General | 7/1/2017 8:00:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY - With ample successes in the classroom and in the field of play, the RIT Athletics program enjoyed unparalleled success during the 2016-17 season. From Liberty League Championships to NCAA berths, to All-American status, and Academic All-America plaudits, RIT's 675 student-athletes have had plenty to celebrate this year. Here is a glimpse of what was accomplished during the year.

Liberty League All-Academic (Fall/Winter/Spring)

• Tigers had 207 student-athletes (55 from fall, 32 in winter, and 120 during the spring) earn Liberty League All-Academic honors. Student-athletes must be a sophomore or higher in class standing and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.30.
• In addition, 42 non-Liberty League student-athletes (wrestling, men's and women's hockey) were honored as All-Academic selections from their leagues.
• During the 2016 fall semester, RIT's 675 student-athletes enjoyed a cumulative GPA of 3.31, highest in program history. Forty-eight student-athletes enjoyed a 4.0 GPA. In the spring 2017 semester, the student-athletes set a new mark by earning a 3.32 GPA.

FALL

Men's Cross Country

• James Bailey earned All-American, All-Atlantic Region and All-Liberty League Second Team honors, and second straight USTFCCCA All-Academic honor.
• Jon Pelzar earned All-Liberty League First Team honors, All-Atlantic Region accolades and competed at the NCAA Championships.

Women's Cross Country

• Emma Jones became first All-American in program history and earned All-Liberty League First Team and All-Atlantic Region honors.
• Jones, Becca Schwan and Jennifer Crossen earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.

Volleyball

• Sarah Szybist named the CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year; the second Tiger student-athlete in school history to receive that honor.
• Szybist, the Liberty League Player of the Year, was a four-time AVCA All-American and All-Liberty League first-team pick. She led Division III with 770 kills and finished career with 2,563 kills, sixth all-time in NCAA history.

Men's Soccer

• Three All-Liberty League selections, including Scott Fishel, Peter Cinibulk and Will Schiesswohl.
• Fishel was a CoSIDA Academic All-District pick for a second time.

Women's Soccer

Three All-Liberty League selections, including Emily Thiel, Lauren Chester and Riley Yankowich.

WINTER

Men's Basketball

• A.J. Horde became the 21st player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.
• Head Coach Bob McVean was inducted into the Wendy's College Classic Hall of Fame.

Women's Basketball

• Tigers won their first Liberty League Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
• Cori Okada named Liberty League Tournament Most Valuable Player and an All-Liberty League First Team selection.
• Ashlynn Palmitesso and Jessica Glaz joined the 1,000-point club.

Men's Hockey

• Adam Brubacher named the 2017 Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year.
• Brady Norrish earned All-Atlantic Hockey Second Team honors.

Women's Hockey

• Mackenzie Stone named the 2017 CHA Defensive Forward of the Year.
• Caitlin Wallace won 2017 CHA Individual Sportsmanship Award.

Men's Swimming and Diving

Tigers placed third at Liberty League Championship and broke 400-yard medley relay school mark.

Women's Swimming and Diving

• Sophomores Amy Adams and Sedera Zbranak went to the 2017 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship.
• Tigers placed third at Liberty League Championship and fourth at UNYSCSA Championship, breaking nine RIT records.

Wrestling

• Tory Cain, Dempsey King, and Sam Weinger went to the 2017 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship.
• Cain, King, Nicholas Greenquist and Weinger named NWCA Scholar All-Americans.
• RIT dedicated the Ronald S. Ricotta Wrestling Locker Room.

Cheerleading

Tigers made first NCA College National College Nationals appearance in Daytona Beach, Fla., April 6-7.

SPRING

Baseball

• Will Gorman named the RIT Co-Senior Male Athlete of the Year. He broke 37-year-old RIT career records in home runs (27), runs batted in (155), total bases (343) and slugging percentage (.641).
• Gorman became RIT's fourth Major League Baseball draft pick in program history, selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Tigers won first Liberty League Championship and advanced to NCAA Tournament for first time in program history.
• Gorman was the Liberty League Player of the Year; Brian Reed named the Pitcher of the Year; Head Coach Rob Grow, the Coach of the Year, as 12 Tigers earned all-league honors.
• Six Tigers earned ABCA All-New York Region honors and four were D3baseball All-Region selections.
• Tigers set countless school records, including most wins (33) and winning percentage (.786).

Softball

• Tigers clinch second straight Liberty League postseason berth.
• Shortstop Erin Guinan named Liberty League Rookie of the Year and was an NFCA All-Region First Team selection.

Men's Lacrosse

• Ranked as high as No. 2 in USILA.com Division III poll; won 12 games against ranked foes.
• Ryan Lee broke the program record for points in career (367) and became the first Tiger to surpass 300 points; Lee was named the RIT co-Senior Male Athlete of the Year and was the 2017 USILA J.I. (Jack) Turnbull Award winner as the outstanding attackman in Division III.
• Tigers won sixth-straight Liberty League regular-season championship and advanced to NCAA Tournament for eighth-straight season.
• RIT advanced to NCAA Championship game for second time in program history
• John Hill won the NCAA Elite 90 Award for Academic Excellence
• Seven Tigers named USILA-Nike All-Americans

Women's Lacrosse

Junior Emily Livecchi moved into top 5 in scoring at RIT with 179 points and earned All-Liberty League First Team honors and IWLCA All-New York Region Second Team accolades.

MULTI-SEASON SPORTS

Men's Crew

• Varsity 8 won first Kate Louise Cup in program history at Head of the Genesee Regatta.
• Novice 8 boat won gold medal at Liberty League Championships and was named Novice Boat of the Year
• Head Coach Jim Bodenstedt and his staff named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.

Women's Crew

• Varsity 8 won gold at Liberty League Championships and led team to first league championship and automatic bid to NCAA Championship, where the placed fifth. Varsity 8 was also named Liberty League Boat of the Year.
• Varsity 8 won Kate Louise Cup at Head of the Genesee Regatta for first time since 2002; placed fifth at prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
• Varsity 8 nationally ranked in the U.S. Rowing/CRCA Poll.
• Senior Amy Guthrie earned RIT's first CRCA All-America honor in program history.
• Head Coach Jim Bodenstedt and his staff named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.

Men's Track and Field

• Otto Kingstedt earned All-American honors in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Outdoor Championship.
• Daniel Giuliano named Liberty League Indoor Rookie of the Year.
• Matthew Lienhard (60-meter dash) and Curtis Geiger (200 meters) broke indoor school records; Kingstedt (10,000 meters) and 4 x 200-meter relay team broke outdoor records

Women's Track and Field

• Won 2017 Liberty League Indoor Championship for first time.
• Jess Calzolari and Emma Jones represented RIT at NCAA Indoor Championship.
• Calzolari named Liberty League Indoor and Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year.
• Head Coach David Warth and staff named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.
• Tigers broke four indoor school records and a pair of outdoor records

Men's Tennis

Senior Chandler Daub named All-Liberty League second team in singles; Daub and Ben Lynaugh earned all-league honors in doubles.

Women's Tennis

Sophomore Amelia Ying named All-Liberty League second team in singles.