Eight Miamians Named Strength and Conditioning All-Americans
5/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 16, 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The National Strength and Conditioning Association announced that eight Miami University student-athletes have been honored with its annual All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year award. Alec Martinez (ice hockey), Joey Card (football), Jeff Day (baseball), Kevin Dwyer (men's track and field), Leslie Macedo (softball), Jaclyn Levant (women's soccer), Margaret Patrick (women's swimming), and Lashonda Davis (women's track and field) were eight of 239 collegiate athletes nationwide to be honored by the NSCA.
Martinez, a sophomore defensemen on the ice hockey team, helped Miami win 24 games and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. With Martinez as a vital cog, Miami upset top-seeded New Hampshire in the Northeast Regional's first-round game, giving the RedHawks' their first NCAA Tournament win in program history. In his first full season as a starter, Martinez was the highest scoring Miami defenseman with 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) and six power play goals.
Card, a senior defensive back on the football team, was tabbed to the all-MAC first team after totaling 90 tackles, which ranked third among MAC defensive backs. His 56 solo stops led Miami, while his 7.5 tackles per game ranked among the top 15 overall in the MAC. Known for his trademark big hits, Card totaled 10 or more tackles in a game four times in 2006, including career highs of 14 tackles and 11 solo stops in a narrow loss at Western Michigan (Nov. 4). The second-year starter also picked off two passes and had a team-high 11 pass break-ups.
Day, a senior pitcher on the Miami baseball team, has helped Miami post a 28-21 record in 2007, which includes a 14-3 mark at home. A weekend starter who also has provided valuable innings out of the bullpen, Day has notched a 2-2 record in 37.1 innings with 21 strikeouts. During his career, Day has helped Miami win the 2005 MAC Regular Season and Tournament Titles and was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team in 2004. He also has 72 career appearances, which ranks third all-time at Miami.
Dwyer, a junior decathlete on the men's track and field team, was a second-team all-MAC selection as a sophomore after finishing as the Mid-American Conference runner-up in the decathlon. Despite being sidelined for much of his junior season with an injury, Dwyer posted a point-total of 5,072 at the Kent State heptathlon during the indoor season.
Macedo, a senior infielder on the softball team, finished her four-year career as the Miami single-season and career RBI leader. During her senior season, Macedo drove in a team-best 33 runs and notched a career-high 17 doubles, which ranks second on the Miami single-season list. One of the most prolific offensive players in program history, Macedo is the only player in program history to drive in 30 runs in back-to-back seasons (2006 and 2007) and is the first Miamian to top 100 career RBIs.
Levant, a junior defender on the soccer team, helped Miami advance to the MAC Tournament Semifinals for the second straight season and post an 8-10-2 overall record. With Levant on defense, Miami shutout four MAC opponents and upset top-seeded and MAC Regular Season Champion Ball State in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
Patrick, a sprinter on the swimming team, helped Miami win every conference dual meets during her four seasons and a pair of MAC titles in 2004 and 2005. An all-MAC second-team honoree as a junior, Patrick turned in a NCAA "B" cut in the 50 free at the conference meet and medaled in both the 50 and 100 freestyle. As a senior, Patrick finished in the top five in both sprint events and led Miami to 12-0 dual meet mark, which was the team's first undefeated regular season since 1977.
Davis, a sprinter and jumper on the track and field team, finished her career as the program's all-time scoring leader. A five-time MAC Champion and four-time all-MAC honoree, Davis set four individual school records, including both the indoor and outdoor long jump benchmarks. As a senior, Davis won a pair of MAC titles at the indoor conference meet, placing first in the long jump and 60 meters, and regionally qualified in the long jump during the outdoor season.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MIAMI'S NSCA ALL-AMERICANS
On Alec Martinez: "Alec is one of Miami's top defensemen, and he is a leader on and off the ice. He leads by example in the weight room, on the ice and in the classroom." - Matt Cady, Miami Strength Coach
On Joey Card: "Joey was a team captain and one of only two returning starters on Miami's defense. He led his team both on the field and in the weight room, and his passion and enthusiasm for his sport and his school was always evident and contagious." - James Carsey, Miami Strength Coach
On Jeff Day: "Jeff has grown into a strong leader who is one of the cornerstones of our baseball program. He is an upstanding citizen and a member of the RedHawk Council, and he is the first to push for physical development with his team, knowing how much it has helped his own game." - James Carsey, Miami Strength Coach
On Kevin Dwyer: "Kevin truly is a student of the decathlon and always trying to learn and grow as an athlete. He was the MAC runner-up in the decathlon in 2006, and he has been a pleasure to work with. He is very coachable and absolutely loves what he does." - Ryan Faehnle, Miami Strength Coach
On Leslie Macedo: "Leslie displays the drive needed to become better at the collegiate level, and her hard work gives her an edge against the competition. She shows determination in always getting better, and she leaves the program as one of the top players in Miami softball history." - Matt Cady, Miami Strength Coach
On Lashonda Davis: "Lashonda is an extremely hard worker who has capitalized on her astounding potential. She has been on the all-MAC team in each of her four seasons and is one of only two MAC females to top 21 feet in the long jump. She is an incredible athlete with a winning personality and a dedication to her teammates and coaches." - Ryan Faehnle, Miami Strength Coach
On Margaret Patrick: "Margaret is an intelligent and gritty competitor who has used every chance in training to improve her performance. She was a good swimmer who has become a great swimmer and helped Miami finish the season with an undefeated dual meet record." - James Carsey, Miami Strength Coach
On Jaclyn Levant: "Jackie has become one of my favorite athletes because she works hard on and off the field. She will do anything she is asked to do, and she is a great leader and role model for her teammates and peers. She is always a positive influence, and her work ethic is second to none." - Matt Cady, Miami Strength Coach
