Athletes of the Week

1/23/00

Greg Miller

Greg Miller (So) Brunswick High School was named this week's athlete of the week after his performance at the 2001 Pole Vault Summit in Reno Nevada January 20th. Miller has been known as a tough competitor for the Zips after doing well at both outdoor and indoor MAC Championships last year. On a cold wet day at MAC outdoors as a freshman he outlasted the elements taking 2nd place. At the Summit he continued his aggressive ways by winning his section at the Summit with a P.R. of 15'9". Miller has been coming on this season improving each week. He is a highly dedicateed athlete who also has obligations to the band and had the highest GPA on the team in Spring 2000.

1/16/01

Renata Smith and Devin Booker

Renata Smith (Jr Indoors) and Devin Booker (Fr) were named this week's athletes of the week after their perfomances at the Kent Open January 12-13. Smith set a personal record in the shot put to win the event. She threw 45-7.25. Devin Booker set a personal record in the High Hurdles at 8.36, ran the 300 hurdles and the 4 x 400. Both Smith and Booker stayed in town over most of Christmas Break to volunteer to train. Thier dedication is paying off.

 

12/09/00

Mary Varga and Le Shaunte Edwards

Mary Varga (Jr) and LeShaunte Edwards (Sr) both had an outstanding meet at the Kent Winter Open December 9, 2000. Edwards, an All-American, won the 60 meter dash event and ran a school record in the 200 at 21.09. Vargo also an All-American, who is mostly known for the high jump and javelin, has dedicated herself to the heptathlon this season. Her efforts showed as she won the event in an excellent score of 3,709. Edwards and Varga are both captains on the team. They are highly dedicated athletes and excellent examples to the team.

 

 

11/20/00
Greg Corbitt(So.) and Renata Smith(Sr.)

After a great Fall of training two throwers have stood out for their dedication and perseverance. Both of them have made tremendous strides this Fall to improve in their events and in the weight room. In testing this week Smith went from a best of 240LB in the squat to 385LB, and in the bench improved to 190LB from 175LB. Her clean was at 177 LB. Corbitt made some of the most dramatic improvements going from last year's marks to this year to a bench of 275LB to 345LB, squatting 360LB to 465LB, and cleaning 251LB to lifting 309LB.

11/14/00
Michelle Rizzo and 
Erin Frye

Both Michelle Rizzo (Jr. Perry H.S., OH) and Erin Frye (Fr. Buckeye Local, Rayland, OH) made great improvements at the Great Lakes NCAA Regional Championships. Rizzo, who has been coming off an injury, has been struggling all season to get herself back into the shape she was before her surgery. Rizzo moved up from 27th place at the MAC meet to 13th MAC finisher at the regional. In her first year running for the Zips, Erin Frye went from 36th at the conference meet to 20th among MAC runners.

 

11/3/00
Hardbarger and Murray from MAC

Bobbie Hardbarger (jr) and Rob Murray (sr.) were selected this week's "Athletes of the Week" after their performances at the MAC Cross Country Championships. Hardbarger ran a personal best of 17:35 in route to a team leading 6th place finish. Her new PR was an improvement by almost 20 seconds on 5,000 meter course. Her placing earned her First Team All-MAC honors.

Murray also ran a personal record as he led the Zip men's effort. Murray placed 19th overall and helped the men to an 8th place team finish. Murray's time on the 8,000 meter course was 25:08.

10/17 Jaime Alton and Rob Murray
Named Akron T&F/XC 
Athletes of the Week
Rob Murray's fourth-place finish is the second 
highest placing by an Akron male ever, trailing
 only Al Campbell's victory in 1963!

Jaime Alton, 8th in the JV race in 1999, places 
13th in the varsity race in 2000 and contributes
to the Zips' highest-ever 3rd-place finish.

 

10/11/00
Hardbarger and Murray

Bobbie Hardbarger sprinting at the finish.

Bobbie Harbarger (Jr.) and Rob Murray (Sr.) were named this week's "Athletes of the Week" for their performances at the Notre Dame Invite. Rob Murray ran a personal record of 25:17 on his way to a 4th place finish. He led the Zip team to 7th place. Bobbie Hardbarger also ran a personal record of 17:53. This was the first time she had run under 18 minutes.


10/03/00
Ingersoll and Green

After four weeks of organized track and field training two athletes have stood out, thrower Jim Ingersoll (Sr.) and high jumper Kelly Green (So.). It had become obvious during the first part of Fall training that both of these individuals had dedicated themselves over the Summer.

On the first day of conditioning, during weight lifting testing Ingersoll was able to bench press 350Lbs 9 times. This equals out on the repetition-max chart at 445 lbs. That was four weeks ago. Ingersoll has continued to improve considerably in the weight room and in his overall training.

Kelly Green has made tremendous physical improvements over the Summer and during the Fall because of her dedication. She seems to be trying to do all the right things and giving a 100% in practice. Her efforts were most obvious during the first high jump session where she had improved significantly in the height she was getting off the ground and over the bar.

 

 

9/26/00
Bell and Alton (pictured)

During a week where there were no meets Oran Bell and Jaime Alton were chosen as this week's "Athletes of the Week" for their example of outstanding dedication and commitment to training. Jaime has made significant improvements over the last year in cross country and track. Most of this because of her attitude and efforts in practice. She has been taking on the challenge pushing the pace each time she goes out and runs.

Oran has also made significant strides this last year. After his showing in the MAC, scoring in the 400 and being part of winning effort in the 4 x 100 relay, he has made an overwhelming commitment to his training. His goals are high but it has been obvious that he has been doing everything he can to reach them. All through the summer he he was out at the track every day putting in tremendous workouts. In the fall he has taken the same approach.

9/19/00
Murray and Horvat

For their efforts at the Pre-MAC Meet at hosted by Western Michigan on September 15 junior Eva Horvat (Kirtland/Lake Catholic) and senior Rob Murray (Akron/Firestone) were named this week's female and male "Athletes of the Week". Eva had a strong improvement over her previous week's performance. She ran as the Zip Women's number two runner. Rob continues to lead the the men running a strongest race of the season at the Pre-MAC Meet.

9/12/00
Hardbarger and Bloom 

Bobbie Hardbarger
on her way to victory

Bobbie Hardbarger (Junior) and Tyler Bloom (Sophomore) were named this week's Athletes of the Week because of their performances at the Tommy Evans Invitational. The meet was held September 9 at Goodyear Park, the home course for the Zips. Hardbarger led a sweep of Zips across the finish line ahead of Kent and Cleveland State. Akron scored the minimum 15 points on the way to their victory. On the men's side Bloom was successful in taking 7th place in the event. He was the second Zip across the line behind senior Rob Murray. This was a significant race for Bloom being his first as a Division I competitor. He is a transfer from Merrimack College a Division II program.