Brad Chapman |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Niagara University picked up three more 2004 Verizon Academic All-District At-Large team members today when senior golfer Brad Chapman (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) was named to the men’s at-large team, and women’s tennis players Milena Matijevic (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and Mariam Al-Shikarchy (Fonthill, Ont.) were named to the women’s at-large squad.
Chapman, the Purple Eagles’ team captain, led the team in rounds played (20) and had four top-20 finishes this past season. He placed seventh in the Little Three Invitational and helped Niagara to a third-place finish at the 2004 JetBlue MAAC Men’s Golf Tournament.
Chapman is a two-time team captain, the 2002-03 team MVP and a three-time MAAC All-Academic selection. He finished his career at Niagara with nine top-10 finishes and 16 top-20 finishes. Chapman was co-president of Niagara’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the 2003 student representative on the Niagara Faculty Athletic Advisory Committee (FAAC).
Matijevic makes her second-straight appearance on the all-district team. The senior finished this season with records of 23-2 overall, 14-1 dual, 6-1 in the MAAC and 14-1 at No. 1 singles. In doubles, she was 12-4 overall, 11-3 in dual matches and 5-2 in conference play. Matijevic was honored at the MAAC Female Tennis Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and was named the Niagara Female Student-Athlete and the Female Athlete of the Year. She finished her record-breaking career with a 104-9 singles record and a 56-16 doubles mark.
Al-Shikarchy also earns her second at-large honor. She finished the season with records of 17-5 overall, 15-1 in dual matches, undefeated in conference play (7-0) and 14-1 at No. 2 singles. In doubles, she was 15-5 overall, 14-1 in dual matches and undefeated in the MAAC (7-0) at No. 1. Al-Shikarchy is a two-time MAAC All-Academic selection and enters next season with career records of 52-10 in singles, 46-12 in doubles, 22-0 in MAAC singles and 19-1 in league doubles.
Niagara has had six other Purple Eagles — Betsy Elmer and Inga Haedicke of the women’s soccer team, Ann Mimm and Colleen Toetz of the women’s basketball team, and Vince Ircandia and Reed Eastley of the baseball team — earn Academic All-District accolades this season.
Chapman’s, Matijevic’s and Al-Shikarchy’s names and information will be forwarded on to the national ballot. The men’s Verizon Academic All-America Team will be announced on June 15 and the women’s on June 17.
Student-athletes who maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average or higher for his/or career and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing are eligible for the award sponsored by Verizon and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
