Tuesday, March 31, 2009

FOUR MORAVIAN STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED TO LANDMARK CONFERENCE WINTER ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

MADISON, NJ --- Seniors Blair Maginnis (Asbury, NJ/Warren Hills Regional HS), and Robert Shaffer (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville HS) and juniors Jessica Posimo (Philadelphia, PA/St. Basil Academy) and Rachel Riggs (Gettysburg, PA/Gettysburg HS) from Moravian College have been named to the 2009 Landmark Conference All-Academic Team announced by the conference office.

The Landmark Conference has selected 32 student-athletes for the 2009 Winter Landmark All-Academic Team. Two male and two female athletes from each of the eight Landmark institutions were selected for the team which honors athletes who have excelled athletically and academically. Nominees could compete in any of the winter sports and must be a sophomore or older with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

The Winter Academic Team features 17 seniors, 11 juniors, and four sophomores. In addition, all six winter sports sponsored by the Landmark Conference are represented with at least one student athlete. The Landmark Conference will select an All-Academic Team for each of the three athletics seasons during the year.

Maginnis, pictured at right, has been a standout for the Moravian Track and Field team. He was named Field Athlete of the Year at the 2009 Landmark Indoor Championships after winning a pair of events and has been first-team All-Conference three times. Maginnis holds the Moravian records in indoor track and field for the shot put (51-5 feet) and the 35 lb. weight throw (51-3 feet). He is pursuing a degree in sociology/law and society and has earned Landmark Academic honor Roll recognition three times.

Shaffer, pictured at left, has been a big contributor to the Moravian men’s track and field program throughout his career. He earned first-team All-Conference honors as part of the 4x200 relay at the Landmark Indoor Championships and also posted a runner-up performance in the 55-meter dash. Shaffer ran his best time in the 60-meter dash this season, a team-leading 7.13 seconds, at the Bucknell Winter Classic. He also ran well at the Landmark Conference Indoor Championships in the 55-meter dash (6.55 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (23.44 seconds). His 4x200 relay team also holds the Moravian record at 1:30.74. He will earn his degree elementary education and is a three-time Academic Honor Roll honoree.

Posimo, pictured at right, earns a spot on the All-Academic Team for the second time after another stellar season for the Moravian indoor track team. She was named the Field Athlete of the Year at the Landmark Indoor Championships after winning three events and qualified for the NCAA Championships. Posimo holds the records for the 55-meter hurdles (8.38seconds) and the 60-meter hurdles (9.10 seconds), as well as the pentathalon (3,170 points) in indoor track and field.  Her 4x200 relay team also holds the Moravian record at 1:45.01. She is a biochemistry major who has earned Academic Honor Roll status three times.

Riggs, pictured at left, helped Moravian win its second Landmark Indoor Track and Field Championship. She earned first-team All-Conference honors in a relay and placed second in three other individual events at the Landmark meet. Riggs ran her fastest time of the season at the Landmark Conference Indoor Championships in the 55-meter dash (7.66 seconds) and her fastest 60-meter dash time this season at the Bucknell Winter Classic. (8.36 seconds). She also competed well this season in the 200-meter dash, the 55-meter hurdles, the 60-meter hurdles, the long jump, and the triple jump. She is pursuing a degree in elementary education and psychology.