Athletics

Takoma Park, MD
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

The 2008-2009 athletic year has come to a close and despite our finishes not being as high as we would have liked improvements were made, records were broken, and fun was had all around. The men’s soccer team once again went to the USCAA National Tournament and finished 6th in the nation. The men’s and women’s cross country strutted their stuff at the 2008 USCAA National Tournament in Buena Vista Virginia and men’s baseball made their fourth straight appearance at the 2009 USCAA National Tournament this year being held in Newport News, Virginia. They finished 2nd in a heartbreaking loss in the championship game to St. Catherine’s 4 to 6.

2008-2009 will be yet another year for the record books. The teams did well and the individual athletes did well but there were two particular athletes that did extremely well, shined aboved the rest in a way, and were voted as Male and Female Athlete of the Year by the coaches and the staff of the athletic department.

The Female Athlete of the Year was (drum roll)…April Ridenour. Ms. Ridenour was a senior majoring in Physical Education. She was a dual athlete playing both soccer, where she was a killer goalie, and softball, guarding third base. Ridenour could be found in many categories in the leader boards in both the USCAA and NCAA. She was also bestowed the honor of being Athlete of the Week by the USCAA three weeks in a row towards the end of the 2008 season. During the softball season Ridenour was a leader off and on the field. Leading the Lady Pioneers in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, triples, total bases, and stolen bases. After the completion of her degree she plans to attend graduate school and continue her education and pursue her desire to become a sports psychologist.

The Male Athlete of the Year was (drum roll)…Richard Arciniega. Mr. Arciniega was also a senior and a Physical Education major. He hails from Ingledwood, California and loves everything Mexican particularly food and music. Arciniega plans to pursue a career in teaching and lives by the motto: “Alive for this…”. Also a leader on and off the field Arciniega’s name can be found in several of the leader board categories in the top 5%: 2nd in batting average, 5th in slugging percentage, 3rd in on base percentage, tied for 4th in runs scored, 1st in hits, 2nd in runs batter in, 2nd in home runs, 4th in total bases, and 5th in stolen bases.

Both these outstanding athletes are seniors their athletic eligibility has expired and the teams that they were part of will greatly miss their presence and will have a hard time finding individuals to fill their place in the years to come. Thank you both for jobs well done!

Until August…