Last night, Stockton University celebrated five student-athletes who received All-American accolades over the past year during halftime of the men's basketball game against Rowan at The Sports Center. Stockton University President Dr. Harvey Kesselman and athletic director
Kevin McHugh presented awards to four of the five honorees,
Cassandra Hrusko (Manchester/Manchester Twp.),
Stephanie Kovacs (Allentonwn, PA/Central Catholic),
Jared Lewis (Westville/Deptford) and
Colin Wharton (Cinnaminson/Camden Catholic).
Alicia Belko (Hainesport/Rancocas Valley) also was recognized, but was unable to attend the ceremony.
Hrusko qualified as an All-American by finishing sixth in the 1500-meter run at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship last May. The honor came in the final meet of a career in which she was a four-year letter winner in three sports, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.
Kovacs was selected All-America Honorable Mention by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for the second time in her career (2017, 2015). She also was a three-time NJAC First Team honoree for the Ospreys (2015-17) who spiked 1,124 kills in three seasons at Stockton.
Lewis won the NCAA Division III national championship in the indoor triple jump last March and finished second in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championship in May for two All-America accolades on the year. With seven career All-America honors, he is the most decorated student-athlete in Stockton history.
Wharton was voted All-America Honorable Mention by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association last spring. He became just the third Stockton men's lacrosse player ever to receive All-America recognition after starting all 19 games on defense and helping the Ospreys to a school-record 16 victories.
Belko earned All-American status in two sports. She qualified as an All-American in the 3000-meter steeplechase last May by finishing sixth at the NCAA Championship. In the fall, she became Stockton's first All-American ever in cross country by placing 27th at the NCAA Championship, her final event of a Stockton career in which she earned letters in four sports (cross country, field hockey, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field).
The halftime ceremony was part of a festive night at The Sports Center that featured victories over Rowan by the Stockton men's and women's basketball teams before one of the biggest home crowds of the season.
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