Another Fine Season For NYU

06/15/05

The 2004-05 New York University varsity sports teams once again showed that even a school surrounded by concrete can make some noise amongst the elite teams in Division III. Of the 24 varsity programs at NYU, 10 qualified for NCAA Championships. The women’s volleyball team made its second consecutive Final Four appearance, while the men’s & women’s fencing teams combined for a ninth-place NCAA finish.

The women’s volleyball team started its season with a 27-match winning streak. During the season, the Violets won all seven tournaments they participated in, finishing first in the New York Region and third in the University Athletic Association (UAA).

Once again, the Violets qualified for the NCAA Tournament. And, following victories over Rowan University, Cortland State University and Williams College, the Violets again advanced to the Final Four. However, a three-game loss to Juniata College ended the Violets’ National Championship dream. The Violets then faced the University of La Verne and dropped the third-place match in four games.
While the women’s volleyball team earned consecutive Final Four berths, the men’s golf and men’s cross country teams each qualified for their second straight NCAA Tournaments.

The golf team started their fall season with wins in four of their first seven tournaments (St. Lawrence University Invitational, ECAC Qualifier, Duke Nelson Invitational, and the Violet Classic). During the spring, the team posted a second-place finish at the Wesley College Invitational and third-place finishes at the District I Shootout and the UAA Championship. With a #2 ranking in the region, the Violets earned their second straight NCAA Championship bid and finished 21st in the nation.

Also qualifying for the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row (and second time in team history) was the NYU men’s cross country team. The Violets qualified after placing third at the NCAA Atlantic Regional. Led by senior Vincent Zarrillo’s 68th-place individual finish, the Violets captured 23rd place in the nation. Earlier in the season, at the UAA Championship, the Violets finished fourth by placing six runners in the top-30.

The Violet fencing teams also had impressive performances on the national scene. The NYU men and women combined for a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Fencing Championships, which included teams from NCAA Divisions I, II and III. Individually, junior Gabriel Sinkin won a silver medal in the foil competition, while sophomore Lauren Willock earned All-America honors by finishing eighth in the epee competition.

The men’s volleyball team also qualified for the NCAA Tournament after securing a sixth-place finish in the elite Tait Division of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA). Also competing against NCAA Division I squads, these Violets finished the season by advancing to the EIVA Division III Finals and to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.

While several NYU teams qualified en masse for NCAA post-season berths, several other NYU teams had individual qualifiers for their respective NCAA Championships.

Juniors Erika Norris and Elizabeth Parker of the women’s swimming team both earned invites to the NCAA Championships. Norris earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish in the 400-yard individual medley, while Parker’s 23rd-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly helped NYU place 36th as a team. The NCAA appearance was the grand finale of a season that included an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Winter Championship, a third-place finish at the UAA Championships (their highest finish in eight years), and a dual-meet mark of 10-1.

The men’s swimming team also had an NCAA qualifier in senior Matt Cull, who earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades by placing 10th in the 200-yard butterfly. During the season, the Violets won their first-ever ECAC Winter Championship. The team also posted a top-three finish at the UAA Championships, rose as high as #2 in the national rankings, and finished with a 9-2 dual meet record.

The NYU wrestling squad posted their first winning record (11-7) in four years, and had an NCAA qualifier of their own, as sophomore Eugene Kobilansky represented NYU in the 141-lb. weight class. The wrestlers placed second at the UAA Championship and junior Vinnie Russo was named the UAA’s Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler. Both he and freshman Thomas Masciale were named to the UAA All-Association Team.

The men’s track & field team also had a slew of NCAA performers. Junior Andrew Tonniges qualified in the 5,000 meters, while seniors Brian Buechel, Travis Keany and Les Page, and freshman Nile Nahar-Brown participated in the distance medley relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Earlier in the season, Tonniges was named Most Outstanding Performer at the UAA Indoor Championships after he won the mile and 5,000-meter events.

Both of NYU’s basketball teams qualified for post-season action in the ECAC Metro Tournament.

Starting with a championship at the NYU Tip-Off Tournament and ending with another 20-win season (23-5), the NYU women’s basketball team capped its season with a third ECAC title in the past four years. The Violets, who also finished second in the UAA, were led all season long by senior Rachel Wojdowski, who ended her career with a 16.4 points per game average, the second-highest total in team history. She led the UAA in scoring (16.7), was a First Team All-UAA selection, and was named Metropolitan Basketball Writers’ Association Division III Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

On the men’s side, NYU posted its 16th winning season under head coach Joe Nesci. The Violets finished the year with a 16-10 record and earned a berth in the ECAC Metro Tournament. Senior Jeff Gilkerson, who ended his brilliant career with 1,236 points, the ninth-highest total in team history, earned Second Team All-UAA and Third Team All-Metropolitan honors.

The NYU women’s cross country team completed another successful season, as the Violets finished in the top nine in all but one of their competitions, including five meets in which they finished in the top five. NYU also captured two invitational championships (Vassar College and Montclair State University), while sophomore Danielle Levoit earned UAA Athlete of the Week honors on two occasions.

The women’s track & field team also produced outstanding performances during the season. Senior Lauren Pringle ended her career by winning the high jump at both the indoor and outdoor UAA Championships and the 55-meter hurdles indoor. She was named the indoor meet’s Co-Most Outstanding Performer for running events.

The men’s soccer team, which captured the St. Joseph’s Tournament Championship, relied on a stingy defense in 2004. The group allowed just 22 goals in 18 games, as freshman goalkeeper Daniel Baker recorded five shutouts, tallied 62 saves and posted a 1.10 goals-against average. During one stretch of the season, Baker and his defense put together a 346:58 scoreless streak. These performances helped earned Baker ECAC Metro Goalkeeper of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks, along with Honorable Mention All-UAA accolades.

The women’s soccer team won its first UAA contest under head coach Amanda Vandervort and produced a five-match unbeaten streak during the season. Several Violets earned post-season honors. Junior Jaclyn Thayer and sophomore Mallory Tomaro were named Second Team All-UAA, while sophomore Jennifer Tavares received Honorable Mention accolades.

Throughout the fall and spring seasons, NYU’s men’s and women’s tennis teams both racked up numerous accomplishments. The highlight of the women’s season came when they placed second out of 16 teams at the NYSWCAA Championships. On the men’s side, the Violets finished in a second-place tie at the ECAC Open North Championship.

Overall, it was an impressive season for all NYU sports. Numerous individual accomplishments were achieved, while more and more teams were competing for titles on the national level.

It truly was a season to remember.