2014 cross country media guide
General Information Table of Contents Athletics Information Media Information Administrative Staff Athletic Training/Conditioning
1 2 3 4 5
2013 Cross Country Team Info Head Coach J.J. Cusick Season Preview 2014 Schedule 2014 Rosters
6 7-8 9 10 11
2014 Player Information Returners Newcomers
12-14 15-18
History Notable Achievements Top Times
19 20
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.
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. 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.
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
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
Director of Athletics Billie Jo Blackwell
Associate Athletic Director Josh Huber
SWA / Sports Information Dir. Iris Correa
Athletic Recruiting Coordinator Keith O’Connor
Athletics Facility Manager Dinu Dan
Head Athletic Trainer Dana Baffuto
Associate Athletic Trainer Kevin Davies
Assistant Athletic Trainer Eddie Giroux
Athletics Equipment Manager Matt Klank
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.
Coaching Staff
2013 Team Information
Head Coach...................James “J.J.” Cusick Alma Mater.....................................Marist ‘04 Phone Number...........(908)-852-1400 x2194 E-Maill...........cusickj@centenarycollege.edu
2 2013 CSAC Finish (Men)........No team score 2 2013 CSAC Finish (Women)............5th of 10 R Returners (M/W)........................................1/1 N Newcomers (M/W).....................................1/4
J.J. Cusick enters his seventh season as the head men’s and women’s cross-country coach at Centenary College in 2014. During the 2013 campaign, Cusick led the Cyclones’ women’s squad to a fifth-place finish at the Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship, their best showing since joining the league in 2007. Freshman Priscilla Ortiz turned in one of the top seasons in Centenary history, setting the school 5K and 6K records, while earning second team all-conference honors and competing at the NCAA Atlantic Regional under Cusick’s guidance.
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
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. The women’s team was led by junior Chelsea Gummerson, who paced the th improved squad throughout the season. Gummerson earned CSAC Runner of the Week on Oct. 25 after placing 31st out of 158 runners with R 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 m in in the CSAC Championships. Freshman Kelly Pascarella had a standout season in her rookie campaign and put together several noteworthy races, sse including a 10th place finish at the Keystone Invitational. Pascarella also iin finished a respectable 44th place in the CSAC Championships. In I 2009, Cusick guided the team to several impressive finishes, including iin 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 A Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Runner of the Week honors. C The men’s and women’s squads also battled in the CSAC Championships as a the men finished eighth and the women ninth. During Cusick’s first season at the helm, he helped Gummerson place sevD enth en at the CSAC Championships, earning her First Team All-Conference accolades. She moved on to compete in the NCAA Regionals, finishing ac 146th out of 218 runners. 14 Cusick guided the Cyclones to success during the season as well, includC ing in 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.
The Centenary College men’s cross country team returns one runner with collegiate experience, while the Cyclone women will look to an infusion of young talent as both squads hope to bring home the Colonial States Athletic Conference title this fall. Junior Colin Critchlow, named to the CSAC All-sportsmanship team, will b be looking to build on strong rookie campaigns. Critchlow competed in seven races for the Cyclones as during the 2013 season, while posting an impressive 8K time at the NJIT Technology Challenge. “The men’s team has been working very during the preseason. I am really excited to see the progress that they have made once we get to the regular season,” said seventh-year Head Coach J.J. Cusick. Cusick has added two talented freshmen to the men’s roster with the hopes of improving on last season. “The three freshmen girls have done great in preseason training. They have a lot of experience at the high school level and with the promise they have shown, I think they can do very well this fall,” said Cusick. Cusick will look to Sophomore Priscilla Ortiz to provide leadership for the incoming freshman. Ortiz set the bar at Centenary by cruising to new school 5K and 6K record times, while also competing at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. The first Cyclone woman to compete at an NCAA regional since 2008, Ortiz sped to a program 6K record time of 24:37.0, topping her own school record set in a previous race by 1:17. Ortiz was also named to 2nd team All-Conference and CSAC All-Academic Team.
Date
Event
Location
Time
Aug. 29
Misericordia Invitational
Dallas, Pa.
W - 6:00 pm M - 6:45 pm
Sept. 6
Cairn Highlander Invitational
Langhorne, Pa
W - 11:00 am M - 12:00 pm
Sept. 20
Roadrunner XC Invitational
Woodland Park, NJ
W - 10:30 am M - 11:15 am
Oct. 4
Highlander Cross Country Challenge Newark, N.J.
W - 11:00 am M - 11:45 am
Oct. 11
DeSales University Invitational
Center Valley, Pa.
M - 10:30 am W - 11:15 am
Oct. 18
St. Joseph’s College Invitational King’s Park, N.Y.
W - 12:00 pm M - 1:00 pm
Nov. 1
CSAC Championships
Langhorne, Pa.
TBA
Nov. 15
NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
Rochester, N.Y.
TBA
Nov. 22
NCAA Championships
Wilmington, OH
TBA
2014 Men’s Cross Country Team Name
Yr.
Hometown/Highschool
Colin Critchlow
Jr.
Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan
Mariano DelValle
Fr.
Brick, NJ / Brick Township
Andrew Rodriguez
So.
Flanders, NJ / Mount Olive
2014 Women’s Cross Country Team Name Jessica Condrack Melissa DeRemer Morgan Haller Andrea Huber Jessica Martin Katie O’Connell Priscilla Ortiz Abigail Voelkner
Yr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.
Hometown/Highschool Roselle, NJ / Abraham Clark Hillsborough, NJ / Hillsborough Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East West Chester, PA / Henderson Freehold, N.J./Freehold Nutley, NJ / Nutley Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls
2013 (Freshman): Set Centenary 5K and 6K records...Finished 14th at the NJIT Technology Challenge in a school-best 5k time of 19:42.16... Broke Centenary 6K record at the NCAA Atlantic Regional (24:37.0)... Became first Centenary female since 2008 to compete at an NCAA Regional...earned Second Team All-CSAC accolades...posted five top-10 finishes...ECAC Runner of the Week (Oct. 16)...Two-time CSAC Runner of the Week...Also earned CSAC Weekly Honor Roll on two occasions... Six-time Cyclone of the Week...CSAC All-Academic Team High School and Personal Data: Ran cross country during all four years at Morris Knolls High School‌selected to the all-conference second team‌majoring in elementary education
Career Best Times 6K: 24:37.0 - NCAA Atlantic Regional 2013 5K: 19:42.16 - NJIT XC Challenge 2013
2013 (Sophomore): Completed seven races...posted top 8k time at the NJIT Technology Challenge (33:59.57)...fastest 6K showing came at the Mule-Falcon Invitational (24:30.61)...selected to CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team...CSAC All-Academic Team. 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 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: 24:30.61 - Mule Falcon Invitational 2013 8K: 33:59.57 - NJIT XC Challenge 2013
Freshman (2013): Raced in five events...ran to three top-40 finishes... posted best 5k time at the St. Joseph’s (LI) Invitational (24:17.5)... CSAC All-Academic Team 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
Career Best Times 6K: 30:27.7 - Roadrunner Invitational 2013 5K: 24:17.5 - St. Joseph’s (LI) 2013
Freshman (2013): Competed in seven meets during rookie season...fastest 5k time came at the NJIT XC Challenge (25:42.71)...top 6k finish was 34:03.5 at the Roadrunner Invitational...named to CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team...CSAC All-Academic Team High School and Personal Data: Has competed in 5K races and duathlons individually‌did not compete as a member of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School team‌majoring in fashion design
Career Best Times 5K: 25:42.71 - NJIT XC Challenge 2013 6K: 34:03.5 - Roadrunner Invitational 2013
Freshman (2013): Ran in seven meets...posted four top-40 showings...best 6k time was 28:36.9 at the Roadrunner Invitational...fastest 5k finish came at the NJIT Technology Challenge (21:29.65)...CSAC All-Academic Team. 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
Career Best Times 5K: 21:29.65 - NJIT XC Challenge 2013 6K: 28:36.9 - Roadrunner Invitational 2013
High School and Personal Data: Ran cross Country for four years at Abraham Clark High School...selected as most improved in 2011 & 2014...participated in indoor / Outdoor track all four years...served as team captain for both track teams...memberof the outdoor track Group 2 Central State Championship Team...Majoring in Fashion Design
High School and Personal Data: Member of the Hillsborough track team competing in the event of sprinting and hurdles...Majoring in Fashion Design and Merchandising
High School and Personal Data: Ran four years of Cross Country at Brick Township High School...also participated in Winter and Spring track for all four years...Majoring in Forensic Science
High School and Personal Data: Participated in the Equestrian team at Henderson High School...Majoring in Equine Business Management
High School and Personal Data: Ran Cross Country for two years and made 2nd team All-County...Also played softball for two years as well as track and field....Majoring in Forensic Science
High School and Personal Data: Ran two years of track at Mount Olive High School along with one year of wrestling and tennis...Majoring in Accounting
Academic Achievements
- In 2011 & 2013, the women’s cross country team was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and the 2011-12 Centenary College CSA Academic Award Recipient -2013, Men’s team earned the CSAC Team Academic Award - 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 - 2013 Priscilla Ortiz set school records for 5k (19:46.17) and 6K (24:37.0) races - Priscilla Ortiz competed in the 2013 NCAA Atlantic Regionals - 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
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. Priscilla Ortiz - 24:37.0 NCAA Atlantic Regional (2013) 2. Priscilla Ortiz - 25:54.3 Roadrunner XC Invitational (2013) 3. Priscilla Ortiz - 25:57.98 Jack St. Clair Memorial (2013) 4. Chelsea Gummerson - 26:27.44 Delaware Valley Invitational (2008) 5. Chelsea Gummerson - 27:08.9 NCAA Atlantic Regional (2008) 6. Chelsea Gummerson - 27:46.10 Delaware Valley Invitational (2011) 7. Chelsea Gummerson - 27:34.87 ECAC Championship (2011) 8. Chelsea Gummerson - 28:00.64 DeSales Invitational (2009) 9. Chelsea Gummerson - 28:03.10 Leopard Invitational (2009) 10. Patricia Dennis - 28:14.6 Roadrunner XC Invitational (2013)
WOMEN’S 5K 1. Priscilla Ortiz - 19:42.16 NJIT Technology Challenge (2013) 2. Petra Nilsson - 20:15 Baptist Bible Invitational (1998) 3. Priscilla Ortiz - 20:34.47 Mule-Falcon Invitational (2013) 4. Petra Nilsson - 20:39 Philadelphia Metro Small College Invitational (1999) 5. Petra Nilsson - 20:41 Allentown Invitational (1998) 6. Jess Graham - 20:45.0 NJIT Invitational (2005) 7. Petra Nilsson - 20:46.03 Allentown Invitational (1999) 8. Chelsea Gummerson - 20:50.00 Drew Invitational (2008) 9. Petra Nilsson - 20:53.0 Philadelphia Metro Small College Championship (1999) 10. Petra Nilsson - 20:59 Drew Invitational (1999)