Clifton Park native Jordyn Marr named America East Spring Scholar-Athlete

FOUR GREAT DANES NAMED SPRING SCHOLAR-ATHLETE

BOSTON – Four Great Danes have been named as 2018-19 America East Spring Scholar-Athletes. Tara Belinsky from women’s track & field, Jordyn Marr from women’s lacrosse, Jakob Patterson from men’s lacrosse, and Sarah Petzold from softball were the selections for their respective sports, the conference offices announced Thursday. The University at Albany claimed four of the available six Scholar-Athlete honors for the spring season.

Belinsky, a graduate student and thrower from Locust Valley, N.Y., is the reigning America East Woman of the Year. During the spring season, Belinsky broke the school record in the outdoor shot put three times, including a personal-best 53-06.50 mark at UConn’s Northeast Challenge. Belinsky, who was the first woman in program history to record a shot

put mark over 50’, which she has done both indoors and outdoors, won her third America East shot put title in May, breaking the outdoor championship meet record that had stood for 15 years. Her victory contributed to the women’s program securing the first-ever America East women’s Triple Crown, where the same program wins the cross country, indoor, and outdoor team titles in the same academic year. Academically, Belinsky earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communications, and is a three-time America East All-Academic and one-time USTFCCCA AllAcademic selection. Belinsky is the first Great Dane to be named Spring Scholar-Athlete for women’s outdoor track & field.

Marr, a junior defender from Clifton Park, N.Y., is the first UAlbany women’s lacrosse Scholar-Athlete since Rachel Burek in 2013. Marr received the America East Elite 18 Award for women’s lacrosse this season, following her First Team AllConference and All-Academic honors. She finished the season with 26 ground balls, 20 draw controls, and 17 caused turnovers. Academically, Marr pulled down a 3.98 GPA studying Business Administration/ Management Information and Sociology.

Patterson, a junior attack from Chandler, Ariz., was named America East Offensive Player of the Year, leading the Great Danes with 57 points, 32 assists, and sharing the lead with 25 goals. He also led the America East in points per game. Academically, Patterson holds a 3.81 GPA studying Sociology. UAlbany has had a men’s lacrosse player named Spring ScholarAthlete each of the last four years, with Kyle McClancy winning each of the previous three.