GASKO, ROOKS & SHEPHERD COLLECT NJAC WEEKLY HONORS

Jamie Gasko

Demetrius Rooks

Lisa Shepherd

Richard Stockton sophomore Jamie Gasko (Cinnaminson/ Cinnaminson) was named the NJAC Softball Pitcher of the Week after leading the Ospreys to a runner-up finish in the NJAC tournament. Freshman Demetrius Rooks (Galloway/ Absegami) was selected NJAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week and senior Lisa Shepherd (Mays Landing/Oakcrest) was chosen NJAC Women’s Athlete Field of the Week after both won events at the NJAC Championships.

Gasko went 4-1 with 23 strikeouts, one shutout and a 1.37 ERA while pitching 35.2 of her team’s 41 innings during sixth-seeded Stockton’s exciting run to the NJAC championship game. The second-year righty posted victories over two ranked teams in the conference tournament, #7 College of New Jersey on May 4 (2-1) and #19 Rowan on Saturday (3-2).

Gasko tied the school record of 12 wins in a season with a 1-0 victory over Kean on Sunday. In that game, she also tripled in the bottom of the seventh inning and scored the game-winning run in addition to pitching a shutout. For the season, Gasko boasts a 12-4 record with 73 strikeouts and a 1.94 ERA in 104.2 innings on the mound.

Rooks was named Most Outstanding Male Athlete at the NJAC Championships after winning the 400m dash in 49.11 seconds and 400m hurdles in 53.34 seconds. The rookie speedster ran a personal best and broke his own school record in the 400m hurdles. Rooks’ best times in the two events currently rank seventh in NCAA Division III in the 400m dash and ninth in the 400m hurdles. He also has been chosen NJAC Rookie of the Week three times this season.

Shepherd was voted Outstanding Female Field Athlete at the NJAC Championships after winning the conference high jump title for the fourth straight year. The senior posted a personal best, school record and meet record jump of 1.71 meters that automatically qualified her for the NCAA Championships and tied her for the second-best jump in the nation this season.

Shepherd is a five-time All-American (three outdoor, two indoor) who will compete at the NCAA meet for the sixth time in her career. This year, she has won the high jump at four meets and earned NJAC Field Athlete of the Week honors twice.