COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recently awarded four different HPU athletes with its 2012 All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year award. Senior Shamia Brown and junior Erin Reynolds of the women’s basketball team, senior Michael Chesler of the men’s soccer team and junior Ryan Retz of the baseball team were all recognized by the NSCA.
“It is a huge honor for all four of these athletes to earn this award,” head strength and conditioning coach Tim Teefy said. “I am very proud of the commitment and dedication shown each and every day by Shamia, Erin, Michael and Ryan. All four go above and beyond in the weight room and serve as great examples for their fellow student-athletes to follow.”
Brown concluded her HPU career as the Panthers’ Div. I leader in both career scoring and career rebounding. The forward was named first-team All-Big South after averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game while also grabbing 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. She set HPU Div. I single-season records for total points (534), points per game, field goals made and free throws made. Brown scored in double figures in 27 games and over 20 points in 10 games, including 29 against NC State in the WNIT.
Reynolds was named second-team All-Big South after finishing the season second on the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game. The junior led HPU in both assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.7 spg), finishing in the top three in the Big South in both categories. Reynolds set a new HPU Div. I record with 11 20-point games including five-straight to end the season. Against Pittsburgh on Dec. 2, Reynolds tied the HPU Div. I single-game scoring record with 36 points, the most scored by a Big South player on the season. Reynolds was named to the Big South All-Tournament team after finishing as its leading scorer with 24.3 points per game.
Chesler started every game in net for the Panthers and finished his final collegiate season with a 1.23 goals-against average and four shutouts. A four-year started for High Point, Chesler leaves HPU as the team’s Div. I leader in career wins, career shutouts and career goals-against average. He also set the High Point Div. I single-season mark in all three categories while guiding the Panthers to a record 16 wins as a junior.
Retz has led HPU both on the mound and at the plate this season. The junior has served as the Panthers’ Friday starter throughout Big South play and has compiled a 6-2 record with a 3.07 ERA, best among High Point starting pitchers. The junior is also one of High Point’s best hitters, hitting .290 with 11 doubles and 32 RBI out of the cleanup spot in the order. Retz is the only HPU player this season to start every game for the Panthers and helped High Point reach 20 wins faster than any previous team in the program’s Div. I history.
This year, the NSCA awarded 225 collegiate and high school athletes from 90 different. The award is in its 33rd year, and is made possible by a grant from Power Systems, Inc., a Knoxville, TN fitness product leader.