Ohio student athletes earn strength and conditioning accolades

Contact: Jason Cunningham

3/30/2005

Phil Sabatini was one of seven Ohio athletes named to the NSCA All-American squad.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ? Seven Ohio University student athletes?across five sports?have been named 2005 strength and conditioning All-Americans by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the organization announced recently.

Women?s basketball?s Andrea Johnson, Kristian Kirkpatrick and Elizabeth Brown, football?s Kevin Carberry, two-sport athlete Chip Cox (football, track and field), baseball?s Phil Sabatini and volleyball?s Briana Adamovsky round out the list of Bobcats who were honored with the NSCA?s All-American distinction under the guidance Ohio Director of Strength and Conditioning Sonny Sano.

The NSCA All-American team is an annual compilation of the nation?s top athletes whose successes on the field echo their efforts in the weight room. The NSCA also considers academic and personal accomplishments when evaluating collegiate athletes.

The women?s hoops trio of Johnson, Kirkpatrick and Brown helped lead the Bobcats to the quarterfinal round of the 2005 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland.

Johnson (Columbus) finished her career at Ohio with 879 points and sits third all-time in school history with 109 3-point field goals. In the weight room she has posted a personal-best power clean of 165 lbs.

?She has always been a consistent performer on the court as well as in the weight room,? Sano said. ?She is very coachable and brings a great attitude.?

Kirkpatrick (Costa Mesa, Calif.) had a career-year this season, averaging double figures (10.1 ppg) and having the conference?s fourth-best field goal percentage. The 5-foot-11-inch senior is the team?s back squat record holder.

?Kristian is a dependable and consistent worker who has improved steadily throughout her career,? Sano said.

In just two years since transferring from Casper College in Wyoming, Brown (Thermopolis, Wyo.) became a leader for Ohio on the floor and off. She was recently named a member of the MAC All-Academic team. She holds the team?s highest marks in the clean and bench.

?Liz has made tremendous improvement in the past two years and became a great leader in the weight room,? Sano said.

Carberry?s (Oaklawn, Ill.) run in a Bobcat uniform did not go unnoticed after his final game at Ohio. The defensive lineman was chosen to participate in The Villages Gridiron Classic College All-Star Game in mid-January. Carberry won Ohio?s annual Clean & Jerk Competition for all linemen with 340 pound and he has held all-time defensive lineman records for the 40-yards dash, bench press and power clean.

?Relentless worker on and off the field,? Sano said. ?Nobody deserves this more.?

Cox (Columbus) finished his Bobcat football career as a three-year starter, but his track and field days are still in full swing as the senior is one of Ohio?s top sprinters. Cox runs the 40-yard dash in 4.35.

?Chip is an extremely explosive athlete who possesses team records in the clean and vertical jump,? Sano said. ?He is a tough competitor who has developed into a legitimate NFL prospect.?

One of Ohio?s best in the weight room, Sabatini (Oakmont, Pa.) was named to Collegiate Baseball's "Top Players to Watch List" and Baseball America's preseason all-conference team prior to the 2005 season.

?Phil is a great leader on and off the field,? Sano said. ?His dedication in the weight room has enabled him to become Ohio University?s only two-time Ultimate Elite Athlete.?

Adamovsky (Solon) is no stranger to accolades. In her senior season alone, the 5-foot-6-inch Adamovsky was named National Setter of the Year by The College Volleyball Update, MAC Player of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP, earned a spot on the All-Mideast Region First Team and took home All-American Honorable Mention status.

?Briana is an exceptional worker in the weight room,? Sano said. ?All of her hard work has paid off.?

The NSCA is an international organization specializing in the use of strength and conditioning for improved athletic performance and fitness.