Five Pioneers named Chancellor Scholar Athletes

Five Alfred State College student-athletes have been awarded the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Scholar Athletes.  Nichole Tyler (Spencer Van Etten), Gallaway Longenecker (Manheim, PA), Heather Yaple (Holland Patent), Paul Farrell (Derby), and Zak Williamson (Rocky Point) all were honored.

Tyler has a 3.31 GPA while playing on both the basketball and softball teams.  She was named a NJCAA honorable mention All-American after breaking the ASC all-time scoring record with 917 career points.  She was also named All-Region for the 2nd straight season.  On the softball diamond she led the Lady Pioneers in hitting on her way to earning All-Region and All-WNYAC 1st team honors.  She is the Region III women's basketball representative for this award.

Longenecker earned 2nd team All-Region and All-WNYAC honors at the 125 lb. weight class this season on the wrestling mats.  He qualified for the National Championships and finished the year with a 26-8 record.  He currently holds a 3.88 GPA.

Yaple holds a 3.45 GPA while participating on the swim team.  She earned coaches All-American honors, for the second year in a row, in three events during the 2006-07 season and was also named All-Region.

Farrell was a national qualifier for the swim team this winter and holds a 3.65 overall GPA.  He swam to 2nd team All-Region honors during the season.

Williamson earned All-American honors in the fall on the cross country team and in the spring on the outdoor track and field team.  In the fall he was a 3rd team All-American and in the spring he earned 2nd team honors.  He was also All-Region during the indoor season.  He currently has a 3.21 GPA and is the Region III cross country representative for this award.

In a release from SUNY, Chancellor John R. Ryan stated.  "The Scholar Athlete Award is one of the most selective and prestigious awards bestowed by SUNY, because it speaks to the hard work and dedication our student athletes put forth both in classroom and in their particular sport where they compete throughout the year," said Chancellor Ryan. "Their success also speaks volumes about the quality of the programs and curriculum that SUNY campuses, coaches, faculty, and staff provide. I commend the recipients as well as their coaches and faculty for this extraordinary achievement." 

Recipients of this year's award include 78 student athletes from 28 campuses for participation in 25 different sports.  Collectively, these student-athletes have combined outstanding accomplishments in the classroom as well as the playing surface, posting an average GPA of 3.64.