Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University RedHawks
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April 14, 2004
COLORADO SPRING, Colo.-The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has announced that nine Miami University student-athletes have been recognized as Strength and Conditioning All-Americans for their achievements in improving their athletic performance through total conditioning.
Earning the honor were women's basketball's Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) and Kim Smith (Gary, Ind./West Side); football's Jacob Bell (Euclid, Ohio/St. Ignatius), Terna Nande (Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston) and Phil Smith (Shaker Heights, Ohio/St. Ignatius); ice hockey's Matt Davis (Rocky River, Ohio); and women's track and field's Erin Connolly (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee), Erika Harper (Bedford, Ohio/Bedford) and Bernitta Johnson (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial).
According to assistant athletic director for strength and conditioning Dan Dalrymple, Miami's nine selections breaks the previous record of six established in 1999.
"This is a special tribute to these nine student-athletes, who have impacted their individual athletic performance, as well as that of their respective teams, through their efforts in our strength and conditioning program," Dalrymple said. "The achievements of this group are truly remarkable."
Day, who was honored as a first-team all-MAC selection, and Smith, who set a Miami women's record with her 270 lb. bench press, led the RedHawk women's basketball team to its first MAC Championship and 20-win season in 14 years. The duo ranked first and second on the team in rebounding.
Bell, an offensive lineman, Smith, a defensive end, and Nande, a linebacker, all earned first- or second-team all-MAC football honors in 2003, while leading the RedHawks to their first MAC title since 1986 and the 2003 GMAC Bowl title. Nande became just the fourth Miami athlete to clear 500 lbs. in the bench press, while Miami won a program-record 13 games as a team.
Davis, a sophomore defenseman, is coming of an impressive season in which the RedHawks finished second in the CCHA and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He is the second Miami ice hockey competitor to earn the honor.
Connolly, Harper and Johnson are key contributors on a Miami women's track and field team that finished second at last season's MAC Championships. Connolly, a senior, is the school record holder in the 60-meter hurdles and is the defending MAC outdoor champion in the 100-meter hurdles. Harper is a member of Miami's school-record 4X400-meter relay and Johnson is the school-record holder in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump.
Since Jason Michelson, a former Miami football standout, earned the program's first NSCA All-American honor in 1993, Miami student-athletes have earned the honor a remarkable 42 times. A total of 22 men and 19 women have earned NSCA All-America honors at Miami, with former track and field All-American Becca Williams standing as the only repeat winner (1995 and 1996).