Peter J. Schuler For Immediate Release
SID-Women’s Water Polo Office (805) 546-3211
pschuler@cuesta.edu FAX (805) 546-3299

CUESTA COLLEGE ANNOUNCES SPRING 2010 ATHLETIC HONOR ROLL

SAN LUIS OBISPO (June 28, 2010)-- Cuesta has compiled the names of 60 individuals who have risen to the top of Cuesta College’s 2010 spring scholar-athlete list, including several repeat honorees. The success of Cuesta student athletes is significant, as is the fact that 46.2% of Cuesta College Spring Athletes made the honor roll and earned All Western State Conference Academic Team status. Sophomores Jake Reed (Simi Valley HS), Zach Steele (Santa Barbara: Santa Ynez HS), Brett Hartman (Escondido HS), Danny Poma (Monterey HS), Alex Ramirez (Paso Robles: Cornerstone), Laura Haines (Ventura HS), Breanan Silzer (Templeton HS), Demian Nelson (Pismo Beach: Arroyo Grande HS), Devin Graham (Clovis), Karl Weit (Atascadero HS), Ashley McLachlan (Torrance HS), Nicole Enos (Napa HS), Anna Neumann (Los Osos: Morro Bay HS), Sam Sampson (Bellingham, WA), Gabe Flores (Taft: Paso Robles HS), Christine Weinreich (Pismo Breach: Arroyo Grande HS), Sara Pizzo (Santa Cruz), Nicole Worden (Castaic), Liz Lawrence (Paso Robles HS) Valerie Gee (Oakhurst) and Alex Engel (Los Osos: Morro Bay HS) all repeated as members of the Spring Honor Roll. Five athletes also completed the semester with straight “A’s” and perfect 4.0 grade point averages. Nelson and Ramirez, Cuesta’s 2010 Warren Hansen Scholar-Athlete Award winners, both enjoyed perfect semesters along with Baseball Star Jon Moscot (Pacific Palisades) and Track Athletes Ian Axsom (Los Osos: Morro Bay HS) and Paul Brown (Palo Alto HS).

The Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll recognizes the student-athletes who have completed 12 units during the past semester with a grade point average of at least a 3.0 and finished in good standing with their respective team. This year the Honor Roll has representatives from each of the seven spring sports and both basketball teams. The Women’s Track and Field team led the way with a combined 3.076 grade point average, while Men’s Swimming finished in second place with a team GPA of 3.003. Both teams will be nominated for the Pepsi State Scholar Team Award.

Cougar athletes traditionally excel in the classroom and this semester was no exception. Cuesta’s athletes combined to complete 93.4% of their units for a 2.842 GPA.

The Honor Roll was also well represented by local athletes, who are all members of the 2010 All Western State Conference Academic Team in their respective sports: PASO ROBLES (7): Alex Ramirez (SB), Sarah Wells (SB), Liz Lawrence (WTF), Lance Thibault (MTF), Gabe Flores (MTF), Brianna Doran (WTF), Iris Martinez (WTF)

SAN LUIS OBISPO (5): Davey Schultz (BB), Robbie Nadalsky (BB), Max Duval (BB), Katie Cochran (WSD), Olivia Suraci (WTF)

LOS OSOS (4): Alex Engel (MBB), Anna Neumann (WSD), Ian Axsom (MTF), Nicole Foster (WTF)

PISMO BEACH (2): Demian Nelson (MSD), Christine Weinreich (WTF)

TEMPLETON (2): Breanan Silzer (SB), McKenna Coelho (SB)

ATASCADERO (1): Karl Weit (MSD)

MORRO BAY (1): Aalia Fields (WTF)

SANTA YNEZ (1): Zach Steele (BB)

LOMPOC (1): Tiffany Larson (SB)

KING CITY (1): Oscar Pena (MTF)

W Track/Field (WTF) 3.076

M Swim/Dive (MSD) 3.003

W Swim/Dive (WSD) 2.993

W Basketball (WBB) 2.941

M Track/Field (MTF) 2.889

Baseball (BB) 2.769

Softball (SB) 2.659

M Basketball (MBB) 2.070

.2010 Spring Semester Athletic Honor Roll

Tayler Anderson- Track

Ian Axsom- Track

Paul Brown- Track

Luke Bryant- Diving

Paul Byrne- Swimming

Garrett Champion- Baseball

Katie Cochran- Diving

McKenna Coelho- Softball

Shannon Daly- Basketball

Kevin Deckel- Swimming

Aimee Dewante- Swimming

Brian Donoghue- Swimming

Brianna Doran- Track

Max Duval- Baseball

Alex Engel- Basketball

Nicole Enos- Swimming

Aalia Fields- Track

Scott Fleury- Baseball

Gabe Flores- Track

Nicole Foster- Track

Valerie Gee- Track/Basketball

Cory Ginther- Baseball

Dylan Giordanengo- Track

Devin Graham- Swimming

Simon Green- Swimming

Isaiah Haas- Swimming

Laura Haines- Softball

Bradley Hamar- Swimming

Brett Hartman- Baseball

Joel Iventosch- Basketball

RJ Jacobs- Swimming

Phillip Jimenez- Basketball

Christopher Johnson- Track

David Kawalik- Track

Nic Lalanne- Swimming

Tiffany Larsen- Softball

Liz Lawrence- Track

Iris Martinez- Track

Ashley McLachlan- Swimming

Jon Moscot- Baseball

Robbie Nadalsky- Baseball

Anna Neumann- Swimming

Demian Nelson- Diving

Oscar Pena- Track

Sara Pizzo- Track

Danny Poma- Baseball

Alex Ramirez- Softball

Jake Reed- Baseball

Spencer Richards- Swimming

Hannah Rhodes- Swimming

Sara Ritchey- Swimming

Sam Sampson- Track

Davey Schultz- Baseball

Zach Siegmeier- Track

Breanan Silzer- Softball

Zach Steele- Baseball

Olivia Suraci- Track

Lance Thibault- Track

Craig Van Leeuwen- Track

Christine Weinreich- Track

Karl Weit- Swimming

Sarah Wells- Softball

Brecon Welton- Track

Mike Williamson- Baseball

Sebastian Wolken- Swimming

Nicole Worden- Track

Cuesta’s Bob Mariucci Inducted into UP HOF

SAN LUIS OBISPO (April 23, 2010)- Cuesta Athletic Director Bob Mariucci has been inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. Mariucci, who was a standout high school and college football player and wrestler, is the third member of his family to be inducted into the hall, joining his brother Steve Mariucci (1996), former NFL head coach, and his father, Ray Mariucci (2005), a wrestling and boxing champion. He also joins close family friend Tom Izzo (1997), the championship basketball coach at Michigan State, and the immortal George “The Gipper” Gipp (1972). Bob is part of a class of ten inductees honored at The Danforth Place in Escanaba, Michigan on April 24, 2010.

BOB MARIUCCI-

An All-American wrestler at Iron Mountain High School, Bob Mariucci wrestled and played football at Northern Michigan University. He was a four-time Upper Peninsula champion (1981-84) and is believed to be the only U.P. grappler named to the USA Scholastic All-American Dream Team (1983). He was national Junior Olympic freestyle champion in 1982. He was NMU's most valuable receiver in 1987 and 1988. He is now athletic director at Cuesta College and was an A.D. at Harbor Springs, MI. and Stockton, CA.

SAN LUIS OBISPO (April 13, 2010)- In a span of just a few weeks three former members of the Cuesta College Athletic Program have been named to a hall of fame, each from a different level- one coach, one admistrator and one athlete. Former Baseball Coach Larry Lee has been inducted into California Community College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame Association, former Athletic Director Warren Hansen has been inducted into Commission on Athletics/California Community College Athletic Association Hall of Fame and, former Aquatics Athlete Kathy “Gubba” Sheehy has been inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame. Three Cuesta contributors from three different parts of the Athletic Department, who bring honor not only to their particular arena’s of expertise, but to Cuesta College.

LARRY LEE-

Current Cal Poly and former Cuesta Baseball Coach Larry Lee has been selected to the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) Hall of Fame. Lee spent 16 seasons as the head coach at Cuesta and compiled a 460-241-3 record. He led the Cougars to 11 playoff berths, including a streak of seven straight to end his career. That streak set the pace for the Cougars, who have extended that streak to 14 consecutive seasons since his departure. Lee also led the Cougars to nine conference titles and four State Finals appearances, including both in each of his last two seasons. He was named Western State Conference Coach of the Year eight times during his career and mentored three former Major League and dozens of professional players at Cuesta.

Lee took over the head coaching duties at Cal Poly in the summer of 2002 and led the Mustangs to six straight winning seasons and its first NCAA playoff berth in 2009.

WARREN HANSEN-

Former Cuesta Athletic Director Warren Hansen was selected to the Commission on Athletics/California Community College Athletic Association (COA/CCCAA) Hall of Fame along with former Los Angeles Lakers Star Michael Cooper, former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and fellow Athletic Director Bob Dinaberg of Santa Barbara City. Hansen was recognized for his service and leadership in founding the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA). He later served as NATYCAA’s president and also served as the President of the California Community College Athletic Directors Association. Hansen spent 31 of his 36 years at Cuesta as the college’s Athletic Director, but began his career as Cuesta’s second football coach. He also spent time as the head coach for Men’s Cross Country and Wrestling.

Hansen retired in 2001 and still live in San Luis Obispo. The athletic department established the Warren Hansen Scholar Athlete Award in 2003. The award recognizes a male and female student each year and is selected on the basis of their academic, citizenship and athletic performance.

KATHY “GUBBA” SHEEHY-

In 1988-1990 Cuesta did not offer women’s water polo, but Kathy Sheehy, known worldwide by her nickname “Gubba”, learned to play and love the game during her time at Cuesta College. While at Cuesta, Sheehy swam for the Cougars for two years and starting jumping into the men’s water polo practice the fall of 1989. She absorbed the game and also played with the SLO Master’s water polo team and the Cal Poly Club team. By the time she left San Luis Obispo, Sheehy was part of the USA National Team program. She completed her undergraduate career at San Diego State and played for the Aztecs prior to the school’s first varsity season and spent the entire decade of the 1990’s on the USA National Women’s Water Polo team. Sheehy has gone on from her novice days at Cuesta College and is the school’s only Olympic Medalist; she won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Sheehy is now also enshrined in the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.

Sheehy remains involved with the USA National program and has also served as the USA National “B” Team’s head coach.

BASEBALL-

Cuesta Baseball’s Playoff Runs Ends Against #9 Rio Hondo

SAN LUIS OBISPO (May 17, 2010)- Last Week: #16-seed Cuesta stunned the rest of the State and upended the 2010 CCCAA Southern California Regional Brackets by not only making the playoffs, but coming within a day of the 2010 CCCAA State Baseball Championships. The Cougars won their last four regular season games to earn a third place tie in the Western State Conference with Santa Barbara City and stole a playoff berth over the Vaqueros on a tie-breaker. Once in the post-season, the Cougars beat #17 Southwestern, 5-4, in an 11 inning play-in game to extend their season into the first round weekend. In the first round the Cougars upset #2 San Diego City in a best-of-three series to advance to the 2010 CCCAA Super Regional for the third time in the past four years. The Cougars opened the regional with #1 Santa Ana, but could not hold onto an early 3-0 lead as a pair of error led to four runs and a 4-3 loss for Starter Cory Ginther (Las Vegas, NV). The Cougars dropped to the losers bracket, in the double-elimination tournament format, and faced #11 Bakersfield the next morning. Cuesta Starter Jon Moscot (Pacific Palisades) made his first start in three weeks and left the game in the sixth inning with the game tied at five. 2010 All-WSC Outfielder Matt Anderson (Santa Maria: Righetti HS) broke open the game with a home run in the sixth inning and winning pitcher Jake Reed (Simi Valley HS) and Relievers Isaiah Kaneakua (Kihei, HI) and Phillip Gerber (Santa Clarita), who earned the save, combined to shutdown the Renegades for the final three innings in the 9-5 win. The win set-up a rematch with #1 Santa Ana and the Cougars jumped out to another early lead on the Dons. The Cougars led 6-1 after three innings and entered the eighth inning with an 11-5 lead. The Dons scored five runs in the inning, but Gerber and Reed combined to put out the fire and hold the lead for an 11-10 win. Starter John Brehm (Paso Robles HS) earned the win, while Reed picked up the save. The Cougars, who had eliminated four teams including the top two seeds, faced their sixth post-season elimination game the next day against #9 Rio Hondo. The Roadrunners had used only three pitchers during the first two days of the regional, while the Cougars used seven. The Cougars needed to beat Rio Hondo twice on Sunday to advance to the 2010 CCCAA State Championships, but the Roadrunners jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first four innings. The Cougars added two runs in the fifth inning and took the lead on Michael Camporeale’s (Littleton, CO) three-run home run in the sixth inning. A controversial run on a sacrifice fly allowed Rio Hondo to even the game and they added the winning run in the eighth inning off Cuesta’s John Tiedemann (SLO HS) to end the Cougars’ playoff run, 7-6. All three of the Cougars’ 2010 playoff losses were one-run games and the Cougars ended the season with an overall record of 24-20 and were 11-10 in one-run games on the season.

This Week: No contests, season over.

Notes: The Cougars batted .343 as a team in the post-season after ending the regular season with a .272 team average. The Cougars team earned run average of 4.82, was slightly higher than the regular season mark of 4.46. The post-season play of three players stood out over the past two weeks- 2010 All-WSC Designated Hitter Ty Muller (Oak Park HS), Third Baseman Scott Fleury (San Jose) and Reliever Phillip Gerber (Santa Clarita) all enjoyed strong post-seasons. Muller hit .485 during the post-season and raised his season average team-leading to .352. He also joined Matt Anderson (Santa Maria: Righetti HS) with a team-high three post-season home runs. Fleury entered the post-season with a .257 batting average and had started only seven of his 15 games played. He took over at the hot corner by hitting .345 during the playoffs and leading the Cougars with ten runs batted in. Gerber appeared in seven of the Cougars eight playoff games. He posted 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched with a win and a save.

SOFTBALL-

Cuesta Softball Closes Out Season on Tuesday

SAN LUIS OBISPO (April 19, 2010)- This Week: The Cuesta Softball team will complete the first season of the Coach Mike Steuerwald era this Tuesday (1/3 PM) with a twinbill in Santa Barbara. The Cougars entered the seven days of the season with post-season aspirations, which was quite a feat considering where the team was in October. The Cougars spent six months without a coach and waited until November before the Coach Steuerwald arrived on campus. The Cougars lost their first four games and began the season with a 3-9-1 record, however they bounced back under Steuerwald’s leadership and entered last week with a 16-17-1 record. The Cougars are assured their first losing season since 2004, but Tuesday’s doubleheader will land them in anywhere from second to fourth place in the loop.

Last Week: The Cuesta Softball team played for a piece of first place on April 9th, but has gone 1-6 since that day and dropped out of playoff contention. The Cougars could still tie both Oxnard and Moorpark for third place in the Western State Conference, but both teams own the playoff tie-breaker over the Cougars. Last week losses to both Oxnard and Moorpark ended the Cougars’ post-season hopes. On Tuesday, Oxnard, who lost to Cuesta in their first meeting, swept a doubleheader against the Cougars, 5-0 and 6-4. The Cougars allowed six unearned runs in the series, while the Condors played perfect defense. On Thursday, Moorpark clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the Cougars to sweep their season series. Cuesta Pitcher Rachel Thompson (Santa Maria: Righetti HS) increased her school compete game record to 36 after going the distance in all three games last week. Thompson also lowered her ERA to 3.27, despite being saddled with the loss in all three games. The Cougars are 16-20-1 overall and 9-7 against the WSC circuit.

Notes: Third Baseman Alyssa Giordanengo (Pismo Beach: Arroyo Grande HS) is the only other pitcher listed on the Cuesta roster, but her 105.01 ERA in her only start has relegated her to the hot corner and the third spot in the Cougars’ batting order. Giordanengo, a 2009 All-WSC pick as a freshman, is at home in both spots and has anchored both the Cougars’ infield and the line up. She is batting .388 and leads the Cougars with 28 RBI, eight doubles and a .456 on-base percentage. Over her career, Giordanengo has put up numbers that should land her in the top ten all time in career batting (.372), slugging (.476) and on-base percentage (.425).

State Swimming Championships- Men 24th, Women 14th

SAN LUIS OBISPO (May 3, 2010)- This week: The Cuesta Men and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams finished their seasons last weekend at the 2010 CCCAA State Swim and Dive Championships at Mt San Antonio College in Walnut. The Cuesta women earned 14th place, while the men landed in 24th place. Distance Specialist Evan Norton (Paso Robles HS) was the only Cuesta swimmer to reach a championship final and earned sixth place in the 1,650 freestyle. His time of 16:37.89 was only two seconds off Tanner Sheldon’s 2003 school record. Norton also finished 16th in the 500 free (4:49.25), while teammate Devin Graham (Clovis) reached the consolation finals in both backstrokes. He finished 13th in the 200 (1:58.56) and 14th in the 100 backstroke (:54.53) and was the only other member of the men’s team to qualify in the lanes. Diver Demian Nelson (Pismo Beach: Arroyo Grande HS) also finished 13th on the low board (146.9). Cuesta 200 Individual Medley Record Holder Aimee Dewante (El Dorado Hills) finished 12th in her specialty, but also added an 11th place finish in the 1650 freestyle (18:34.23) to lead the women. Her 1,650 placing matched Sprinter Kat Shellooe’s (Atascadero HS) 11th place in the 100 freestyle (:25.38), while Shellooe also added 13th place in the 100 free (:54.52). 2009 All American Michelle Miller (Alamo) is the only sure All American on this year’s team. Her 14th place finish in the 50 butterfly (:27.31) did not match her 2009 school record, but should earn her more national accolades. Diver Beki Morrison (Arroyo Grande HS) finished 13th off the high diver with 150.35 points to round out Cuesta’s scoring.

This Week: No contests, season over. All American results will be announced at the end of this month.

Notes: State Meet Scoring Individual Swims

6th Place: Men: Evan Norton- 1650 Free (16:37.89)

11th Place: Women: Aimee Dewante- 1650 Free (18:34.23)

11th Place: Women: Kat Shellooe- 100 Free (:54.52)

12th Place: Women: Aimee Dewante- 200 IM (2:15.37)

13th Place: Women: Kat Shellooe- 50 Free (:25.38)

13th Place: Women: Beki Morrison- 3M Diving (150.35)

13th Place: Men: Demian Nelson- 1M Diving (146.90)

13th Place: Men: Devin Graham- 200 Back (1:58.56)

14th Place: Women: Michelle Miller- 50 Fly (:27.31)

14th Place: Men: Devin Graham- 100 Back (:54.53)

16th Place: Men: Evan Norton- 500 Free (4:49.25)

TRACK-

Five Cougars Earn All State Honors

SAN LUIS OBISPO (May 24, 2010)- Last week: The Cuesta College Women’s Track and Field team placed 13th at the 2010 CCCAA State Track and Field Championships with a team of only four athletes competing in five events. The men qualified five athletes, but 2009 All State Pole Vaulter Sam Sampson (Bellingham, WA) was scratched due to injury and did not compete. The men landed in 21st place with their quartet of competitors, yet both teams placed athletes in the top four to earn All State honors. The women were led by two-time State Qualifying Thrower Christine Weinreich (Pismo Beach: Arroyo Grande HS). Weinreich earned All State honors by finishing third in the Hammer and breaking her own Cuesta record with a throw of 161-4. She also finished seventh in the Discus (145-2). Pole Vaulters Nicole Worden (Castaic) and Sara Pizzo (Santa Cruz) finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, and both earned All State honors. They both cleared 10-5, but Worden earned the higher placing with fewer misses at the lower heights. Miler Devon Kelsey (Atascadero HS) rounded out the women’s team with 6th place in the 1,500 (5:00.85). Sampson’s vaulting teammate Craig Van Leeuwen (Little Falls, NJ) made sure that Cuesta was represented in the men’s pole vault. Van Leeuwen, who had been undefeated before this weekend, earned All State honors with a jump of 15-8 and 3rd place. He had tied the Cuesta record with a jump of 17-3 earlier in the season, however he is also the tenth Cuesta Pole Vaulter to earn All State since 1989. Runner Travis Hallanan (Paso Robles HS) finished 4th in the 5K (16:08.46) to become only the sixth non-pole vaulter to earn All State honors for the men’s team since 1989. Decathlete Mike Hollis (Livermore HS) finished 7th in the Decathlon with 5,690 points and Runner Bryce Van Boxel (Parkfield: Shandon HS) finished 8th in the 800 with a time of (2:00.74) to round out the team.

This Week: No contest, the season is over.

Notes: All State Thrower Christine Weinreich (Pismo Beach: Arroyo Grande HS) has added nearly 25 feet to Jennifer Wright’s 1997 school record mark of 134-7 during her two years at Cuesta. The record was broken three times last year before Weinreich claimed the mark as her own. She broke the record three times last year and more times this season. She has added 14’ 2” to her original record-breaking mark, including an improvement of nearly seven-feet at the 2010 CCCAA State Championships to end her career with the record set at 161-4. Weinreich also broke her 2009 discus record this year (147-3) and ranks second all time in the shot put at 42-8.

The Cuesta Hammer Record (since 1996)

1997 Jennifer Wright 3/15/97 127-0

1997 Jennifer Wright 4/19/97 134-7

2009 Cassie Freeman 2/12/09 137-6.5

2009 Cassie Freeman 2/21/09 138-10

2009 Cassie Freeman 2/27/09 143-10.75

2009 Christine Weinreich 4/18/09 147-2

2009 Christine Weinreich 5/8/09 150-4

2009 Christine Weinreich 5/15/09 151-2

2010 Christine Weinreich 3/19/10 154-0

2010 Christine Weinreich 3/27/10 154-6.5

2010 Christine Weinreich 5/22/10 161-4

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