Springfield, Mass. - June 6, 2009 - Both Amanda DiPaolo and Mike Griffin were honored for their success in the classroom as the duo earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America District I Honors on Friday afternoon.DiPaolo capped off her tremendous junior year with this academic honor. Currently owning a 3.97 grade point average in history, DiPaolo was an All-New England and All-New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference First Team selection in cross country, as well as an All-NEWMAC honoree in the 5,000 meters in the outdoor track season. The Garrison, N.Y. native was named the NEWMAC Runner of the Week four times during the cross country season and was tremendous in her final outdoor track meet of the season, as she won the 10,000 meters and finished second in the 5,000 meter in a 24-hour span at the ECAC Division III Championships.
Griffin, who was tabbed Springfield College's Top Senior Male Individual Athlete at the Sports Recognition Night, put the final exclamation point on his stellar career at Springfield. The senior finished his four-year career with a 3.60 grade point average as a physicians assistant major. A two-time recipient of this award, the Scarborough, Maine product captained both the cross country and track and field squads this year. In the cross country season, Griffin once again ran at the NCAA Championships after finishing 10th out of 256 runners at the New England Division III Championships. During the track season, Griffin was the NEWMAC Champion in 800 and was the ECAC Indoor Champion in the 1,000.
Ken Klatka, just inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in October, 2011, enters his 37th season as head coach of the men’s track and field program in 2012-2013. He ranks among the nation’s most successful coaches, with an overall record of 442 wins, 144 losses, and two ties for an impressive .753 winning percentage. Under his direction, Kevin Coyle '12 won the 2011 Division III Indoor Long Jump National Championship.
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