•The Brockport Golden Eagles women’s gymnastics team won the 2019 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) National Championship, their first title since 2012, led by senior Candis Kowalik, who earned the title of NCGA All-Around National Champion. Brockport edged the University of Wisconsin Stout 191.050-190.275.
The Golden Eagles won the Vault as Nicole Jackson, Stephanie Mager and Kowalik earned All-American status. They then dominated the Floor Exercise with 48.625 points as Kowalik and freshman Alexis Castellaneta each earned scores of 9.775, placing them in a tie for third place and earning All-American honors. Kowalik earned the title of All-Around Champion, with her total score of 38.400 (9.700 vault, 9.300 bars, 9.625 beam, 9.775 floor).
•Cornell sophomore and Hilton native Yianni Diakomihalis claimed his second national title at the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The sophomore became the fifth multi-time national champion in program history, completed his season with a perfect 29-0 record and is one of four finalists for the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding college wrestler.
•Brockport Golden Eagles alumnae Katie Marcella and Hartwick women’s basketball was recognized as the Coaching Staff of the Year in the Empire 8 conference. The Hawks earned the regular season title after posting a 14-2 mark in league play, 21-4 overall and won 14 of their last 15 games.
•Hilton grad and Keuka College senior guard Lauren Anton was named First Team All-Northeast Athletic Conference in women’s basketball. Anton led the Wolf Pack with 350 points in 25 games and was second in rebounding with 157. She finished her collegiate career with 1,234 points – good for fifth in program history – and eclipsing 500 rebounds.
•Junior Emily Miller was an East Coast Conference First Team selection for Roberts Wesleyan in women’s basketball after she led the conference with 18.4 points per game and was second in rebounds per game with 9.5.
•Roberts Wesleyan senior Peyton McLaurin was named to the East Coast Conference Second-Team in men’s basketball. He was the leading scorer for the Redhawks with 13.9 points per game and a total of 374 points. The senior also led in rebounds with 6.9 per game.
•College at Brockport senior Matthew Merchant finished 13th at the NCAA Division III Diving Championships earning him All-American status. He is only the second male diver in Golden Eagle history to earn the honor. And his 15th place finish in the consolation round made him the new record holder for the Golden Eagles, beating out Gabe Aries 16th place finish in 2017 for the highest finish at the NCAA championships for a Brockport male diver.
•College at Brockport guard Danny Ashley was named State University of New York (SUNYAC) men’s basketball Rookie of the Year after he averaged 8.1 points per game as well as 3.6 assists per game overall while accruing 100 assists over the course of the season. Teammates Justin Summers was named to First-Team All-Conference, while Devante Hagins was named to Third-Team. Summers averaged 17.1 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game and recorded eight double-doubles. He also ranked 13th nationally with 2.7 blocks per game and now holds the school record with 123 career rejections. Hagins was the top rebounder for the Golden Eagles averaging 8.8 boards a game and the sophomore was the second highest scorer with 11.9 points per game.
•Golden Eagles senior Emily Nestler picked up second-team all-conference honors in women’s basketball as she closed out her final season as a Golden Eagles with 386 points averaging 14.3 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks. Nestler has amassed 779 career points.
•Sophomore Chanyce Powell and senior Jessica Craven both earned All-American status at the Division III NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Powell, from Albion, registered 5.66m in the long jump to break her previous Brockport record of 5.57m and Craven’s 17.47m in the weight throw topped her previous mark of 16.78m, allowing her to hold on to the second-best finish in the Brockport record book. Golden Eagles Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Ed Jaskulski was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year for the first time. The Brockport men finished second in the SUNYAC championships and had 11 different athletes on the All-Conference first, second and third teams.
•Brockport hockey placed three players on SUNYAC All-Conference teams with sophomore defenseman Ryan Romeo named to the Second Team, while Junior forwards Connor Hutchins and Doc Gentzler were selected to the Third Team. Romeo finished second on the team in points with 17 (4g-13a) – fourth amongst all conference defensemen. Hutchins helped the Golden Eagles to their best season in 30 years as he led the team in points with 26 (8g-18a). Gentzler scored in double digits for the first time in his career with 14 (9g-5a) and led the team in goals this season with nine.
