Somerset, NJ -- Two student-athletes from St. Francis (PA), along with one each from Monmouth, Robert Morris and Gardner-Webb comprise the 2003-04 Northeast Conference Winter Scholar-Athlete award winners. In addition to the Scholar-Athletes, the NEC also announced its winter academic honor roll, consisting of 265 student-athletes. All Scholar-Athlete award winners must have earned a minimum of 60 semester hours, maintained a minimum cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 and participated with distinction as a member of a varsity team.
Monmouth senior forward Jason Krayl (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) earns Scholar-Athlete honors for men’s basketball. Krayl, who was recently named a CoSIDA Academic All-District II selection for the third year in a row, helped lead Monmouth to the NEC championship - the second in his four years at the school - and subsequent NCAA Tournament appearance against Mississippi State. The Point Pleasant, NJ native started 32 games, averaging 4.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest. He ended his career 11th on Monmouth’s all-time scoring list with 1,050 points and also finished sixth in steals (132), eighth in assists (257) and three-pointers (94), and 11th in rebounding (403). With a double major in History and Political Science, Krayl has made the Dean’s List three times at Monmouth and carries a 3.68 grade point average.
St. Francis (PA) junior forward Beth Swink (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville) claims the Scholar-Athlete award for women’s basketball. Swink recently became the first women’s basketball player in St. Francis history to earn distinction as a CoSIDA Academic All-American, having been named to the second team. The 2003-04 NEC Player of the Year and a two-time first team all-NEC selection, she led the league in scoring (21.3 ppg) and ranked second in field goal percentage (.600) and third in rebounding (9.7 rpg) and free throw percentage (.785). Swink has played on three NEC championship teams in her three years in Loretto, and was the driving force behind the Red Flash’s first perfect conference record (18-0) in school history and 20-game winning streak entering the NCAA Tournament. In a first round game against Purdue, she tied an NCAA Tournament record for field goal percentage by hitting all ten of her shots from the floor in a 28-point, 14-rebound performance. Swink, who hails from Connellsville, PA, maintains a 3.72 grade point average majoring in Biology.
Gardner-Webb senior Jennifer Chester (Waleska, GA/Sequoyah) is the recipient of Scholar-Athlete honors in women’s swimming. In their inaugural season as an NEC associate member, she helped spark the Bulldogs to the league championship last month in Landover, MD. Chester swam the opening leg on Gardner-Webb’s gold medal winning 800 meter freestyle relay team, and also took part in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays, earning runner-up finishes in both events. Individually, she took fifth in the 500 meter freestyle and 400 individual medley, as well as eighth in the 200 breaststroke. A member of the Southern States all-Conference team as a sophomore and an all-ECAC performer as a freshman, the Waleska, GA product currently occupies a spot on the Gardner-Webb Academic Dean’s List and Athletic Honor Roll. A Mathematics major, Chester sports a near-perfect 3.96 grade point average.
St. Francis (PA) junior Ryan Sheehan (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) collects Scholar-Athlete accolades in men’s indoor track and field. In guiding the Red Flash to their fourth straight NEC Indoor Track & Field crown, Sheehan was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the event after capturing the 5,000 meter title for the third year in a row in a meet record time of 14:23.67. He also took first in the 3,000 meters, clocking in at 8:18.67. In a 5,000 meter race earlier in the season, the Pittsburgh, PA native established a new school mark and recorded the 12th best time in the nation this season, crossing the tape in 14:00.28. An Academic All-American candidate, Sheehan also took home the NEC Scholar-Athlete award for Cross Country back in December. A St. Francis (PA) and NEC honor roll recipient, Sheehan has posted a 3.29 grade point average majoring in Biology.
Robert Morris junior Nicole Downing (New Castle, PA/Laurel) garners Scholar-Athlete honors in women’s indoor track and field. Downing was tabbed the Outstanding Field Performer at the NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships in February. She set a new school mark and broke the NEC Championship record in the weight throw with a winning toss of 18.33 meters (60’ 1 3/4"). Downing also placed second with a 13.56 meter throw (44’ 6") in the shot put. A New Castle, PA product, she was twice named NEC Field Athlete of the Week during the indoor season and was Robert Morris’ Student-Athlete of the Month in January. Downing is a Communications major who maintains a 3.48 grade point average.
Northeast Conference 2003-04 Winter Scholar-Athletes
Sport Name School GPA Major
Men’s Basketball Jason Krayl Monmouth 3.68 History & Political Science
Women’s Basketball Beth Swink St. Francis (PA) 3.72 Biology
Women’s Swimming Jennifer Chester Gardner-Webb 3.96 Mathematics
Men’s Indoor Track & Field Ryan Sheehan St. Francis (PA) 3.29 Biology
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Nicole Downing Robert Morris 3.48 Communications