GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University had 15 student-athletes that recorded a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) for the 2010 spring semester.

The student-athletes were men’s cross country runners Stephen Hoffman (so. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) and Ryan Hoxworth (jr. Vineland, NJ/home schooled); women’s cross country/track runner Michelle Esten (so. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.); women’s basketball player Michelle Lala (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills), women’s swimmers Lauren Hauser (sr. Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston), Stephanie McAllister (sr. Mickleton, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) and Kym Romano (fr. Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central Reg.); men’s swimmer Nate Parsley (so. Milford, DE/Milford); men’s soccer players Charlie Cunliffe (jr. Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood) and Ryan Gordon (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.); men’s basketball player Derek Piccini (sr. Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Mem.), football player Dan Hearn (so. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.); softball players Jamie Minix (so. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) and Nicolina Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) and women’s soccer player Krista Verzi (sr. Delran, NJ/Delran).

This year, Cunliffe was named to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Academic first team. Esten, Lala, Hauser, McAllister, Parsley, Hearn, Piccini, Veneziano and Verzi received NJAC All-Academic honorable mention. The NJAC All-Academic teams honor student-athletes that are a sophomore, junior or senior with a minimum 3.20 GPA. In addition, the 15 individuals were selected Rowan Scholar-Athletes. The athletic department recognized the athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher at Student-Athlete Day in April. The student-athlete majors are: Hoffman, business entrepreneurship; Hoxworth, art; Esten, elementary education; Lala, health and exercise science; Hauser, health and exercise science; McAllister, health and exercise science; Romano, biological sciences; Parsley, health and exercise science; Cunliffe, civil engineering; Gordon, chemical engineering; Piccini, health and exercise science; Hearn, secondary education and history; Minix, health and exercise science; Veneziano, health and exercise science; and Verzi, secondary education and English..

In the fall, Hoffman recorded a season best time of 27:58 at the Paul Short Invitational. He posted a time of 30:19.25 at the conference championships. Hoxworth ran a time of 34:47.34 at the Collegiate Track Conference (CTC) Championships. He finished in 34:21.72 at the NJAC Championships. Esten had a season best time (24:41.83) in cross county at the CTC Championships. She finished 11th (24:46.10) at the conference championships. At the NCAA Atlantic Regional, Esten had a time of 25:09.2. In track, she recorded career bests of 2:45.15 and 5:32.98 in the 800 and 1500 meters respectively. Lala was second on the women’s basketball team in scoring with 11.2 points per game. She also averaged 5.9 rebounds per game. In addition, she totaled 39 steals, 27 assists and 16 blocks.

This year, Hauser recorded the women’s swim team’s top time in the 50 yard freestyle (25.35). Her season best time in the 100 yard freestyle was 57.13. She was also a member of the team’s top 200 (1:42.06) and 400 (3:43.23) yard freestyle relays and the 200 (1:53.41) yard medley relay. McAllister swam a season best of 1:04.01 in the 100 yard backstroke. She had a time of 2:19.63 in the 200 yard backstroke. In the 200 yard individual medley, McAllister swam a time of 2:22.63. Romano had a season best of 1:12.46 in the 100 yard breaststroke. She posted a 2:38.36 in the 200 yard breaststroke. Her top time in the 200 yard individual medley was 2:17.53.

Parsley competed in the distance freestyle and the backstroke. He had season bests of 57.15 and 2:06.89 in the 100 and 200 yard backstrokes respectively. His top time in the 1000 yard freestyle was 10:37.44. Parsley also had a time of 17:55.00 in the 1650 yard freestyle. Cunliffe was the men’s soccer team’s starting goalkeeper. In 21 games, he stopped 123 shots for an 86.6 save percentage. He had a 0.91 goals against average and seven shutouts. A midfielder, Gordon saw playing time in every game as a rookie. He contributed with two goals and one assist for five points.

Hearn played at linebacker for the football team. In six games, he totaled 11 tackles (four solo and seven assisted) and 1.5 sacks for a loss of seven yards. Piccini started every game at forward for the men’s basketball team. He contributed with 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Piccini was the Profs’ leader in blocked shots with 22. He also collected 25 assists and 10 steals.

In her first season, Minix posted an 18-7 record on the mound for the softball team. She pitched 157.2 innings and had a 1.24 earned run averaged. Minix compiled 108 strikeouts and her opponents had a .183 batting average. A center fielder, Veneziano was Rowan’s top hitter with a .377 batting average. She compiled 49 hits in 130 at bats and led the team with 28 RBIs. In addition, she registered five doubles, six triples and nine home runs. Veneziano had a .715 slugging percentage and a .456 on-base percentage. Verzi was a starting midfielder on the women’s soccer team. She had four points with one goal and two assists.