SHU Student-Athletes Excel in the Classroom

Siena Heights student-athletes earned an aggregate grade point average of 3.11 for the 2016 winter semester . Leading the way was the women ’ s golf team with a 3.80 aggregate GPA . A total of 233 female student-athletes earned an aggregate GPA of 3.39 . A total of 353 male student-athletes earned an aggregate GPA of 2.92 .

ALSO : The Saints softball team ( above ) took the top spot in the NAIA with a 3.72 team grade point average , according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association . In all divisions , Siena Heights was topped only by NCAA Division III Newbury ( N . C .) College ( 3.77 ) and NCAA Division II Upper Iowa ( 3.764 ) for the overall collegiate high . The Saints also had a collegiate-high 26 student-athletes honored as NFCA Scholar-Athletes for 2015-16 . Saints honored were Kelsie Abbott , Lexi Agers , Ashley Best , Lauren Best , Hannah Bleikamp , Kayla Boland , Julie Bonk , Channing Brzys , Kelsey Cherry , Phoebe Cross , Paide Dean , Lesley Ducat , Hailey Fox , Ashley Helmink , Katie Hybl , Megan Jones , Tiffany Jones , Kelsey Lampkowski , Amy Nordstrom , Lindsay Postal , Jessica Sierak , Meghan Spagnoli , Stephanie Tylicki , Sydney Vernier , Kyndle Wolfinger and Hannah Yadon .

Wilcoxen Named Full-Time Sports Information Director

Crystal Wilcoxen was named as SHU ’ s sports information director . She had been serving in an interim capacity since November 2015 and originally was a graduate assistant in the office . The New Hudson , Mich ., native was one of 20 sports information directors nationwide chosen to receive the 2016 College Sports Information Directors of America Convention Attendance Grant for the annual CoSIDA convention . The former goalkeeper for the Saints ’ women ’ s soccer team and 2015 SHU graduate has a bachelor ’ s degree in biology .

Longtime SHU Athletic Director Honored by WHAC

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference allsports trophy will now be called the Fred Smith All-Sports Trophy in honor of longtime SHU athletic director Fred Smith and his contributions to the league . The Saints finished fourth in the WHAC 2015-16 all-sports standings behind Davenport , Indiana Tech and Madonna .

SHU Cross Country and Track Programs Ranked Among the Nation ’ s Best

The women ’ s cross country and track and field teams ranked fifth on the U . S . Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association ’ s NAIA Program of the Year standings . Points are distributed according to the place earned at a championship event .

Lyall Steps Down as Head Football Coach ; Kohn Named as Replacement

In May 2016 , Siena Heights head football coach Jim Lyall stepped down due to health concerns . SHU Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Matt Kohn ( above ) was named as interim head coach for the 2016 season . Lyall , who was hired in 2010 to help start the Saints ’ intercollegiate football program , led SHU through its first five seasons . In 2014 , he was named the MSFA Mideast Coach of the Year after leading the Saints to a Mid-States Football Association Mideast Division championship . In four NAIA varsity seasons at Siena Heights , Lyall compiled a 19-21 record . Kohn was part of Lyall ’ s original coaching staff at SHU . In December 2016 Kohn was named permanent head football coach .

Fall Baseball : It Counts

In October , the Saints ended its first fall regular season with a 6-3 record playing Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference foes . The WHAC became one of the first collegiate baseball conferences in the nation to play regulation games in the fall . Erich Klingelhofer was 3-0 on the mound with a save to lead the pitchers , while Kevin Ketvirtis led the Saints with a . 429 batting average . Siena Heights resumes its season this spring during its annual Florida trip .

Golf

Women : The Saints finished sixth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships last spring at Stonehedge Golf Course . SHU had a threeround total of 985 , with Indiana Tech ( 924 ) winning the title . Andrea Richards placed eighth overall with a 54-hole total of 237 ( 80-83-74 ). Alyssa Fausneaucht tied for 11th with a 238 ( 80-77-81 ) on the par-72 course .

Men : The Saints finished fourth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships last spring at the Lenawee Country Club . Nicklaus Zanotti tied for seventh with a 54-hole total of 222 ( 78-72-72 ). Ian Martin tied for ninth with a 223 ( 74-74-75 ). The Saints had a team score of 898 , with Northwestern Ohio winning the event with an 884 .