FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2008

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE HONORS
WINTER SPORTS TEAMS

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College honored its winter sports teams with two events over the past week. The 2007-08 New England Champion wrestling and the Little East Conference Tournament Champion men’s basketball team, along with three conference champion track and field student-athletes were recognized at the Dinner of Champions, held at the Quonset Officers Club on Friday, Apr. 25. RIC held its annual winter sports banquet on Wednesday, Apr. 16, at which women’s basketball, gymnastics and men’s track and field programs were recognized.

 RIC Wrestling Team

 RIC Men's Basketball Team

Junior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, NY) was named the men’s basketball team’s MVP. The First Team All-Little East selection played in 30 games, starting 29 of them, averaging 13.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He helped lead the Anchormen to their second consecutive Little East Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Senior Mike Bonora (Nutley, NJ) was named the wrestling team’s MVP. He captured the National Championship at 141 lbs. at the 2008 NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships. With the title, Bonora attained All-American status for the second straight season. He was also the N.E. Champion at 141 lbs., helping lead the Anchormen to their first N.E. Championship in 16 years. Bonora finished the season with a 44-2 record and was undefeated against NCAA Div. III opposition, the first RIC wrestler in program history to accomplish this feat.

Sophomore Steina Flemming (Tortola, BVI) was named the women’s indoor track and field team’s MVP. She placed 11th overall in the 55 meters with a time of 7.30 at the 2008 NCAA Div. III Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships. She earned All-ECAC honors in the 55 meters, placing eighth with a time of 7.28 at the ECAC Championships. Flemming earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in three events at the Alliance Championships. She was the Alliance/Little East Champion in the 55 meters, placing first with a time of 7.34. Flemming also placed second in the 200 meters with a time of 27.28 and third as part of the 4x200 meter relay with a time of 1:52.21.

Junior Kayla Fleming (Pawtucket, RI) was honored at the Dinner of Champions for her Alliance Championship in the long jump. She earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in four events. She was the Alliance/Little East Champion in the long jump, placing first with a leap of 5.09 meters. Fleming placed second, and tied the meet record, in the high jump with a 1.65-meter effort. She also placed second in the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:07.58 and as part of the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 4:17.65. She tied for ninth overall, one place shy of All-American status, in the high jump with a 1.61-meter effort at the NCAA Div. III Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships and also earned All-ECAC honors in the same event, placing fourth with a leap of 1.66 meters.

Junior Mary Ellen Horsman (Barrington, RI) was honored at the Dinner of Champions for her Alliance Championship in the weight throw, placing first with a distance of 13.02 meters.

Senior guard Sarah Coughlin (North Attleboro, MA) was named the women’s basketball team’s MVP. She played in 25 games, starting all of them, averaging 8.9 points, 6.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game. Coughlin finishes her career at RIC ranking second all-time with 382 assists. Her 152 assists this winter established a new school single-season record.

Freshman Robyn Albert (Sharon, MA) was named the women’s gymnastics team’s MVP. She led the team on vault (8.953), bars (8.608), beam (8.648) and in the all-around (35.042) this past season, while ranking second on floor (8.935). Albert posted season-high marks of 9.175 on vault, 8.950 on bars, 9.225 on beam, 9.250 on floor and 36.275 in the all-around.

Senior Mike Van Gieson (Foster, RI) was named the men’s indoor track and field team’s MVP. He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in the 600 meters, placing third with a time of 1:23.99. Van Gieson also competed at the ECAC and New  England Championships.

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