Washington & Jefferson College

The W&J Sports Information Office decided to produce a list of what we believe are the Top 10 moments for Presidents' athletics during 2011.  The year produced many memorable moments and first-time accomplishments for the college's 24-sport athletics program.  Did your favorite team or student-athlete make the list? 

10. Eric Eberle’s Field Goal Beats Waynesburg - November 12

Sophomore kicker Eric Eberle (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) drilled a career-long 34-yard field goal to beat Waynesburg 24-21 in the 39th edition of the PAC Backyard Brawl.  The kick was setup by sophomore Dion Wiegand’s (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) blocked punt deep in Yellow Jackets’ territory.  The victory gave the Presidents their sixth win of the season, clinching the team’s 28th consecutive season with a winning record, the third-longest active streak in the country.

9. Men’s Golf Claims PAC Championship - April 27

For the 15th time in school history, the W&J men’s golf team won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championship.  The Presidents totaled 1,233 strokes during the four round tournament, 34 strokes less that second-place Thomas More, to earn the program’s fourth bid to the NCAA Tournament.  Head Coach Sean Dove was named PAC Coach of the Year after leading his team to its fifth title in the last six years.

8. Women’s Lacrosse Makes Second-Straight Postseason Appearance - April 26

In just its fourth season of varsity lacrosse, W&J claimed its second straight trip to the ECAC Tournament, earning the No. 6 seed.  The Presidents won 13 games for the second season in a row under Head Coach Kate Scattergood and defeated Alvernia in the quarterfinal round. Senior attacker Courtney Schrock (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) scored five times during the ECAC Tournament, making her the first player in program history to reach 200 career goals.

7. Women’s Track & Field Takes Home Third PAC Title - April 30

The Washington & Jefferson College women’s track & field team captured the first PAC Championship for the program since, narrowly edging out Westminster by 10 points. The overall Women’s Track & Field Most Valuable Player award, which is given to the high-point scorer of the meet, was awarded to W&J senior Katelynd McElhany (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan), while junior C.J. Corcoran (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) claimed the Women’s Track MVP after winning the javelin title and finishing second in the high jump.

6. Dave Trushel Throws 12 Innings Of One-Run Baseball - April 14

Junior Dave Trushel (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) set a school record by pitching 12 innings during a 4-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader against Saint Vincent. Trushel needed just 121 pitches to earn the victory. Trushel did not walk any of the 42 batters he faced and allowed just four hits, all singles, while striking out eight.

5. Holly Shipley Becomes First Women’s Soccer All-American - December 10

Sophomore Holly Shipley (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) became the first All-American in the 22-year history of W&J women’s soccer.  She was one of just three sophomores to earn a spot on the teams. Shipley scored 12 goals and added eight assists for 32 points and was also named PAC Player of the Year and to the All-Great Lakes Region First Team.

4. Track & Field Duo Competes At NCAA Division III Championships - May 28

Senior Michelle Wuenstel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) and junior C.J. Corcoran (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) became the just the second duo from W&J to compete at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in the same season in 2011.  Wuenstel became the first Presidents’ outdoor track athlete to earn All-American honors after placing fourth in the 400-meter event.  Corcoran competed for the national javelin championship, finishing 16th.

3. Cross Country Pair Becomes First to Race At NCAA Championships - November 19

Junior Scott Ryan (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville East) and freshman Kristen Galligan (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Johnson) became the first cross country runners from W&J to race at the NCAA Championships. Ryan won two races during the regular season and finished runner-up at the PAC Championship to earn a spot in the national title race.  Galligan finished in the top 16 during all seven regular-season races, including a first-place finish at Pitt-Greensburg and three runner-up showings.

2. Field Hockey Earns First Conference Championship And NCAA Tournament Bid - November 6

The W&J field hockey team entered the Empire 8 Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed, but upset top-seeded Utica and then Nazareth in the championship game to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Junior Erin Barno (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) struck for what turned out to be the game-winning goal midway through the second half in the 2-1 victory against Nazareth. The Presidents won 14 games for the second-straight season under Head Coach Jomara Coghlan.

1. Bethany Haver Becomes Two-Time All-American Diver - March 24

Junior Bethany Haver (Akron, Ohio/Harvey S. Firestone) placed fifth at 3-meters and seventh at 1-meter at the NCAA Diving Championships, earning her double All-American status.  Haver became the first female diver from the PAC and just the second W&J diver, male or female, to earn a spot in the national championship field. She is a five-time conference champion and the second All-American diver in school history.