When Mark Katarski recruits a high school basketball player, he doesn’t just make sure she can dribble with her left hand or that she plays relentless, end-to-end defense.
The women’s coach at Seton Hill also looks for smarts in his prospects — on the court and otherwise.
“We always put emphasis on recruiting winners academically and athletically,” Katarski said. “Why? Because it fits Seton Hill. That’s what is awesome about Seton Hill: Our faculty and staff embrace the students being able to be students and athletes. You can do both. And we have people who excel at both.”
The mold for success in the program continues to show results, the latest of which labels as Seton Hill the best in the nation in the classroom.
The 2019-20 Griffins earned the No. 1 spot in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll after posting a 3.831 grade-point average for the year.
“It’s not often that a team can say they finished first in the country in something,” Katarski said. “That’s saying something, no matter the category. The girls get all the credit. They did this. I am so happy for them. It’s kind of become a goal of theirs.
“They handled the spring incredibly well with everything that went on (with covid-19).”
Seton Hill’s women’s program has led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in team GPA in six of the last seven years, and has appeared 10 times in the national Top 10 over the last 13 years.
“These young women have proven themselves to be outstanding scholars as well as gifted athletes,” said Seton Hill President Mary C. Finger. “This accomplishment also reflects the outstanding leadership of the coaching staff, especially head coach Mark Katarski, who continue to set high standards for the program.”
The Griffins took the top spot among more than 300 schools. Their GPA was second overall among NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and junior college programs, behind Division III Buena Vista University.
The GPA is the highest for the Griffins since the 2006-07 team rolled up a 3.831.
Seton Hill team members from last season were Courtney Cecere, Lexi Civittolo, Rena Enterline (Blairsville), Madeline Fischer (North Allegheny), Samantha Kosmacki (South Fayette), Maddy Moore (Apollo-Ridge), Katie Nolan, Sydney Rabold (Ambridge), Kennedi Stevenson (Montour), Tiana Stewart, Courtney Tomas (Montour), Cheyenne Trest (Canon-McMillan), Taylin Tyler (Obama Academy), and Kelly Weeks.
What an accomplishment for our ladies! We are so unbelievably proud !! pic.twitter.com/5TaQgbFSVQ
— Seton Hill WBB (@SetonHillWBB) August 11, 2020
