Chantiles Named PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 103 Student-Athletes Honored

July 11, 2006

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Shippensburg softball junior Heather Chantiles (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) received her eighth postseason honor on Tuesday as she was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Lloyd Price of California University (Pa.) was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

Chantiles is only the second female and third student-athelte overall to receive the conference's top academic honor since its inception 1991. The two previous winners in school history, Cindy Kepler (women's swimming) and Steve Economopoulos (men's soccer and baseball), both came following the 1993-94 academic year.

Shippensburg is still the only school in the PSAC to boast the conference's male and female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same year.

PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray announced that 1,579 student-athletes from the conference will be recognized as "Scholar-Athletes" for the 2005-06 academic year, including 103 from Shippensburg. The total eclipses last year's league record-setting total of 1,364.

The Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected by the PSAC's sports information directors. To be eligible for the honor, student-athletes must attain at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average while competing in an intercollegiate sport. One must first be selected as a Top Ten Award winner, given to five men and five women following each of the sports seasons: fall, winter and spring.

The 1,579 scholar-athletes account for approximately one quarter of the 5,300-plus student-athletes in the PSAC. Murray will award each scholar-athlete with a certificate of distinction.

"It never ceases to amaze me the dedication our institutions and their athletics programs have toward producing quality student-athletes," said Murray. "While I am happy to see our schools perform on a high level athletically, I am most pleased with another year of outstanding production from an academic standpoint."

Chantiles holds a 3.98 grade point average in elementary education. This past season she helped lead Shippensburg to a 42-20 mark and started all 62 games for the Lady Raiders. She shattered Shippensburg’s single-season hit record, surpassing the old record of 78 with 112 hits in 229 trips to the plate. That total is the fourth highest in Division II single-season history. She also led the team in batting (.489), stolen bases (17) and runs scored (50), ranking second on the school’s single season list for both batting and stolen bases while ranking third for runs scored.

Thanks to Chantiles record-setting year, the outfielder recorded five-first team selections, including the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team and the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II All-America First Team. She also was named the PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Year.

For her academic success, Chantiles was named as a Srping Top Ten Award winner, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team.

For her accomplishments on the field, Chantiles was selected to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II All-America First Team after being named to the Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and was chosen PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Year and All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team.

An elementary education major with a 3.98 grade point average, Chantiles shattered the single-season school record for hits, surpassing the old mark of 78 set by Jaime Dacey in 2005 with 112. Her total also places her fourth in Division II single-season history, one behind Lisa Erickson of Cal State-Northridge in third.

Chantiles finished this year with 17 stolen bases which was the second highest total in school history while batting .489, placing her second behind Dacey's total of .549 set a year ago. Chantiles also scored 50 runs, 22-percent of the team's total, to rank third on the school's single-season list, tying her with Liz Corr who also scored 50 in 2004.

The following is a list of Shippensburg's 103 PSAC Scholar-Athletes designated by sport participation:

MEN (31): Adam Henderson, Andrew Casale, Baden Reed, Bernie Richards, Brad Catherman, Brian Sherbine, Carson Buck, Eric Baker, Eric Perlozzo, Frank D'Agostino, Ian Zearfaus, Jamie Thomas, Jaron Nalewak, Jon Humerick, Jonathan Coopersmith, Jordan Brouillette, Jordan Shick, Justin Getz, Kevin Riley, Kristopher Stahle, Matt Kerch, Nathan Starner, Jake D'Arcangelo, Peter Williams, Scott Stern, Stephen Slatcoff, Tyler Gilson, Vincent Giordano, William Kane, Zach Kump.

WOMEN (72): Alli Rineer, Allison Shirley, Amanda Bardo, Amanda Fenn, Mandi Foltz, Andrea Hafer, April Knupp, Becky Brensinger, Brittany Martin, Caitlin MacPherson, Caitlin Torrens, Carolyn Swift, Casey Fritts, Christina Herman, Christine Kihm, Christine Welker, Cristin Marron, Danielle Haas, Emily Mahon, Erika Vanderstappen, Hannah Sperber, Heather Chantiles, Janelle Schmieg, Jessica Gibson, Jessica Rucker, Jill Snyder, Joanna Cole, Kaitlin Dillon, Kaitlin Keene, Karen Jensenius, Katie Heatley, Kathleen Henley, Kathryn Fisher, Katrina Asciolla, Kelly Erisman, Kelsi Hoffman, Kendra Emery, Kimberly Davies, Kimberly Hudicka, Krista Kelly, Kristi Miller, Kristi Peterson, Kristin Crutchfield, Kristin Mack, Kristina Grussenmeyer, Leslie Serrano, Lindsay Bingaman, Lindsay Govern, Mandy Taylor, Megan Keener, Megan Schweighofer, Megan Treon, Melinda Meisel, Missy Pierce, Meredith Yakscoe-Markle, Michelle Mangle, Molly McNeil, Nicole Perugini, Nicole Resch, Noelle Knupp, Nora Luchansky, Paola San Martin, Rebecca Fowler, Rebekah Hoffman, Sandy Wasniewski, Sarah Beecher, Sheri Graybill, Stacey Miller, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Stephanie Kelly, Taryn Pentecost, Theresa Simcic.

- Lady Raider Softball -