The All-Academic honor rewards varsity student-athletes who attain a grade-point average of 3.2 or higher during their season of competition.  The Fall All-Academic Team encompasses student-athletes who participated in the sports of men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, women's tennis, women's volleyball, and field hockey.

"This recognition is well deserved for each one of these student-athletes," said CSAC Interim Commissioner Jennifer Dubow.  "They have all assumed leadership roles on their campuses by demonstrating that a complete education includes both academics and athletics.  Being able to perform at such a high level academically while competing athletically is truly a testament to all of these young men and women."

Of these honorees, 39 were First Team All-CSAC selections in their sport, while 38 were Second Team picks and 40 were Honorable Mention selections.  In addition, 47 were named to the All-Sportsmanship Team in their respective sports.

Also noteworthy is that the Athlete of the Year in all seven CSAC fall sports received All-Academic laurels, including men's soccer Co-Players of the Year Ryan Jones (Marywood) and Andrew Leissing (Neumann), women's soccer Player of the Year Brittany Overland (Andover, N.J./Newton), women's tennis Player of the Year Rachel Fein (Gwynedd-Mercy), field hockey Player of the Year Lauren Alessi (Cabrini), volleyball Player of the Year Jelena Markovic (Centenary), and CSAC cross-country champions Katherine Klinges and Matt VanDenHengel, both of Gwynedd-Mercy.

Centenary College CSAC All-Academic Team Recipients

The recipients of the FAR/FAB Scholar Athlete Recognition Awards for the Fall 2011 season are members of the Cyclones volleyball, women’s cross country, and women’s soccer teams. The Volleyball team that returned to the CSAC Tournament this year had three teammates receive this honor including seniors Kelsey Walter and Devon Paffendorf as well as junior Jelena Markovic. Markovic, who was named the Colonial States Athletic Conference Player of the Year for her on-court performance, now receives recognition for her efforts in the classroom.

Head Volleyball Coach Dinu Dan expressed pride in his young women saying, “I am proud of the emphasis these ladies put forth. Their stellar academic and athletic performance is great representation for Centenary.”

Joining the three volleyball team members are seniors Chelsea Gummerson and Kelly Nielsen of the women’s cross country team and senior Mary Anderson of the women’s soccer team.

J.J. Cusick, Head Cross Country Coach acknowledges the achievements of Gummerson and Nielsen stating, “Kelly and Chelsea have demonstrated great responsibility by excelling academically over the last four years while competing in collegiate athletics.”

Kevin Davies, Head Women’s Soccer Coach is also pleased the dedication of one of his players is being recognized.

“Since joining the team two years ago, Mary has worked as hard, if not harder on her game than anyone. As well as working hard on the soccer field, Mary has the same work ethic in the classroom.” Davies gives additional praise stating, “I could not find a better person to receive this award.”

The FAR/FAB Scholar Athlete Recognition Award recipients were nominated by their individual coaches and had to meet specific criteria. Nominees must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, be nominated by their coach by the 15th of the month that their season concludes, and demonstrate strong academic commitment, team representation, and additional commitment to the college.

All FAR/FAB Scholar Athlete Recognition Award recipients will be honored at the athletic banquet which will be held in early May.

Women's ECAC Results

Men's ECAC Results

Senior Chelsea Gummerson (Newton, N.J./Kittatinny) crossed the finish line first for the Cyclones women’s team, finishing 41st overall out of 82 racers representing all CSAC schools. Gummerson finished the 6K race in 25:23. As a team, Centenary finished seventh out of the 11 schools. Finishing just after Gummerson, was freshman teammate Carolyn LaRue (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) posting a time of 25:29. Sophomores Shawnee Smith (Phillipsburg, N.J./Belvidere) and Shawana Bryan (Irvington, N.J./Irvington) finished next for Centenary with times of 26:22 and 26:26 respectively.

Marywood University won the CSAC Championships posting a team score of 22. Gwynedd-Mercy College placed second, with Philadelphia Biblical University taking third. Centenary posted a final team score of 183.

The men’s team lined up against eight other CSAC schools in an 8K race for their final event of the year. Sophomore Rob Ambrose (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) led the Cyclones with a time of 31:50, earning him 25th place overall in the 68 participant field. Freshman Anthony LaManna (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) posted a time of 32:50, good for 35th overall. Senior Gary Kowaleski (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) finished with a time of 37:53 and sophomore Justin Theriault (Succasanna, N.J./Ruxbury) recorded a 39:21 time for the Cyclones.

Centenary finished the CSAC Championships with a score of 210, while the winner, Gwynedd-Mercy College posted a 15. Marywood was a distant second place winner with a score of 51, followed by the host school, Keystone College finishing with 82.

Men's Results

Women's Results

Men's Results

Women's Results

Freshman Carolyn LaRue (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) led the Lady Cyclones with a time of 24:55 in the 5K race. Sophomore Shawnee Smith (Phillipsburg, N.J./Belvidere) crossed the finish line in 26:25, sophomore Shawna Bryan (Irvington, N.J./Irvington) recorded a time of 27:08 and fellow classmate Kelly Pascarella (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) ran the race in 27:28. Junior Kelly Nielsen (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) finished in 33:38.

For the men’s team, freshman Anthony LaManna (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) placed 23rd out of 131 with a time of 31:28 in the 8K race. Sophomore Rob Ambrose (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) was close behind with a time of 32:46, good for 43rd-place. Senior Gary Kowaleski (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) recorded a time of 36:17 and sophomore Justin Theriault (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury), freshman Denzel Henderson (East Orange, N.J./Cicely L. Tyson), freshman Alex Eliopoulos (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn), senior Erik Hoagland (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) and sophomore Juan Arias (North Bergen, N.J./Queen of Peace) all competed for the Cyclones.

Centenary returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, with the DeSales Invitational.

LaManna earned Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Runner of the Week honors after placing 12th out of 44 runners in the Mules/Falcon Cross Country Invitational, Saturday on the campus of Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa. He ran the 6K race in 22:01.4, averaging approximately 5:54 per mile. The freshman has led the team in each of its two races this season.

Paffendorf guided the volleyball team to a 2-1 week, including 2-0 in conference play. She posted 22 kills and a 39.1 attack percentage in the two CSAC matches as Centenary swept both Rosemont and Notre Dame (Md.).

This five kilometer (3.1 miles) run consists of 2 loops. The race starts and finishes at Alumni Field and travels through the woods into Riverfront Park. The surface of the course is flat, mostly pavement and fine gravel with a few sections of grass.

The cost to enter the race is $10 if registered by April 26 and $20 after April 26 and on Race Day. Centenary students will be charged just $5 and valid College identification is required to register on Race Day. All proceeds will benefit the Centenary Cross Country team.

Interested participants should mail in the completed forms and entry fees to:
J.J. Cusick
Centenary College Cross Country
400 Jefferson Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840

For more information contact Coach Cusick at cusickj@centenarycollege.edu or 908-852 1400 ext. 2297

Centenary Cross Country 5K Flyer

Centenary Cross Country 5K Registration Form 

Waiver Of Liability Form