Bucknell University Athletics
Eight from Class of 2016 Join Bucknell Softball
8/20/2012 8:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 20, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. – With the start of classes just around the corner, Bucknell softball announced its incoming freshmen for the Class of 2016 on Monday. The Bison welcome eight student-athletes hailing from New Jersey to California as they begin their drive to return to the postseason and another Patriot League Championship. Among those joining Bucknell in the spring are Kasey Bailey (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area), Emily Beisser (Murray Hill, N.J./Governor Livingston), Cindy Cherness (Torrance, Calif./South), Amanda Fazio (Chatham, N.J./Chatham), Mariah Midyette (La Puente, Calif./Los Altos), Dana Nielsen (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock Township), Lauren Swindell (Missouri City, Texas/Lawrence E. Elkins) and Cheyanna Young (Corona, Calif./Corona).
Bucknell softball won the Patriot League championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 2010. The team has fallen short of the Patriot League Tournament in each of the last two seasons, but the Bison will return eight starters from a very young squad in what will be head coach Bonnie Skrenta's first season in 2013.
Below is an alphabetical list of the Bucknell softball Class of 2016:
Kasey Bailey – Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area
Emily Beisser – Murray Hill, N.J./Governor Livingston
Cindy Cherness – Torrance, Calif./South
Amanda Fazio – Chatham, N.J./Chatham
Mariah Midyette – La Puente, Calif./Los Altos
Dana Nielsen – Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock Township
Lauren Swindell – Missouri City, Texas/Lawrence E. Elkins
Cheyanna Young – Corona, Calif./Corona
Class of 2016 Bios:
Kasey Bailey – Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area – Lettered in softball at Selinsgrove Area High School … served as team captain … earned Coaches Award and JV Most Valuable Player … father, Chris, and uncle, Jonathan Bailey, are members of the Bucknell Class of 1989.
Emily Beisser – Murray Hill, N.J./Governor Livingston – Lettered twice in softball and once in indoor track & field at Governor Livingston High School … named Second Team All-County … served as captain of softball team … father, Paul, is a member of the Bucknell Class of 1983 and played football for the Bison … mother, Alice, is also a member of the Bucknell Class of 1983 … aunt, Karen Loveys, is a member of the Bucknell Class of 1982 … brother, Paul, is a member of Bucknell Class of 2013 … cousins Anna Loveys '13 and James Loveys '16 also attend Bucknell … uncle, Jim Loveys, played football at Middlebury College … grandfathers, Paul Beisser and Ralph Loveys, also participated in college athletics.
Cindy Cherness – Torrance, Calif./South – Lettered in softball at South High School … named Second Team All-League … also named All-Tournament in Downey Classic in 2010 and 2011 … sister, Jessica, plays softball at Brown.
Amanda Fazio – Chatham, N.J./Chatham – Four-year letterwinner in softball at Chatham High School … Third Team All-State selection as a senior … named First Team NJ Group 3 by the Star Ledger in 2011 and 2012 … also selected First Team All-Morris County by the Star Ledger and First Team All-Area by the Daily Record three times each … Second Team All-Area by the Daily Record in 2009 … selected First Team All-Iron Hills Conference sophomore through senior seasons and Second Team as a freshman … named team's MVP from 2010-12 … received Morris County Softball Coach's Ward in 2011 and 2012 and Chatham High School Coaches Award in 2009 … received Gail Alling Chestnut Sportsmanship Award and Beth Kuhn Clark Scholarship Award in 2012 … served as team captain as a junior and senior … member of team that won North Jersey Group 3 Sectional Championship in 2011 … also a member of North Jersey Girl's & Women's All-Star Softball Team in 2011 and 2012 … brother, Thomas, plays football at The Catholic University of America.
Mariah Midyette – La Puente, Calif./Los Altos – Lettered four years in softball at Los Altos High School … received First Team All-League honors three times and Second Team honors once … All-Area Second Team selection … named Most Inspirational Player and Most Defensive Player … also a Scholar-Athlete honoree … received Gold Glove Award … named Hacienda League Top Five … served as softball team captain for two years … aunt, Loni Midyette, played basketball at the University of North Carolina.
Dana Nielsen – Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock Township – Lettered four times in softball and twice in field hockey at Pequannock Township High School … member of teams that won conference and county championships all four years … teams also won Sectional Championship titles from 2009-12 and were State Champions in 2009 and 2012 … named 2011 Daily Record Player of the Year … also the 2012 Daily Record Pitcher of the Year … selected as the 2012 Player of the Year by the Star Ledger and Bergen Record … First Team All-State honoree in 2012.
Lauren Swindell – Missouri City, Texas/Lawrence E. Elkins – Lettered four times in softball at Lawrence E. Elkins High School … named First Team All-District as a utility player in 2011 … member of team that was a Bi-District Finalist in 2011 … team was also District and Bi-District champions, Area Champions, Regional Quarterfinal Champions and Regional Semifinalists in 2010 … team won District Championship title and was a Bi-District Finalist in 2009.
Cheyanna Young – Corona, Calif./Corona – Four-year letterwinner in softball at Corona High School … also receive four Scholar-Athlete and California Interscholastic Federation letters … named First Team All-League and Second Team All-CIF … First All-Academic Team selection … received Outstanding Senior Athlete Award … named to All-Area Selection Team … member of team that was 2010 CIF runners-up.
