January 3, 2007 - Umbehauer December Athlete of the Month

January 3, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rider Athletes of Month
Track’s Fenlator, Wrestling’s Umbehauer

LAWRENCEVILLE—Jazmine Fenlator of the indoor track & field team, and Doug Umbehauer of the wrestling team, have been named the Rider University Athletes of the Month for all competition in December.

Fenlator, a senior from Wayne (Wayne Valley), broke the Rider indoor records in both the weight throw (57’11.75”) and the shot put (47’8”) in December at the Princeton New Year Invitational.

“Jazmine had another phenomenal meet,” head track & field coach Rob Pasquariello said. “That was a tough meet, with great competition, but she came ready to go.”

Umbehauer, a sophomore from Shamong (Lenape), placed runner-up at the prestigious Midlands Championships, winning four of five bouts, losing only to the fifth ranked wrestler in the nation in sudden victory. “Doug continues to get better and improve,” said head wrestling coach Gary Taylor. “This was a good test for him. That was a good win for him in the semi-finals.”

Umbehauer upset the top seed in the semi-finals who was ranked third in the nation. “Doug is right there with the best in the nation,” said Taylor.

A 2005-06 Freshman All-American, Umbehauer also placed sixth at the Cliff Kean Invitational in Las Vegas in December, and is currently ranked 13th in the nation.

Fenlator, the 2005-06 Rider Female Athlete of the Year, has already qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Indoor Championships this winter in both the weight throw and the shot put. Fenlator also holds Rider outdoor records in the discus and hammer.

“Her competitive spirit is what makes the difference with Jazmine,” said Pasquariello.  “At the level that she competes at, the Eastern and Regional level, everyone is talented. It takes a special, competitive drive to get into those winner’s circles. She just wants it more than most kids.”

-RU-