September 2007 Sports Briefs

On March arch 29, 2006, while pitching a doubleheader for the Lions softball team against Muhlenberg College, Jess Kohut was hit in the face by a line drive traveling at nearly 90 mph. The injury sent her directly to the hospital and ended her season, but she courageously returned for the 2007 to play first base for the Lions. As a result of her comeback, Kohut was awarded the 2007 Honda Inspiration Award, given annually to an outstanding female college athlete who has overcome adversity to excel in her sport.

The board of the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards presented the award to Kohut in New York City at a special dinner in her honor on June 24. She was selected by the Honda Inspiration Award Committee from nominations submitted by NCAA-member schools in all three divisions.

A Hillsdale, NJ resident, Kohut will receive her diploma in December 2007 and plans on pursuing a teaching career. You can read more about her amazing comeback in the November 2007 issue of TCNJ Magazine.

• The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) released the final standings for the United States Sports Academy Directors’ Cup race for Division III for the 2006-2007 academic year. The 2006-07 winners were recognized at the 42nd Annual NACDA Convention in Orlando on June 9. TCNJ took home sixth place with 793 points.
• The women' lacrosse program is featured on the college section of ESPN.com in the latest in a series of highlighting very successful college programs from around the country.  You can read the story here:  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2955961
• Sharon Pfluger, head coach of the women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams, was nominated to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame by the US Lacrosse Board of Directors. Pfluger and the rest of this year’s class will be inducted at a ceremony on November 10 at The Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, MD.
• John Castaldo, interim athletics director, announced the appointment of Matt Hunter as the interim men’s basketball coach at the College. Hunter replaces Castaldo, who stepped down as coach in order to fulfill the his responsibilities as athletics director. Hunter said of the appointment, “I am looking forward to serving the College in this capacity for the upcoming year.” Hunter continued by saying, “Joining the outstanding group of coaches at TCNJ and their tradition of excellence is an exciting opportunity. I am extremely eager to begin working with our returning and recruited players in all aspects of their development as students and athletes.” A seasoned veteran on the Lions’ bench, Hunter is in his third year at TCNJ.
• John Castaldo also announced the appointment of Dean Glus as the interim baseball coach at the College. Glus replaces Rick Dell, who resigned to accept a position with Major League Baseball in July. Glus said of his selection, “I am extremely honored and privileged to be able to follow in Rick Dell’s footsteps and look forward to this opportunity to continue the baseball program on a nationally competitive level.” Glus also noted, “I’m proud to have been part of TCNJ national prominence over the last 16 years and fully intend to keep the program on that level. Having been part of the athletic department for the last 17 years, in different capacities, it’s an honor to be part of a group of head coaches that represent the College with class, respect, and integrity. I also want to thank John Castaldo and Jim Norfleet, vice president of student affairs, for giving me this opportunity and honor to continue the success of our student-athletes here at TCNJ, not only on the field but equally as important, in the classroom as well.” No stranger to TCNJ’s baseball program and TCNJ’s department of athletics, Glus enters his 17th season with the College this fall after serving as the baseball program’s assistant coach for the past 16 years. In addition to his role as TCNJ’s baseball assistant coach, Glus was tapped as the College’s director of athletic and recreational facilities and scheduling after the retirement of Frank Harris in the spring of 2006.

2006-07 TCNJ All-Americans

TCNJ celebrated another successful athletic campaign for the 2006-2007 academic year as 31 Student-Athletes combined to earn 46 All-America citations last year.

Field Hockey
Jess Berkowitz, Second Team
Meg Hess, Second Team
Allison Greene, Second Team

Women’s Soccer
Courtney Krol, First Team
Dana DiBruno, Second Team

Men’s Cross Country
Brian Kopnicki, 21st Place
Chris Guerriero, 35th Place

Women’s Swimming and Diving
Lee Swanson, 3M Diving (15th), 1M (15th)
Ava Kiss, 100 Fly (9th)

Men’s Swimming and Diving
Josh Forsman, 100 Fly (15th); 200 Medley Relay (7th), 400 Medley Relay (10th), 400 Freestyle  Relay (12th), 800 Freestyle Relay (15th)
Liam Gallagher, 400 Freestyle Relay (12th), 800 Freestyle Relay (15th)
Kyle King, 200 Medley Relay (7th), 400 Medley Relay (10th), 400 Freestyle Relay (12th), 800 Freestyle Relay (15th)
Greg Lloyd, 1 Meter Diving (6th)
Myles O’Connor, 200 Medley Relay (7th), 400 Medley Relay (10th)
Kevin Oliver, 200 Medley Relay (7th)
Tom Nawrot, 400 Freestyle Relay (12th), 800 Freestyle Relay (15th)

Wrestling
Joe Galante, Second at 157 Pounds
Mike Guenther, Second at 165 Pounds
Tyler Branham, Eighth at 141 Pounds

Baseball
Gerard Haran, ABCA First Team
Jeffrey Toth, ABCA Third Team

Women’s Tennis
Christina Contrafatto, Fifth at ITA Doubles
Jackie Shtemberg, Fifth at ITA Doubles and Sixth in Singles

Women’s Indoor Track and Field
Stephanie Herrick, Sixth in the 800 Meters

Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Brian Kopnicki, Seventh in One Mile Run, Seventh in DMR
Rob McGowan, Seventh in DMR
Matt Randal, Seventh in DMR
Chris Guerriero, Seventh in DMR

Women’s Lacrosse
Toni-Anne Cavallo, IWLCA/US Lacrosse First Team
Karen Doane, IWLCA/US Lacrosse First Team

Men’s OutdoorTrack and Field
Jeff Zodda, Second in 800 Meters

Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
Stephanie Herrick, Fifth in 800 Meters
Jessica Bonelli, Seventh in the 400 Meters