Pioneers Earn Academic Honors

Twenty Alfred State College student athletes have been honored with academic awards.  Eleven Pioneers were named NJCAA Academic All-American, 13 were named Academic All-Region, and 20 were named Academic All Conference.

Women's basketball player Jacqueline Dresser (South Seneca) earned a 4.00 GPA to earn distinguished NJCAA Academic All-American.  She was also an All-Region and All-WNYAC academic honoree.

Other NJCAA distinguished Academic All-Americans include:

• Dan Young (Cicero-North Syracuse/Football) earned a 3.96 GPA in 136 credits
• Hiroshi Ozaki (Tokyo, Japan/Soccer) earned a 3.95 GPA in 66 credits
• Matthew Owlett (Alfred Almond/Soccer & Outdoor Track & Field) earned a 3.91 GPA in 50 credits
• Masanari Yamamoto (Tokyo, Japan/Soccer) earned a 3.90 GPA in 83 credits
• Michael Gustafson (Warren, PA/Wrestling) earned a 3.87 GPA in 70 credits

Each of the athletes were also named Academic All-Region and Academic All-Conference.

Miki Inoue (Kumamoto, Japan/Volleyball), Jeffrey Hansen (Watkins Glen/Cross Country), Lee Smith (Waverly/Soccer), Andrew Grayson (Mechanicville/Baseball), and Derek Speaker (Starpoint/Baseball) all earned NJCAA Academic All-Americans.  They were also named Academic All-Region and Academic All-Conference.

• Inoue earned 3.73 GPA in 61 credits
• Hansen had a 3.64 GPA in 133 credits
• Smith earned a 3.63 GPA in 47 credits
• Grayson had a 3.60 GPA in 56 credits
• Speaker earned a 3.60 GPA in 68 credits

Soccer goaltender Dan Fabiny (Wellsville) and lacrosse player Steven Burdzy (West Seneca West) each earned Academic All-Region and Academic All-Conference.  Fabiny had a 3.51 GPA and Burdzy a 3.50.

Ryan Grogan (Churchville Chili/Lacrosse - 3.49 GPA), Danielle Hanchett (Genesee Valley/Basketball - 3.49 GPA), Cory Mee (Churchville Chili/Lacrosse - 3.38 GPA), Melissa Gifford (Jamestown/Basketball - 3.34 GPA), and Kim Winquist (Wilson/Basketball - 3.31 GPA), and Preston Washburn (Dundee/Football - 3.30 GPA) all were named Academic All-Conference.

In total athletes at Alfred State had a 2.53 GPA for the 2008-09 school year.