Union College Athletics celebrated the careers of 81 senior student-athletes at the Fifth Annual Senior Appreciation Dinner. The event was held at Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia on May 18th.
The venue provided Jim McLaughlin '93, Union's new Director of Athletics, with a chance to speak to the outgoing seniors and give praise to retiring President Roger H. Hull, for his 15 years of service to the College. McLaughlin, both an alum and former student-athlete at Union, spoke about Union's true student-athletes, who strive to combine excellence in both the classroom and on the playing field. His remarks about the President included his care of Union athletics, and his hard work to improve Union's athletic facilities. President Hull provided his thoughts during the evening, along with the Presidential Award to the men's and women's teams with the highest grade-point average. The teams that received these awards for 2004-05 were the men's tennis team, with a 3.24 team GPA, and women's indoor track and field (3.34).
Bill Scanlon, the Associate Director of Athletics, served as Master of Ceremonies, and Head Athletic Trainer Cheryl Rockwood introduced the seniors as they were recognized during the evening. The slide show included a senior action presentation.
The evening also featured the presentation of the Directors Awards. Jim McLaughlin awarded swimmer Elliot Seguin the Student-Athlete of the Year Award, while Scott Felix, the Head Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Coach, was selected as the Coach of the Year.
Seguin became the fourth men's swimming & diving competitor in Union College history to win an individual national championship. He won the 100 freestyle at the 2005 NCAA Division III Championships at Hope College in Hope, Michigan, in front of his family and friends from nearby East Lansing. His time of 45.32 defeated the second place competitor by .42. Seguin became the men's program's 32nd All-American. The Mechanical Engineering major also won New York State titles in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, and was third in the 50 freestyle. His time of 45.17 in the 100 at the state meet shattered the Union and meet record for the event, that were both set in 1997.
Felix is in his fourth year as Aquatics Director and head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs. He guided both the 2004-05 men's and women's teams to the New York State Championships in the same season, the first time in school history that the teams combined to accomplish that feat. The men's swimming & diving team won their first New York State Championship since 1997-98 season, while the women won the state title for the first time since 1993-94. Felix sent two men's competitors to the NCAA Championships, Elliot Seguin and D.J Hogenkamp, and coached the program's fourth individual NCAA men's champion in Seguin.
Union College Athletics' 2004-05 season saw the end of many stellar careers and incredible records for this senior class. The women's soccer team won 19 games in 2004, and the seniors had 67 victories and three NCAA playoff appearances during their careers. The women's basketball seniors leave the campus with 99 victories during their run, and each of their four teams reached post-season. The men's basketball seniors took a #4 seed on the road in the Liberty League tournament, and won the title to advance to the NCAA's, where they won a first round game away from home. Men's ice hockey hosted the ECAC Hockey League playoffs and won a playoff game for the first time in 11 years. The women's lacrosse program won the Liberty League title at home and had 12 straight victories en route to an NCAA bid. Softball set a school record with 30 victories and had a #8 national ranking, the highest in program history. The softball seniors had 98 career wins, four post-season appearances, and two NCAA playoff trips.
This athletic season, Union athletes competed in the NCAA Championships in men's basketball, men's swimming, women's swimming, men's indoor track, softball and women's lacrosse, and ECAC post-season tournaments featured Union athletes in mens' soccer, women's soccer, women's basketball and women's crew (as well as the ECACHL in men's ice hockey).
Three Union seniors also wrapped up outstanding and memorable careers in garnet. Forward Brittany Cressman was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association/adidas National Team, becoming the first Dutchwoman to earn two All-American awards. Midfielder Molly Flanagan was the pre-season US Lacrosse Player of the Year and earned Liberty League Player of the Year honors. Flanagan earned All-American honors in each of her four seasons on the lacrosse team. She also is the all-time career leader in goals and points in Union women's lacrosse annals. Forward Jordan Webb wound up his ice hockey career as the program's all-time leader in goals and points in its Division I history.
The 2004-05 seniors were part of an historic time in Union athletic history, as they saw many new facilities during their careers. Frank Bailey Field featured renovations to the stands with a new press box, and Field Turf installation has begun. Achilles Center, now known as Frank Messa Rink at Achilles Center, featured updated locker rooms and expanded training facilities. Alexander Field was renovated for the softball program, while the addition of a second turf facility at College Park was installed. The Viniar Center, a hardwood court facility, opened in the fall. In fact, junior Erika Eisenhut has had the distinction of playing in three new facilities during the 2004-05 athletic year, as she played for the women's soccer, women's basketball and softball teams.
Union College congratulates the 81 senior student-athletes, and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.
Joe Andriano (football), Dan Archibald (crew), Frank Arcuri (baseball), Briana Bailey (soccer), Joel Beal (ice hockey), Matt Blabac (ice hockey), Elizabeth Blake (crew), Scott Bresney (lacrosse), Devon Bruce (basketball), Michael Carey (soccer), Joshua Carroll (football), Adam Chadwick (baseball), Kara Chylinski (track & field), Katie Chylinski (volleyball), Ashley Clark (volleyball), Sean Clifford (men's lacrosse), Brittany Cressman (soccer), Katlyn Cunningham (basketball), Carrie Dancy (crew), Tanya Davis (lacrosse), Chris DiStefano (ice hockey), Kathy Dolezal (lacrosse), Chrstina Duff (swimming & diving), Liz Flanagan (lacrosse), Mike Flanagan (baseball, football), Molly Flanagan (lacrosse, soccer), Carolyn Gabriel (track & field), John Gallagher (baseball), Susan Gestwick (volleyball), Drew Goldstein (tennis), Brian Griffin (football), Pete Gross (lacrosse), Dan Iozzia (football), Aaron Iskowitz (soccer), Pat Jenifer (football), Brian Kerr (ice hockey), Ed Larkin (football), Jamie Laubisch (ice hockey), Jessica Lawton (softball), Steve Layton (football), Mike Lentz (football), Mandon Lovett (football, indoor track & field), Eileen Lowry (basketball), Alyssa Maloney (ice hockey), Andy Manocchio (football), Jeff Marcoux (soccer), Melissa Marra (basketball), Laura Ashley Martin (crew), Jess Meliosky (volleyball), Ashley Merz (swimming & diving), Laura Morris (crew), Laura Mullen (swimming & diving), Chris Nappi (football), Chris Neal (soccer), Liz O'Connell (crew), Kevin O'Connor (soccer), T.J. Ramey, T.J. (basketball), Drew Rand (swimming & diving), Karyn Rautenberg (softball), Courtney Riepenhoff (ice hockey), Paul Rothenburg (football), Mike Sawyer (lacrosse), Jordan Schur (basketball), Andrew Schaeffer (track & field), Emily Scott (basketball), Gregg Scott (lacrosse), Elliott (swimming & diving), Andrew Shohet (tennis), Alexander Smith (football), Jesse Smith (football), Mike Sparico (lacrosse), Andrew Sparkes (swimming & diving), Sarah Steur (swimming & diving), Will Tamm (lacrosse), Matt Vagvolgyi (ice hockey), David VanHoute (crew), Grant VanDerBeken (swimming & diving), Meg Vercillo (tennis), Ali Waibel (cross country), Jordan Webb (ice hockey), Andy West (lacrosse) and Chris Wood (football).