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EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University's student-athletes finished the 2016-17 academic year with a 3.22 cumulative grade-point average, the highest in department history.

In addition, the Warriors placed 176 student-athletes on the spring 2017 Dean's List for compiling at least a 3.5 GPA during the spring semester.

ESU student-athletes also set department records for highest cumulative GPA's for women's student-athletes (3.36) and men's student-athletes (2.98). All 12 women's varsity sports maintained at least a 3.0 GPA.

ESU placed 221 student-athletes, another department-best, on the PSAC Scholar-Athlete list, representing 48 percent of its 462 student-athletes overall.

Student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average while competing in an intercollegiate varsity sport to be eligible.

In the last six years, the Warriors have climbed from 145 selections in 2010-11, 153 in 2011-12, 160 in 2012-13, 153 in 2013-14, 177 in 2014-15 and 191 in 2015-16.

"This year's accolades are a remarkable accomplishment for our student-athletes and a measure of their dedication to compete off the field," said Josh Looney, Director of Athletics. "It's a true testament to their efforts as well as the commitment of numerous faculty and coaches on this campus that creates a culture where these achievements are possible."

"It's exciting to see the progress made by our student-athletes over the last several years, improving on an already high standard," said Dr. Nancy Jo Greenawalt, Associate Athletic Director of Student Success and Senior Woman Administrator. "This year is record-setting, and both a culmination of the work that our student-athletes have done and a benchmark for what's to come. They are to be commended for their high level of academic success."

"The academic performance of our student-athletes is the product of an entire campus community working harmoniously to ensure student success," said Dr. Shawn Munford, Faculty Athletics Representative. "Our faculty, support staff, campus community and most of all our student-athletes should feel extremely proud and be commended for their efforts, and we look forward to building on these accomplishments."

In April, the Warriors recognized five student-athletes as Distinguished Scholars, maintaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA while completing at least 60 credits - Devon Ackerman (football), Abigail Kaspszyk (women's cross country/track & field), Sydney McCarthy (field hockey), Andrea Polanco (women's soccer) and Danielle Swingle (women's track & field).

In major regional and national awards this academic year, ESU had six student-athletes named to CoSIDA Academic All-America teams in their sports, eight named to Academic All-District teams and three to the PSAC Top 10.

ESU's 103 Academic All-District selections in the last 10 years (2007-08 through 2016-17) are tied for second-most of 18 schools in the PSAC, and its 29 PSAC Top 10 selections in that time frame are third in the conference.

Earning Academic All-America honors were redshirt junior Devon Ackerman (football), seniors Hannah Gombos and Andrea Polanco (women's soccer), seniors Danielle Ard and Emily Howell (women's at-large/field hockey) and graduate student Alex Zubko (men's track & field/cross country). Ackerman and Zubko were first team Academic All-America selections for the second straight year.

Also earning Academic All-District status were senior Shea Neal (women's soccer) and junior Christian Bukowski (men's soccer).

PSAC Top 10 recipients were Ackerman and Howell in the fall, and Zubko in the spring.

The PSAC recognized a total of 2,901 student-athletes on this year's list, representing 41 percent of the total student-athlete population. Last year, 2,818 student-athletes, 40 percent of the total population, were recognized.

The PSAC will recognize its scholar-athletes of the year next week. The award, now in its 27th year, was renamed in 2007 to honor Pete Nevins, ESU's sports information director of 33 years (1969-2002) who passed away earlier that year.


Below is the list of ESU's 2016-17 Scholar-Athletes:

Baseball - Ben Bortz, Nick DiEva, Noah Gingrich, Zachary Marzano, Joey Paolini, Billy Sablinski, Casey Saverio, Tyler Stafursky, Dylan Tamecki, PJ Van Orman, Jay Young; Basketball - Montrel Morgan, Kobi Nwandu, Michal Weiss; Cross Country - Tom Ciaccio, Jared Glosser, Zack Krieger, Alec Lederer, Matt Lloyd, J.P. Montgomery, Taylor Piekos, Jeremy Rigotti, Jeremy Smith, Alex Zubko; Football - Devon Ackerman, Bruce Campbell, Wyatt Clements, Greg Cooper, Dakota Everett, Michael Fleming, Gabe French, Anthony Guarino, Mike Manzo-Lewis, Chase May, Fran McMenamin, James McNulty, Ben Moser, Dylan Murphy, Levi Murphy, Sam O'Brien, Sean Roth, Jimmy Verzicco, Mike Wiand; Soccer - Casey Albino, Cory Binagia, Christian Bukowski, Jordon Ellison, Ryan Lesane, Brandon Levano, Andrew McGinley, James McMahon, Olatunde Oladipo, Will Stewart, Irvin Zuzic; Track & Field - Sam Avalos, Anthony Del Popolo, Sean Hagerty, Jonathan Hummel, Andrew Lopez, Mike Matrisciano, Andrew Schumacher, Justin Wulff; Wrestling - Blake Cohen, Pierre Liciaga, Daniel Makagon, John Pellegrino, Christian Silva.

Basketball - Alison Bauman, Courtney Brown, Sadie Cresswell, Jordan Hertz, Tiffany Lapotsky, Ann McKnight, Madison Tamburini; Cross Country - Jasmine Amro, Steph Belbey, Christina Borghese, Allison Decker, Rachel Eidson, Abigail Kaspszyk, Gabby Rachmaciej, Jenna Vledder, Kaylyn West, Samantha Young; Field Hockey - Danielle Ard, Ashley Chioda, Amanda Crampton, Samantha DeVivo, Kristen English, Morgan Firestine, Halle Frisco, Paige Harrold, Emily Howell, Courtney Kwiatkowski, Desiraye Mack, Makenna Marhefka, Grace Martini, Sydney McCarthy, Sara Ober, Brianna Sassaman, Melanie Shambaugh, Kelli Shapiro, Emily Spangler, Robin Stevenson, Karisa Turner; Golf - Amy Bergquist, Brianna Carty, Caterina Daniels, Mackenzie Mathna, Samantha Miller; Lacrosse - Megan Bender, Sarah Campbell, Hana Cicerelle, Bridget Cullinane, Bethany Cunningham, Sarah DeHaven, Emily Fitzsimmons, Juliane Fitzsimmons, Brooke Fritz, Lauren Green, Victoria Gross, Natalie Jacobs, TJ Jefferis, Kerry Mulcahy, Madison Mulligan, Chessie Rahmer, Nicole Rizzo, Emma Rufolo; Soccer - Carly Abbott, Nicole Abbott, Madeline Armstrong, Cristina Babyak, Courtney Bennett, Liia Carpenter, Danielle Cary, Danielle Curran, Makena D'Arpino, Kyra Dubost, Juliane Fitzsimmons, Hannah Gombos, Jules Harris, Syd Hicks, Abby Marchese, Madeline Martin, Alexa Moors, Mary Gene Mugnier, Shea Neal, Laurel Neira, Holly Nicolardi, Sammi Ortiz, Alex Pickett, Andrea Polanco, Brooke Powers, Christina Shannon, Jules Sicker, Alyssa Simeone, Amy Strauser;  Softball - Kendra Barlotta, Gina Gatto, Janine Giordano, Katherine Liedberg, Bianca Monterosso, Madison Oren, Madison Vicendese, Mary Wallick, Danielle Wissinger; Swimming - Allison Cardow, Kaitlyn Casciole, Colleen Dwyer, Annie Fagan, Alexandra Ferrante, Victoria Gurdak, Tarah Killane, Jennifer Lauer, Olivia Lukshides, Samantha Pelletier, Rebecca Samson, Shirley Samson, Allison Young, Dani Zimmerman, Kate Zimmerman; Tennis - Elizabeth Bartoli, Morgan Buchter, Amber Jadus, Kayla Loar, Lauren Morrissey, Devin Presby, Aubrianna Stetina, Marina Zardet; Track & Field - Me'Saj Closs, Victoria Collins, Courtney Conway, Leiana Dean, Hope Decker, Morgan Dey, Shante Dorin, Carly Gregas, Barbara Grossov, Erin Grucelski, Sarah Klag, Decontee Krayee, Sarah Larkin, Hannah Marth, Denasia Mosteller, Maddie Reichard, Allyson Stitzer, Kelley Anne Stuetz, Danielle Swingle, Brandie Tartza, Sydney Utesch, Arianna Ventura, Taylor Watkins, Tiana Webster, Michayla Weitman; Volleyball - Hanna Bergen, Erica Cunningham, Sam Dunphy, Kimberly McCann, Abby Moore, Tina Predojevic, Maddie Reichard, Katie Shumanis, Rosa Veliky.