POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 18, 2010) – While chilly Fall temperatures have finally arrived in the Hudson Valley, Vassar College Fall athletes remain hot. On Monday, the Liberty League honored seven athletes representing men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis, men's soccer, and women's volleyball for their distinguished performances last week.
Andrew Guzick, Sophomore, Liberty League Co-Performer of the Week
Guzick battled injury and made program history with Vassar's first win at the ITA National Small College Championships. Guzick earned 7th place in the tournament with a three-set 7-5, 0-6, 6-3 win over Trinity's (TX) Bobby Coconougher on Saturday at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center. This is his third straight weekly award and his thid career Liberty League Performer of the Week award. Last year, Guzick was named name Liberty League Rookie of the Week eight times and won the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. A 2009 graduate of the Harley School, Guzick was a five-year letter winner in tennis. He was named Finger Lakes All-League his sophomore through senior year and selected to the All Greater Rochester team as a junior and senior. At Harley, his team was ranked No. 10 in the nation his senior year and No. 7 his junior year.
Sam Wagner, Sophomore, Men's Cross Country Co-Performer of the Week
At the 44th running of the multi-divisional University of Albany Invitational, Wagner placed 33rd overall in a field of 200 runners. Running in windy conditions and on a soggy course, Wagner ran at 26:16.3 (5:18 per mile) on the 8k course. This is Wagner's second Co-Performer of the Week honor. He earned his first honor on September 6 after finishing second overall in the season opening VC Invitational. Last season, he earned Rookie of the Week honors on September 28 and November 9.
Johanna Spangler, Junior, Women's Cross Country, Liberty League Performer of the Week
With a second place performance in the annual Seven Sisters Championship, Spangler led the Brewers to the team championship for the first time since the race was inaugurated in 1982. In a field of 87 runners, Spangler finished the 5k race hosted by Vassar in 18:49, which earned her a new course record at the Vassar Farm Course. This is Spangler's eighth Performer of the Week award, her second this season. A two-year cross country letter-winner, Spangler graduated from Gettysburg Area High School (PA) in 2008 where she was 10th in the Mid-Penn Conference in 2007, as well as placing 27th in District 3 and 58th in the state. In her junior and senior years, her team won the Division Championships.
Aubree Piepmeier, Freshman, Women's Cross Country, Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week
Piepmeier finished the annual Seven Sisters Championship in fifth place out of 87 runners. Her time of 18:54 in the 5k run helped the Brewers to the championship for the first time since the race was inaugurated in 1982. It was her third top five performance in four races this fall.
This is Piepmeier's second weekly award. A 2010 graduate of Franklin High School (MA), Piepmeier lettered three years in and also competed in indoor and outdoor track and field and captained all three teams as a senior. As a junior, she won the Hockamock League Indoor 1000m event.
Zander Mrlik, Sophomore, Men's Soccer, Liberty League Co-Defensive Performer of the Week
Mrlik scored Vassar's first goal on a corner kick header in the 21st minute a 2-0 win over Maritime on Saturday. He contributed to a defensive effort that did not allow a single shot on goal and help Vassar record its seventh shutout of the season. This is Mrlik's second Liberty League honor. Last season he was a Rookie of the Week selection on October 26 and earned a Liberty League Honorable Mention. As a freshman, Mrlik tallied 10 assists for the best single season mark in program history. Mrlik is a 2009 graduate of Saint Ignatius High School in San Francisco where he earned four letters in soccer and was an All-Western Catholic Athletic League section for two seasons. As a senior he was a finalist for the Defender of the Year, was named First-Team All-WCAL and led his team to the WCAL and CCS Championship.
Lindsay Kantor, Freshman, Women's Tennis, Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week
Kantor reached the finals of the No. 3 singles flight at the NYS Championships. Kantor defeated Melissa Nunez of Ithaca 6-2, 7-5, No. 4 seed Flora Lee of NYU 3-6, 6-0, (10-4), and Kiara Ocasio of William Smith 6-7(4), 6-1, 11-9 before falling to Nataly Mendoza of Skidmore 3-6, 7-5, 10-3 in the final. This is Kantor's second straight Liberty League Rookie of the Week award. A 2010 graduate Westhampton Beach High School, Kantor was a four time League Doubles Champion and part of the No. 2 doubles team in the State as a Suffolk County Doubles Champion her senior year.
Amy Bavosa, Junior, Women's Volleyball, Liberty League Co-Performer of the Week
Bavosa had 27 kills in a 2-1 week against New Paltz, Mount St. Mary and Bard. In addition to averaging 3.0 kills per set, she had 19 digs (2.11 per set). This is Bavosa's second Liberty League award, having earned her first last season on October 19 for her performance against Mount St. Mary and Bard. Bavosa is a 2008 graduate of Eastport Southmanor High School were she earned three letters in volleyball and was an All-League selection for two seasons. She helped lead her team to league championships as a junior and senior.
