Here's how the Red Hawks fared this winter. For a schedule of upcoming athletic events, call 973-746-6258, or check the Web at www.montclair.edu/athletics.shtml.

Men's Basketball
The Montclair State men's basketball team recorded its finest season since 1984 as the Red Hawks finished 23-6 (13-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)) and advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament for the first time since 1984. MSU captured its first NJAC crown in 21 years with a thrilling 86-84 double-overtime win over Ramapo in February. Senior Ben Martinez scored the game-winning basket with 1.9 seconds left in the second overtime. Montclair then hosted its first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament game at Pazner Gymnasium and rallied from 15 points down in the second half to defeat Elizabethtown, 74-69 to advance. In the second round, MSU disposed of 2001 NCAA champion Catholic University, 95-78 behind a career-high 24 points from Martinez. The Red Hawks advanced to the Sectional Tournament where they lost to Ramapo, 89-80. Freshman Antwan Dozier, who lead the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game, was named the NJAC Rookie of the Year and was also a First-Team selection while junior center Jerome Trawick (13.2 points, 8.4 rebounds per game) was chosen Second-Team.

Women's Basketball
The Red Hawks closed out the regular season with a 61-57 triumph at The College of New Jersey and sought their second Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Metro Tournament berth in three years after posting a 13-11 overall record. Freshman center Ebony Allen was named MSU's first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie of the Year since Wykemia Kelley in 1996 after pacing MSU with 15.7 points per game. She also was named First Team All-NJAC. Senior center Jasmine Batts was second on the squad with 14.7 points per game and led the Red Hawks with 7.6 rebounds per game. Batts also joined the MSU career 1,000-point club, attaining the mark with an 18-point performance in a victory against New Jersey City University. Montclair started the season with three straight wins, winning the Ford Friendship Tournament while later placing fifth in the San Diego Surf n' Slam.

Indoor Track and Field
Senior Tierra Hicks (400 meters) and the men's 1,600 relay team of Paul Noel, Darryl Louis, Alex Torres Ed Hamilton each earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indiana in March. The men finished third while the women were fourth in their respective divisions of the 2003 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships. Hicks and freshman Hashan Johnson (long jump) set new NJAC records in their events and were named to the 2002-03 NJAC Women's All-Conference First Team. Junior Darryl Louis was named the Co-Outstanding NJAC Male Track Athlete, as well as men's First Team All-Conference (200 meters, 400 meters) along with the men's 1,600 relay team. The entire men's team also won its second straight Collegiate Track Conference championship.

Swimming and Diving
Montclair State concluded its 2002-03 swimming and diving campaigns at the Metropolitan Championships (Mets). The women finished fifth out of 19 schools with 262 team points, while the men came in seventh among 17 schools with 220 team points. The men also went 6-5 in dual meets, while the women were 8-5 overall and 2-2 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) competition. Sophomore Colleen Griffin finished fifth in the 50-yard freestyle at the Mets in 24.84 seconds. Her time was .01 seconds behind her school record mark set in November in a victory against Adelphi, when she earned NJAC Swimming Performer of the Week accolades. Sophomore Monique Fallaha finished third in the one-meter dive at the Mets, scoring a 353.25 in the finals, and senior Regina Potocine finished seventh in the 200-yard butterfly (2:17.91 minutes). Senior Eddie Fernandez came in eighth in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.17), and sophomore Shane Schwarz placed fifth in the 200-yard butterfly (2:02.40).

Wrestling
Montclair State put together another solid wrestling season with a fourth-place finish at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Wrestling Championships in Ada, Ohio in March. It was the 17th time MSU finished in the Top 10 at the NCAA Tournament. Senior Rami Ratel capped off an amazing season as he won the 149-pound NCAA Championship and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships. Ratel was one of five MSU wrestlers to earn All-American honors. Eduard Aliakseyenka finished as the runner-up at 174 pounds with Dennis Gaul placing fourth at 184 pounds. Seniors Bill Deniz and Gary Mikolay each placed eighth at 165 and 133 pounds, respectively. Montclair also was awarded as one of the top 20 "Scholar Teams" by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and had three members named Academic All-America (Deniz, Aliakseyenka and Azat Nogoumanov). The Red Hawks went 13-4 as a team in dual matches during the season, including Head Coach Steve Strellner's 200th career victory at Montclair State.

MSU captured its first NJAC crown in 21 years with a thrilling 86-84 double-overtime win over Ramapo.

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