Sports
9
Siena Heights Athletics -- Winter 1998 Highlights
Siena Heights athletics established a new school record by
placing 27th in this years Sears Directors Cup standings.
The Saints highest previous placing was 29th two years
ago in the annual all-sports competition. The Saints
earned 170 points in the Sears Directors Cup in the NAIA
Division. There are over 350 institutions in the NAIA and
Siena Heights has placed in the top forty every year since
the competition began four years ago. Siena Heights is the
only school in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
(WHAC) among the top fifty NAIA schools in this years
standings. The Saints earned Cup points this year in
womens soccer, mens and womens cross country and
indoor track & field, and mens basketball.
this years indoor championships in the weight throw) by
placing fourth in the hammer at 149-04.
The following spring athletes were named to their
respective NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete Teams:
In softball, Mariann Bauman (Sr, P/UT, Ottawa Lake,
Elementary Education, 3.66 GPA) and Jennifer Scherer
(Jr, OF, Wellington, OH, Criminal Justice, 3.86 GPA). In
mens track & field, John Liparoto (Sr, Onsted, English,
3.63 GPA) and Brian Smith (Sr, Pittsford, Biology, 3.54
GPA).
Sara Schaibly (Haslett) and Andy Bodary (Suttons Bay)
were the recipients of this years Thomas A. Emmet
Awards. The award is presented annually to Sienas top
male and female student-athletes in their junior year of
competition.
The Siena Heights outdoor track & field teams had five
NAIA All-American performances at the Outdoor
National Championships May 21-23 in Tulsa, OK. The
track & field championships were held in conjunction with
the NAIA Inaugural Spring Championship Games, in
which eight national championships were contested in one
city over a one week period.
Siena Heights freshman hurdler Ron Andrews (Amherst,
NY) became Sienas fourth national champion by winning
the 110-meter hurdles in 14.45. Andrews was second
(All-American) in the 55-meter hurdles in March at the
indoor national championships. The Saints had another
All-American in the 110-meter hurdles in Marc Tipton
(Niles, OH), who finished third at 14.57. Junior longjumper Ali Shakoor (Jackson) was an All-American in the
long jump with a leap of 24-3.5.
The men finished 14th overall at the NAIA Outdoor
National Championships. The women had two NAIA AllAmericans in senior Tina Richards (East Jordon) and
junior Sara Schaibly (Haslett). Richards placed fifth in the
3000 meters with a time of 10:09.74 and was seventh
(honorable mention) in the 800 at 2:19.74. Schaibly
earned her second NAIA All-American honor (first was at
Schaibly is a two-time NAIA track & field All-American
and has posted a 3.2 GPA as an Elementary Education
major.
Bodary ranked #2 among the Saints hitters this season as
the teams starting shortstop and has a 3.9 GPA as an
accounting major. Schaibly and Bodary will each receive
a partial scholarship for being named this years Emmet
Award winners.
Former Saints pitcher Jason Martines was recently
promoted to the Tucson Sidewinders (the Arizona
Diamondbacks AAA affiliate). In his first appearance for
the Sidewinders June 2 against the Vancouver Canadians,
Martines struck out two and did not allow a hit in 1.1
innings. With his call-up, Martines becomes the first
Siena baseball player ever to play above the single A level
in the minor leagues. Martines was drafted in the 21st
round last year by the Arizona Diamondbacks and played
A ball last year in Lethbridge, BC.
For more information about Siena Heights University Athletics or for a complete sports
schedule, contact the Athletic Department at 517/264-7870.