The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

All-Maroon Spring 2005 Honors

WOMEN

• Hannah Roberts: A three-time All-American, the right-handed Roberts again schooled batters with her deceptive repertoire of pitches. Her 0.36 ERA was fifth-best in the nation, and her strikeout rate (10.5 K/7 IP) was ninth-best. Lost in her hurling dominance was her usual solid hitting: Roberts’s .304 batting average was third-best on the team.

• Kayti Fuhr: “The best ‘complete player’ third baseperson around,” according to head coach Ruth Kmak, Fuhr was the team’s most consistent hitter in both her 19 games in the three-hole and 16 games leading off. Her 12 multi-hit games, .331 batting average, eight doubles, 29 runs, and 10-for-10 stolen bases all lead the team offensively, and she solidified the hot corner with ease.

• Ade Omodele-Lucien: Dictating play with a big serve-big forehand combination, Omodele-Lucien headed the women’s tennis lineup for the second straight year. She went 12-10 at first singles, with two of the team’s three regional wins, and 15-8 at first doubles. “Ade made great improvements this year,” head coach Marty Perry said. “She proved that she can be a number-one player on a regionally, hopefully nationally, ranked team.”

• Nofi Mojidi: The Maroons basketball star brought her explosive speed to a new venue this spring, qualifying for the national championship meet in the 200-meter sprint in her first season of collegiate track and field.

She also made the meet with the 4×400-meter relay squad, and was an All-UAA selection in the 200-meter and with the 4×100-meter and 4×100-meter relay squads.

• Jessica Winter: The red-headed distance maven for women’s track and field is the only Maroon still in action as of press time. Winter will bid for her first All-American certificate in three national championship meets in the 1,500-meter run final Saturday. Winter’s second-place performance in the 1,500 at the UAA meet earned her All-UAA reocgnition. She was named UAA Athlete of the Week April 12, her fifth such honor.

MEN

• Ward Bortz: “Since stepping on campus in the fall, he’s made a huge impact on our program,” head coach Marty Perry said. “He stepped up in a lot of big matches.” The Wisconsin transfer student provided a Big Ten-sized spark at first singles for men’s tennis, going 26-10 and earning All-American status with a first-round win at nationals. The third-year also went 20-12 in doubles matches on the season.

• Frank Brown: After a slow start, Brown closed out his final year with the baseball team on a tear, hitting .351 and slugging .523 on the season. “His clutch hitting combined with his leadership was a major reason for the team’s strong finish to the year,” head coach Brian Baldea said. Brown, a co-captain, also led the team in home runs, hitting two in one game April 24 and three total.

• Seyi Oyenuga: Oyenuga made every leap count as a jumper for men’s track and field. The fourth-year put the Maroons on his back at the UAA championship meet April 23-24, winning the triple jump and high jump, scoring a third-place finish in the long jump, and helping the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays to second-place standing for 46 of the team’s 146 points.

• Dan Yeksigian: Yeksigian emerged as the ace for baseball this spring, leading the team in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. His Senior Day performance clinched the team’s winning record with the Maroons’ first-ever no-hitter. “Dan showed that he is among the best pitchers in all of Division III with several dominating performances this season,” head coach Brian Baldea said.

• Jacob Reckess: Having endured tennis’s run at the bottom, Reckess arguably played the biggest part in the team’s first-ever regional appearance. He found himself playing the last match a number of times and came up with huge wins against Carnegie, UW-Whitewater, Coe, and Wash U. The fourth of those clinched an incredible third-place UAA finish. “Without any of those, we probably wouldn’t have made the postseason,” head coach Marty Perry said.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Emil Bojanov: Though he missed out on the national meet, the Bulgarian second-year had several great races for men’s track and field on the year, most notably running 3:54.47 in the 1,500-meter run at the Butlear Invitational.

• Rachel Cohen: The softball team’s defensive stalwart at first base (one error in 35 games), the third-year was an All-Region pick who led the team in on-base percentage (.400) and RBI (20).

• Mike Costello: The fourth-year outfielder hit .358 with 22 RBI, 2 HR for baseball on the year. “Consistently picked up the team with key hits.”

• Ryan Denton: Despite an early-season injury, the third-year was no slouch at the plate as baseball’s designated hitter, banging away for a .374 average. “He boosted he team with his energy and hustle.”

• Annie Miller: The third-singles “mental giant” for women’s tennis adapted to the opposition with ease to lead the team in wins and winning percentage (13-3).

TOP ROOKIES

• Dominique Marshall: Softball’s future is secure in the hands of Marshall, a dynamic offensive threat for the Maroons this spring. She led the team in slugging (.495) and homers (3). and tied for the team lead in walks with 13 en route to second-team All-Region honors.

• Bharath Sithian, Joseph Tchan, Sasha Deriy: This recruiting class paid off major dividends for men’s tennis. The three combined for a 48-39 record on the year, and should provide the nucleus for the new powerhouse on the block for many years to come.

TOP COACH

• Marty Perry: Credited by his players as the main reason for the tennis program’s resurgence, Perry has not only had success with recruiting but also teaching his “high-percentage tennis” philosophy. Having already molded the men into a regional force, the women are on the fast track to being next.

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