Sports

Lessons Across Generations – Resident News

Published

3 months ago

June 1, 2025

In honor of Father’s Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the dads and granddads who lead with love, wisdom, and quiet strength. From imparting lasting pearls of wisdom to passing down family traditions, their influence runs deep and wide. In this special Resident News feature, we celebrate their stories – heartwarming, humorous, and deeply inspiring – honoring the roles they play not just in their families, but in shaping the communities we call home.

Dave Auchter

Dave Auchter of Ortega is a fourth generation Jacksonville native and father to three young adults.

“I have endless reasons to be proud of my children,” he said. “But seeing their compassion for others is humbling and a consistent highlight.”

One of Dave’s life lessons it seems his kids have truly taken to heart is to “be an optimist and always seek to see the best in people.”

Dave’s great-grandfather founded the Auchter Company in 1929, which built many of Jacksonville’s civil and corporate buildings, including City Hall. Dave worked alongside his family for seven years, moving on to roles at a few other Jacksonville companies before assuming his current role as corporate marketing vice president at The Haskell Company.

His deep and active religious faith, nurtured by his mother, is another guiding principle in his life.

“I pray my children find a similar peace and practice in their own lives,” he said.

Now that his kids are grown, Dave finds that family time is especially precious.

“I cherish the rare opportunities we have to be together in the same place,” he said. “Inevitably, someone yells, ‘Group hug!’”

David Barton

Growing up in Jacksonville as a fourth-generation native, David Barton has a deep appreciation for our natural environment, which his two children also share.

“Conserving land for future generations to enjoy and taking good care of the St. Johns River are important,” he said.

The family enjoys camping together, and their outdoor adventures have taken the family across the map: scuba diving in Cozumel, whale watching in Alaska, snow skiing in Steamboat, and exploring Spanish Wells in The Bahamas.

David believes hard work and education build a foundation for success, and the greatest happiness in life are people and the time we get to spend with them.

David reflected proudly, “It’s a joy to raise your children and watch them evolve into their own person.”

Now that they are older, one of his favorite memories was a time they “ignored the traditional hierarchy of the parent-child relationship” and surprised one of his kids with a funny video found on social media, which caused the whole family to erupt in laughter.

“We are four adults now having a great time together,” he said.

Arthur Bides

San Marco resident Arthur Bides said one tradition he hopes his children carry on to future generations is their family’s Filipino heritage.

“I want them to carry the values of respect for elders, shown through gestures like mano po, and the spirit of bayanihan – coming together as a community to help one another,” Arthur said. “I hope they continue to celebrate our fiestas, enjoy lumpia and lechon at family gatherings, and take pride in our language, our stories and the resilience of our people. Passing on our heritage isn’t just about preserving culture – it’s about giving them a strong foundation of identity, pride, and connection.”

Arthur is the president of the Filipino-American Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and volunteers with many nonprofit organizations, including the Florida Water Environmental Association and the Garden Club of Jacksonville. He names a family vacation to Callaway Gardens as the most meaningful to him as a dad.

“Surrounded by nature, away from the rush of daily life, we had the chance to truly slow down and just be together,” he said. “It was the kind of trip that reminded me what really matters: making memories, being present, and seeing the world through my children’s eyes.”

Bill Cesery

Third generation developer and property manager Bill Cesery of San Marco-based Cesery Companies looks forward to his family business continuing for many years to come.

“My daughter, Christie, has her real estate broker’s license and is working on getting her general contractor’s license – the same two licenses I have,” he said. “Two of my cousins work in the business.”

His grandfather, Angelo, moved his construction to Jacksonville in 1906 to help rebuild after the Great Fire of 1901. Bill’s father, William Sr., began building houses in Arlington in the 1950s; he established Wm R. Cesery Co.
in 1959. In 1976, Bill joined the business as well.

He’s learned many life lessons from his family that he is now passing down to daughter Christie, son Ross and his two grandchildren.

“Always be truthful and treat people fairly and with respect, in business and your personal life,” Bill said.
“Keep a calm demeanor even when things are falling apart.”

Another family tradition is “epic family vacations,” which began with a trip his parents took him and his sisters on to Disneyland in California in 1959 and continues today with, most recently, a trip touring around Australia.

Matt Carlucci

Losing his own father at age 29 has led San Marco resident Matt Carlucci to strive to always be present and vocal with his sons, Matthew and Joseph.

“I tell them often how I love them and how proud I am of them – and I mean it with all my heart,” he said.

Fly fishing and faith are cherished traditions they share now that Matt hopes lives on through his children. “We love to fish together in the mountains in Georgia, Montana and Wyoming, but more importantly, I hope my sons continue to live their lives rooted in faith, compassion, integrity, and public service.” he said. “One is serving on the Jacksonville City Council; the other leads a Burmese outreach ministry through our church. Both are also fourth-generation insurance agents – so service, in many forms, runs marrow deep.”

When it comes to holidays, Thanksgiving is Matt’s favorite. “No stress over gifts – just good food, laughter, and being together,” he said. “Watching my sons joke with each other, seeing them as both grown men and the boys I raised, is a gift I treasure every year.”

Steve Pajcic

Steve Pajcic founded The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic in 1974 with his late brother, Gary. Today, his son Michael practices there as do his three nephews.

Steve was elected to the Florida House of Representatives for six terms and has given millions in support of education. Despite his professional success, he is quick to credit his wife, Anne, for his greatest dad accomplishment:

“Both Michael and Helen fully respect all that their mother contributed to our life by making our home such a welcome and happy home,” he said. “They both put the highest value on what she took care of for us. They are both great cooks, wonderful parents and promoters of family happiness and enrichment, just like their mother.”

The Avondale resident names eating meals together, singing the kids to sleep and playing fun games as a family as the traditions he has passed down to his children.

“There are only three important things in life: doing the right thing, doing the best job you can and having fun,” he said.

And, perhaps, having a sense of humor.

“As a dad, you are always the dumbest one in the family,” he said.

Dr. Josh Rogozinski

San Jose resident Dr. Josh Rogozinski is an orthopedic surgeon working in the family business, Rogozinksi Orthopedic Clinic, alongside his fellow physicians, who also happen to be his brother, his father, his cousin and his uncle, with yet another uncle serving as chief operating officer.

“I believe the sense of duty is one part of fatherhood that never changes across generations,” he said. “I feel personal duty to my kids, Ezekiel, Alexi, Cobie, Quinn, and Ruby, that I have given them the life they each deserve.”

Josh and his wife, Jodi, believe in love and finding love in each other’s differences, which he hopes carries on to their children.

The busy family of seven is comprised of two sets of boy twins and one daughter.

“Despite the cries and screams in this household, I consider myself the luckiest,” Josh said.

The family has found a sweet spot to escape what can be a hectic, everyday life:

“Family beach time at Ponte Vedra Beach, specifically the golden light just before sunset, is a moment together I will always remember,” he said. “Every time we go to the beach at this time, the kids just seem so relaxed, and I personally just want to stop time and spend forever there together!”

Percy Rosenbloom III

The best thing about being a dad for Percy Rosenbloom?

“Becoming a granddad,” he shared proudly of his six grandchildren, courtesy of his children: Christine, Hoyt and Carter.

Percy, who lives in Ortega, founded his company SaniGLAZE International, a tile and hard surface restoration business, in 2000, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who founded Royal Services in 1914. Royal Services was a janitorial contracting business.

Now, the tradition continues as both his sons are leaders in the family business. Percy strives to set a good example, stay positive and keep moving. A family memory that epitomizes this was a boating trip to the Florida Keys: The family was caught in a thunderstorm and managed to seek limited shelter on a small mangrove island.

“One of my children asked me why God would do such a thing to us,” Rosenbloom recalled. “After some thought, I explained many things happen that we cannot understand, but if we pray, God will listen. He then went into a serious prayer that I found nothing short of amazing and inspirational, given his age at the time. A few minutes after his prayer, the clouds parted, and the sun returned.”

Richard Rosenblum

San Jose resident Richard Rosenblum learned the value of civility from his father and grandfather through their family business, Rosenblum’s. Rosenblum’s has now passed down to Richard’s four children, along with two core values he has impressed upon them:

“Having a good work ethic and treating everyone with respect, from the janitor to the CEO, are two core values I know my kids have learned,” Richard said.

Another lesson he’s passed on to his children is the importance of health and fitness.

“I’ve tried to stay fit for 63 years and set the example of importance of good health and nutrition,” he said.

Sports have been a common thread in the family as they have enjoyed days cheering on the Tampa Bay Rays and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Richard remains present for his children, occasionally doling out nuggets of fatherly advice, including, “Nothing good happens after midnight.”

Though two of his children are now away at college, the kids all FaceTime each other together nearly every night.

“I’m confident they will carry on the importance of family values and closeness with each other,” he said.

Michael Schmidt

Co-owner of Bearded Pig in San Marco, Michael Schmidt is part of a close-knit Jacksonville clan, with his own father living less than one mile away from him and his family.

“I enjoy things I have always done with my father and things I did with my two grandfathers,” he said.

Now, he’s passing down these traditions to his three children, with one-on-one and group activities.

“I hope they remember things we do together and look fondly on all the time we spend together,” he said.

The family’s annual trips to Maine have created special memories.

“We always find new things to do and discover, but also we have our favorite places and things to do,” he said.

Among other lessons, Michael is teaching his children to be thoughtful.

“Measure twice and cut once.” he said. “Seems simple but it speaks to taking your time.”

One thing that never changes about fatherhood is that kids are kids. “They fall, they get up and they learn. As a dad, you just have to let them learn,” he said. “I’m still learning and my dad still lets me ‘fall’ so I can get up.”

Henry Thorpe

For Henry Thorpe of San Jose, fatherhood is a continuous journey of learning.

“One of the goals of life is to be a complete human: someone who is self-aware and confident while also being capable of making room for others to be expressive of themselves,” he said. “I think dads are concerned that they are demonstrating to their children how to be that complete human. The challenge, of course, is that we dads are teaching them even as we ourselves learn.”

One valuable lesson Henry learned from his own father that he is working to pass down to his daughter is the power of kindness and treating others as she’d like to be treated.

“My late dad spoke of times when he was mistreated, and his decision that he would never do the same to someone else,” he said. “I watched him and I can attest to his graciousness and willingness to forgive.”

Henry balances these core values with times to just have fun together.

“One of my favorite memories was going to Fun Spot amusement park in Orlando, just the two of us,” said Henry. “We proceeded to eat all the candy, funnel cake and ice cream we could. We enjoyed the rides, overdid it on the goodies, and had a great day.”

Manny Torres

“One thing my father passed down to me which I emphasize with my two sons is accountability,” said Manny Torres of Granada. “You are responsible for your actions and their results. If you aren’t happy with your results, it’s your responsibility to take different actions.”

His boys’ actions are making him proud, particularly when they feel proud of their own accomplishments. “When I see my sons’ faces [when they’re] doing what they love – whether it’s Alex winning at a water polo tournament or Drew giving a great theatrical performance – that always pulls at my heart strings,” Manny said.

The family recently traveled to the San Francisco Bay area for spring break and the Water Polo Olympic Development Nationals.

Father, mother and son – Manny, Mary Beth and Alex – all play water polo. Some of the best times they enjoy as a family is had during adventurous trips across the country and abroad.

“One tradition in our family is to travel and explore new places as a family,” said Manny. “I hope when my kids get older that they continue this tradition and if I’m lucky… maybe they’ll invite me along as well.”

John Weedon

The three Fs – faith, family and football – have shaped San Jose resident John Weedon as a dad.

“We regularly practice our Catholic faith, stay close with our extended family, and – very proudly – bleed the colors of our favorite teams,” he said. “It’s not just about sports, though – it’s about loyalty, showing up, and having pride in the people and things you love.”

John grew up going to football games with his parents and grandparents.

“My family has had Gators season tickets since the 1950s and Jaguars season tickets since the team’s first season in 1995,” he said. “I went to my first game at 10, but all three of my kids have been going since they were newborns. It’s been a special bond for generations, and I’d love for that tradition to keep going down the line.”

John notes that even as the times evolve, the basics of fatherhood stay consistent.

“The tools might change – our dads had newspapers and long talks in the garage, we’ve got driveway basketball games and post-bedtime snack negotiations – but the basics stay the same: consistency, values, and a united front from both parents, even when you’re trading off good cop and bad cop.”

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Volleyball sweeps Samford in home opener

Published

27 minutes ago

September 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

FLORENCE, Ala. (September 9, 2025) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team claimed a 3-0 home victory Tuesday night over the Samford Bulldogs in CB&S Bank Arena.

North Alabama (4-4) rung in the home opener in style with a three-set triumph over the in-state foes. The Lions fended off the competitive first set with Samford to take the opening point. Samford (2-3) came back in the second to seize the momentum, yet a late run gave UNA the two-set advantage. The third frame found North Alabama down by as many as seven points, but a comeback ensued and UNA downed the Bulldogs, 26-24.

The victory also marked UNA’s first win over Samford in the Division I era and the first since 1997.

Junior Kendall Barnes led UNA with 10 kills and a career-high three service aces. Junior Nicole Sargent and sophomore Dylann Garner added seven kills apiece. Kinslee McGowan, the reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Setter of the Week, tallied 30 assists.

Defensively, junior Ava Martindale posted a match-high 20 digs, and ASUN Freshman of the Week Jenna Kolosta contributed three blocks.

Samford and North Alabama opened the frame with a competitive affair. UNA took the lead after being down 2-0, going on a 6-2 run for the 6-4 advantage. The Lions held strong toward the halfway mark, but used a run midway to all but claim the opening frame. North Alabama led 15-12 and used a 5-0 run to open the score to a 20-12 UNA advantage. Two of Barnes’ three service aces came in the run, fueling the Lions to a 25-19 win in set one.

The Lions faced more competition in set two with the frame decided towards the end. Neither team lead by more than three points, but UNA used defense and the service line to take a 2-0 lead. North Alabama outscored the Bulldogs, 5-1, with UNA trailing 20-21 towards the end of the set. Sargent’s kill tied the set on the next point, with Sargent following with sophomore Reese Ricketts on a block. A second-straight block from Kolosta and Garner put the Lions up 23-22, and a service ace from Garner helped win set two, 25-22.

The Bulldogs responded from the first two sets with a strong opening third frame. An even start led to a 10-7 Samford lead and expanded to 14-8 midway through. The Bulldogs built a 17-10 advantage, but the Lions came alive with a 9-2 run to tie the set at 19. Garner was the catalyst in the comeback, contributing three kills and a block with additional kills from Barnes, Kolosta and Sargent. Samford quelled the run by outscoring North Alabama, 4-1, and took a 23-20 lead. The Bulldogs needed one point to send the match to a fourth, but UNA went on a 5-0 run to send the set to a win-by-two situation. The winning point came on a bad set from Samford, but a kill each from Barnes and Ricketts helped secure the Lions’ triumph in set three, 26-24.

UP NEXT

UNA continues its homestand Friday, Sept. 12, against Western Carolina. First serve is set for 6 p.m. in CB&S Bank Arena.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Volleyball Shuts Down No. 11 Florida In 3-0 Sweep

Published

43 minutes ago

September 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For the first time since 2016, volleyball swept a ranked opponent at home as the Tar Heels shut down No. 11 Florida (25-23, 25-18, 25-21). Tonight’s victory gives Carolina the first win against the Gators since 1985 and the highest ranked victory in the Mike Schall era of volleyball. The sweep marks the first 5-0 start since 2021 when the team started 10-0.

The last time the Tar Heels beat a top 15 team at home was 2020 against No. 14 Duke 3-1 on Oct. 9. The last top 15 non-conference win was beating No. 2 Wisconsin in 2016. The 2016 team advanced to the sweet sixteen.

“That had nothing to do with them at all,” Safi Hampton said. “That was the first time that we played our game. We did the scout — everyone on the team did their job. That’s about us.”

The most anticipated home matchup of the last decade lived up to the hype as the two ranked foes went back and forth in the first set, which featured four lead changes and eight ties. Carolina came out on top, 25-23, giving them the first set victory against the Gators since 1999. Florida tied the match 23-23, but back-to-back kills from Safi Hampton sealed the first set win.

The momentum carried over as Carolina took the second set 25-18.The Tar Heels came out swinging as they jumped out to a 14-5 lead off an 11-2 run. The Tar Heels scored the first point of the second set and never gave up the lead. The Gators tied the set twice but the Tar Heels responded both times.

“We practice more than we play, and if our team is deep, then we’re playing against a really good team every day,” head coach Mike Schall said. “We have great players who didn’t get opportunities tonight, and they’ll get them in the future, but they’re going to keep working on it and they’ll get those opportunities. They’re gonna be ready when they do, and I’m confident in that.”

The final set mirrored the first set with four lead changes and eight ties. Florida looked to be in the driver’s seat at the start of the set as they held the lead before the Tar Heels went on a 5-0 run to tie the match 13-13. before Carolina pulled away for good, closing out the match on 4-2 run giving Carolina its first win against Florida in four decades.

Hampton has led the team in kills in every single match that she played in all of the sets and tonight’s victory was the same.

“She is one of the most creative attackers that I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach, and she’s such a good problem solver,” Schall. It never looks exactly the same, but she figures out ways to get kills and we’re fortunate to have her.”

The undefeated Tar Heels will head on the road to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks for the second straight season on Friday, Sept. 12, at 6:00 p.m. on SECN+.

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Two WVU Alumni to Compete at 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo

Published

2 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Two former West Virginia University track and field standouts will compete on the international stage next week at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Sarah Tait and Amy Cashin are both set to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. While the championships open on Saturday, Sept. 13, their event begins with preliminaries on Monday, Sept. 15, at 8:15 p.m. ET/9:15 a.m. JST. The finals are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 8:57 a.m./21:57 p.m. JST.

While at WVU, Tait became one of the most decorated distance runners in program history. She was a two-time First Team All-American and currently holds both the West Virginia University and Scottish national records in the steeplechase.

Cashin ranks third all-time in WVU steeplechase history and earned two Second Team and one Third Team All-America honors during her career. She has represented Australia at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 2025 championships will be her third consecutive World Athletics Championships appearance.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on X, Facebook and Instagram.

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UNI volleyball tops Iowa State in rousing home win

Published

2 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Over 5,000 fans filled the McLeod Center on Tuesday night as the UNI volleyball team scored a key 3-1 win over the Iowa State Cyclones as part of non-conference play.

In a match led by a career-high 23-kill double-double performance by Cassidy Hartman, the Panthers evened their record on the season at 3-3, handing the Cyclones their first loss of the season, including their two set losses of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Panthers overcame back-to-back Cyclone service errors on the first two points of the match and carried a lead from there on out in a strong offensive set against one of the nation’s top offensive units. Five kills and five digs from Hartman, along with four terminations from Lily Dykstra and a pair of blocks from Maryn Bixby helped fuel an opening set where the Panthers notched a .571 hitting clip with 16 team kills and zero attack errors. Keeping Iowa State’s at bay, UNI prevailed with a 25-20 first set victory.

Northern Iowa faced another stiff challenge from the Cyclones in the second stanza, but found continued success on offense off the ISU block. Led by seven kills from Hartman and a .310 hitting percentage, UNI was able to force bonus ball after Iowa State rallied for set point, but came up short as the Cyclones evened the match at one set a piece with a 28-26 win.

UNI bounced back with a strong performance in the third set with Reese Booth dishing out an ace and the Panthers leading wire to wire. Calia Clubb and Dykstra continued to grow their kill totals as the Panther defense notched 20 team digs in the frame to build an 18-10 advantage. Tallying 17 team kills on .350 hitting, UNI withstood a late ISU push to take the third set by a score of 25-19, and a two-to-one set lead in the match.

The Panthers surged across the finish line in the fourth set, notching 19 team stops on .444 hitting with 18 assists. After scoring the first three points of the set and taking an 8-5 lead, UNI withstood a 3-0 Iowa State run that tied the set at 11-11 before the Panthers took the lead for good by strong sets from Hartman, Dykstra, Bixby and Isabelle Elliott that helped seal the match with a 25-19 set win.

Hartman finished the match with a career-high 23 kills, plus 11 digs for a double-double, while Dykstra tallied 15 kills, as well as a career-best three aces in the win. Clubb posted a season-high 12 kills, with Lindsay Oldendorf recording nine terminations, Elliott five kills and Bixby four kills and a team-high four blocks. Booth registered a season-best 28 assists along with two aces, while Kate Shafer also posted 28 assists, a new career-high. Jadyn Petersen finished with 17 digs in the Panther victory.

“What an amazing environment to play in front of,” said UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen after the win. “”Offensively we hit really well against a team that is really good at defense. On the other side I think our defense did a nice job of pushing them out of system.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI improves to 36-32 all-time against Iowa State, including 10-13 under head coach Bobbi Petersen. Tuesday’s win also marks the first time the Panthers have beaten the Cyclones in consecutive meetings since the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Tuesday night’s crowd of 5,170 fans was the sixth-largest volleyball attendance in McLeod Center history, and the most attended UNI volleyball match since the Panthers hosted Iowa State last in 2021.

Tuesday was Bobbi Petersen‘s 17th career win against a Big 12 Conference opponent. Northern Iowa has now beaten one Big 12 opponent in each of the last four seasons, including four of its last five (Iowa State in 2022, 2025 / TCU in 2023 / West Virginia in 2024).

Cassidy Hartman recorded her 500th career kill on Tuesday, as well as her fourth career match of 20+ terminations. She also notched her ninth career double-double and second of the 2025 season.

Lily Dykstra has now recorded nine or more kills in all six matches this year, including seven straight outings dating back to last season. Tuesday was also Dykstra’s tenth career match with double-digit kill numbers.

Dykstra also surpassed 300 career kills in the Panther win, while Calia Clubb notched her 200th career kill. Lindsay Oldendorf is one termination shy of 300 for her career.

UP NEXT

The Panthers return to action beginning Friday afternoon at the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, Nebraska, opening up against Rice at 4:30 p.m. CT. UNI will also take on No. 4 Louisville in a 2024 NCAA Tournament rematch on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT, as well as No. 18 Creighton on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CT.

Friday and Saturday’s matches will be livestreamed on YouTube, while Sunday’s will be broadcast on ESPN+. Live radio coverage of all three matches can be found on the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 FM Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2).

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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Shippensburg has seven selections to PSAC’s Greatest Female Athletes list

Published

2 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By: SU Sports Information

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Seven Shippensburg University alumni were among the individuals announced on Wednesday to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)’s “75 Greatest Female Athletes” list.

The list recognizes former female student-athletes who had exceptional athletic careers during or after their participation in the PSAC.

The PSAC is celebrating its 75th anniversary season in 2025-26 and will honor 300 of its most prominent contributors throughout the month of September.

“While the path for women in college athletics was not always paved equally, the women of the PSAC have more than made their mark,” said Steve Murray, PSAC Commissioner. “They’ve redefined what’s possible. From the early trailblazers to today’s champions, these 75 greatest female athletes represent courage, excellence, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity. Their achievements speak not only to talent, but to the progress Title IX helped make possible and the power of sport to transform lives.”

The PSAC was founded on March 11, 1951, and comprised 14 institutions as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference (PSTCAC). Since then, it has grown into one of the largest conferences in the NCAA across all three divisions.

Shippensburg University student-athletes selected to PSAC list:

Lauren Beckley – Basketball, 2006-10

2-time All-American, 3-time PSAC Player of the Year, 4-time All-PSAC First Team; PSAC’s 2nd All-Time Leading Scorer (2,407 points) and No. 10 All-Time Leading Rebounder (1,151)…7th in PSAC history in career 3-pointers (263) and career free throws (532)…59 career double-doubles…first player in league history to reach 1,000 career points as a sophomore

Dee Fichter Cross – Field Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse, 1977-81

1979 AIAW Division III National Field Hockey Player of the Year; tri-captain of SU’s 1979 AIAW Division III National Championship Field Hockey Team, graduated as SU’s all-time field hockey goals leader (49), basketball points leader (826) and lacrosse assists leader; 9-year member of U.S. National Lacrosse Team (1980-89), 1999 inductee to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame

Ariel Jones – Basketball, Track & Field, 2017-23

3-time All-American; 2-time PSAC Player of the Year; 4-time All-PSAC First Team; PSAC’s all-time leading scorer (2,806 points; fourth-most in D2 history); NCAA Division II’s all-time leader in free throws (850); PSAC single-game scoring record (51) and single-season scoring record (795), 3-time PSAC place-winner in outdoor track & field as a jumper

Hannah Marsteller – Softball, 2018-22

3-time All-American; 3-time PSAC Athlete of the Year; 2-time Ron Lenz Division II Player of the Year; 2021-22 Pete Nevins PSAC Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year; PSAC’s all-time leader in RBIs (249); 2nd in PSAC history in home runs (62) and slugging percentage (.857), 3rd in doubles (62), extra-base hits (134) and total bases (550)

Jazmin Petrantonio Kuhn – Field Hockey, 2017-21

2021-22 Division II Honda Athlete of the Year; 2-time NFHCA Division II Player of the Year (2018, 2021); 3-time NFHCA Regional Player of the Year; 4-time All-American; 106 career goals (3rd in NCAA D-II history), all-time leading scorer in the history of the NCAA D-II Field Hockey Championships (10 goals in eight games)

Neely Spence Gracey – Cross Country, Track & Field, 2008-12

8-time NCAA National Champion, 11-time NCAA All-American, 2-time USTFCCCA National Cross Country Athlete of the Year, 2-time PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year, named PSAC Athlete of the Year after all 10 of her competitive seasons, 21-time PSAC Champion spanning XC and T&F, 2010 NCAA Division II Women’s Sportsmanship Award

Kelley Tiesi Key – Softball, 2003-06

3-time All-American; 2006 PSAC Pitcher of the Year; 2004 PSAC Player of the Year; 4-time All-PSAC First Team; 2004 NCAA Division II Player of the Year; 2nd in PSAC history in career strikeouts (1,095), 3rd in shutouts (51); 5th in PSAC history in wins (99) and complete games (91)…set NCAA D-II record with 83.2 consecutive scoreless innings in 2004

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PSAC announces “75 Greatest Female Athletes” list

Published

3 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

PSAC Announcement | PSAC 75th Anniversary Homepage

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Slippery Rock University landed five former student-athletes and one current coach on the “75 Greatest Female Athletes” list released by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Wednesday in celebration of its 75th anniversary.

The PSAC will release lists of 75 honorees each Wednesday in the month of September as a kickoff to celebrating the 75th year of the conference. The first list, announced last week, was the “Made in the PSAC” list, which celebrated 75 former student-athletes that went on to influential careers.

This week’s list is the “75 Greatest Female Athletes,” which highlights 75 student-athletes that achieved greatness in competition during their time in the PSAC.

Future lists will include the “75 Greatest Male Athletes” being released Sept. 17 and “75 Distinguished Keystones” being released on Sept. 24. The Keystones list will recognize individuals who have been historically influential in the PSAC, whether it be staff, administrators or coaches.

The Rock are represented on the Greatest Female Athletes list by four alumni, one student-athlete that began her career at SRU and one current assistant coach that competed at another PSAC institution.

The alumni group includes track & field athletes Karyn McCready and Andi Rose, women’s soccer athlete Meghan McGrath and gymnastics national champion Julie Morrow Caito.

Former basketball player Becky Siembak, who was the PSAC Freshman of the Year at SRU before transferring to California (Pa.) and current track & field assistant coach Tabitha Bemis, who competed at Edinboro, are also on the list.

Brief bios for each of The Rock’s honorees can be found below.

KARYN McCREADY

• Sport: Track & Field

• Years at SRU: 2000-04

• Accomplishments: McCready was a three-time All-American in the javelin and recorded the highlight of her career when she won the 2004 NCAA Division II national title in the event. Her performance was so strong at the collegiate level that she qualified for and competed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She won three PSAC titles in the javelin and closed her career as a two-time Academic All-American. McCready was inducted into the Rock Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

MEGHAN McGRATH

• Sport: Soccer

• Years at SRU: 2003-07

• Accomplishments: McGrath was a four-time first team All-PSAC honoree and a four-time All-Region honoree during a storied career leading The Rock women’s soccer program. She earned a pair of All-America honors and was named the PSAC Rookie of the Year. McGrath led The Rock to an overall record of 57-20-7 (.720) with four PSAC tournament appearances, two conference titles and three trips to the NCAA Tournament. She ranks third all-time at SRU in points (101), goals (38) and assists (25) and is still the all-time record holder for game-winning goals (13). McGrath was inducted into the Rock Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

JULIE MORROW CAITO

• Sport: Gymnastics

• Years at SRU: 1981-85

• Accomplishments: Caito was Slippery Rock’s only NCAA national champion in women’s gymnastics when she won the balance beam title during her senior season in 1985. She was also the national runner-up in the all-around competition in 1985. Caito finished her career as a five-time All-American and a three-time Academic All-American. She was inducted into the Rock Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.

ANDI ROSE

• Sports: Track & Field

• Years at SRU: 2003-07

• Accomplishments: Rose was the best hurdler in Slippery Rock history and closed her career as a six-time All-American and a 14-time PSAC champion. She won 11 PSAC outdoor titles during her career, including three 100-meter hurdle titles and three 400-meter hurdle titles. She also claimed three PSAC indoor titles. Rose was named the MVP of the PSAC championships five times during her career, winning both the indoor and outdoor track and overall MVP awards in 2007. She still owns the SRU indoor 55-meter and 60-meter hurdle records. Rose was inducted into the Rock Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

BECKY SIEMBAK

• Sport: Basketball

• Year at SRU: 1999-00 (transferred to Cal after freshman year)

• Accomplishments: Siembak began her college career at Slippery Rock, where she helped The Rock win 23 games and a regional title as a freshman in 1999-00. She was named to first team All-PSAC honors and was the PSAC West Rookie of the Year. She transferred to California (Pa.) to follow former SRU head coach Darcie Vincent after her freshman year and helped lead the Vulcans to a national title in her senior season.

TABITHA BEMIS

• Sport: Track & Field at Edinboro

• Coach at Slippery Rock: 2015-17, 2021-Present

• Accomplishments: Bemis was a graduate assistant at Slippery Rock from 2015-17 and has been a full-time assistant coach at The Rock since 2021. Before coming to SRU, she was a standout track & field athlete at Edinboro, where she was a six-time All-American and a 15-time PSAC champion. She qualified for the National Championships in 14 events during her career. Bemis owns the PSAC record for the most PSAC Top 10 honors (six) in a career and was named the PSAC Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year in her senior year.

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