Introduction
Senior Joe Otto earned All-American status for the second straight season by placing sixth in the 800-meter run in a time of 1:55.06 at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championship Meet at Illinois-Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. The West Seneca, N.Y., native placed fourth just a year ago in the same event.
Ryan Kleimenhagen, a senior from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, took the event’s top overall spot in a time of 1:52.98. Otto, an electrical engineer, was vital to the Engineers’ second straight state championship and the Liberty League crown, and was named Liberty League Track Performer of the Week twice this year.
AHCA honors Aho
Julie Aho will end her Division III collegiate career as an All-American, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced. The junior forward from Ann Arbor, Mich., was chosen to the East Second Team after leading Rensselaer with 22 goals and 35 points in the record-setting 2004-2005 campaign. The Engineers broke a school record with 21 wins in a single season. The mechanical engineering major was also selected to the ECAC East First Team and managed a point in 19 of the Engineers’ 27 contests. Aho was an ECAC East Second Team selection last season after scoring 18 goals and 32 points in 25 games in 2003-2004.
Economakos joins Bullies
Senior and former captain of the RPI men’s hockey team Nick Economakos was signed by the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies on March 10 for the club’s final run through the season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The Lockport, Ill., native scored 10 goals and tallied 30 points in 37 games this year for the Engineers. Economakos has currently played seven games with the Bullies, and Atlantic City has eight games left on its regular season schedule.
Saunders nationally recognized
D3Hoops.com named senior Kaitlyn Saunders as a member of its First Team All-American squad for the second straight season. Saunders, who led Rensselaer in virtually every statistical category, averaged 19.4 points per game and 4.42 steals per game, ranked first in the Liberty League and fifth and 14th in the nation, respectively.
The Windsor, Conn., native also set a school record of 1,506 points. Saunders was named Liberty League Forward of the Week nine times and ECAC Upstate Player of the Week twice. D3Hoops.com named her a member of their national team once and she was selected to the Stevens Tech. Tournament and Grand Canyon Classic All-Tournament Teams over the course of the 2004-2005 season. Saunders was also named Liberty League Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Saunders departs Rensselaer as not just the career leader in points scored. She holds school record in six other categories, including single season steals (112) and career steals (356).
