Navy Sports

Navy Tennis -- Mids Garner Final Regional Ranking

For Immediate Release
Sent Thursday, June 7, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Mids Earn Final Tennis Region Ranking

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy tennis team placed 13th in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Northeast Region Ranking of the season, the organization announced this week. The Mids, who this year won the Patriot League title and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years, last garnered a regional ranking in 2000 when the computer-generated poll placed the Mids 11th.

Navy's challenging 2007 schedule saw the Mids face five teams which also garnered a Northeast Region ranking and four additional teams which were ranked in one of the other regions across the country.


Final ITA Northeast Region Ranking
1 - Virginia Tech
2 - Penn State
3 - Columbia
4 - Penn
5 - Princeton
6 - Harvard
7 - Yale
8 - Brown
9 - Cornell
10 - Dartmouth
11 - St. John's
12 - Georgetown
13 - Navy
14 - Manhattan
15 - Army
 
Navy Baseball: Harris Drafted in 24th Round by Atlanta Braves

For Immediate Release
Friday, June 8, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Harris Drafted by Atlanta Braves in 24th Round

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Calif. - Navy baseball right-handed pitcher Mitch Harris (Jr./Mt. Holly, N.C.) became the second player in program history selected by a Major League Baseball franchise when he was picked in the 24th round by the Atlanta Braves during the First-Year Player Draft on Friday afternoon.

Harris, this year’s 738th pick, is the first Navy junior to be drafted in program history and the first Midshipmen player selected in the MLB draft since Matt Foster in 2003. Foster was taken in the 13th round by the Toronto Blue Jays following his four-year career in Annapolis.

“We are extremely happy for Mitch today,” stated Navy head coach Paul Kostaopoulos. “It’s every young ballplayer’s dream growing up to one day get drafted by a major league team.”

Over the last-two seasons, the hard-throwing Navy right-hander has compiled an 18-8 record and a 1.95 ERA with 232 strikeouts in 171.0 innings. Harris completed his 2007 campaign with an 8-5 mark and a 2.14 ERA in 88.1 innings of work. He established a Patriot League record with 119 strikeouts and limited the opposition to a minuscule .181 batting average. Coming into this week’s NCAA Super Regional action, he ranks among the country’s top-25 pitchers in strikeouts per nine innings (fifth), strikeouts (18th) and ERA (23rd).

The product of Mt. Holly, N.C., earned Third-Team All-American honors in 2006 with a sensational sophomore campaign, where he went 10-3 with a 1.74 ERA in 82.2 innings and struck out 113 batters. He completed his 2006 season with the fifth complete game no-hitter in program history, recording the feat against Coppin State on May 10. He was one of only six pitchers in the country to rank among the nation’s top 35 in wins (34th), ERA (ninth) and strikeouts per nine innings (fourth).

A two-way threat as a hitter, Harris led the 2007 squad in doubles (10), triples (four), home runs (eight), RBI (47) and slugging (.534). His season total in home runs and RBI were tops among all Patriot League hitters.

Harris, who will play in the Cape Cod League with the Bourne Braves this summer, has been a key element to Navy’s success over the past two seasons. The Midshipmen have posted a 67-41-1 (.619) mark during that span and broke the school record for victories in a season with 35 this year.
 
Mids Ranked 48th by Athon Preseason Magazine

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 8, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Mids Ranked 48th by Athon Preseason Magazine

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The Navy football team is ranked 48th out of 119 teams by Athlon in their 2007 college football preseason magazine.

Rutgers (10th), Wake Forest (32nd) and Notre Dame (38th) were all ranked ahead of the Midshipmen, while Pitt (55th), Air Force (87th), Ball State (93rd), Northern Illinois (96th), Duke (98th), Army (111th), North Texas (114th) and Temple (115th) were all ranked behind Navy. Athlon did not rank I-AA Delaware.

Navy opens up the 2007 campaign on Friday, Aug. 31 at Temple in a 7:30 p.m. contest. The home opener is Saturday, Sept. 15 against Ball State at 5 p.m. Season tickets can still be purchased on-line at navysports.com or by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY
 
Navy Baseball: Johnston Taken in 42nd Round by Oakland Athletics

For Immediate Release
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Johnston Taken in 42nd Round by Oakland Athletics

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Two Navy baseball players were drafted by a Major League Baseball franchise in the same year for the first time in program history on Friday, as former Navy baseball catcher Jonathan Johnston (Hamilton Township, N.J.) was taken in the 42nd round by the Oakland Athletics.

Johnston, the 1266th pick of this year’s draft and a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, joined former teammate Mitch Harris (Jr./Mt. Holly, N.C.) on the draft board during the second day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Harris was selected in the 24th round by the Atlanta Braves earlier in the day on Friday.

Johnston became the first Navy position player in school history to be drafted by a MLB franchise and the third overall player in program history selected in the draft. Harris and Matt Foster, the Toronto Blue Jays’ 13th round pick of the 2003 draft, represent the other two Midshipmen ballplayers taken in the MLB draft.

“We are proud of Jonathan and this really shows his passion for baseball,” stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. “He continued to stay with his dream of playing baseball while serving his country onboard the USS Peleliu.”

Johnston was a four-year member of the Navy baseball squad between 2003-06, playing in 145 games with 129 starts during his career. He batted .270 over his four years with 20 doubles, 57 RBI and 59 stolen bases, tied for the most in program history.

The product of Hamilton Township, N.J., earned Second-Team All-Patriot League honors in 2006, as he started all 54 games, 49 of which came behind the plate. He set a school record for stolen bases in a year with 35 base swipes, while batting .317 with 51 runs, 64 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, a home run, 27 RBI and 29 walks. The 51 runs scored are the fourth-most in program history and the 64 base knocks ranks sixth on the school’s all-time list.

Defensively, Johnston gunned down 49 base stealers in his career and threw out 10-plus runners over his final-three campaigns. In addition to the success throwing out base stealers, he picked off eight runners from behind the plate between his junior and senior seasons.

The former Navy catcher was a key component to the success of the 2006 Midshipmen, as that team won 32 games, the third-highest total in school history and the largest win improvement in program history.
 
Navy's Harris picked by Braves in MLB draft

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_09-25/NAS

Junior right-hander selected in 24th round

Navy baseball right-handed pitcher Mitch Harris became the second player in program history selected by a Major League Baseball franchise when he was picked in the 24th round by the Atlanta Braves during the First-Year Player Draft yesterday afternoon.

Harris, this year's 738th pick, is the first Navy junior to be drafted in program history and the first Midshipmen player selected in the MLB draft since Matt Foster in 2003. Foster was taken in the 13th round by the Toronto Blue Jays following his four-year career in Annapolis....
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Point guard jumps ship, decides to go with Navy

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_09-19/NAS

Texas basketball player transfers from Idaho

O.J. Avworo, who recently announced his intention to transfer to Navy, wanted more out of his college basketball experience than he was getting at Idaho. The Texas native wanted to play for a winning program alongside people of character and dedication. The 6-foot, 180-pound point guard also wanted to use basketball to get a quality education.

After spending one season in Moscow playing for a team nicknamed the Vandals, Avworo realized he needed to look elsewhere to achieve his goals....
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Broadneck grad, ex-Mid drafted

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_10-66/SPO

Former Broadneck High standout Preston Pehrson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles on the 47th round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft on Friday.

Pehrson, an Arnold resident, had transferred to Towson University, but hasn't played for the Tigers. The outfielder played two years at Jacksonville before trasferring to Texas and then Towson....
Click to expand...
 
Navy Women's Cross Country/Track & Field: Two Mids Named Academic All-District

For Immediate Release
Monday, June 11, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Two Midshipmen Named to Academic All-District Team

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy’s Kirsten Andrews (Sr./New Holland, Pa.) and Allison Barlow (Sr./Orange Park, Fla.) have been selected ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-District members for women’s track & field/cross country, it was announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) last week.

Courtesy of their first-team academic all-district honors, both Andrews and Barlow have been added to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America ballot, along with the first-team members from the other seven districts across the country.

Andrews, a 2006 ESPN The Magazine Third-Team Academic All-American, broke four school records during her senior campaign and graduated from the Academy holding six program records. The indoor team captain earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors in five events this year and was named the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Meet at both the indoor and outdoor championship in 2007. She has earned All-East recognition six times during her career and became the first midshipman in program history to compete in two events at the NCAA East Region Championship last year. At the 2007 NCAA regional championship, she tied for eighth place in the pole vault, the highest finish by a Navy competitor in school history.

In the classroom, Andrews earned a 3.91 cumulative grade point average while majoring in quantitative economics. The two-time Patriot League Women’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year posted a 4.0 grade point average during each of her final-four semesters and graduated 37th out of her class of 1046. She was named to the Superintendent’s List each of the last-four semesters and was honored on the Commandant’s List during all eight of her semesters in Annapolis. This spring, the product of New Holland, Pa., was one of 29 females in the country to earn a NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, which she will use while doing graduate studies in the field of operations research at the University of Delaware.

Barlow was a four-year competitor on both the Navy women’s cross country and track & field squads. The 2003 First-Team All-Patriot League runner posted the sixth-fastest time (23:05.18) in USNA Cross Country Course history this past season against Army and scored in all six of her races. With the track & field team, she qualified for the ECAC Championship in the 10,000-meter run this spring and holds two of the ten-fastest times in program history.

Academically, Barlow maintained a 3.84 cumulative grade point average while majoring in honors oceanography. She was named to both the Superintendent’s and Commandant’s Lists during all of her eight semesters on The Yard, earning a 4.0 grade point average in three semesters. The native of Orange Park, Fla., graduated from the Academy at the top of her class in Military Order of Merit and 29th in Overall Order of Merit (Academic and Military Orders of Merit).

Initial nominees for the all-district voting must be of at least sophomore standing, have a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and either are a starter or key reserve.
 
Navy Men's Cross Country/Track & Field: Niemi Named to Academic All-District Team

For Immediate Release
Monday, June 11, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Niemi Selected to Academic All-District Team

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy’s Michael Niemi (Sr./Duluth, Minn.) has been selected as an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District member for men’s track & field/cross country, it was announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) last week.

By virtue of his academic all-district distinction, Niemi has been added to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America ballot, along with the first-team members from the other seven districts across the nation.

Niemi, the 2006 Patriot League Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year, served on both the Navy men’s cross country and track & field teams during his four-year career in Annapolis. He ran in 21 cross country meets between 2003-06 and scored in all seven meets this season, highlighted by four top-15 finishes. With the track & field squad, the product of Duluth, Minn., posted a victory in three different events and competed at the IC4A Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase this year. In 2006, he earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors by winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the league’s outdoor championship.

In the classroom, Niemi graduated 19th in his class of 1046 with a 3.94 cumulative grade point average while majoring in systems engineering. He posted a 4.0 grade point average in five semesters, earning Superintendent’s List recognition five times and Commandant’s List honors on seven occasions. The three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member in both cross country and track & field maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average among his major’s courses.

Initial nominees for the all-district voting must be of at least sophomore standing, have a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and either are a starter or key reserve.
 
Naval Academy Extends Radio Partnership with Bonneville Radio To 2008-09

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 11, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Naval Academy Extends Radio Partnership with Bonneville Radio To 2008-09

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced Monday that the Naval Academy Athletic Association has extended it's partnership with Bonneville Radio (Washington Post Radio and Federal News Radio) through 2008-09 to air Navy football, basketball and lacrosse games in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Washington Post Radio and Federal News Radio join WBAL, the 50,000-watt station in Baltimore that is also the home of the Baltimore Ravens, 1430 WNAV in Annapolis and Sirius Satellite Radio to give Navy one of the strongest radio networks in the country. Bob Socci and Omar Nelson will return to call the action on the Navy Football Radio Network and will be joined by author and sportswriter John Feinstein for pregame commentary and a select number of games.

Washington Post Radio (1500 AM and 107.7 FM), a 50,000-watt station that is also the home of the Washington Nationals, will air Navy football games, while Federal News Radio (1050 AM) will broadcast all football games, a
minimum of 10 basketball games and four lacrosse games.

"We are excited that Bonneville Radio will continue to be the home for Navy Athletics in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia markets, as well as points south," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "Washington Post Radio has a powerful signal that will allow our fans from as far away as Norfolk to pick up our games loud and clear. Between WBAL and the three Bonneville signals, Navy fans will continue to be able to get our
broadcast over the air waves up and down the Eastern Seaboard."

"We are excited to continue this successful relationship," said Jeffrey Wolinsky, Director of Sports Sales for Bonneville Radio. "It's a partnership which gives us local sports programming and gives listeners the chance to hear Navy Athletics from Baltimore to Norfolk."

As part of the agreement, the Bonneville stations will air a 60-minute pre-game show and a 30-minute post-game show for all Navy football games and will air a weekly Navy Magazine show. Washington Post Radio will also rebroadcast each Navy football game every Saturday night at midnight.

Navy kicks off the 2007 season Friday, Aug. 31 at Temple, while the home opener is Saturday, Sept. 15 against Ball State. Season tickets are still available by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY, on the web at www.navysports.com or at
the Ricketts Hall Box Office.
 
Navy Football Players To Sign Autographs At Camden Yards Wednesday And Thursday Night

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 11, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Navy Football Players To Sign Autographs At Camden Yards Wednesday And Thursday Night

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The Naval Academy Athletic Association will have a Navy Football information table set up on Eutaw Street (in front of the warehouse) from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday night before the Baltimore Oriole-Washington National games.

Fans can stop by and enter a raffle to win two tickets to the Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, a football autographed by head coach Paul Johnson and a Navy apparel package. Information will also be available on
season and single-game tickets, The Blue & Gold Club and the Kids Club. Free posters and schedule cards will be available at the table and there will be special appearances by Bill the Goat at both contests.

Seniors Adam Ballard, Troy Goss and Zerbin Singleton will be on hand Wednesday night signing autographs, while seniors Josh Meek, Antron Harper and Andrew McGinn will be there on Thursday night to sign autographs.

Navy kicks off the 2007 campaign Aug. 31 at Temple, while the home opener is Saturday, Sept. 15 against Ball State. Season tickets are still available by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY or by logging on to www.navysports.com
 
Navy Golf - Renninger named an Academic All-American

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Men's Golf Contact: Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773
For more information on Navy Golf, log on to www.NavySports.com


Navy Golfer Chris Renninger Named an Academic All-American

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy junior golfer Chris Renninger (Darnestown, Md.) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large Second Team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) it was announced on Tuesday. Renninger is the third Naval Academy student-athlete to garner ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America status this year, joining women's soccer players Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.), who was named to the first team in the fall, and second-team member Kari Weniger (St. Petersburg, Fla.). Meanwhile, he is the Mids' first golfer to be named an Academic All-American since Billy Hurley garnered accolades in 2004.

Carrying a 4.00 grade-point average in chemistry, Renninger stands No. 1 in his class of more than 1,000 students. Renninger has earned a 4.00 in seven consecutive semesters, while being named to the Commandant's List five times, the Dean's List four times and the Superintendent's List twice.

This spring, Renninger garnered First-Team All-Patriot League honors after turning in a 3-over par 213 at the Patriot League Championship to finish second, just a stroke behind medalist Matt Czarnecki of Holy Cross. The two-time All-Patriot League selection finished the year with team's low average, posting a 75.6 over 21 rounds. He finished among the top 20 in five of the 10 events in which he played, while posting three top-10 finishes and a pair of top-five marks. Renninger was Navy's top finisher in four events, including his second-place finish at the Patriot League Championship and a fourth-place mark at the Navy Fall Invitational.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00 and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing. The academic at-large team represents athletes participating in bowling (w), crew (w), fencing (m/w), field hockey (w), golf (m/w), gymnastics (m/w), ice hockey (m/w), lacrosse (m/w), rifle (m/w), skiing (m/w), swimming (m/w), tennis (m/w), volleyball (m), water polo (m/w) and wrestling (m).
 
Johnson Named The Most Underrated Coach In America By Athlon

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 12, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Johnson Named The Most Underrated Football Coach In America By Athlon

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy head football coach Paul Johnson was named the most underrated football coach in the country by Athlon Sports in their Eastern Football publication. The top five consisted of Johnson, Chris Petersen of Boise State, Bill Cubit of Western Michigan, Bret Bielema of Wisconsin and Ralph Friedgen of Maryland.

It's no surprise that Athlon selected Johnson as the most underrated coach. After all, what he has accomplished at the Naval Academy in five seasons has been of historic proportions.

Johnson took over a program that had posted a 1-20 record the previous two years before his arrival in 2002. After a 2-10 mark in his first year, the Navy football program has achieved what many thought was no longer possible at an Academy, as Johnson has brought the Midshipmen back into the national spotlight with a 35-15 (.700) record over the last four years and has led Navy to a school-record four-straight bowl games and a school-record four-consecutive Commander-In-Chief's Trophies. The 35 wins are the second most in program history over a four-year time span.

Johnson has dominated the other two Service Academies like no other coach in the school's annals posting a 9-1 (.900) overall record, including a perfect 5-0 mark against rival Army. Last year's senior class was the first in school history to post a perfect 8-0 mark against Army and Air Force.

Johnson's .744 career winning percentage (99-34) ranks 10th among all active coaches, while a win over Temple in the season opener this fall would make him the 26th-fastest coach to reach 100 wins in NCAA history.

Like a fine wine, Johnson's teams are better as they age. Over the last four years, Navy has posted a 10-2 (.833) record over the final three games of the season and has outscored the opposition, 464-246, in those contests. And if you give him time to prepare for an opponent, he is pretty tough to beat as well, as the Mids are 13-5 (.722) over the last four years when Johnson has more than a week to break down the other team's defense.

Navy's appearance in last year's Meineke Car Care Bowl was the Mids' fourth-straight bowl appearance with a different quarterback, marking just the fifth time in NCAA history that a team has made four or more bowl appearances with a different starting quarterback each season.

Johnson's teams have been successful off the field as well, as Navy ranks No. 1 in the country in graduation rates.

Johnson's triple option offense has been the backbone to the program's success as the Mids have led the nation in rushing three of the last five years. Last year, the Mids averaged a school-record 327.4 yards per contest.

Navy opens up the 2007 campaign on Friday, Aug. 31 at Temple in a 7:30 p.m. contest. The home opener is Saturday, Sept. 15 against Ball State at 5 p.m. Season tickets can still be purchased on-line at navysports.com or by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY
 
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Harper On Watch List For Outland Trophy

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 12, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Harper On Watch List For Outland Trophy

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy senior center Antron Harper (Eastman, Ga.) is on the initial watch list for the Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America announced Tuesday. Forty-one linemen from around the country have been nominated for consideration.

Harper enters the 2007 campaign as Navy's starting center after starting the last 25 games at right guard. He has been the top offensive lineman on a team that has led the nation in rushing in each of the last two seasons, including last year when the Mids averaged a school record 327.0 yards per contest. He has been named to the ESPN.Com All-Bowl team in each of the last two seasons and he is also on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Award, which is given to the nation's top center.

The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best interior lineman in college football since 1946. The winner is selected by the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee, which selects the association's 25-man All-America team and picks the three Outland Trophy finalists and the winner.

The 2007 Outland Trophy announcement will be on Dec. 6 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be in January 2008 in Omaha, Neb.

The Outland Trophy has been awarded annually by the FWAA since 1946. It is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas won the 2006 Outland Trophy.

Nebraska has more Outland Trophy winners than another school. Seven Cornhuskers have claimed the trophy, with Nebraska center Dave Rimington being the only player to win it twice (in 1981 and '82).

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 900 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.
 
Navy Ranked 64th By Lindy¹s

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 12, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Navy Ranked 64th By Lindy¹s

ANNAPOLIS, Md.‹The Navy football team is ranked 64th in the country by Lindy¹s College Football Preview Magazine. The Mids were projected to finish 8-4 on the year.

Rutgers (16th), Wake Forest (20th), Notre Dame (36th) and Pittsburgh (60th) were all ranked ahead of Navy, while Air Force (93rd), Duke (98th), Ball State (101st), Northern Illinois (105th), North Texas (112th), Army (114th) and Temple (118th) all trailed the Midshipmen. Delaware was ranked 14th in I-AA.

Navy opens up the 2007 campaign on Friday, Aug. 31 at Temple in a 7:30 p.m. contest. The home opener is Saturday, Sept. 15 against Ball State at 5 p.m. Season tickets can still be purchased on-line at navysports.com or by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY
 
Off the Yard: Volume IV

Posted on GoMids.com:

http://navy.scout.com/2/651180.html

The questions and comments came pouring into my “Off the Yard” e-mail inbox over the past week or two. It has gotten to a point where I am thinking about hiring a personal secretary to answer the messages. After Volume III, comments were up a whopping 100%! That’s right, instead of the column producing the normal one token response, this time I generated two!!!...
Click to expand...
 
Navy Women's Swimming -- Zahalka Named Academic All-American

For Immediate Release
Sent Thursday, June 14, 2007
Swimming & Diving Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy's Zahalka Receives National Academic Honor

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy swimming standout Kelly Zahalka (Richmond, Va.) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large Third Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization announced Thursday.

Zahalka, a rising junior, enjoyed a banner 2006-07 campaign both in the classroom and in the pool. A history major who is also working towards a minor in Chinese, Zahalka posted a 4.00 grade-point average during both semesters this year and ranks first in her class academically (second overall) with a 4.00 cumulate GPA.

Zahalka helped Navy claim the program's ninth Patriot League team title this year by winning the 200 fly, both individual medley events and a pair of relay titles at the league championship. She holds Navy, Patriot League and league meet records in the 200 butterfly (2:02.77) and 400 individual medley (4:22.95) events and has posted the third-fastest 200 IM clocking (2:03.44) in Navy history.

For her efforts this year, Zahalka became just the fourth person in league history to be tabbed as both the Patriot League Female Swimmer of the Championship Meet and the league's scholar-athlete of the year for the sport.

Additionally, she attained Honorable Mention Academic All-America status from the Collegiate Swimming Coaches Association of America this year for a combination of her classroom performance and for achieving an NCAA 'B' cut qualifying time in the two individual medley events.

With Zahalka's accolade, the Navy athletic program has now totaled four CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during the 2006-07 school year -- Lizzie Barnes, women's soccer, first team; Kari Weniger, women's soccer, second team; Chris Renninger, at-large (golf), second team.

Zahalka joins Cheryl Dolyniuk (1983, second team) and Leanne Fielding (1988, second team) as the lone previous Navy women's swimmers or divers to garner CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. She also is just the second Patriot League student-athlete from the sport to receive the accolade (Cheryl Meltz, Colgate, 1998, second team).

Zahalka was placed on the national ballot after being named First-Team All-District II in late May. To be initially eligible for the district ballot, student-athletes must be either a starter or key reserve in their sport, at least sophomore standing both athletically and academically at their current school and carry a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.20.

The women's at-large program consists of student-athletes from the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.
 
Navy Men's Soccer Releases Schedule

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Head men's soccer coach Rich Miranda has announced the 2007 Navy men's soccer schedule with eight home games and 17 games overall featured on the slate. The Mids will open the season on Aug. 31, at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility against Temple, beginning at 7:00 pm. The highlight of the home schedule features games against both service academy rivals, Air Force and Army.

The Mids open the season with the Temple contest, then will host Air Force at 3:00 pm on Sunday, Sept. 2. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1993, and the first time that Air Force will visit the Naval Academy since the 1983 campaign. Air Force owns a 3-2-2 series lead between the two rivals.

The following weekend, Navy will begin a four-game hiatus away from Annapolis, beginning with a pair of games in Baltimore against Iona (Sept. 7) and St. Francis (Pa.) (Sept. 9). The Mids have never played Iona or St. Francis (Pa.). On Sept. 21-23, Navy will head to the Sunshine State to battle Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida International University. The trip will be Navy's first trip to Florida since the final game of the 1998 season.

Navy will begin Patriot League play the next weekend (Sept. 29) when 2006 Patriot League Tournament champion Bucknell comes calling to Annapolis for a 7:00 pm tilt. The Mids will also host Philadelphia University on Oct. 2, also at 7:00 pm.

After a road contest at 2006 NCAA third-round participant Lehigh on Oct. 6, the Mids return home for a pair of contests against Howard (Oct. 9) and American (Oct. 13). The Mids will then step out of conference play again on Oct. 16, traveling to Morgantown, W.Va., for a match against West Virginia. The Mountaineers went 15-3-3 in 2006, won their first Big East regular-season title and were awarded with the No. 6 national seed in last year's NCAA Tournament.

Navy will host Holy Cross on Oct. 20, before hitting the road for a key three-game swing. The Mids will head to Longwood on Oct. 23, then will close out their Patriot League road schedule with a pair of games at Colgate (Oct. 27) and Lafayette (Nov. 3). Navy will close out the regular season at home with a Nov. 10 tilt against rival Army. The Mids own a 35-25-13 series lead against Army, including a 22-8-4 mark in Annapolis. Navy is 6-0-1 against Army in the last seven meetings in Annapolis. Two years ago, Navy defeated the Black Knights, 4-2, in front of 1,319 fans at Glenn Warner Soccer Facility, the third-largest men's soccer crowd at the facility.

The 2007 Patriot League Tournament will take place on Nov. 16 and 18 at the site of the highest seed as determined during the regular season. Miranda will welcome back 17 letterwinners when practice begins in August.
 
Navy loses basketball standout

Stanton, 6-foot-10 forward, to transfer

Published in the Annapolis Capital:

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_16-37/NAS

Navy men's basketball coach Billy Lange thought he had a major building block for the future in forward Trey Stanton.

Stanton enjoyed a tremendous freshman season, ranking among the team leaders in numerous categories and earning Patriot League All-Rookie honors....
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Mid's Life Inspires O'Brien (Raleigh News & Observer)

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/tudor/2007/story/606270.html

New N.C. State football coach Tom O'Brien met with the news media on Friday to discuss the Wolfpack's football situation entering the final few weeks before the start of preseason drills.

It wasn't long before the question-and-answer session turned into a discussion about what the coach did on his summer vacation. In a word, it was moving.

Along with seven of his classmates from their days at the Naval Academy, O'Brien took a week off in May to attend a guys-only golf trip in Portugal. It was the group's third such outing, following trips to Ireland in 2003 and 2005. But the vacation wasn't so much about playing golf as male bonding in the memory of another Midshipman -- Charles "Chic" Burlingame III....
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Tom O'Brien listens to N.C. State's alma mater on April 14. O'Brien's vacation tradition was included in his contract.
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