KEENE, N.H. 4/18/11 – Keene State College was well represented in the list of Little East Conference athletic honors announced on Monday.  The following six Owls were recipients of weekly honors:

Baseball Rookie of the Week
Nick Vita (Spofford, N.H.), Freshman, Keene State College
Vita hit .588 (10-for-17), scored seven runs, and drove in four to help Keene State College post a 5-1 mark on the week. The Spofford, N.H. product hit safely in each of his five contests, including recording multiple hits four times. On April 15, Vita went 3-for-4 with a solo home run against Western New England. The following afternoon, he sparked the Owl lineup with a combined 4-for-6 performance against Little East foe Western Connecticut as Keene State swept the Colonials.

Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
Matt Schairer (Wrentham, Mass.), Junior, Attack, Keene State College
Schairer powered the Keene State come-from-behind victory against Little East rival Eastern Connecticut on April 16, scoring six goals and handing out two assists. The Wrentham, Mass. product netted three markers and a helper as the Owls’ overcame an eight-goal second half deficit. Schairer registered the equalizer to draw Keene State even at 14 late in the third quarter.  

Women’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Emily Persano (Somers, Conn.), Senior, Defense, Keene State College
Persano anchored a Keene State defense that limited Rhode Island College to just 13 shots and four second half goals in a 19-4 victory. The senior from Somers, Conn. was also a catalyst offensively, scoring two goals and handing out three assists. She collected five ground balls and caused five turnovers in the Owls’ lone contest of the week.

Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Amy Knoblock (Plymouth, Mass.), Senior, Keene State College

Knoblock posted an NCAA Division III Championship provisional qualifying time at the Minuteman Invitational at UMass Amherst on April 16. The Plymouth, Mass. product captured the 5,000-meter run in a time of 17 minutes, 29.16 seconds.

Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Eric MacKnight (Newtown, Conn.), Senior, Keene State College

MacKnight placed second in the 5,000-meter race at the Minuteman Invitational on the campus of UMass Amherst on April 16. The Newtown, Conn. native covered the course in a time of 15 minutes, 2.46 seconds.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Bryan Kolacz (Brentwood, N.H.), Senior, Keene State College

Kolacz captured the hammer throw and placed second in the discus this past weekend at the Minuteman Invitational. The senior from Brentwood, N.H. tossed the hammer 188 feet and eight inches and the discus 144 feet and four inches.