Athlete of the Year Field Lists 11
April 8, 2005

In some springtime elections, voters yawn and skip the polls all together. That’s never the case when it comes to selecting the Ashland University Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year.

Each spring, those awards are announced at the annual AU Sports Banquet/Hall of Fame Induction. This year’s ceremony takes place on Sunday, April 17, at 5 p.m., in the John C. Myers Convocation Center (Tickets for the event are available by calling the AU athletic department, 419-289-5441).

The student-athlete of the year awards are selected by the AU Athletic Committee. The award is based on athletic prowess, academic excellence and community service. Last year’s recipients were soccer player Becky Richards and football player Michael Hull.

This year, there are five nominees for the women’s award and six for the men.

The women’s list includes Jennifer Berardinelli (Willowick, OH/Eastlake North) from soccer, Jackie Mason (Olmsted Falls, OH) from basketball, Amanda Mercer (Flushing, OH/Belmont Union) from outdoor track and field, Jenni Picucci (Brighton, MI) from indoor track and field and Erin Stauffer (Ashland, OH) will represent cross country.

Berardinelli, a senior, was a first team all-conference selection for three consecutive seasons and this past year, was a third team All-America. A team captain for the past two seasons, she owns a 3.57 grade point average as an education major.

Mason is AU’s career leader in rebounds, blocked shots and field goal percentage. The senior’s one of nine players in school history to top 1,000 points for her career. A three-time member of the All-GLIAC Defensive Team, her undergraduate grade point average was 3.93. She’s now taking graduate level courses in educational administration.

Mercer is part of a 4X400 relay that’s consistently ranked among the nation’s best. That quartet was fourth at the 2005 NCAA Division II indoor national championships and was third at the 2004 outdoor championships and 2004 indoor meet. The junior is a journalism and religion major with a 3.85 grade point average.

Picucci, a sophomore, has established herself as a team leader even though her career is just getting started. She was 10th in the triple jump at the 2005 indoor track and field championships. At the 2005 GLIAC indoor championships, she was first in the long jump and triple jump. A mathematics and exercise science major, she has a 3.84 grade point average.

Ashland product Stauffer was AU’s lead runner throughout cross country season. She helped AU place 13th at the NCAA national championships. The junior was ninth at the regional meet. Stauffer owns a 3.52 grade point average and is an early childhood education major.

The list for the men’s award includes Justin Brown (Columbus, OH/Bishop Ready) from basketball, Joey Brightbill (Ashland, OH/Hillsdale) from outdoor track and field, Charles Curren (Mansfield, OH/Ontario) from soccer, Josh Gaub (Brunswick, OH), representing baseball, Nate Iler (Bucyrus, OH/Colonel Crawford) from cross country and Jody Stewart (Columbus, OH/Hartley) from indoor track and field.

Brown was a second team All-GLIAC pick and a member of the league’s all-defensive team this past season. The junior led the GLIAC in rebounding and was second in blocked shots. His 9.3 rebounds per game mark has been bettered only once in the last 20 years at AU.

Brightbill is a five-time All-America in the long jump where he’s placed second, fourth (twice), sixth and eighth. Brightbill is a two-time All-Ohio champ and has been recognized as an Academic All-America by the Track and Field Coaches of America. He sports a 3.87 grade point average and is a physical education major. Brightbill is a senior.

Curren, a junior, is the starting goalkeeper for the Eagles. He owns the second highest single-season save total in school history and his 105 goals against average in 2003 is the third best in school history. Curren is a member of the GLIAC All-Academic Team with a 3.5 grade point average. He is an integrated mathematics major.

Gaub is a 2004 AU graduate. He’s being nominated on the strength of his 2004 season. A year ago, Gaub was a second team Academic All-America thanks to a 3.30 grade point average as an environmental sciences major. Gaub was named first team All-GLIAC twice and was a first team all-region choice twice. He was the GLIAC player of the year as a junior.

Iler was Ashland’s top runner during the cross country season. He was the GLIAC individual champ and was AU’s lone representative at the national meet. During the season, he claimed individual crowns at Akron and Wooster. During this year’s indoor track and field season, he won the mile at the GLIAC championships and was second in the national meet in that event. He has a 3.46 grade point average as a management information systems and business management major.

Stewart is a three-time All-America. His last All-America citation came at the 2005 indoor track and field championships where he was third in the 60 meter dash. Stewart is the school record holder in that event. He’s won five conference championships and at the 2003 indoor GLIAC championships, was named the conference’s most valuable athlete. The junior is a health education and coaching major with a 3.45 grade point average.