Athletes of the Week for January 16, 2017
Women’s Basketball
Alexandra Leslie — University of Rochester — Lancaster, PA (Manheim Township)
Junior forward Alexandra Leslie averaged 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game as University of Rochester split UAA home contests against University of Chicago and Washington University. She tied the program’s single-game record with seven blocks in a 77-61 loss to the Maroons, adding 24 points and 11 rebounds. Leslie contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and two blocks in the Yellowjackets’ 67-53 victory over Washington University.
Men’s Basketball
Sam Borst-Smith — University of Rochester — San Pedro, CA (Peninsula/Lawrenceville, NJ)
Senior guard Sam Borst-Smith averaged 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 62.5 percent from the floor and 56.3 percent from three-point range, as University of Rochester split two home games. He scored a career-high 38 points, connecting on seven of eight 3-pointers, as the Yellowjackets came back to defeat University of Chicago, 88-82. In an 81-76 loss to Washington University on Sunday, Borst-Smith registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Elise Gibbs — NYU — Manteo, NC (Manteo)
Senior Elise Gibbs won three individual events and swam on the winning 200-yard medley relay as NYU defeated Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University on Friday. She captured the 50-yard freestyle (24.25 seconds), 100-yard breaststroke (1:06.06), and 200-yard breaststroke (2:23.49). Gibbs’ times in the 200 and 100 breaststrokes would rank 26th and 40th, respectively, in NCAA Division III if her season-best times were not already ranked higher.
Ashlie Pankonin — NYU — Lincoln, NE (Lincoln)
Senior Ashlie Pankonin of NYU posted one win and three NCAA Regional Qualifying marks in back-to-back days as the Violets recorded wins over Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Springfield College. She placed first on the one-meter board with a score of 280.73 in a tri-meet against Johns Hopkins and MIT. The following day, Pankonin added qualifying marks in the one- (267.68) and three-meter (270.53) boards against Springfield College.
Danielle Neu — University of Rochester — Hammondsport, NY (Haverling)
Senior Danielle Neu captured both diving events in NCAA Zone qualifying marks in a 210-89 University of Rochester win at Nazareth College. She won the three-meter event with a pool record score of 284.69 and finished first on the one-meter board with a score of 265.42.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Reona Yamaguchi — University of Chicago — Tokyo, Japan (The Peddie School, NJ)
Freshman Reona Yamaguchi won three events against NCAA Division I opponent University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and broke the University of Chicago record in the 100-yard individual medley. His time of 52.83 seconds in the 100 IM ranks fourth in NCAA Division III this season. Yamaguchi swept the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes with times of 58.29 seconds and 2:08.21, respectively. The previous day against Lewis University and Olivet Nazarene University, he finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke in 58.07 seconds.
Connor Brisson — NYU — Greenwich, CT (Greenwich)
Sophomore Connor Brisson became the first NYU diver to break the 400-point barrier when he scored 404.70 on the three-meter board on Saturday at Springfield College. He captured the one-meter dive with a score of 355.87. Brisson also swept the diving events the previous day against Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Women’s Indoor Track and Field
Dana Placentra — NYU — Montclair, NJ (Montclair Kimberley Academy)
NYU senior Dana Placentra finished third of 14 competitors in the pole vault with a career-best height of 3.25 meters at the Ramapo College Season Opener on Friday. The Violets finished 10th in the 20-team meet.
Emily Bryson — Brandeis University — Quincy, MA (North Quincy)
Brandeis University sophomore Emily Bryson won the 3,000-meter run in a time of 10:14.16 at the Judges’ Reggie Poyau Memorial Invitational. Her time is the fastest in the UAA this season and ranks fifth in NCAA Division III. Bryson led a 1-2-3 sweep in the event, followed by senior Maddie Dolins and twin sister Julia Bryson.
Khia Kurtenbach — University of Chicago — Germantown, WI (Germantown)
University of Chicago junior Khia Kurtenbach won the one-mile event by more than 14 seconds in a time of 5:04.89 in the Maroons’ Phoenix Invitational. Her time ranks fifth in NCAA Division III. The Maroons finished first in the six-team field.
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Shane Sullivan — Emory University — Johns Creek, GA (Mt. Pisgah Christian)
Emory University junior Shane Sullivan registered a time of 15:00.36 in the 5,000-meter run at the Eastern Tennessee State University Invitational. He placed second in the 47-runner field that included several NCAA Division I competitors. Sullivan’s time ranks first in the UAA and seventh in NCAA Division III this season.
Wrestling
John Messinger — NYU — Putnam Valley, NY (Putnam Valley)
Senior John Messinger of NYU finished 4-0 to win the 174-pound weight class at the Plymouth State University Jim Aguiar Invitational. He won three bouts by fall and one by major decision, becoming the fifth wrestler in program history to win 100 career matches. Messinger improved to 24-0 against NCAA Division III competition this season.
Jason Lynch — University of Chicago — Hellertown, PA (Saucon Valley)
Sophomore Jason Lynch of University of Chicago finished 4-0 to win the 184-pound weight class at the Elmhurst College Al Hanke Invitational. He tallied two technical falls and a first period pin then defeated his Dubuque opponent with an 8-2 score. The Maroons finished third in the 10-team field, spurred on by three weight class titles.
Athlete of the Week selections are drawn from nominees submitted by member institution coaches and sports information directors. UAA Athletes of the Week are selected in each sport in which the UAA sponsors competition. They are selected on the basis of their individual performances and contributions to team efforts during the past week in both Association and non-Association competition.