Five Owls Earn Weekly LEC Awards

N. Dartmouth, Mass. 1/17/11 – The Little East Conference named five Owl student-athletes players of the week as announced on Monday.

Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
Courtney Cirillo (Windsor Locks, Conn.), Junior, Forward, Keene State College
Cirillo nearly averaged a double-double—23.6 points and 9.6 rebounds—to lead Keene State to a 2-1 mark this past week. The junior forward from Windsor Locks, Conn. shot at a 48 percent (26-for-54) clip from the field to eclipse the 20-point barrier in two of her three contests. On Jan. 11, she posted a double-double—23 points and 13 rebounds—at nationally-ranked Western Connecticut. Two days later, Cirillo reached double digits in scoring with 15 points in a win against Worcester State. She closed the week in decisive fashion, registering a career-high 33 points in a victory over UMass Dartmouth. Cirillo’s
33 points are the most by any student-athlete in the conference circuit this season. She also pulled in nine rebounds and handed out five assists.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Bryan Kolacz(Brentwood, N.H.), Senior, Keene State College
Kolacz captured the weight throw event and placed second in the shot put at the Tufts Invitational this past weekend. The senior from Brentwood, N.H. launched the 35-pound weight 17.71 meters, while tossing the shot put 14.72 meters. He was the top Division III athlete in the shot put.

Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Amy Knoblock (Plymouth, Mass.), Senior, Keene State College
Knoblock paced Keene State College at the Tufts Invitational this past weekend. The Plymouth, Mass. product was the first student-athlete to cross the finish line in the 600-meter run (1:38.94) and the 1,000-meter run (3:07.24). She also was a member of the third place 4X400 relay team.

Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Kaila Umbarger (Chelmsford, Mass.), Sophomore, Keene State College
Umbarger won six individual races to help Keene State earn victories over Plymouth State and Eastern Connecticut this past week. The Chelmsford, Mass. product was the first to touch the wall in the 50-meter butterfly (27.06) and 100-meter butterfly (1:00.86), while also capturing the 100-meter freestyle (55.06) against the Panthers. Umbarger penned an additional three victories in her ledger against the Warriors, collecting the individual titles in the 50-meter freestyle (24.62), 100-meter freestyle (54.73), and 100-meter butterfly (59.61).

Women’s Diver of the Week
Rachel Battis (Beacons Falls, Conn.), Senior, Keene State College
Battis swept both the events in the diving well against Plymouth State. The native of Beacon Falls, Conn. captured the one-meter (168.75 points) and three-meter (184.65) against the Panthers.