Worthington Scranton Recognizes Championship Athletes

Students, staff and faculty gathered in The View cafeteria on Wednesday to celebrate and honor the women's cross country team, which this year competed and placed in its first showing at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association's National Championship.

The women placed third in the 6K race, when they ran at the October 31 meet at Southern Virginia University.  The men's cross country team finished sixth in the competition.

It was a jubilant ending to a fabulous year for the team, which also won its second consecutive Penn State University Athletic Conference Championship (PSUACC), in a championship meet on October 25 with Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

The women defeated PSUAC teams from Penn College, Mont Alto, Dubois and Lehigh Valley. They also defeated Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA) teams from Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, Community College of Philadelphia, and Johnson College, Scranton, ending their PSUAC season with an overall record of 29 wins and 4 losses.

The women's team was recognized during a special awards ceremony, where members received commemorative trophies.  Chris Lee Depew, president of the Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter also presented the women with team jackets sponsored by the organization. Team members are:  Nichole Blasi, Stephanie Emerick, Elizabeth Jones, Rebecca Kinsey, Amanda Klimasiewfski, Robin Schafer, Sarahjean Seymour, Samantha Snead and Justyna Thomas.  Gary Edstrom is the team's head coach, and Carla Smith, is assistant coach.

Individual campus athletes were also recognized for receiving USCAA National All-Academic Team honors for maintaining a 3.5 or greater grade point average while participating in their sport. Samantha Snead, who placed second overall in the USCAA National Championship, was named a USCAA All American. Robin Schafer and Justyna Thomas, who were named to the USCAA National All-Academic Women's Cross Country Team. Paul Prislupsky was named to the USCAA National All Academic Men's Soccer Team.

Kimberly Janosko was named to the USCAA National All Academic Women's Volleyball Team.

The ceremony ended with the women's cross country team presenting their team championship banner to the campus.