Table of Contents
Centenary College Athletics Our Athletic Philosophy
Every coach’s mission is to provide the student-athlete with a competitive program and the opportunity to achieve excellence individually or as part of a team. The phrase “the teaching coach,” committed to the students, best describes our philosophy while maintaining a strong academic profile.
General Information Table of Contents Athletics Information Media Information Administrative Staff Athletic Training/Conditioning
1 2 3 4 5
2012 Cross Country Team Info Head Coach J.J. Cusick Season Preview 2013 Schedule 2013 Rosters
6 7-8 9 10 11
2013 Player Information Returners 12-14 Newcomers 15-18 History Notable Achievements Top Times Other Information Athletic Turf Fund
19 20 21
Centenary College Mission Statement Centenary College is a community of learners distinguished by a diverse student body, a dedicated faculty and staff, and stimulating educational opportunities. Centenary College is committed to a quality liberal arts and career studies education with a substantial international dimension to engage students in learning and prepare them for satisfying careers, successful lives, community service and lifelong intellectual pursuits.
As coaches, we serve as both educators and leaders. Centenary’s goal is to maximize the human potential of our student-athletes. Our holistic approach stresses the fundamentals of the games we play as well as the values of responsibility, discipline, and commitment. We know that these principles will translate into victories, but more importantly, they will develop young people with character. Those who compete and graduate become true champions, for they will understand what it means to be committed to excellence.
About Our Athletic Program
At Centenary College we nurture and encourage true competitive integrity. Our school adheres to a strict code of conduct from the recruiting process all the way to the NCAA Championships. Our coaches, administrators and staff members all take an active role in monitoring and insuring our compliance with all NCAA, Conference and College regulations. Centenary sponsors 13 men’s and women’s teams at the Division III level, and our athletic department continues to grow. We remain committed to developing our athletic department into one of the best small-college programs in the country. With the help of our dedicated coaches, staff and student-athletes we can see that dream come to reality. As a student-athlete, we will ask you to represent the College’s intercollegiate athletics program both on and off the field with integrity, professionalism and competitiveness. During your years at Centenary, you will be asked to make sacrifices, but these sacrifices will be well rewarded by relationships and memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Administrative Staff
Media Information Note to the Media:
The Centenary College Athletic Department welcomes all members of the press and other media outlets to attend any and all athletic events. Please contact the Sports Information Office at least 24 hours prior to any athletic event for information and access to the event.
Interview Policies
All interviews with any student-athletes or coaches must be arranged through the Sports Information office. Please send any interview requests directly to the Sports Information office with at least 24 hours notice. The media relations staff will work with the student-athlete to find a time that is mutually convenient for both the student-athlete and the media representative.
Post-Game Information
The Centenary College Sports Information will provide all press releases, box scores, and statistics online at www.centenarycyclones.com. Fans and media outlets can also sign up for sport-specific news updates at www.centenarycyclones.com/news.
Credits
The 2013 Cross Country Media Guide was written, designed, and edited by the Sports Information Office at Centenary College. All photos are courtesy of Centenary College Athletics and Lors Studio Photography.
Quick Facts General Information
Location...........................................Hackettstown, N.J. Founded................................................................1867 Enrollment............................................................2,694 Colors............................................Navy Blue and Gray Nickname........................................................Cyclones Affiliation............................................NCAA Division III Conferences.........Colonial States Athletic Conference ............................Eastern College Athletic Conference President.......................Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite Athletic Director.................................Billie Jo Blackwell
Director of Athletics Billie Jo Blackwell
Associate Athletic Director Josh Huber
Athletic Academic Advisor/SWA Iris Correa
Assistant to the Director of Athletics J.J. Cusick
Athletics Facility Manager Dinu Dan
Head Athletic Trainer Dana Baffuto
Associate Athletic Trainer Kevin Davies
Assistant Athletic Trainer Eddie Giroux
Contact Information
School Phone Directory........................(908)-852-1400 Athletic Department.............................................x2297 Athletic Department Fax.......................(908)-813-8295 Office of Admissions............................................x2217 College Website.................www.centenarycollege.edu Athletics Website.............www.centenarycyclones.com Athletics E-Mail..........athletics@centenarycollege.edu
Athletic Communications
Sports Information Director.....................Jeff Scarpone Office Phone..............................(908)-852-1400 x2296 Cell Phone............................................(484)-620-6346 E-Mail.......................scarponej@centenarycollege.edu
Social Media Information
Facebook..........................Centenary College Athletics Instagram.........................................CentCyclones_NJ Twitter...........................................@CentCyclones_NJ YouTube......................................CentenaryNJAthletics
Athletics Equipment Manager Matt Klank
Athletic Recruiting Coordinator Keith O’Connor
Sports Information Director Jeff Scarpone
Athletic Training and Conditioning The Sports Medicine program at Centenary College provides students with an opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics in the safest and healthiest way possible. A well-rounded program for student-athletes directed toward the prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries is enhanced by team physician Dr. Mike Kelly and orthopedic surgeons Dr. Louis Rizio and Dr. Robert A Defalco. The athletic training staff includes Head Athletic Trainer Dana Baffuto, Associate Athletic Trainer Kevin Davies and Assistant Athletic Trainer Eddie Giroux. The fitness center, located in the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center, gives Centenary students and student-athletes a safe workout environment where they can improve their agility, speed, flexibility, strength and conditioning. Using the fitness center gives each athlete a chance to improve their overall fitness, therefore making them more competitive in their sport of choice. In 2006, the fitness center was expanded to include a separate cardio room as well as the weight machine and free weight areas. The renovation also brought in brand new state-of-the-art strength and fitness equipment that should fill all our student-athlete’s seasonal fitness needs.
2013 Cross Country Team Coaching Staff
2013 Team Information
Head Coach...................James “J.J.” Cusick Alma Mater.....................................Marist ‘04 Phone Number...........(908)-852-1400 x2297 E-Maill...........cusickj@centenarycollege.edu
2012 CSAC Finish (Men)........No team score 2012 CSAC Finish (Women)............9th of 11 Returners (M/W)........................................2/1 Newcomers (M/W).....................................1/5
career at Centenary with a stellar senior year that included a fourth-place finish in the Keystone Invitational, while also finishing 30th in the CSAC Championships. Meanwhile, Dunphy continued to be a steadfast contributor to the squad by placing as high as third in a race (Keystone Invitational), while also finishing 15th in the CSAC Championships. Freshman Rob Ambrose burst onto the scene in his rookie campaign, culminating in a 19th place finish in the CSAC Championships. Lepes, Dunphy and Ambrose also represented Centenary at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Cross Country Championships in Oneonta, N.Y. J.J. Cusick enters his sixth season as the head men’s and women’s cross-country coach at Centenary College in 2013. 2012 saw a season in which several Cyclones recorded personal best times, including Shawnee Smith who broke her career best time by over a minute at NJIT’s Highlander Cross Country Challenge. Carolyn LaRue and Shawna Bryan also posted career bests for the women, while Justin Theriault posted a career best 8K time for the men. Freshman Colin Critchlow proved to be a promising newcomer, racing in six events including competing in the CSAC Championship. Cusick’s 2011 team featured a healthy mix of quality performances from seniors as well as improvement from juniors and sophomores, and a promising future shown by freshman. The women’s team was led by senior Chelsea Gummerson who had top 20 finishes at the MuleFalcon Invitational and the Keystone Invitational and concluded her year at the ECAC Championships. Freshman Carolyn LaRue, aslo competed at the ECAC Championships and finished 23rd at the St. Joe’s-Patchogue meet. The men were led by Anthony LaManna, a freshman who finished 12th at the Mule-Falcon Invitational and finished 23rd out of 131 runners at the Mount Saint Mary Invitational. Sophomore Rob Ambrose finished the St. Joe’s-Pachogue meet in 31st place out of 117 racers and went on to compete in the ECAC Championships. The 2010 campaign proved to be a successful one for the Cyclones. Cusick guided both the men’s and women’s teams to better performances in the 2010 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championships from the previous season, as the men’s team placed fifth and the women finished in eighth-place. The men’s squad was led by senior Chad Lepes and junior Brian Dunphy. Lepes concluded his
The women’s team was led by junior Chelsea Gummerson, who paced the improved squad throughout the season. Gummerson earned CSAC Runner of the Week on Oct. 25 after placing 31st out of 158 runners with a time of 23:25 in the St. Joseph Invitational, averaging a 7:32 mile. Gummerson concluded her season by finishing 24th out of 79 total runners in the CSAC Championships. Freshman Kelly Pascarella had a standout season in her rookie campaign and put together several noteworthy races, including a 10th place finish at the Keystone Invitational. Pascarella also finished a respectable 44th place in the CSAC Championships. In 2009, Cusick guided the team to several impressive finishes, including a first-place run by Dunphy at the Falcon Classic at Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa., that helped the team finish fourth and earned the junior Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Runner of the Week honors. The men’s and women’s squads also battled in the CSAC Championships as the men finished eighth and the women ninth. During Cusick’s first season at the helm, he helped Gummerson place seventh at the CSAC Championships, earning her First Team All-Conference accolades. She moved on to compete in the NCAA Regionals, finishing 146th out of 218 runners. Cusick guided the Cyclones to success during the season as well, including a 13th-place finish out of 20 teams for the women in the Delaware Valley Invitational and a fifth-place finish out of seven teams for the men at Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe Keystone. Cusick took over as the interim cross-country coach in the fall of 2007 for the second half of the season. As the interim coach, Cusick handled the recruiting and managed the program in the offseason. Cusick is a graduate of Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J., and Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. In addition to his coaching duties, he also serves as the athletic administrative assistant. In his spare time, Cusick competes in local races around the state of New Jersey.
2013 Season Preview Despite graduating five key seniors, the 2012 squad looks to bring back a key group of returners to lead the group to contention in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship this season. Leading the men’s team is junior Rob Ambrose, the captain of the men’s team that continuously ran at the top for the 2011 squad. His season best 6K was set last season during the ECAC Championship, running a 31:06 for the Cyclones. Joining him will be top runner Anthony LaManna who ran a career best 8K in 30:23.07 at the DeSales Invitational on Oct. 8, 2011. The women’s team will be led by captain, junior Kelly Pascarella, whose career best 5K of 23:19 was at the 2010 CSAC Championship, earning her 44th place overall. Fighting alongside her will be sophomore Carolyn LaRue who comes back to the Cyclones after being a top finisher last season, setting her career best time 5K time of 23:31 at the Mules/Falcon Invitational. The men’s team looks to add on star freshmen Colin Critchlow and Christoff Sanchez, who look to be top performers with lots of cross country experience for the Cyclones. Along with them, Justin Theriault looks to be a key contributor for the Cyclones while Maxwell Seft hopes to bring a strong push this season. The women’s team will bring on two new members this season in Lita Herrick and Susan Cheng who hope to make a strong impact early on for the Cyclones behind returners LaRue, Pascarella, Shawnee Smith, and Shawna Bryan.
2013 Schedule Date
Event
Location
Aug. 31
CSAC Championships Preview Meet Cheyney, Pa.
Sept. 14
Roadrunner Invitational
Time W - 11:00 am M - 12:15 pm
Woodland Park, N.J. W - 10:30 am
M - 11:15 am
Sept. 21
W - 10:00 am
Mule-Falcon Invitational
Allentown, Pa.
Oct. 5
Highlander Cross Country Challenge Newark, N.J.
M - 11:00 am W - 11:00 am
M - 11:45 am
Oct. 12
M - 10:30 am
DeSales University Invitational Center Valley, Pa.
W - 11:15 am
Oct. 19
W - 12:00 pm
St. Joseph’s College Invitational King’s Park, N.Y.
M - 1:00 pm
Nov. 2
W - 11:00 am
CSAC Championships
Cheyney, Pa.
M - 12:15 pm
Nov. 9
NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
Castile, N.Y.
TBA
Nov. 16
NCAA Championships
Hanover, Ind.
TBA
2013 Cross Country Rosters
Returners
2013 Men’s Cross Country Team Name
Yr. Hometown/Highschool
Colin Critchlow
So. Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan
Evan Miles
Sr. Montclair, N.J./Montclair
Max Seft
Sr. North Brunswick, N.J./N. Brunswick Twp.
2013 Women’s Cross Country Team Name Shawna Bryan Patricia Dennis Morgan Haller Jessica Knolmajer Jessica Martin Priscilla Ortiz Abigail Voelkner
Yr. Hometown/Highschool Sr. Irvington, N.J./Irvington Fr. Newark, N.J./Technology Fr. Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East Fr. Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan Fr. Freehold, N.J./Freehold Fr. Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls Fr. Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls
2012 (Junior): Competed in five events... finished 114th out of 131 runners with her career best time of 25:11:54 in the 5K Highlander XC challenge...CSAC All-Academic Team 2011 (Sophomore): Competed in six events... finished in 34th place out of 87 racers with a 25:48.2 time in the 5K St. Joe’s-Patchogue meet...CSAC All-Academic recipient. 2010 (Freshman): Competed in one race...finished the CSAC Championships in 26:34:04. High School and Personal Data: Two-sport athlete at Irvington High School…four-year member of the track and field team…ran in Penn State Medals, Kearney Relays and the Newark Invitational…also ran for the cross country team for one season… daughter of Dewight Bryan…born on April 24, 1992.
Career Best Times 6K: 26:26.8 - CSAC Championship 2011 5K: 26:34.04 - CSAC Championship 2010
Returners
2012 (Freshman): Competed in six events... Ran in the CSAC Championship(8K) with a time of 36:07.3... CSAC All-Academic Team. High School and Personal Data: Ran all four years
Returners
2012 (Junior): competed in six events.... ran in the Marywood Invitational (5.9K) with a time of 31:15. High School and Personal Data: Played recreational and travel baseball throughout high school...member of the honor roll...majoring in history
on cross country and winter and spring track teams at Bridgewater-Raritan High School...ran on varsity team in senior season in cross country, winter, and spring track...majoring in global studies.
Career Best Times 6K: 26:26.8 - CSAC Championship 2011 5K: 26:34.04 - CSAC Championship 2010
Career Best Times 6K: 26:26.8 - CSAC Championship 2011 5K: 26:34.04 - CSAC Championship 2010
Newcomers
Newcomers
High School and Personal Data: Competed in four years of cross country, track and basketball at Technology High School…will also be a member of the Cyclones’ women’s basketball squad during the winter…studying sport management at Centenary
High School and Personal Data: Earned four varsity letters in both cross country and swimming at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School…also ran track and played lacrosse for one year…Danielle Fedortion Scholarship Award winner…business management major at Centenary
High School and Personal Data: Competed in cross country, basketball, equestrian and field hockey at Pocono Mountain East High School...also a member of the equestrian team at Centenary...majoring in communications
High School and Personal Data: Has competed in 5K races and duathlons individually…did not compete as a member of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School team…majoring in fashion design
Newcomers
High School and Personal Data: Four-year varsity wrestler at Montclair High School...holds the school’s record for career pins with 82...also a member of golf and volleyball teams for two years each... Recipient of the Montclair High School Coach’s Award, Montclair Wrestling Association Sportsmanship Award… Also earned the Mike Arace Scholarship Award from Montclair… founder and president of the Centenary College Bass Fishing Club whose members compete on the National College Tournament Circuit…studying liberal arts at Centenary
High School and Personal Data: Ran cross country during all four years at Morris Knolls High School…selected to the all-conference second team…majoring in elementary education
High School and Personal Data: Five-sport athlete at Morris Knolls High School…ran three years of cross country and two seasons with the track team…also participated on the basketball, lacrosse and volleyball teams…AP High School scholar with honors…member of mathematics and business honor societies…Presidential Scholar at Centenary…majoring in psychology
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Cross Country Notable Acievements Academic Achievements
- In 2011, the women’s cross country team was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic
Team and the 2011-12 Centenary College CSA Academic Acheivement Award Recipient - In 2011, eight student-athletes were named to the CSAC All-Academic Team - In 2010, 10 student-athletes were named to the CSAC All-Academic Team - In 2009, six student-athletes were named to the CSAC All-Academic Team - In 2008, two student-athletes received All-Academic honors from the National Collegiate Division III Women’s Cross Country Coaches Association - In 2008, five student-athletes were named to the CSAC All-Academic Team
Men’s Team Athletic Achievements
- The 2011 team sent two runners to the ECAC Championship - Anthony LaManna named CSAC Runner of the Week on Sept. 18, 2011 - The 2010 team finished fifth in the CSAC Championship - Rob Ambrose finished 19th of 60 runners in the 2010 CSAC Championship while Brian Dunphy took home 15th - Brian Dunphy, Chad Lepes and Rob Ambrose competed in the 2010 NCAA Division III Regional Meet - Brian Dunphy won the 2009 Mule-Falcon Invitational, running a personal record of 28:11 in the 8K race, earning CSAC Runner of the Week for his efforts
Women’s Team Athletic Achievements
- The 2011 team sent two runners to the ECAC Championship - Chelsea Gummerson named CSAC First Team in 2008 after finishing seventh of 66 runners in the 2008 CSAC Championship with a time of 21:06 - Chelsea Gummerson competed in the 2008 NCAA Division III Regional Meet - Chelsea Gummerson won the 2008 Drew University Invitational with a time of 20:50 in the 5K race, earning CSAC Honor Roll for her efforts - Petra Nilsson named NSCAA All-American for second place finish in NSCAA Championship with a time of 21:14 in the 5K race - Jess Graham received Skyline All-Conference honors in 2005, placing fourth in the Skyline Championship Meet - Petra Nilsson had three first place finishes during the 1999 season - Petra Nilsson had four top 10 finishes during the 1998 season
Historical Best Times
MEN’S 8K 1. Brian Dunphy - 28:11.8 Falcon Classic (2009) 2. Brian Dunphy - 28:44.3 CSAC Championships (2010) 3. Brian Dunphy - 28:46.0 Misericordia Invitational (2008) 4. Brian Dunphy - 29:12.27 DeSales Invitational (2009) 5. Brian Dunphy - 29:18.9 Delaware Valley Invitational (2009) 6. Brian Dunphy - 29:19.3 Mule-Falcon Invitational (2010) 7. Brian Dunphy - 29:22.6 Leopard Invitational (2009) 8. Rob Ambrose - 29:23.96 CSAC Championship (2010) 9. Brian Dunphy - 29:32.0 CSAC Championship (2008) 10. Chad Lepes - 29:46.8 NCAA Regional (2010)
WOMEN’S 6K
1. Chelsea Gummerson - 26:27.44 Delaware Valley Invitational (2008) 2. Chelsea Gummerson - 27:08.9 NCAA Atlantic Regional (2008) 3. Chelsea Gummerson - 27:46.10 Delaware Valley Invitational (2011) 4. Chelsea Gummerson - 27:34.87 ECAC Championship (2011) 5. Chelsea Gummerson - 28:00.64 DeSales Invitational (2009) 6. Chelsea Gummerson - 28:03.10 Leopard Invitational (2009) 7. Chelsea Gummerson - 28:18.06 Keystone Invitational (2008) 8. Chelsea Gummerson - 28:30.40 DeSales Invitational (2011) 9. Casey Bauer - 28:45.30 Leopard Invitational (2009) 10. Carolyn LaRue - 28:51.16 DeSales Invitational (2011)
WOMEN’S 5K 1. Petra Nilsson - 20:15 Baptist Bible Invitational (1998) 2. Petra Nilsson - 20:39 Philadelphia Metro Small College Invitational (1999) 3. Petra Nilsson - 20:41 Allentown Invitational (1998) 4. Jess Graham - 20:45.0 NJIT Invitational (2005) 5. Petra Nilsson - 20:46.03 Allentown Invitational (1999) 6. Chelsea Gummerson - 20:50.00 Drew Invitational (2008) 7. Petra Nilsson - 20:53.0 Philadelphia Metro Small College Championship (1999) 8. Petra Nilsson - 20:59 Drew Invitational (1999) 9. Chelsea Gummerson - 21:04.00 Gwynedd-Mercy Invitational (2008) 10. Petra Nilsson - 21:05
Centenary College Turf Fund “It is time to take Cyclone Athletics to the next level.” That was the message of WPLJ broadcaster Joe Nolan at the official launch of The Athletic Turf Field Project on January 29, 2011. Through The Cyclone Athletic Fund, Centenary plans to construct a new artificial turf field that will serve the Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Lacrosse teams as well as Baseball. The new field, which can even be used in inclement weather, will help propel the teams to greater levels of competition and national recognition. To learn more about this exciting project or to make a contribution to The Cyclone Athletic Fund or The Athletic Turf Field Project, call Simone Knaaps at (908) 852-1400 ext. 2336 or email knaaps@centenarycollege.edu.