George Washington University

Dec. 20, 2011

The first four months of the 2011-12 George Washington Athletic and Academic Year have been exciting and successful both on and off the playing fields and courts.

Recount and relive the Top 10 (and more) GW Athletics moments of the 2011 Fall Semester:

1 - From 13th to 1st: Berhanu's Winner Gives GW Men's Soccer A-10 Regular-Season Crown

On his Senior Day on Nov. 6, George Washington men's soccer midfielder Yoni Berhanu buried a 25-yard free kick in the 72nd minute to give the Colonials a 1-0 victory over Duquesne and a share of their first Atlantic 10 regular-season title since 1992. The victory gave retiring head coach George Lidster his 200th career win in his final game at Mount Vernon Field.

2 - GW Men's Hoops Wins Three Straight to Claim CBE Classic BGSU Subregional Title

Behind MVP Tony Taylor, All-Tournament Team selection Aaron Ware and leading scorer Lasan Kromah, the George Washington men's basketball team beat Detroit, Austin Peay and Bowling Green in successive days to capture the Progressive CBE Classic Bowling Green Subregional title.

3 - Khan's Golden Goal Propels GW Men's Soccer to Atlantic 10 Championship Game

Freshman Farhan Khan netted his first career goal in golden fashion on Nov. 11 at Saint Louis University's Robert R. Herman Stadium when his tally at 7:55 into the second overtime period lifted the George Washington men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over La Salle to send the Colonials to the Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time in seven years.

4 - GW Volleyball Clinches DC Challenge Title With Five-Set Thriller Over Georgetown

In front of a frenzied Charles E. Smith Center crowd, the George Washington volleyball team twice rallied from a set down to stun district rival Georgetown and clinch the DC Challenge championship on Sept. 13. With the victory, GW tied its best start to a season since 2003 and completed the D.C. sweep after early season victories over local rivals American, George Mason and Howard.

5 - GW Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2012 to Include Eight Inductees

The George Washington University Department of Athletics and Recreation proudly announced on Dec. 2 that eight inductees will comprise the GW Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2012. Mike Bassett, Tina Brown, Jack Kvancz, Ingrid (Wicker) McCree, Joe McKeown, Chris Monroe, Shawnta Rogers and the late Jim Tarr will be inducted on Saturday, February 18, 2012, when the men's basketball team plays host to Saint Joseph's.

6 - GW Men's Hoops Makes Metro March to BB&T Classic

Inspired by head coach Mike Lonergan's coaching mentor Jack Bruen, the George Washington men's basketball team, fans and supporters all marched to the Verizon Center for the 17th annual BB&T Classic on the city's Metro system on Dec. 4.

7 - Persons Sets GW Men's Golf 36-, 54-Hole Scoring Marks at ODU/Outerbanks Collegiate

Freshman Jack Persons set new GW men's golf 36- and 54-hole scoring records at the Old Dominion/Outerbanks Collegiate in October. Persons' two-round total of 138 and three-round score of 207 topped Brian Carroll's ('06) previous marks of 139 and 210, both set in 2005. He finished fourth out of 90 golfers at the tournament with a 9-under-par 207. For his record-setting efforts, Persons was named both Atlantic 10 Performer and Rookie of the Week.

8 - GW Women's Basketball Wins Four Straight Games in Non-Conference Play

The George Washington women's basketball team won four straight non-conference games from Nov. 26-Dec. 3 over Radford, Old Dominion, Maine and Houston Baptist. During the stretch the Colonials averaged 68.8 points per game while holding opponents to 50.2 points per game. In addition, the Colonials shot 50 percent from three-point range while outscoring opponents 135-87 in the first half.

9 - GW Volleyball Sweeps Fordham, 3-0, In Front of Record Smith Center Crowd

The George Washington volleyball team hit a season-high .367 in front of a record crowd of 1,317 at the Charles E. Smith Center to sweep Fordham in an Atlantic 10 Conference match on October 14. GW totaled 48 kills against just 12 errors in 98 attempts for its highest hitting percentage of the season while holding Fordham to a .179 attack percentage.

10 (tie) - George Washington University Launches New Student-Athlete Leadership Academy
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GW Student-Athletes Learn Leadership Lessons from University Namesake

In August, The George Washington University launched a student-athlete leadership academy in an effort to help develop the next generation of leaders both in competition and life. "Our students have a passion for changing the world and programs like this will help them grow to be leaders both in and outside of the classroom," said Patrick Nero, GW Director of Athletics and Recreation. The George Washington Student-Athlete Leadership Academy will develop, challenge and support student-athletes and their coaches in their quest to become world-class leaders in athletics, academics and life.

As part of the newly established Leadership Academy and in an effort to foster community within the Department of Athletics and Recreation, George Washington University student-athletes, administration and head coaches joined leadership from the Colonial Army and the Club Sports Council for a day-long retreat to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate on Sunday, Sept. 18. "In order to lay the foundation for our student-athletes to represent the George Washington University and wear his name across our uniforms, I thought it'd be beneficial for all of us to learn about the man," said Nero.

Honorable Mention

HM - Craig Jones Named GW's New Head Men's Soccer Coach

George Washington announced on Nov. 17 that Craig Jones had been hired as GW's next head men's soccer coach, replacing the retiring George Lidster. Jones served as the team's top assistant coach for the past three seasons after working as the Colonials' volunteer assistant from 2002-08 and was instrumental in the program's run to the A-10 regular-season title and league final in 2011. A GW alumnus, Jones was also a four-year letterwinner for the Colonials on the pitch from 1995-98.

HM - Sarah Barnes Named GW's New Head Women's Soccer Coach

The GW Department of Athletics and Recreation hired Sarah Barnes as the new head women's soccer coach on Dec. 14. Barnes came to GW after spending the past four seasons as an assistant at the University of Texas - a squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasons. She was a four-year player and senior co-captain of the University of Connecticut Huskies that reached the NCAA National Championship in 1997. Prior to joining Texas coaching staff, Barnes spent 10 years at her alma mater as a volunteer, assistant and associate head coach.

HM - Terry Weir Named Head Coach for GW Cross Country

Terry Weir was named the head coach of the George Washington cross country program on August 2. Weir came to GW from American University where he has served as an assistant coach for both the cross country and track and field programs from 2002-07 and 2009-11. In between his stints at American, Weir served as an assistant cross country and track coach at the University of Maryland.

HM - Men's Water Polo Sophomores Tyner, Little Net Nine Goals in GW Victories

George Washington men's water polo sophomores Daniel Tyner and Nate Little both posted career-best nine-goal efforts in Colonials' victories over league-rival Johns Hopkins on Sept. 24 and Washington & Jefferson on Nov. 5.

HM - Freshman Lee, GW Swimming Set Two Pool Records in Colonials First Dual Meet Win, 164-98, at Drexel

In GW women's swimming's first dual meet victory of the 2011-12 season - a 164-98 defeat over Drexel on Nov. 5 - freshman Janica Lee was a part of two Drexel Pool record-breaking events. Lee opened the meet as the second leg of the 200-yard medley relay that set a new Drexel Pool record of 1:49.79. Lee then set a record of her own when she won the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:24.03.