July 16, 2007

RICHMOND, Va. - Michael Pachella (Ogdensburg, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) was recently named the CAA Rookie of the Year for his outstanding freshman season as a middle distance runner for the George Mason men's track and field team. The award was selected by a vote of the league's head coaches and takes into account an athlete's accomplishments during the outdoor season, during which the CAA holds its championship meet in track and field.

Pachella primarily focused on the 800-meter run for the Patriots, recording the team's five fastest times in the event, including a personal best of 1:50.88 at the Patriot Open Invitational on May 5. He placed second in the event at the CAA Championships, crossing the finish line in 1:53.59. In addition to his second-place finish in the 800-meter run at the conference championship meet, Pachella ran on the 4x400-meter relay team that placed second at the meet.

Although he met the IC4A-qualifying standard in both the 800-meter run and the 4x800-meter relay, Pachella didn't compete in the 800-meter run at the IC4A Championships, instead opting to run the 4x800-meter relay at the meet, teaming up with Anthony LaMastro, Ryan Davis and Kris Cruz to finish in fourth place with a time of 7:31.80, the team's top time of the year. Pachella also recorded the team's fastest time in the 1500-meter run with a time of 3:52.66.

In addition to the Rookie of the Year award, the conference also handed out its Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year awards. William and Mary's Keith Bechtol won the Athlete of the Year award, while UNC Wilmington's Jim Sprecher was named the CAA Coach of the Year. In addition to the 2007 major award winners in men's track and field, the following individuals and relay teams received All-CAA accolades based on their performances at the CAA Championship meet.

2007 CAA All-Conference Team
100m: DeAngelo Wilson (VCU), John Carr (UNCW), Jason Gallo (VCU).
200m: James Frierson (VCU), John Carr (UNCW), DeAngelo Wilson (VCU).
400m: James Frierson (VCU), Chris Courson (UNCW), Uri Robinson (UNCW).
800m: Matt Warco (W&M), Michael Pachella (Mason), Ryan Jones (W&M).
1,500m: David Groff (W&M), Lukasz Matusiewicz (VCU), Mark Steeds (GSU).
5,000m: Keith Bechtol (W&M), Ian Fitzgerald (W&M), Patterson Wilhelm (W&M).
10,000m: Matt Keally (W&M), Colin Leak (W&M), Keith Bechtol (W&M).
110m hurdles: Zeickia Ledwell (UNCW), Ernest Asante (UNCW), Brandon Argro (VCU).
400m hurdles: Zeickia Ledwell (UNCW), Ernest Asante (UNCW), Jonathan Hall (Northeastern).
3,000m SC: Anthony Arena (W&M), Joel Parker (W&M), Harry Miller (W&M).
4x100m relay: VCU (Derek Altizer, Jason Gallo, James Frierson, DeAngelo Wilson), UNCW (Mo Peacock, Jon-Tyler Evans, AJ Kaschak, John Carr), Northeastern (Cord Parks, Christian Tirella, Conrad Dalton, Ron Conway).
4x400m relay: UNCW (Zeickia Ledwell, Jared Clark, Uri Robinson, Chris Courson), George Mason (Mutsa Nyakabau, MacGregor Lennarz, Michael Pachella, Marcus Wyche), Northeastern (Conrad Dalton, Christian Tirella, Jonathan Hall, Jose Fernandez).
High Jump: Davion Lambert (VCU), Adrian Li (Northeastern), Conrad Dalton (Northeastern).
Pole Vault: Michael Hulme (UNCW), Kiernan Lofland (W&M), Colton Weaver (UNCW).
Long Jump: Travis Midgette (UNCW), Davion Lambert (VCU), Brandyn Mitchell (UNCW).
Triple Jump: Davion Lambert (VCU), Travis Midgette (UNCW), Jacob English (GSU).
Shot Put: Nate Hunter (Northeastern), Jared Wasser (Delaware), Chase Renoll (Delaware).
Discus: Nate Hunter (Northeastern), Thomas Mulcahy (W&M), Doron White (JMU).
Hammer: Bamidele Faboyede (Northeastern), Jared Wasser (Delaware), Ed Reardon (Northeastern).
Javelin: Alex Heacock (W&M), Ron Conway (Northeastern), Grant Matthews (VCU).
Decathlon: Matt Miller (UNCW), Brian Blumenstein (UNCW), Chris Black (UNCW).