Schreffler, Smith BC3 athletes of year

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

April 28, 2004 Last Updated: January 06, 2005 12:14 PM College

BUTLER TWP - Heath Schreffler and Megan Smith have claimed the most prestigious athletic award Butler County Community College has to offer.

Now they're moving on to bigger things.

Pioneer pitcher Schreffler and women's volleyball standout Smith were named the school's male and female athletes of the year during the annual athletic reception Monday evening at the Convocation Center.

"I feel privileged to win this because it covers all sports at the school," Smith said.

"I never saw it coming," Schreffler said. "(Assistant athletic director) Shawn Carroll asked me if I was coming tonight and told me why I should be there. It's a nice surprise."

Smith was captain of the women's volleyball squad the past two years. The Pioneers were 48-12 during that time and finished ninth in NJCAA Division III this past season.

Smith led the team with 640 kills, 205 blocks and 184 aces her sophomore year. The Butler graduate finished among the top 15 nationally in all three categories.

She became BC3's first two-time All-American in any sport since Bob Wilson turned the trick in cross country in 1971-72.

"You don't replace a player like her," volleyball coach Rob Snyder said. "The only good side of this is we're used to losing everybody.

"We just appreciate players like Megan while we have them."

After representing the United States on a volleyball trip to Australia June 28 through July 11, Smith will prepare to attend Slippery Rock University, where she'll receive a partial volleyball scholarship.

"I was going to go there straight out of high school," Smith said. "But I decided to attend Butler County Community College, build some credits and play volleyball.

"I knew I'd play a lot more as a freshman and sophomore here. Everything worked out well for me," she added.

Smith will major in health and physical education at SRU. She plans to coach volleyball some day.

Schreffler is 4-1 with a 2.08 earned run average for the Pioneer baseball team this spring. The Moniteau graduate has 42 strikeouts in 35 innings.

In four semesters at BC3, Schreffler is 18-7 and helped the team tie a school record with 20 wins last fall.

"He's a great kid," baseball coach Steve Boyd said. "Heath is always thinking positive. He has the potential to become even better."

Schreffler will get the chance. He will attend Indiana (Pa.) University next fall and plans to walk on the baseball team.

"I've talked to the coaches there and I have a shot," Schreffler said. "If it works out, great. If it doesn't, I'll just concentrate on my classes."

Schreffler said he throws in the mid-80s (miles per hour) now, but he threw faster in high school.

"I played three sports in high school and was always active," he said. "It's a little different just playing baseball. It's hard to stay as committed athletically."

Other 2003-04 BC3 athletic notes include:

Karns City graduate Patrick Craig finished seventh in NJCAA Division III in men's basketball scoring and is heading to Clarion University next year.

Knoch graduate Alicia Sheppeck set the second-year women's basketball program's record for points in a game with 29 and for rebounds in a game with 16. She plans to return next year.

Karns City graduate Kayla Thompson - daughter of first-year head coach Rick Thompson - earned all-conference honors in softball this spring. The team is 6-6 after having just four players at one point.

"Those four girls went out and recruited more players so we could have a season," Coach Thompson said.

Butler graduate Justin Kerr earned all-state honors in golf and Freeport graduate Ryan Janoski was the lone returnee on a team that finished 22-4.

The Pioneer golf team finished second in its conference and second in the state tournament.

High academic honors went to Melissa Lazar, Jessica Speer, Wes Briggs, Andy Briggs, Craig, Nicole Sebastian and Stacy Tiche.

Butler graduate Jason Kneidinger joined Smith as an All-American this school year. He hit .413 for the baseball team with 29 runs scored, 27 RBI and 15 stolen bases.