman (Line Mountain/Valley View) was tabbed as the most valuable women's performer. All-around specialist, she has already qualified for the NCAA Division III championship in the javelin and has earned a spot in numerous events for the upcoming MAC championship slated for this weekend at Susquehanna. On the men's side, junior Dusty Lehr (Bermudian Springs/New Oxford) earned the J. Foster Gehrett '16 most valuable performer award. He has paced Juniata in the 110-meter hurdles, pole vault and high jump all year and earlier this spring he earned an automatic trip the NCAA Division III championship in the decathlon. He will compete for Juniata at this weekend's MAC championship as well.

Senior Julia Saylor (Williamsburg/Williamsburg) was picked as the outstanding cheerleader award winner. The award is in memory of Jill Muir Klingler '60.

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