Gordon in the News: last updated 05/13/2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT
Jo Kadlecek
Office of College Communications
978.867.4752
[email protected]
WENHAM, MA--Gordon College’s spring sports teams recently ended their seasons with a hard drive to the end. With the completion of baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, and track and field, Gordon athletes achieved many personal victories and team goals.
The baseball team ended with a season record of 9 wins, 21 losses and 1 tie. Their conference record was 8 wins, 14 losses as they went into this year’s Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) playoffs against New England College where they lost and ended their season. Coach John Ryan’s second season started with experienced players mixed with freshmen. At the beginning of the season, junior Andrew Zgrablich and sophomore Steve Myhren were named “Players to Watch” by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
Women’s softball had a season record of 10 wins, 25 losses. They ended the season with a conference record of 4 wins, 20 losses with a split win and loss against Western New England College. Junior center fielder Kim Levinsky was named CCC “Player of the Week” after an outstanding spring trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Men’s tennis ended their season with a record of 5 wins, 15 losses with a conference record of 2 wins, 7 losses making it to the quarterfinals of playoffs against Roger Williams but lost 9-0 in their first playoff appearance since 2004. Two of their players will graduate this May--Michael Larson and Daniel Hayner--who helped expand the tennis program during their three years on the team. The team also won the CCC Sportsmanship Award for the third consecutive year. “This was a solid season for our growing team because each player worked hard and improved. We were very competitive in every match, and received very high praise from fellow conference coaches about our vast improvement,” said Peter Amadon, men’s tennis coach.
Men’s lacrosse ended with a season record of 4 wins, 11 losses with a conference record of 4 wins, 5 losses. Seniors Andrew Kirkaldy--who had 27 goals and 12 assists this season--and Rob Knechtle--who had 55 ground balls this season--were both named Second Team All Conference by the CCC. Junior midfielders Danny Mack and Joel Derechinshy received CCC honorable mentions as Mack finished second with 23 goals and 14 assists and Derechinshy had 17 goals and 11 assists. Honorable mentions were awarded to attacker sophomore Jordan Macintosh who had 21 goals and sophomore Stuart Knechtle for long stick man as he piled up 136 ground balls.
Women’s lacrosse ended their season with a 6 win, 9 loss record and a conference record of 6 wins, 3 losses. Junior Katie Knaus was the third highest scorer in the league with 63 goals this season. Seniors Danielle Zorn, Annie Cameron and Kylie Hardin received Second Team Honors by the CCC and senior goalkeeper Chyanne Wilson was awarded an honorable mention.
Men’s track and field finished third in the CCC Championship. Freshman Aaron Noga led Gordon in scoring at the championship meet receiving 26 points in the javelin, setting a school record and getting a NCAA Division Three qualifying throw of 164’3. Freshman Marty Maloney contributed 24 points to the overall score by winning the 800 in a personal record of 2:00.14. Freshman Brian Holahan scored 16 points winning the 10,000 in 37:24.21. Holahan led a 1-2 finish with sophomore Andrew Worth placing second. The men’s 4 x 100 team--freshman Ben Hines, freshman Jeff Hwang, sophomore Jared Kulbako and senior Sean Lafferty--placed second and broke the school record with a New England qualifying time of 46:56. The 4 x 4 team--sophomore Frank Royce, freshman Marty Maloney, Andrew Pottorf, and senior J.D. Lavallee--ran a seasonal best and New England Qualifying time of 3:39:88. The team had a great record-setting season and J.D. Lavallee, captain, was named Gordon Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won the Presidential Student Servant Award.
Women’s track and field won their conference for the third consecutive year at the championship meet where they swept many events. Senior captain Sarah Loy led a 1-2-3-4 sweep in the 10,000 winning in a 48:22:07 time. Loy was followed by sophomore Izabela Wisniewska, junior Megan Hoffsis, and sophomore Whitney Dubie who all finished within a tenth of a second. Loy and Hoffsis qualified for New England’s Division three meet during this race. Freshman Ashley MacDonald won the shot put by a quarter of an inch on her final throw with a personal best of 31’2”. Freshman Kelcy Rich won the javelin with a school record and personal best of 113’6”.
Melissa Moul led a 1-2-3 sweep for Gordon by winning the 100 hurdles in a seasonal best. She was followed by sophomore Rebekah Frangipane and senior Tricia Chan. Senior Chrissy Scanlon helped Gordon out by placing first in the pole vault. Gordon won the 4 x 400 relay race with a New England qualifying time of 4:38:79. The team was made up of sophomore Shay Gestal, freshman Julie Eccleston, and freshman Mary Dornfeld. “This was exciting for us and a total team victory as every woman who competed scored today and performed well. I am so proud and blessed to coach these women,” said John Molvar, head track coach.
