(Posted April 30, 2001)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- A total of Juniata College 20 student-athletes were honored at the fifrth Mailand McIlroy Athletics Awards Banquet on Sunday evening held in 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. Director of Athletics Larry Bock announced the team most valuable player award winners, while Joe Scialabba '86 called upon the recipients of the "Big Five" senior awards (Stanford Mickle, Charles Bargerstock, Carolyn Stambaugh, William R. Smaltz and John E. Blood).

Senior Kathy McCann (Bishop McDevitt/Glenside) was presented the Dr. Thomas Robinson '66 most valuable field hockey plaque for the first time in her career and she was also bestowed the Carolyn Stambaugh Memorial Award for her strong leadership role on the playing surface and her solid academic credentials. McCann was the senior captain on the field hockey team this past fall and she was a four-year member of the program. In the 2000 season, she tallied two goals and she finished her career with 13 points.

Senior Nathan Hager (Franklin/Franklin) was presented the William R. Smaltz Award for his excellence in the classroom and on the playing field. He was also given the Jack Oller ‘23 Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player Memorial Award for his performance in 2000-01. Hager was a two-year captain for Juniata and he completed this past season ranked first on the team in assists (62), third on the squad in scoring average (11.0) and second on the unit in three-pointers made (30).

Senior Matt Eisenberg (Big Spring/Newville), 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. In addition, he was tabbed as the Dr. J. Harold Engle ’23 (memorial) most valuable back for his football performance in 2000. Eisenberg will go down as one of the greatest gridiron players ever at Juniata. He ranks first on the career receiving charts in yardage (3,500) and touchdown receptions (38). He holds numerous college, conference and NCAA Division III receiving records and was a first-team all-American during his tenure. On the baseball field, the lead-off hitting center fielder owns a career batting average of .348 heading into the post-season. He has been a two-time first-team all-conference pick on the diamond.

Senior Kristy Wagner (Dover/Dover), a member of the women’s track and field team 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. This spring she owns the top Eagle efforts on the women's side of competition in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (1:09.23), triple jump (34-5) and long jump (15-8 3/4). In addition, Wagner has been a member of the school record holding relay units in the 4x100 (50.93 - set in 2000) and 4x400 (4:10.90 - set in 1998). She will lead the Eagles into the Middle Atlantic Conference championship at Messiah this Friday and Saturday.

Senior Colin Gillen (Eastern Lebanon County/Newmanstown) was 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. He was a two-year starter at guard on the blue and gold offensive line and he helped the Eagles rank in the top three in passing yards per game in the MAC over the past three seasons. In addition, Gillen was part of a blocking unit that established an MAC single-game total offensive yardage mark of 711 yards at Widener in 1999.
Senior defensive tackle Jeremy Patterson (Danville/Danville) 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 was selected as a first-team Commonwealth all-star as well as a regional all-American. Patterson led all of the linemen on the unit in tackles with 68 and he second on the club in quarterback sacks (7.5) and tackles for lost yardage (19). His younger sister, Sarah Patterson (Danville/Danville), a freshman catcher, copped the Judith Rodgers Pheasant ‘65 Most Valuable Softball Player honor. She hit .329 this past season with 24 hits during 73 at-bats from her clean-up spot in the batting order. She finished second on the team in RBI (11) and also roped four doubles.

Senior midfielder Todd Fabian (Manheim Township/Lancaster), who tallied three goals and a team-best five assists for Juniata this past season, picked up the Fran Zimmerman ‘54 most valuable men’s soccer memorial award. He was also a Commonwealth Conference all-star for the third straight year. Senior Victoria Hilosky (Great Valley/Malvern) was selected as the winner of the J.M. Haskell '65 women's tennis most valuable player award. Hilosky posted a 7-5 singles record and a 6-4 doubles mark for an overall record of 13-9 during the 2000 season and she finished her career with 40 overall victories. Sophomore midfielder Megan McElroy (Acad. of the Holy Cross/Silver Spring, MD) copped the women's soccer most valuable player award. She recorded four goals for Juniata in 2000 to tie for the team lead in net-finders. They were the initial four goals of her collegiate tenure.

Freshman 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 down the stretch and she placed first among the Eagles at the MAC Championship (17th - 20:25.20) and the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional (67th - 20:45.40). Senior Scott Hobbie (The Hill School/Duncannon) earned the C. Clifford Brown '29 most valuable player award. He helped set the pace for the blue and gold harriers all season long and recorded a season's-best time of 29:51.22 at the MAC Championship. Junior outside hitter Brandy Workinger (Dallastown/Dallastown) picked up the Arthur Evans Most Valuable Women’s Volleyball Player Memorial Award. Workinger was a first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) all-American this past fall and led the Eagles in kills with a school record (739), kill average (4.93), digs (698), dig average (4.59) and hitting percentage (.340). She was also the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year.

Freshman Kim Allen (Susquehanna Township/Harrisburg) became the third consecutive freshman to receive the women's swimming most valuable competitor award. This past winter, Allen became the first-ever student-athlet at Juniata to earn swimming all-American honors when she placed 11th in the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Division III Championship in early March. In addition, she helped Juniata post its highest finish ever (fourth) at the MAC Championship by taking the individual titles in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events. Junior Brandy Preslovich (Bald Eagle Area/Moshannon) earned the Gayle Wampler Pollock '68 most valuable women's basketball player award for the first time in her career. She led the Eagles in scoring average (16.5) and rebounds per game (8.3) this past fall while shooting .477 from the field and .758 from the foul line. She was also named a Commonwealth Conference first-team all-star.

Junior first baseman Tim Dobson (Millville/Millville, NJ) was named the squad’s most valuable player, which is an donated by Charles Goodale ’39. Dobson owns a personal-best .385 batting average heading into this week's Commonwealth Conference post-season tournament. He leads the club in 10 offensive categories, including RBI (32), doubles (10), triples (4), home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.760). Sophomore libero Ryan Jackson (Cochranton/Cochranton) picked up the Mike Wojcik '87 most valuable men's volleyball player award. Jackson paced Juniata in total digs (239) and dig average (2.34), while playing in 102 out of 104 possible games. He was also named to the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division III second-team.

In track and field, junior Jessica Sprankle (Tyrone/Tyrone) was tabbed as the most valuable women's performer for the first time in her career. A hurdling and sprinting specialist, she has qualified for the MAC championship in numerous events and the outing is slated for this Friday and Saturday at Messiah. She owns the club's top effort in the 100-meter high hurdles this spring (16.47) and is a key member on both the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay units. On the men's side, senior John Creuzberger (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) earned the J. Foster Gehrett '16 most valuable performer award. He has paced Juniata in the shot put, discus and hammer throw all year and will look to rewrite the conference record books this coming weekend when he returns to the MAC championship in search of his fourth straight individual crown in the shot put.

Sophomore Lisa Bolig (Souderton Area/Telford) was picked as the outstanding cheerleader award winner. The award is in memory of Jill Muir Klingler ‘60.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.