PSAC Releases 2019 Spring Top 10 Honorees
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is pleased to announce its Spring 2019 Top 10 Award recipients, chosen and voted on by the league’s sports information directors. The PSAC Top 10 Awards are designed to recognize student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and in athletic competition.
Initiated in the 1997-98 academic year, the Top 10 is given to five males and five females in each athletic season; fall, winter and spring.
The Spring 2019 award winners are West Chester’s Sami Barnett, Mansfield’s Ryan Clifford, IUP’s Matt Cocorikis, Shippensburg’s Jack Goertzen, Kutztown’s Tamara Jennings, West Chester’s Emily Maseth, West Chester’s Jared Melone, IUP’s Derek Noll, Lock Haven’s Bekah Slattery, Shippensburg’s Abby Wagner.
Melone and Barrett are two-time recipients while Wagner was named a 2018-19 Winter Top 10 honoree.
 |
Sami Barnett (Glenolden, Pa. / Interboro), West Chester
Women's Lacrosse - Senior
Major: Nursing
Cumulative GPA: 3.827
IWLCA 2nd Team All-America … IWLCA 1st Team All-Atlantic Region … Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area … First Team All-PSAC … PSAC Tournament MVP … selected to participate in IWLCA Senior game ... led West Chester in goals scored (60) and points (78) … finished second on team in draw controls (65) … helped West Chester to PSAC title, Atlantic Region title and a spot in the National Championship Game … finishes ninth all-time in school history in goals scored with 177. |
 |
Ryan Clifford (Seaford, N.Y. / MacArthur), Mansfield
Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Senior
Major: Criminal Justice
Cumulative GPA: 3.854
Clifford pulled of an incredible triple at the PSAC Outdoor Championships, claiming All-PSAC during each of the three days of competition. He finished third in the 10K on Thursday, was PSAC Champion in the 3K steeplechase on Friday, and took third in the 5K on Saturday. He picked up three more All-Region nods with the second fastest steeplechase at 9:25, the third fastest 5K at 14:38.13, and the fifth fastest 10K at 31:05 in the region. Clifford registered the highest individual placing in program history at the PSAC Cross Country Championships with a runner-up finish. He followed that effort by placing fourth at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships to qualify for the National Championship meet. Clifford was just the fourth Mansfield runner to compete at the NCAA National Championships. During the indoor season, Clifford clocked the fastest 5K in the PSAC and third fastest in the Atlantic Region at 14:58 to earn All-Region status in the event. Clifford also owned the fourth fastest 3K at 8:43 and the seventh fastest mile at 4:24. The senior raced to All-PSAC honors at the PSAC Indoor Championships with runner-up finishes in the 3K and 5K. Google Cloud Academic All-District; All-PSAC honors at every day of the PSAC Indoor Championships with runner-up finishes in the 3K and 5K; Claimed All-PSAC honors during each of the three days of competition at the PSAC Outdoor Championships - finished third in the 10K, was PSAC Champion in the 3K steeplechase, and took third in the 5K; Collected three All-Region nods with the second fastest steeplechase at 9:25, the third fastest 5K at 14:38.13, and the fifth fastest 10K at 31:05 in the region; PSAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week (1/22/2019); All-Atlantic Regional honors; School record for 10K (31:05.76); Dean’s List (5x), President’s List; Selected by the Mansfield University Criminal Justice Administration Department as a nominee for Outstanding Senior |
 |
Matt Cocorikis (Monroe Twp, N.J. / Monroe Twp.), IUP
Men's Golf - Senior
Major: Accounting
Cumulative GPA: 3.51
PSAC Men’s Golfer of the Year … PING Division II All-Atlantic Region Team … No. 1-ranked player in Atlantic Region (Golfstat) … Led region in scoring average (73.50) and average score vs. par (+1.86) … Won four tournaments, the most by an IUP golfer since former All-American and national champion Gavin Smith won five in 2009-10 … Won three straight tournaments in the spring, tying a program record … Finished in the top-5 seven times in 10 events … Eight of his 22 rounds came at or below par … Posted low round of 68 … Had three rounds of 69 … Owned eight of IUP’s top 10 individual rounds on the year... 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District At-Large Team … Two-time Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar (2018, 2019) … Two-time PING All-Atlantic Region (2018, 2019) … Two-time All-PSAC (2018, 2019) … Career 75.39 stroke average is fifth lowest by an IUP golfer since 2007 … Seven top-5 finishes (in a season) is tied for second most by an IUP golfer since 2007. |
 |
Jack Goertzen (Salisbury, Md. / Parkside), Shippensburg
Baseball - Senior
Major: Biology (Pre-Dentistry) Minor: Business
Cumulative GPA: 3.85
2019 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team (first SU baseball player named to the Academic All-America® First Team since Tut Bailey in 1995)…2019 All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team…tied for second in the league with a career-high 13 home runs, five more than his three-year career total entering his senior season…produced single-season career highs with 32 RBIs, 37 runs and a .609 slugging percentage while also recording seven doubles and 22 walks…finished the year with 14 multi-hit games (including six three-hit games) and 10 multi-RBI games…hit six of his home runs came against PSAC Eastern Division opponents...3-time Academic All-District honoree (2017-19)...in 190 career games as a Raider, Goertzen hit .291 with 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, 34 doubles and 108 runs scored...totaled 169 career hits, drew 79 walks, and compiled a .382 career on-base percentage (OBP)...outside of his sport and the classroom. Goertzen served Shippensburg University as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and as a representative for the Student Government Association (SGA). |
 |
Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa. / Nazareth Academy), Kutztown
Softball - Senior
Major: Computer Science
Cumulative GPA: 3.89
.416 batting average (72-for-173), 50 runs scored, 13 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 51 RBI, 14 SB ... .458 on base %, .647 slugging %, .981 fielding % ... Top five in the PSAC in sacrifice flies (1st, 8), RBIs (3rd), runs scored (4th), hits (4th) ... Also top 10 in the PSAC in batting avg (9th), slugging % (9th), stolen bases (9th) and at-bats (10th) ... All-PSAC East (2019) ... NFCA All-Atlantic Region First Team (2019) ... D2CCA All-Atlantic Region First Team (2019) ... D2CCA All-America Honorable Mention (2019) ... Google Cloud Academic All-America Third Team (2019) ... Google Cloud Academic All-District First Team (2019) ... Graduated summa cum laude in May and is beginning the 5th-year computer science/information technology combined B.S./M.S. program at KU this fall ... Kutztown University Honors Program Award (2019) ... Kutztown University Computer Science/Information Technology Award (2019) ... Expected 4x PSAC Scholar-Athlete ... Expected 3x NFCA Scholar-Athlete ... 2017 KU Softball Coaches Award recipient ... Softball Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative |
 |
Emily Maseth (Westminster, Md. / Westminster), West Chester
Softball - Junior
Major: Pre-Physical Therapy
Cumulative GPA: 4.00
PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Selection ... CoSIDA Google Cloud First Team Academic All-America Selection ... First Team All-PSAC East Selection ... First Team All-ECAC ... ECAC DII Softball Player of Month for March ... Two-time PSAC East Athlete of the Week ... Ended season leading team in batting average (.395), hits (83), and doubles (22) ... Also registered five triples and four home runs ... Scored 55 runs and drove in 62 runs ... Registered a .605 slugging percentage and a .451 on base percentage ... Ended junior season (2018-19) second in single-season team history in doubles with 22 ... Ended 2018-19 season two hits shy of single-season hit record (85) currently held by Bri Garber ... Became third player in team history to hit a home run in the National Finals during WCU’s comeback victory over UC San Diego. |
 |
Jared Melone (North Wales, Pa. / North Penn), West Chester
Baseball - Senior
Major: Accounting/Finance
Cumulative GPA: 3.867
Led PSAC with 20 doubles, 784 slugging percentage and a .520 on-base percentage...Finished second in the league with 71 hits and 127 total bases...Ranked fourth in NCAA DII with a .438 batting average...2X First Team Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-America (First multiple-timer winner in program history)...2X First Team American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-American (first multiple-time winner in program history)...2019 D2CCA First Team All-American...2X PSAC East Athlete of the Year... 2X Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Atlantic Region Player of the Year...2X National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region Player of the Year...2X ABCA/Rawlings Atlantic Region Player of the Year...2X Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Baseball Performer of the Year...Led NCAA DII with a .469 batting average in 2018... .420 career batting average, 28 home runs, .681 slugging percentage, and .477 career on-base percentage are all the second highest marks by a West Chester player in program history...Third in program history with 167 career RBI and his 233 hits, 149 runs scored, and 378 total bases are all amongst the best totals in WCU history...Started in all 150 games during his three-year career at West Chester. |
 |
Derek Noll (Harrisburg, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt), IUP
Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Senior
Major: Criminology
Cumulative GPA: 3.71
First team All-American in 800 meters at 2019 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships … PSAC outdoor champion in 800 meters with time of 1:52.26 … Ranked second in Atlantic Region in the 800 with personal best 1:50.35 … Ran PR at LHU Qualifier in May, breaking stadium record … Responsible for 23 of IUP’s 61 points at PSAC Outdoor Championships … Won the 800 in three of the five meets he competed in this spring, including Oliver Nikoloff Open, LHU Qualifier and PSAC Championships … Also won 400 meters and 4x400 relay at SRU Open … During the winter, won 800 and 4x800 at PSAC indoor championships … Earned indoor all-region honors in 800 ... USTFCCCA All-Academic Team …Three-time All-Atlantic Region – 800 indoor, 800 outdoor, Distance Medley Relay indoor … Four-time PSAC Champion – 4x800 (twice), 800 meters (twice) … Won 17 events during career, including 11 during senior indoor and outdoor seasons … All-American honor as a senior was the first in his career |
 |
Bekah Slattery (Douglasville, Pa. / Daniel Boone), Lock Haven
Softball - Senior
Major: Sport Science (UG: Sports Administration Accelerated Program)
Cumulative GPA: 3.744 (UG: 3.50)
Led LHU on remarkable postseason run … Led LHU to 2019 PSAC Tournament Championship and into NCAA Tournament … 2019 Region Pitcher of the Year … 2019 PSAC Central Pitcher of the Year … Named to two different All-American Teams … Her 316 strikeouts on the season (No. 3 all-time at LHU for single season behind Hall of Famer Kristin Erb) led PSAC and ranked No. 3 in NCAA DII … 1.49 ERA was No. 18 in D2 … 6 saves No. 3 in D2 … No. 10 D2 in K/BB ratio (6.87) … No. 7 D2 in Ks/7inn. (9.8) … 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-America Selection (Third Team) … Earned a spot on the 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II All-America Second Team (at-large pitcher) and she grabbed a spot on the 2019 D2CCA DII All-Ameircan Third Team at pitcher … 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District Team … She was one of two pitchers named to the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Atlantic Region First Team, she was named the D2CCA Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year and she earned First Team D2CCA Atlantic Region honors … Slattery was named the PSAC Central Pitcher of the Year and earned First Team honors from the conference as well … 3-1 at PSAC Tournament on way to the team title … Named 2019 PSAC Tournament MVP … Named LHU’s 2019 Most Outstanding Female Senior Student-Athlete (Charlotte E. Smith Award) … 2019 Preseason All-American … Nominated for 2019 Preseason Player of the Year Watch List ... 3X PSAC Central Pitcher of the Year … 4X All-PSAC Central selection … 3X All-Region pick … 2019 Region Pitcher of the Year … All-American … Slattery's 856 career strikeouts sit behind only Hall of Famer Kristin Erb at LHU, and she's No. 6 all-time in PSAC history. |
 |
Abby Wagner (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area), Shippensburg
Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Senior
Major: Exercise Science
Cumulative GPA: 3.83
2018-19 Shippensburg University Women's Student-Athlete of the Year…2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District (All-America will be announced after this submission is due)…2019 USTFCCCA All-America Second Team honors in the triple jump (11th, 40-4 [12.29m])…recorded collegiate best of 41-8.5 (12.71m) at Richmond's Fred Hardy Invitational, one of the Top 10 marks in the nation…missed PSACs due to injury ... 2018-19 PSAC Winter Top 10...2-time CoSIDA Academic All-District (2018-19)...4-time NCAA All-American in triple jump (OUTDOORS: 11th in 2019, 8th in 2018, 7th in 2017; INDOORS: 6th in 2019)...one of just 16 two-time First Team All-Americans in SU women's outdoor track & field history, and one of just two in the triple jump along with Raider Hall of Famer Tunisia Lacy Lumpkin. 2019 INDOORS: Became SU's first-ever indoor triple jump All-American by placing sixth at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a lifetime-best, school-record mark of 41 feet, 1 ½ inches (12.53 meters). She also won the 2019 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship in the triple jump with a victorious meet-record mark of 39 feet, 10 inches. She also finished sixth in the long jump at the PSAC Championships, posting her best mark (17 feet, 9 ½ inches) on her final attempt. |
To be a candidate for the PSAC Top 10 Awards, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and must be a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials for their respective team. The spring sports eligible for consideration for the Spring Top 10 Awards are men’s and women’s tennis, women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field.
At the conclusion of the academic year, all Top 10 Award winners from each season are eligible for the PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards, given to one male and one female candidate. The Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards will be announced Wednesday, July 10.