Women's Rugby Ranked Fourth in Nation; Football
Wins ECAC Southeast Bowl
Albright women's rugby made a second consecutive trip to the national playoffs this fall. The Lady Lions captured the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union Championship with a win over Millersville University. They then clinched the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship and ultimately fell to Roger Williams University in the national semi-finals. Albright is currently ranked at fourth in the nation.
Football concluded its 2012 campaign with a record of 8-3, winning its sixth ECAC championship and first since 2008. The victory over Franklin and Marshall also marked head c oach John Marzka's fourth career post-season win. Wide
receiver Scott Pillar '12 was named First Team All-American by the American
Football Coaches Association. Pillar and Marty Reinhardt '12 were both named
All-American by BSN.
Albright field hockey ranked as the eighth most improved team in Division III. The Lions were 10-8 under first-year head coach Sarah Brant. Women's soccer concluded its season with a record of 10-9 after qualifying for its second
consecutive ECAC and Commonwealth Conference playoffs. On the green, men's golf reclaimed the Yocum Cup over Alvernia.
Four Alumni Inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame
Jennifer J. Payne '99, Gary A. Sheeler '62, Raymond J. Mest '62 and Robert B. "Gug" Williams '64 (pictured
left to right) were inducted into the Albright Athletics Hall of Fame in the fall.
Payne was the leader of Albright's now-defunct varsity badminton team, earning All-American honors four times. She won the PAIAW singles champion in each of her four seasons (1996-1999), and in 1998, she won the Northeast
Collegiate Badminton singles title and the doubles consolation flight at the national championships. She was also an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and was featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd."
Sheeler was a member of the football, track and field and wrestling teams. He started for the only back-to-back, undefeated squads in school history, as the Lions won 17 consecutive games from 1960-1961. Sheeler was a Little
All-American and All-East Small College selection in 1961, and was named to two All-MAC teams. He was a MAC shot put champion in track, and had a professional stint with the New York Titans of the American Football League (now the NFL's New York Jets).
Mest retired from Albright in May after 36 years of coaching, including the last 24 as the head men's golf coach. He is also an adjunct emeritus mathematics professor. Mest led the Lions to the 2005 Commonwealth Conference championship, earning Coach of the Year honors that season. In his final tournament, his squad came within one stroke of winning a second league title.
A teammate of Sheeler's, Williams earned four All-MAC selections and was a first-team All-ECAC choice in 1962. That year, he also earned the Lanshe Trophy. For baseball, Williams was named Honorable Mention All-MAC as a catcher in
1962. He went on to play semi-professional baseball for nine seasons.
Late Night Breakfast Provides Exam-time Boost
President Lex McMillan, Provost Andrea Chapdelaine, Registrar David Ballaban and several other faculty and administrators rolled up their sleeves to serve pajama-clad students eggs, bacon, French toast sticks and more during the fourth, twice-annual Late Night Breakfast in December. Providing students with an extra boost at exam time each semester, the Late Night Breakfast has become a favorite event for many students. "It's a great way for students to relax during finals week and to eat their hearts out," said Stephen Thomas '14. "It allows for a muchneeded study break at night and keeps students fueled for studying that evening."
