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FALL 2011 - The University of Scranton

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<strong>Scranton</strong>Athletics<br />

<strong>The</strong> Embodiment <strong>of</strong> a Student-Athlete<br />

22<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Scranton</strong> Journal<br />

PHOTO CREDIT: JIM O’CONNOR/NJSPORTPICS.COM<br />

Two Graduates Balance Schoolwork and Sports,<br />

Earn Prestigious Scholarships<br />

Financing graduate school just got a lot easier<br />

for Carl Caceres ’11 and Chris Stallone ’11.<br />

This summer, the two <strong>Scranton</strong> graduates<br />

were awarded prestigious postgraduate scholarships<br />

by the National Collegiate Athletic Association<br />

(NCAA), bringing the total number <strong>of</strong><br />

recipients from <strong>The</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scranton</strong> to 15.<br />

Annually, the NCAA awards just 174 postgraduate<br />

scholarships – 87 for men and 87 for<br />

women – <strong>of</strong> one-time grants <strong>of</strong> $7,500. Founded<br />

in 1964, the program, according to the NCAA<br />

website, “aims to reward those individuals whose<br />

dedication and effort are reflective <strong>of</strong> those<br />

characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive<br />

through postgraduate study in an accredited<br />

graduate degree program.”<br />

<strong>The</strong> NCAA could not have found two better<br />

ambassadors.<br />

Caceres, a standout on the men’s tennis team,<br />

graduated with a double major in philosophy and<br />

theology/religious studies, a minor in communication,<br />

and a concentration in Catholic studies.<br />

He maintained a 3.93 grade point average<br />

throughout his academic career.<br />

CHRIS STALLONE<br />

On the court, he was<br />

a four-year letterman<br />

who finished with a<br />

57-21 record (.731) in<br />

singles and 46-28 mark<br />

(.621) in doubles.<br />

Caceres earned numerous<br />

accolades, landing<br />

first-team All-Landmark<br />

Conference honors three<br />

times for his play in<br />

CARL CACERES<br />

singles. He was also named<br />

the conference’s rookie <strong>of</strong> the year in 2008.<br />

A two-time first-team District II All-Academic<br />

selection by the College Sports Information<br />

Directors <strong>of</strong> America (CoSIDA), Caceres played<br />

a major role in leading head coach Keith Hetsko’s<br />

squad to a four-year record <strong>of</strong> 44-24 (.647),<br />

including berths in the championship match <strong>of</strong><br />

the Landmark tournament in each <strong>of</strong> the past<br />

two seasons.<br />

In addition to the rigors <strong>of</strong> his academic and<br />

athletic schedules, he still found time to work in<br />

the Office <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong> Ministries, serve as a peer<br />

tutor for the Center for Teaching and Learning<br />

Excellence, and act as a retreat leader, resident<br />

staff advisor and resident assistant for the Office<br />

<strong>of</strong> Residence Life. At the annual Senior Student-<br />

Athlete Banquet in May, Caceres was also selected<br />

as the co-recipient <strong>of</strong> the Father Fitzpatrick<br />

Award for community service.<br />

Stallone, a center fielder on the baseball team,<br />

was equally impressive in his academic and athletic<br />

pursuits.<br />

He distinguished himself by maintaining the<br />

highest grade point average <strong>of</strong> all student-athletes<br />

in the senior class – a 3.95 grade point average<br />

while earning a degree in finance. His efforts in<br />

the classroom earned him a number <strong>of</strong> accolades,<br />

including first-team Academic All-American<br />

in each <strong>of</strong> the last two seasons and third-team<br />

honors in 2009. In addition, he received the Carlesimo<br />

Award for academic and athletic excellence<br />

at the Senior Student-Athlete Banquet.<br />

His success in the classroom was matched only<br />

by his success on the field.<br />

A four-year starter, Stallone finished his career<br />

with a .401 batting average and what is believed<br />

to be a school-record 202 hits. He also hit safely<br />

in 110 career games, including 62 with at least<br />

two hits, and in 2009 he established the Royals’<br />

single-season record for most hits (65). A<br />

three-time first-team All-Landmark Conference<br />

selection, he led head coach Mike Bartoletti’s<br />

program to a four-year record <strong>of</strong> 84-76-1 (.525),<br />

including berths in the championship bracket <strong>of</strong><br />

the Landmark Conference tournament in 2008<br />

and <strong>2011</strong>.<br />

HEAD OF THE CLASS<br />

<strong>The</strong> following <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scranton</strong><br />

student-athletes have earned NCAA<br />

postgraduate scholarships:<br />

Baseball<br />

Chris Stallone • <strong>2011</strong><br />

Men’s Basketball<br />

J.P. Andrejko • 1988<br />

Michael Banas • 1984<br />

Joseph Cantafio • 1974<br />

Matt Cusano • 1993<br />

Daniel Polacheck • 1995<br />

Women’s Basketball<br />

Una Espenkotter • 1987<br />

Taryn Mellody • 2007<br />

Men’s Cross Country<br />

Joseph Fent • 2001<br />

John Mercuri • 2007<br />

Golf<br />

Will Carey • 1988<br />

Women’s Lacrosse<br />

Bridget Lee • 2003<br />

Women’s Soccer<br />

Nicole Bayman • 2001<br />

Lori Snyder • 1987<br />

Men’s Tennis<br />

Carl Caceres • <strong>2011</strong>

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