Eight Wheaton student-athletes named to 2003 NEWMAC All-Academic team

May 28, 2003

NORTON, MA- Eight Wheaton College student-athletes have been named to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Academic team for the spring of 2003. Out of the ten schools, there were 147 student-athletes to receive this honor.

Honorees must follow a certain criteria to qualify, including having a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better upon completion of the 2002 fall semester, attaining at least a sophomore standing and participating on a varsity team for the entire season.

The women's track and field team led the way with three recipients in juniors Kim Spence (Barrington, NH/Dover) and Christina Zerbini (Wethersfield, CT/Wethersfield) and sophomore Tessa Donoghue (Springfield, MA/Cathedral). Women's lacrosse placed two athletes on the squad, including junior Lauren Maynes (Woodstock, VT/Woodstock Union) and sophomore Kyla Graves (North Sutton, NH/Kearsarge Regional).

Rounding out the list was men's tennis junior Jonah Cool (Palo Alto, CA/Henry B. Gunn), softball sophomore Sarah Malloy (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland) and men's track and field sophomore Christopher Wilbur (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth).

Donoghue and Spence helped lead the women's track and field squad to its third consecutive NCAA Division III Championship. Donoghue, who was a National Champion in the 4x400-meter relay and an All-America in the triple jump, earned NEWMAC All-Conference laurels in the 4x400-meter relay, long jump, triple jump and high jump events, while Spence picked up conference accolades in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and 4x100-meter relay. Moved to distance this season, Zerbini ran in the 1,500-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Maynes and Graves helped lead Wheaton to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 17 years. Maynes was named NEWMAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and NEWMAC All-Conference for the third straight year in addition to holding a national ranking in goals per game. Starting in 15 games, she posted a team-high 58 goals with seven assists on the season. Playing in all 15 games with seven starts, Graves recorded 11 goals and 22 ground balls.

Cool, who was victorious at third doubles in an early season match, played exhibition throughout the year. Malloy, named to the NEWMAC All-Conference second team, was the team leader in home runs and was tied for third in doubles. Earning 43 starts, Malloy was among the conference leaders in home runs and runs scored. Competing on Wheaton's track squad for the first year, Wilbur saw action in the javelin.

Spring sports sponsored by the NEWMAC include: baseball, women's crew, women's lacrosse, softball, men's tennis and men's and women's track & field.

Last updated on 5/29/03.
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