National Prominence
2009 Nicklaus Award Winner Mitch Fedorka
VOLLEYBALL- A perennial contender on the national scene, La Verne reached the NCAA Championship match in 2008 and made three consecutive trips to the NCAA semifinals (2003, 2004, 2005). ULV captured the NCAA Division III title in 2001, and hosted the NCAA Division III Championships in 2003 en route to a third-place finish. The Leopards have boasted a Division III National Player of the Year two of the past three seasons in Amy Smith (American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2003) and Ryan Winn (Volleyball Magazine in 2001). The selection of Brianna Gonzales and Crista Jones to the 2008 All-American team marked the eighth consecutive season that a La Verne player has earned All-America status. The Leopards are one of only three Division III programs to finish the season ranked in the AVCA Division III Top 10 rankings each of the last nine seasons (2000-2008). La Verne also captured consecutive national titles in 1981 and 1982.
GOLF – La Verne placed second overall at the 2009 NCAA Championships, earning its third consecutive Top 10 placing at the NCAAs. Leading the way was Mitch Fedorka, who earned the 2009 Nicklaus Award as the top golfer in Division III to become the ULV's first-ever national player of the year in golf. Fedorka, Rizal Amin and Andrew Kramer were First Team All-America selections in 2009. The Leopards also finished second at the 2007 NCAA Championships to complete its most successful season in school history as Amin, Davis and Jordan Talah each earned All-America honors in 2007. The Leopards also finished 13th at the 2006 NCAA Championships while placing sixth two years earlier at the 2004 NCAA Championships. La Verne has placed in the Top 25 five consecutive seasons at the NCAAs, which also includes a 16th place at the 2001 national championships.
FOOTBALL – La Verne made its first-ever postseason appearance in 1994, competing in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. A year later the Leopards, behind All-America running back Anthony Jones and All-America center Andy Moran, finish the 1995 season with a perfect 9-0 mark.
MEN'S WATER POLO - Jared Carvitto is the latest ULV water polo player named to the All-American team after earning Second Team honors in 2005 becoming the eighth Leopard All-American in the program's brief history. Jason Walters earned All-American honors during the 2003 season. La Verne reached the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2000 after just three years in existence. ULV men's water polo has consistency been ranked among the Top 10 squads nationally over the past five seasons.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – La Verne led the nation in fewest fouls per game (11.9) in 2008-09. The Leopards have earned an invitation to the NCAA Division III Championships on four occasions, first in 1996 and again in 2003, 2007 and 2008. Leopard forward Trenecca Jones was named Honorable Mention All-America Honors by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) in 2007. In 1996, ULV guard Leslee Rogers earned Kodak All-American honors.
MEN’S BASKETBALL – Leopard guard Jason Greenlee, a three-time First Team All-Conference selection, was named to the 2006 ESPN the Magazine Second-Team Academic All-America® College Division Men's Basketball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
BASEBALL – The Leopards earned a spot in the 2008 West Regionals after claiming its third conference crown in five seasons. ULV designated hitter Scott Marcus was named Second Team All-America in 2008 by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) after helping the Leopards claim their latest conference crown. La Verne earned two straight appearances to the NCAA Tournament (2004, 2005) and finished the 2004 season ranked #14 in the nation. Pitcher Scott Lindeen was named Second Team All-America by ABCA in 2005. La Verne captured the 1995 NCAA Division III national title in winning the College World Series, earning its second national crown in the program's history. La Verne grabbed its first national title in baseball in 1972 when it won the NAIA Championship. Three Leopard players have were named All-America from 1995-99, including '95 World Series MVP Jeff Polinsky.
MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD – ULV has produced two national championships in recent years with the men's quartet of Anthony Rice, Jason Neal, Liron Wilson and Anthony Hayes winning the NCAA title in the men's 4 x 100 meter relay in 1996, and Brandon Tedrow capturing the men's javelin at the 2003 NCAA Championships. Since 2000, six ULV men have earned All-American status.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD – La Verne has produced 11 All-Americans since 1996, including Stacey Williams winning a national championship in the women's long jump in 1997. Both Patrina Hall (200 meters, long jump) and Jacqui Zwissler (triple jump, javelin) earned All-America recognition in two different events. Liz Lucsko earned All-American honors in the long jump in 2002 and 2003 while Chelsea Sherier was All-American at both the 2005 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the pole vault.
SOFTBALL – La Verne earned consecutive trips to the NCAA West Regionals in 2008 and 2009 under head coach and U.S. Olympian Julie Smith. Outfielder Melissa Carlson was named NFCA Second Team All-America in 2009. In 2008, La Verne led all Divsion III teams in double plays per game. Kelley Silagyi was named NFCA First Team All-America in both the 2004 and 2006 seasons. Silagyi became the third ULV player in two seasons to earn First Team All-American and is the only La Verne softball player to accomplish the feat twice. La Verne advanced to the 2001 NCAA Division III World Series, earning its 4th appearance in the program's history. ULV also enjoyed three consecutive seasons in the NCAA tournament from 2000-2002, and again in 2004 and 2006.
MEN’S SWIMMING - Jared Carvitto finished in fifth place in the 200-yard breaststroke at the 2006 NCAA Division III national championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to become the first male and individual swimmer to be named an All-American in the school's history.
