ROBERT MORRIS ATHLETICS
A Department Moving Forward
By The Numbers
2 Times that Robert Morris has claimed the Northeast Conference Institutional Academic Award (2012, 2014) for posting the highest overall institutional GPA among student-athletes competing in sports sponsored by the NCAA Division I conference
2 Student-athletes that have been named Northeast Conference Student-Athlete of the Year in the last four years, an honor that encompasses athletics, academics and community service
3 Number of homes for the RMU men’s and women’s basketball programs on the campus of Robert Morris, as Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center is slated for completion in 2019
4Athletic RMU student-athletes named the Northeast Conference Faculty Representative Student-Athlete of the Year, which is bestowed for the highest GPA in the conference among graduating seniors
14 Occasions a student-athlete at Robert Morris has been named an Academic All-American according to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) since 2004, including three-time honoree Nolan Nearhoof
47 Conference regular-season championship in department history during its 42 years as an NCAA Division I program, encompassing nine different sports
47 Conference tournament championships in department history, encompassing 14 different sports and including a league-high eight Northeast Conference tournament titles by men’s basketball
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS From its fertile beginning as a men’s basketball junior college powerhouse to one of the most diverse athletic programs in the tri-state area, intercollegiate athletics and success at Robert Morris University go hand-in-hand. RMU offers 16 intercollegiate athletics programs, including the only men’s and women’s Division I ice hockey squads and Division I men’s lacrosse team in the Pittsburgh region. Over the last 42 years, the Colonials have claimed 47 conference regular-season championships and 47 league tournament titles. A total of 14 of RMU’s intercollegiate athletic programs have earned at least one tournament championship, with men’s basketball leading the way with eight Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament titles. Men’s basketball has also claimed 11 NEC regular-season championships, the most in school history, while softball owns eight and football and volleyball have each claimed six. The latest program to earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament for Robert Morris came in the spring of 2018, when the men’s lacrosse team earned a thrilling overtime victory at No. 20 Saint Joseph’s to claim their first NEC Tournament title in program history. Meanwhile, construction continues on Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center, a new facility for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball that solidifies RMU’s status as athletics program on the rise. The three programs will move into the state-ofthe-art venue in 2019. The exploits of the intercollegiate athletic program in 2017-18 has continued a trend that RMU has established since its move to Division I over four decades ago.
Since 1982, Robert Morris has sent 27 teams to the NCAA Tournament. Men’s basketball has made an NEC record eight appearances, while volleyball has participated in six. The Colonial men’s basketball program qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1982, 1983, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2009, 2010 and 2015, while volleyball made five straight appearances from 1999 to 2003 before earning the automatic bid in 2015. The women’s basketball team has appeared in five NCAA Tournaments (2007, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017), while men’s soccer has appeared three times (1993, 1994, 2005). Softball (2005), men’s ice hockey (2014), men’s golf (2015), women’s ice hockey (2017) and men’s lacrosse (2018) have also earned automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. The trend of success should come as no surprise. The men’s basketball program has appeared in a national postseason tournament seven times in the last 11 years, including three NCAA Tournaments (2009, 2010, 2015), three NIT’s (2008, 2013, 2014) and the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). In 2013, Robert Morris became the center of the college basketball world by defeating defending national champion Kentucky in front of 3,444 fans at the Charles L. Sewall Center, the largest crowd in school history, in the first round of the NIT. Five teams achieved national rankings during the 1990s, with the 1994 softball team reaching No. 23, the 1994 men’s soccer team peaking at No. 16, the 1996 football squad finishing second in the NCAA I-AA non-scholarship ranks, the 1997 football team placing third and the 1999 and 2000 football squads finishing No. 1.
academic success
Ray Gensler
Annie Dubovec
The Robert Morris University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is not all about winning on the field, court or ice. Success in the classroom through academics is as much a triumph as the athletic competitions themselves. Robert Morris University is committed to the total development of its student-athletes. A look at some of RMU’s academic accomplishments over the last 20 years … NEC Institutional Academic Award
2012 – 3.279 combined GPA among 20 NEC sports in 2011-12 2014 – 3.295 combined GPA among 19 NEC sports in 2013-14
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America First Team NAME
YEAR(S)
Annie Dubovec................ 2011 Nick Faraci........................ 2015 Ray Gensler....................... 2006 Jonathan LeDonne......... 2004 Nolan Nearhoof............... 2012
SPORT
Softball Football Football Football Football
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Second Team NAME
YEAR(S)
Brad Banas........................ 2012 Amanda Graham............. 2010 Ray Gensler....................... 2005 Christian Lemke.............. 2004 Zac Lynch.......................... 2016 Nolan Nearhoof............... 2010, 2011 Adam Wollet..................... 2017
SPORT
Football Volleyball Football Men’s Track & Field Men’s Ice Hockey * Football Football
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Third Team NAME
YEAR(S)
Zac Lynch *....................... 2014 * At-large selection
SPORT
Men’s Ice Hockey
Zac Lynch
2012 NEC Defensive Player of the Year ★
Three-time Capital One Academic All-American (2010, 2011, 2012) ★
RMU All-Time Leader for Career Sacks (26.5) ★
National Football Foundation (NFF) National ScholarAthlete (2012)
Nolan Nearhoof (2009-12)
Nick Faraci
Amanda Graham
Brad Banas
Brooke Panepinto
Janette Schneider
Tyler Hinds
Angela Story
Adam Lawrence Susan Perich
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District II Academic All-America Honorees NAME
YEAR(S) SPORT
NAME
YEAR(S) SPORT
Zac Lynch *............................. 2014 Josh Marino............................ 2004 Justin Marino......................... 2003 Kiel Matisz *........................... 2011 Logan Miles............................ 2011 Darcey Miller.......................... 2004 Nolan Nearhoof..................... 2010, 2011, 2012 Brooke Panepinto................. 2008, 2009 Allie Patton............................. 2011 Susan Perich........................... 2008, 2009 Leah Prentice......................... 2011 Erin Ritzer............................... 2017 Taryn Reichard...................... 2006, 2007 Janette Schneider................. 2005, 2006 Nicole Sleith........................... 2014, 2015 Andy Smigiera....................... 2015 Matt Smith.............................. 2001 Angela Story........................... 2005 Mark Szymanski................... 2007, 2008 Aaron Thomas........................ 2003 Jaci Timko................................ 2010 Devin Wilson.......................... 2005 Jeff Witmyer............................ 2007, 2008 Adam Wollet........................... 2016, 2017 Justin Wotus........................... 2004 Chris Young............................ 2000
Devin Wilson
Toba Bolaji
Leah Prentice
Joel Gasper
* At-large selection
Megan Bell
Softball Women’s Soccer Football Volleyball Men’s Soccer Men’s Ice Hockey Football Softball Softball Field Hockey, Lacrosse Softball Football Men’s Ice Hockey Football Volleyball Volleyball Men’s Ice Hockey Volleyball Men’s Soccer Women’s Track & Field Volleyball Women’s Track & Field Football Football Men’s Track & Field Football Football Football
Mark Klabnik
Tess Apke................................. 2014 Christy Baldesberger........... 2009, 2010 Brad Banas.............................. 2010, 2011, 2012 Megan Bell.............................. 2005 Toba Bolaji............................... 2010 Jace Buzek *............................ 2006, 2007 Kyle Cooper............................. 2013 Jill Dorsch................................ 2006 Annie Dubovec...................... 2009, 2010, 2011 Mary Kate Egan *.................. 2009 Stephani Ehrenfeld.............. 2000 Nick Faraci.............................. 2014, 2015 Joel Gasper *........................... 2007, 2008 Ray Gensler............................. 2005, 2006 Alaina Gibson......................... 2007, 2008 Amanda Graham................... 2008, 2009, 2010 Tyler Hinds *........................... 2013 Lisa Jaszka............................... 2005, 2006 Mark Klabnik......................... 2006 Rachael Kotula...................... 2014 April Krivoniak...................... 2015, 2016 April Krivoniak...................... 2016 Adam Lawrence.................... 2008 Jonathan LeDonne............... 2003, 2004 Christian Lemke.................... 2004 Mark Leyenaar....................... 2000, 2001 Pat Linberg.............................. 2000, 2001 Mike Lovely............................ 2009, 2010
Men’s Ice Hockey Football Football Men’s Lacrosse Football Volleyball Football Softball Softball Softball Women’s Soccer Women’s Soccer Women’s Soccer Volleyball Softball Football Men’s Basketball Women’s Soccer Football Men’s Basketball Softball Football Men’s Track & Field Football Men’s Track & Field Football
Anna Niki Stamolamprou
Chris Young
Northeast Conference (NEC) Student-Athlete of the Year Awards Steve Mitchell
NAME
YEAR(S) SPORT
Dana Davis.............................. 2018 Nicole Sleith........................... 2015
Women’s Lacrosse Softball
Matt Smith
Northeast Conference (NEC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards NAME
Mary Kate Egan
Hannah Veith
YEAR(S) SPORT
Nicole Aloi............................... 2001 Jim Baughman....................... 1999 Jim Baughman....................... 2000 Zachary Bryant...................... 2018 Dana Davis.............................. 2017, 2018 Jamie Dodds............................ 2002 Nicole Downing.................... 2004 Annie Dubovec...................... 2010, 2011 Mary Kate Egan..................... 2009 Stephani Ehrenfeld.............. 2000 Nick Faraci.............................. 2015 Casey Folga............................. 2012 Ray Gensler............................. 2006 Alaina Gibson......................... 2008 Amanda Graham................... 2009, 2010 April Krivoniak...................... 2015 April Krivoniak...................... 2016 Adam Lawrence.................... 2008 Jonathan LeDonne............... 2004 Kiel Matisz.............................. 2011, 2012 Sean Meagher........................ 2013 Darcey Miller.......................... 2003 Steve Mitchell........................ 2014 Halley Morell.......................... 2014 Nolan Nearhoof..................... 2010, 2011, 2012 Taryn Reichard...................... 2007 Anna Niki Stamolamprou.. 2016, 2017 Jaci Timko................................ 2012 Hannah Veith......................... 2011 Jeff Witmyer............................ 2007, 2008 Jeff Witmyer............................ 2008
Dana Davis
Softball Men’s Indoor Track & Field Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Men’s Lacrosse Women’s Lacrosse Men’s Soccer Women’s Indoor Track & Field Softball Women’s Lacrosse Softball Football Women’s Indoor Track & Field Football Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball Indoor Track & Field Football Football Men’s Lacrosse Men’s Lacrosse Volleyball Men’s Indoor Track & Field Women’s Golf Football Women’s Soccer Women’s Basketball Softball Volleyball Men’s Indoor Track & Field Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
Adam Wollet
Una Japundza
Casey Folga
Jonathan LeDonne
Nicole Downing
Erin Ritzer
NEC Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards NAME
YEAR SPORT
Travis Denny............................... 2014 Una Japundza............................. 2013 Lisa Jaszka................................... 2007 Tara Maxwell.............................. 2009
Men’s Tennis Volleyball Volleyball Women’s Track & Field
Aaron Thomas
Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards
Zac Lynch
Nick Faraci
NAME
YEAR(S) SPORT
Alex Bontje................................. Michael Coyne........................... Alex Dagnal................................ Brandon Denham..................... Sean Giles.................................... Tyler Hinds.................................. Nick Jenny................................... Jeff Jones...................................... Dyllan Lubbesmeyer................ Luke Lynch.................................. Zac Lynch.................................... Francis Marotte......................... Ryan Risling............................... Tyson Wilson..............................
2018 2017 2016, 2017, 2018 2013 2018 2013 2018 2012 2018 2017 2013 2017 2018 2012
Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey
College Hockey America (CHA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards NAME
YEAR(S) SPORT
Brianna Delaney....................... Natalie Fraser............................. Jessica Gazzola........................... Emilie Harley.............................. Natalie Marcuzzi....................... Katherine Murphy.................... Katelyn Scott.............................. Lexi Templeman........................
Justin Wotus
2012 2018 2018 2018 2017, 2018 2018 2012, 2013, 2014 2018
Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey
Francis Marotte
Taryn Reichard
April Krivoniak
Adam Wollet
Dana Davis
n As a department, Robert Morris posted a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.440 among its 16 Division I programs in 2017-18, the second highest among Northeast Conference institutions, with a total of 14 of RMU’s 16 programs finishing with team GPA’s of 3.2 or higher. n Four RMU programs (women’s basketball, women’s soccer, softball and volleyball) picked up NEC Team GPA awards for posting the highest team GPA in the league during the 2017-18 academic year. n Overall, nearly 70 percent of all of RMU’s 420+ studentathletes posted a 3.0 or higher grade point average in 2017-18. n Senior Dana Davis of the women’s lacrosse team was named the NEC 2018 Student-Athlete of the year, which honors excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award encompasses all sports sponsored by the Northeast Conference. Davis is the second studentathlete from RMU to win the award, joining Nicole Sleith (2015). n Junior linebacker Adam Wollet of the football team was named to the District 2 Academic All-America Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It marked the second consecutive honor for Wollet.
Alex Bontje
Zach Bryant
n Wollet advanced to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration and was named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team. It marked the 10th time an RMU football player earned the honor on the national level by CoSIDA, while Wollet became the sixth different student-athlete in team history to be recognized. n The 2017-18 academic year featured 80 Robert Morris student-athletes that were named to the 2017 NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, 36 to the 2018 NEC Winter Academic Honor Roll and 80 to the 2018 NEC Spring Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible, a student-athlete must own a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher. n Robert Morris placed 37 student-athletes on the 2017 NEC Fall Commissioner’s Honor Roll, 18 to the 2018 NEC Winter Commissioner’s Honor Roll and 30 to the 2018 NEC Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll. To be eligible, a student-athlete must own a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or better. n A trio of RMU student-athletes were named the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in their respective sports, as Adam Wollet earned the honor for football, Zach Bryant was bestowed the honor for men’s lacrosse and Dana Davis garnered the award for women’s lacrosse.
Natalie Fraser
Megan Smith
Nick Jenny
Kestra Harris
Sarah Heastings
n The Robert Morris men’s hockey team had a leaguehigh six student-athletes post perfect 4.00 GPA’s during 2017-18 academic year to claim Atlantic Hockey StudentAthlete of the Year status. Leading the way was senior forward Alex Dagnal, who earned his third consecutive honor. Joining him was Alex Bontje, Sean Giles, Nick Jenny, Dyllan Lubbesmeyer and Ryan Risling.
n The Robert Morris men’s ice hockey team was one of eight hockey programs to earn a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) score from the NCAA. The Colonials earned their fifth consecutive honor with a perfect four-year average APR score of 1,000. Joining RMU was Brown, Clarkson, Colgate, Princeton, Connecticut, Minnesota and Yale.
n Sophomore forward Natalie Marcuzzi of the RMU women’s hockey squad was named the 2018 College Hockey America (CHA) Student-Athlete of the Year for posting a perfect 4.00 GPA during the 2017-18 academic year. It mark her second consecutive honor earning the award and headline a total of six Robert Morris studentathletes to post perfect 4.00 GPA’s in 2017-18. In addition to Marcuzzi, Natalie Fraser, Jessica Gazzola, Emilie Harley, Katherine Murphy and Lexi Templeman were named CHA Student-Athlete of the Year. RMU had the most honorees in the CHA.
n A total of eight student-athletes that compete for the Colonials in rowing were named 2018 Scholar-Athletes by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) in June of 2018. To be considered, a student-athlete must be in their second, third or fourth year of eligibility, have rowed in their institution’s NCAA eligible boat for a minimum of 75 percent of spring races and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. Honored for Robert Morris was Kate Cecchi, Lindsey Feltz, Kathryn Gossel, Sarah Heastings, Miriam Levenson, Brittany Bell, Elizabeth Cottrell and Kestra Harris.
n The Robert Morris men’s hockey squad featured 24 student-athletes tabbed to 2018 Atlantic Hockey AllAcademic Team. To qualify for the honor, a studentathlete must post a 3.00 GPA in the academic semesters they are competing.
n In July of 2018, a total of 26 student-athletes from the RMU rowing squad were named to the 2018 MAAC Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible, a studentathlete must own a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher. Freshmen are eligible for the accolade, and the honor roll is unlike the MAAC All-Academic Teams announced during the year.
n A total of 20 student-athletes from the RMU women’s hockey team were named to the 2018 College Hockey America (CHA) All-Academic Team. To qualify for the honor, a student-athlete must post a 3.00 GPA in the academic semesters they are competing. Since the CHA expanded to six programs in 2012-13, the Colonials have been honored with a league-high 118 spots on the CHA Academic Team. n The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) named 12 student-athletes from Robert Morris to its 2018 Women’s Rowing All-Academic Team. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have completed at least two semesters and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher.
n The Robert Morris women’s basketball team ranked fourth in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 NCAA Division I Team Honor Roll in 2017-18. The Colonials compiled a GPA of 3.748 during the academic year, marking their second consecutive top five finish. RMU finished team in 2016-17. n The Colonials placed four student-athletes on the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Roll, including Dana Davis, Taylor Lewand, Kerri Sayrafe and Katelyn Welch. To be eligible, a student-athlete must by a junior or senior
Jaycee Gebhard
Lexi Templeman
and post a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better. In addition, as a team RMU was named IWLCA Zag Sports Academic Honor Squad. Robert Morris finished with a 3.432 team GPA in 2017-18. n For the sixth consecutive year, the Robert Morris golf team was bestowed the 18Birdies Team Academic Award by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The Colonials earned GCAA President’s Special Recognition for the second straight year, joining 23 other NCAA Division I teams. To be eligible, teams must post a GPA of 3.50 or higher. RMU posted a team GPA of 3.690 during the 2017-18 academic year. n A dozen Robert Morris men’s hockey student-athletes were named American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Krampede All-American Scholars in July of 2018. The AHCA honors student-athletes who compiled a 3.60 GPA or better each semester and participated in at least 40 percent of its program’s games. Honored for the Colonials were Alex Bontje, Michael Coyne, Alex Dagnal, Spencer Dorowicz, Elias Ghantous, Sean Giles, Nick Jenny, Dylan Lubbesmeyer, Daniel Mantenuto, Francis Marotte, Robert Powers and Nick Prkusic. n The RMU women’s hockey team had 15 studentathletes named American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Krampede All-American Scholars in July of 2018, the second highest total by an NCAA Division I team. The entire RMU defensive corps was honored, including Leah Carey, Natalie Fraser, Katherine Murphy, Maggie LaGue, Kirsten Welsh, Emily Curlett and Elijah MilnePrice. Also garnering the recognition for RMU was Lexi Templeman, Jaycee Gebhard, Natalie Marcuzzi, Caitlyn Sadowy, Sarah Quaranta, Emilie Harley, Jessica Gazzola and Amanda Pantaleo. n The RMU track & field team was one of 220 Division I programs to earn U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team honors. The
Kerri Sayrafe
Colonials posted a team GPA of 3.55 during the 2017-18 academic year, which ranked in the top 30 in NCAA Division I.
NEC Student-Athlete of the Year Dana Davis – Women’s Lacrosse
CoSIDA Academic All-American Adam Wollet – Football
CoSIDA District 2 Academic All-American Adam Wollet – Football
NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Zachary Bryant – Men’s Lacrosse Dana Davis – Women’s Lacrosse Adam Wollet – Football
AHA Student-Athlete of the Year Alex Bontje – Men’s Ice Hockey Alex Dagnal – Men’s Ice Hockey Sean Giles – Men’s Ice Hockey Nick Jenny – Men’s Ice Hockey Dyllan Lubbesmeyer – Men’s Ice Hockey Ryan Risling – Men’s Ice Hockey
CHA Student-Athlete of the Year Natalie Fraser – Women’s Ice Hockey Jessica Gazzola – Women’s Ice Hockey Emilie Harley – Women’s Ice Hockey Natalie Marcuzzi – Women’s Ice Hockey Katherine Murphy – Women’s Ice Hockey Lexi Templeman – Women’s Ice Hockey
football
NEC Offensive Player of the Year Tim Levcik – 2000, 2001 Myles Russ – 2010
NEC Defensive Player of the Year James Noel – 2004 Chad Wengert – 2007 Alex DiMichele – 2010 Nolan Nearhoof – 2012
NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year Archie Wannamaker – 1996 Tim Levcik – 1998 Brent Hockenberry – 2000 James O’Quinn – 2008 Kyle Buss – 2015
NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year Murray Poole – 1996 James Noel – 2002 Mike Niklos – 2003 Marcelis Branch – 2012 Gee Stanley – 2016
NEC Coach of the Year Joe Walton – 1996, 1997, 1999, 2010
Sam Dorsett
Rich Demaio
Alex
Brent
Tim
DiMICHELE
HOCKENBERRY
LEVCIK
James
Myles
Chad
NOEL
Nick Downs
RUSS
Hank Fraley
WENGERT
Matt Grayson
Mark Leyenaar
NEC Champions
1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000
Pat Linberg
Nate List
Tyjuan Massey
Mike Niklos
ECAC Bowl Champions 1996 • 1997
Jake Newman
Corey Oaks
Dante Payne
Jeff Rommes
2010
NEC Regular-Season Champions NCAA FCS Playoffs
Ray Thomas
Tim Hall
Robb Butler
Jason Spencer
The Sports Network FCS All-America Team
Ray
Chad
Shadrae
GENSLER
WENGERT
(Third)
(Honorable Mention)
(Third)
Nolan
A.J.
Antwan
2006
2007
KING 2010
NEARHOOF
DALTON
EDDIE
(Third)
(Second)
(Third)
2012
2013
2013
men’s basketball NEC Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Mike Rice – 2009, 2010 (right) Andrew Toole – 2014 (above)
“THE SHOT” Dallas Green
NEC Regular-Season Champions 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2013 • 2014
NCAA Tournament 2009 • 2010 • 2015
National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 2008 • 2013 • 2014
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) 2012
NEC Tournament Champions 2009 • 2010 • 2015
2008
TONY LEE
— NEC Player of the Year — 2009
JEREMY CHAPPELL
2014
KARVEL ANDERSON
— NEC Defensive Player of the Year — 2009
BATEKO FRANCISCO
2010
MEZIE NWIGWE
— NEC Rookie of the Year —
2006
2010
2015
JEREMY CHAPPELL KARON ABRAHAM MARCQUISE REED
2018
KOBY THOMAS
LANDMARK VICTORIES Robert Morris 57, Boston College 51............... Jan. 7, 2008 Robert Morris 59, Kentucky 57........................ March 19, 2013 – NIT Robert Morris 89, St. John’s 78........................ March 18, 2014 – NIT Robert Morris 81, North Florida 77................. March 18, 2015 – NCAA
MID-MAJOR:
An 11-Year Study (2007 to 2018) Since the beginning of the 2007-08 season, Robert Morris has become one of the nation’s elite in regard to mid-major basketball. Over the last 11 years, the Colonials have compiled an overall record of 223-154 (.592), with the 223 victories tied for 20th among mid-major programs during that span. RMU is one of just 23 mid-major programs to average at least 20 victories over the last 11 years … School
Conference
Overall Record
Average Wins/Season
1. Gonzaga
West Coast
324-66 (.831)
29.5
2. Saint Mary’s
West Coast
293-80 (.786)
26.6
3. BYU
West Coast
284-104 (.732)
25.8
4. Stephen F. Austin
Southland
273-87 (.758)
24.8
5. Belmont
Ohio Valley
262-103 (.718)
23.8
6. Murray State
Ohio Valley
254-105 (.708)
23.1
Vermont
America East
254-120 (.679)
23.1
New Mexico State
Mountain West
254-123 (.674)
23.1
9. Akron
Mid-American
251-131 (.657)
22.8
10. Kent State
Mid-American
235-142 (.623)
21.4
11. Northern Iowa
Missouri Valley
232-137 (.629)
21.1
Valparaiso
Missouri Valley
232-140 (.624)
21.1
13. Weber State
Big Sky
228-126 (.644)
20.7
14. Iona
Metro Atlantic
227-141 (.617)
20.6
15. Illinois State
Missouri Valley
226-144 (.611)
20.5
16. Charleston
Colonial Athletic
225-146 (.606)
20.5
17. Montana
Big Sky
224-125 (.642)
20.4
Sam Houston State
Southland
224-141 (.614)
20.4
East Tennessee State
Southern
224-146 (.605)
20.4
20. Oakland
Horizon
223-151 (.596)
20.3
Robert Morris
Northeast
223-154 (.592)
20.3
22. South Dakota State
Summit
221-143 (.607)
20.1
Ohio
Mid-American
221-151 (.594)
20.1
women’s basketball
NEC Brenda Reilly Coach of the Year Sal Buscaglia – 2010, 2014
NEC Brenda Reilly Coach of the Year Charlie Buscaglia – 2017, 2018
NEC Defensive Player of the Year Angela Pace – 2010
NEC Regular-Season Champions 2007 • 2008 • 2010 • 2014 • 2017 • 2018
NCAA Tournament
2007 • 2008 • 2014 • 2017 • 2018
Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) NEC Rookie of the Year
Artemis Spanou 2011
2010 • 2018
NEC Rookie of the Year
Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI)
Ashley Ravelli 2013
2012
NEC Player of the Year
2008
SADE LOGAN
2010
ANGELA PACE
2013, 2014
ARTEMIS SPANOU
2017
ANNA NIKI STAMOLAMPROU
NEC Tourname
2007
20
2008
ent Champions
2016
014
2017
men’s ice hockey
AHA TOU
2014
RNAMEN
T CHAM
PIONS
AHA Regular-Season Championships 2015 • 2016
15 • 2016
2012 • 20
AHA Coach of the Year
ERS THREE RIVMPIONS CHA CLASSIC
Derek Schooley – 2015
2007
NYE FRONTIE R CLA CHAMPIONS SSIC
CHA Player of the Year
Ryan Cruthers – 2008
AHA Best Defenseman
Denny Urban – 2011
AHA Player of the Year
Zac Lynch – 2016
LANDMARK VICTORIES Robert Morris 4, #2 Notre Dame 2...... Jan. 7, 2007 Robert Morris 3, #1 Miami (Ohio) 1..... Jan. 8, 2010 Robert Morris 2, #1 Miami (Ohio) 1..... Jan. 10, 2010 Robert Morris 1, #5 Miami (Ohio) 0.... Dec. 29, 2012 Robert Morris 7, Canisius 4................... March 22, 2014
AHA Sportsmanship Award
Furman South – 2011
AHA Best Defensive Forward
Nick Chiavetta – 2012
women’s ice hockey
CHA TOU
2012
RNAMEN
Paul Colontino
CHA Coach of the Year 2012 • 2017
USCHO National Coach of the Year 2012
T CHAM
PIONS
CHA Goaltending Trophy Kristen DiCiocco – 2012
2017 • 2018
CHA REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS CHA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
Brianne McLaughlin (2005-09)
★ NCAA Career Saves Leader (3,809) ★ Two-Time Olympic Silver Medalist (2010, 2014) ★ 2011 & 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championships Gold Medal ★ 2012 IIHF World Women’s Championships Silver Medal
2011
THEA IMBROGNO
2012
REBECCA VINT
CHA Rookie of the Year
2014
JESSICA DODDS
2017
JAYCEE GEBHARD
CHA Best Defenseman
2018
KIRSTEN WELSH
Brittany Howard (2013-18))
★ Two-time CHA Player of the Year (2017, 2018) ★ Two-time CHA Scoring Trophy (2017, 2018) ★ Three-time All-CHA First Team (2016, 2017, 2018) ★ 2017 Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year ★ RMU all-time leader in points (181), goals (79) and assists (102)
soccer
2005
IONS
CHAMP T N E M A N R U O T NEC — AND — ENT NCAA TOURNAM
NEC Player of the Year
Neco Brett – 2013, 2014, 2015
NEC Rookie of the Year
Daniel Calabretta – 2010
John Kowalski
NEC Coach of the Year 2015
NEC Rookie of the Year
Kathleen Caggiano – 2007
NEC Coach of the Year Michael Smith – 2013
NEC Rookie of the Year Tip Worob – 2011 Ryan Hertzog – 2013 WOMEN
NEC Rookie of the Year
Erika Suhy – 2000 Merel Van Steenbergen – 2010 Marissa Polk – 2011
cross country
MEN
volleyball
Alaina
GIBSON
Tawyna
STORINO
Alyssa
BENNETT
Emily
WOLTHUIS
NEC Player of the Year Katie Noble – 2001, 2002 Rachel Leitch – 2004
NEC Coach of the Year
Tim Horsmon – 1999, 2002 Rob Thomas – 2008
NEC Setter of the Year Tawyna Storino – 2007 Alyssa Bennett – 2008
NEC Libero of the Year Alaina Gibson – 2008
Rachel
LEITCH
NEC Rookie of the Year Emily Wolthuis – 2004 Alaina Gibson – 2005 Alyssa Bennett – 2008 Emma Granger – 2017
Katie
NOBLE
NEC Tournament MVP
Karla Barhorst – 2001, 2002
1999
2000
NEC Regular-Season Championships 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008
NEC Tournament Champions
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2015
2001
2003
golf
2015
NEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS AND NCAA TOURNAMENT (Team)
2013 GCAA David Toms Award — AND —
2015 NEC Golfer of the Year Ryan Prokay
NEC Golfer of the Year Halley Morell – 2014
NEC Golfer of the Year
MEN
— AND —
NEC Rookie of the Year Max Palmer – 2017
NEC Coach of the Year Jerry Stone – 2010, 2015 WOMEN
NEC Rookie of the Year Jenna Rinker – 2010
NEC Coach of the Year Jerry Stone – 2010
NCAA Tournament (Individual)
C.G. Mercatoris – 2011
women’s lacrosse
WOMEN
NEC Coach of the Year Katy Phillips – 2011
Jessica Karwacki (2013-16)
NEC Rookie of the Year
NCAA Division I Draw Controls Leader – Career (644) NCAA Division I Draw Controls Leader – Season (216) NCAA Division I Draw Controls Leader – Game (25)
NEC Midfielder of the Year
— AND —
Annie Sachs – 2017
men’s lacrosse
NEC Player of the Year — AND —
NEC Offensive Player of the Year Kiel Matisz – 2012
NEC Coach of the Year Drew McMinn – 2012, 2017
NEC Defensive Player of the Year Sean Meagher – 2013
2018
NEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
NEC Regular-Season Champions 2012
NEC Player of the Year
NEC Rookie of the Year
Trevor Moore – 2010, 2011
Ryan Smith – 2017
NEC Defensive Player of the Year Zach Bryant – 2018
softball
NEC Coaching Staff of the Year Robert Morris – 2011, 2012, 2015
NEC Player of the Year Lauren Dickinson – 2001 Keri Meyer – 2005
NEC Pitcher of the Year
Lauren Dickinson – 2001 Danielle Cohen – 2005 Nicole Sleith – 2012, 2013, 2015
NEC Golden Glove
Samantha Santillo – 2012, 2013, 2014
NEC Rookie of the Year Kali Byers – 2003 Jessica Calderone – 2008 Nicole Sleith – 2012 Ashley Gerhart – 2013
NEC Coach of the Year Craig Coleman – 2005
Jessica
CALDERONE
1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
NEC REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
Danielle
COHEN
Ashley
GERHART
Nicole
SLEITH
Samantha
SANTILLO
2005
NEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
Kali
BYERS
Keri
MEYER
Lauren
DICKINSON
women’s track & field
Indoor NEC Most Valuable Performer Genita Dickey – 2001
NEC Most Outstanding Performer (Track)
Genita Dickey – 2000, 2001
NEC Most Outstanding Performer (Field) Nicole Downing – 2004
NEC Most Outstanding Performer (Jumps) Lilly Harnish – 2018
NEC Rookie of the Meet
Merel Van Steenbergen – 2011
NEC Coach of the Year Bill Hodge – 1998
ECAC Champion
Bethany Ledford (Pole Vault) – 2014
Nicole
DOWNING
Rachael
KOTULA
Genita
Outdoor
DICKEY
NEC Most Outstanding Performer (Field)
Nicole Downing – 2004, 2005 Rachael Kotula – 2014 Rachel Boody (throws) – 2017 Lilly Harnish (jumps) – 2017, 2018 Estelle Katende (throws) – 2018
NEC Most Outstanding Rookie Performer Sam Buck – 2016 Lilly Harnish – 2017
NEC Coach of the Year Michael Smith – 2014
NCAA Championships Participation Stephanie Kuhn (Javelin) – 2007
men’s track & field
Indoor NEC Most Valuable Performer Jarrad Pencek – 1999 Mike Booth – 2006
NEC Most Outstanding Performer (Track) Mike Booth – 2006
NEC Most Outstanding Performer (Field)
Jarrad Pencek – 2000, 2001, 2002
NEC Coach of the Year Bill Hodge – 1999 Drew Dershimer – 2000 Michael Smith – 2006
IC4A Champion
Jeff Witmyer (High Jump) – 2008
Jarrad
PENCEK
Outdoor NCAA All-America First Team
Chris Carper (Javelin) – 2014
NEC Most Outstanding Performer (Field) Jarrad Pencek – 2000 Steve Mitchell – 2011
NEC Rookie of the Meet Andrew McCloskey – 2006
NEC Coach of the Year
Drew Dershimer – 2000 Michael Smith – 2011, 2013
Mike
BOOTH
rowing Margaret McNiff Trophy
Dad Vail Regatta (Philadelphia, Pa.) Varsity 4 – 2000, 2001
2015
IN-SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS Spring Metropolitan Champions
community service
COLONIALS IN THE COMMUNITY The Robert Morris Department of Athletics continues to be an active member of the community, both on a local and regional level. Some highlights of the past 10 years ‌
special events
The Robert Morris Department of Athletics is an active participant in attracting various events to the Pittsburgh region, with one of the highlights the 2013 NCAAŽ Men’s Frozen Four, which consisted of Quinnipiac, St. Cloud State, UMass-Lowell and eventual 2013 national champion Yale.
UPMC EVEN
Comin
Robert Morris University announced Jan. 10, 2017, the addition of the UPMC Events Center, a 140,000-square foot complex for the Colonials NCAA Division I basketball and volleyball teams, which will play in Peoples Court. The UPMC Events Center is the main part of a $50 million project that also includes a student recreation and fitness center on RMU’s Moon Township campus. The project will be funded largely through individual donations and corporate sponsorships, including sponsorships from UPMC, Peoples, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, PJ Dick, and PNC. The project also has received a grant through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
NTS CENTER
ng 2019
In addition to the 4,000-plus-seat Peoples Court, a practice court, locker rooms, a strength and conditioning center, offices for athletics, concessions and a souvenir shop, the UPMC Events Center will feature 11,000 square feet of conference and meeting space for campus events and outside organizations. Plans call for the center to open in 2019. “With a new venue of this quality and size, RMU cements its status as a university on the rise,” said RMU President Chris Howard. “Not only is it a significant regional asset, it’s a facility worthy of the success for our athletics programs and reflective of our status as a nationally ranked university. This is a great day for the Colonial Nation.” Continued ➞
“UPMC is thrilled to be a leading partner with Robert Morris University in this exciting endeavor that will provide long-lasting health and wellness benefits to not only the RMU community but also to people and businesses in this entire region. We applaud and share RMU’s commitment to provide our communities with nothing less than world-class care and facilities,” said Jeffrey Romoff, president and CEO of UPMC. As part of a broader strategic collaboration with RMU, UPMC will become the exclusive provider of sports medicine to the university’s 16 NCAA Division I sports programs, and the UPMC Health Plan will administer the university’s employees’ health insurance benefits. UPMC already provides health care to RMU students at UPMC MyHealth@School, an on-campus health and wellness center that opened in the fall. The UPMC Events Center will bring the Airport Corridor an attractive new venue for public speakers, conventions, expos, concerts, graduation ceremonies and other family entertainment options. It also will host the university’s annual convocation and commencement ceremonies, which have outgrown their current location. All three teams that will play at Peoples Court — men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball — have won the Northeast Conference title and advanced to the NCAA tournament in the last three years.