How sports teams fared over winter break
While most students went home to unwind from the semester and celebrate the holidays, winter athletes continued their quest for success in their respective sports. Women’s and men’s basketball, as well as track and field, were among the sports still in session over the month-long hiatus from classes.
Men’s basketball played six games over the break, going 3-3. The Hawks’ won their first two games against Lafayette College and George Washington University.
The team suffered the loss of its leading scorer, junior guard Shavar Newkirk, to a knee injury that will leave him out for the rest of the season. His absence will be significant as he averaged 20.3 points per game throughout the season.
Despite the bad news, the Hawks still managed to pull off a win over Fordham University, marking Head Coach Phil Martelli’s 200th Atlantic 10 win, a little over a week later on Jan. 7.
Freshman Charlie Brown earned the title of A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week for Jan. 2, which is his first conference honor. He has contributed to the team as the third leading scorer, averaging 11 points per game.
Women’s basketball made their own mark over the break playing seven games and winning their last three over Massachusetts University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Big 5 rival, La Salle University.
In the Hawks’ loss to Richmond University on New Year’s Eve, junior forward Adashia Franklyn set the new program record with 25 rebounds. She surpassed the previous record of 21 with 12 offensive rebounds and 13 defensive rebounds.
The women’s basketball team boasted a three-game winning streak at the end of the break.
The men’s and women’s track and field teams had their share of work over the break, competing in two meets: Wagner College Invitational in Staten Island, N.Y. and the Angry Birds Challenge in Bethlehem, Pa.
In Staten Island, the men’s 4×400 meter relay was successful in qualifying for the IC4A championships. Junior sprinter David Henderson led off the winning relay in addition to placing fourth in the 400 meter and earning the team’s only individual qualification for the IC4A’s.
The women’s team had their share of success at the invitational as well, led by junior high jumper Claudine Andre, who qualified for the ECAC Championships last March with a jump of 1.7 meters.
Freshman Caroline Duffy also had a strong performance, winning her heat and placing fourth overall in the 400 meter.
At the Angry Birds Challenge, men’s track and field had success in qualifying three Distance Medley Relays (DMR) for the IC4A Championships, an effort that was led by the winning DMR group of junior Dave Garton, junior Kenny Evely, junior Steve Thompson, and freshman Josh Clark.
Senior Torey Doaty won the 400 meter to help the Hawks earn their fourth place finish.
Also of note were the second-place performances of junior Anthony Morelli in the 5000 meter and the 4×400 meter relay of freshman Aaron Lemma, freshman Will Davies, freshman Trae’ Robinson, and Doaty.
On the women’s side, Duffy had another notable performance at the Angry Birds Challenge when she won the 200 meter dash, her first collegiate win in this race. The women’s DMR consisting of junior Caroline Keegan, senior Courtney Foster, senior Sarah Regnault, and junior Cassidy Weimer received second-place and qualified for the ECAC Championships.
Andre made her contribution to the team once again when she finished in second-place in the high jump.
St. Joe’s track and field teams willhead to the Penn State National Invitational on Friday, Jan. 27. Men’s basketball will take on Big-5 Rival La Salle University at home on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. Women’s basketball take on Rhode Island University on Jan. 25 at 11 a.m and then St. Bonaventure on Jan. 29.
