Mercyhurst College 2010 Senior Student-Athletes of the Year
This year's winners, Christie Turak and Andy Lamancusa, highlight a field of six finalists -- three female and three male -- who are eligible for the College's annual honor.
Below are the biographies for Turak and Lamancusa, as well as the remainder the entire field that was nominated by coaches, administrators, and faculty of Mercyhurst for the 2009-10 Senior Student-Athlete of the Year honor.
Christie Turak
Cross Country
Sportsmedicine, 3.83 GPA
An Erie native, Turak posted a record-setting career during her three seasons on the cross country team.
She concluded her 2009 campaign with several highlights, including five individual titles, a second-consecutive All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference finish (5th), a second-consecutive NCAA All-East Region finish and an appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the first by any member of the cross country programs.
Most impressively, Turak became Mercyhurst’s first cross country All-American by finishing 29th at nationals, 15 places ahead of the PSAC champion and NCAA East Regional Champion.
The McDowell High School graduate also owns the Lakers’ program record for 5K, running 17:32 at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational, while also setting the program mark in the 6K record after posting a time of 20:58 at the 2009 PSAC Championships.
Adding greatly to the significance of her athletic accolades, Turak did not compete in cross country while in high school. Rather, she joined the Lakers as a walk-on in 2007 and has indelibly left her mark.
In the classroom, Turak’s efforts complement her athletic gifts. A United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-American, she will graduate with a degree in sportsmedicine, recording a 3.83 cumulative grade point average in the process. Turak has already been accepted into the University of Denver master’s program where she hopes to become a physician assistant.
Andy Lamancusa
Wrestling
Elementary and Special Education, 3.18 GPA
Lamancusa, a three-time All-American at 157 lbs., leaves Mercyhurst holding most major single-season and career records.
A two-time third-place finisher at the NCAA II National Championships, the West Branch, Ohio native owns career marks in wins (119), technical falls (14), major decisions (35), takedowns (447) and riding time (59). On the single-season charts, Lamancusa owns the top two marks for victories (39,37), technical falls (5,4) major decisions (14, 12) and takedowns (162, 144).
In his final season as a Laker, Lamancusa closed out his career with a 119-45 mark and broke his own record for single-season wins with a 39-10 record after taking third for the second consecutive year at the National Championships.
He is one of four Lakers to be a three-time All-American and is the only Mercyhurst wrestler to capture three NCAA Super Region 1 Championships, taking crowns in 2007-09.
In the classroom, he is a three-time National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-America First Team selection and will graduate with a degree in elementary and special education, recording a cumulative 3.18 grade point average.
Lamancusa is currently exploring options to coach collegiately or accept a teaching/scholastic coaching position in one of two high schools near his hometown.
2009-10 Mercyhurst College Senior Student-Athletes of the Year Finalists
Taylor Hilinski
Women's Soccer
Biology, 4.0 GPA
An Erie native and Harbor Creek High School graduate, Hilinski holds a 4.0 GPA in biology education. She excelled at forward while at Mercyhurst, helping the women’s soccer team to three straight NCAA tournament appearances, including a quarterfinal run in 2008. Her efforts have placed her in the top seven in goals and points all-time. A two-time CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America First Team and PSAC Fall Top 10 honoree, Hilinski’s teams went 58-20-8 during her four seasons.
Courtney Loper
Field Hockey
Accounting, 3.68 GPA
A native of Harrisburg, Loper was a member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad all four seasons, holding a 3.683 GPA in accounting. A four-year starter at midfield for the Lakers, Loper was named an All-American twice during her career, including a first-team honor in 2009. She led the team to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including the program’s first ever postseason appearance in the 2009 PSAC Tournament.
Matt Fennell
Men's Ice Hockey
Biology, 3.98 GPA
Fennell, a defenseman from Melfort, Saskatchewan, was a steadying presence on the blueline for four seasons. He has earned a 3.98 GPA in biology, and has been named his team’s best scholar-athlete and garnered All-Academic honors from the Atlantic Hockey Association. He served as the team’s leading scorer among defensemen for each of his final two seasons at Mercyhurst. Fennell helped the team to back-to-back appearances in the AHA Final.
Kyle King
Men's Tennis
English, 4.0 GPA
A Greenville, Pa. native, King has been a key contributor to the men’s tennis team for four seasons. He has compiled a 4.0 GPA as an English major. King has posted a 50-29 singles record while also registering 46 doubles victories. He was named to the All-PSAC Men’s Tennis Team in 2010, and has spearheaded the Lakers to a berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament, its first postseason trip since 2007.
Mercyhurst College Male and Female Senior Student-Athletes of the Year
All-Time List
2010: Andy Lamancusa (wrestling) / Christie Turak (women’s cross country)
2009: Jason LaShomb (lacrosse) / Sarah Powell (soccer)
2008: Hudson Harrison (wrestling) / Christine Somera (water polo)
2007: Mariano Fava (tennis) / Julia Colizza (hockey)
2006: Dave Borrelli (hockey) / Samantha Shirley (hockey)
2005: Ben McAvinew (wrestling) / Desi Clark (hockey)
2004: Justin Shouse & Josh Helm (basketball) / Jenn Barba (volleyball)
2003: James Detwiler (lacrosse) / C.J. Ireland (hockey)
2002: Peter Aubry (hockey) / Meghan Frey (soccer)
2001: Nate Goodrich (baseball) / Mari DeMarco (rowing)
2000: Paul Colontino (hockey) / Theresa Roach (soccer)
1999: Paul Welker (baseball) / Cynthia Hykawy (lacrosse)
1998: Eric Wicks (football) / Stacie Bortz (soccer & softball)
1997: Brian Lopez (baseball) / Conie Ralston (basketball)
1996: Rahsaah Roland (basketball) / Melissa Hall (cross country)
1995: Joel Pentz (soccer) / Dana Dodd (volleyball)
1994: Jason Hillegas (football) / Mia U-Rycki (soccer)
1993: Glen Novak (football) / Lori Hamblin (soccer)
1992: Dave Constantino (basketball) / Veronica Sansom (soccer)
1991: Mark Simpson (cross country) / Katherine O'Reilly (tennis)
1990: Matthew Triola (football) / Julie Kemling (softball & tennis)
1989: Sean Gibbs (soccer) / April Tompkins (cross country)
1988: Timothy Harrington (golf) / Kathleen Ziegler (volleyball)
1987: Dave Hewett (golf) / Janice Johnston (tennis)
1986: Philip Nykyforuk (tennis) / Patricia Hautzinger (rowing)
1985: Jens Caap (tennis) / Bernadine Tomczak (basketball)
1984: Jeff Jones (football)
1983: Bruce Pancio (rowing) / Trish Mahoney (basketball)
1982: Carla Smith Livermore (volleyball)
1981: Andy Findlay (tennis) / Tina Tomczak (basketball)
1980: Gary Weber (soccer) / Sue Cavalancia (volleyball & basketball)
1979: Phil Dubsky (tennis) / Mary Ann King (tennis & basketball)
1978: Paul Young (basketball) / Sue Fagan (softball)
1977: Kevin Cook
1976: Jesse Campbell (basketball)
1975: Steve Brandon (baseball)
1974: Tommy Thompson (tennis)
1973: J.C. Carter (basketball)
1972: Rick Fessler (basketball)