Finizio, Zamadics Receive Harnum, Heaton Awards

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna softball player Lisa Finizio (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and cross country/track & field athlete Joe Zamadics (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) have been named the respective winners of the University’s Connie N. Harnum and Blair M. Heaton Awards, presented on Friday, May 11 at the annual on-campus Senior Awards Reception.

The Harnum Award is named for SU Sports Hall of Fame head coach Connie Harnum, whose tenure at Susquehanna included 27 seasons as the head field hockey coach as well as head coach of the women’s tennis team. The award is given to the senior female student-athlete who bests represents the ideals of intercollegiate athletics.

The Heaton Award is given to the male student-athlete who best exemplifies a devotion to scholarship and athletics, along with self-discipline and courage that was characteristic of the highly-respected Susquehanna coach and math professor for whom the award is named.

Finizio, an elementary and early childhood education major, etched her name at the top of SU’s career record books. She is the all-time leader in at-bats, runs, total bases and hits and is second all-time in triples and surpassed the 200-hit milestone earlier this spring.

“I am thrilled Lisa has received the Harnum Award,” head softball coach Kathy Kroupa said. “I was blessed to have known Connie Harnum and I can say that Lisa truly exemplifies the qualities and legacy Connie left here at SU. She has been a tremendous player as well as tremendous contributor to the Susquehanna community.”  

This season she started 39 games and finished with team-highs in hits (55), runs (32) and stolen bases (14). Her 55 hits are sixth all-time in single season history. She also added two doubles, five triples, one home run and 21 RBIs. She also struck out just seven times in 125 at-bats.

This season, the Crusaders earned the No. 1 seed in the Landmark Conference Tournament for the first time in program history and advanced to the championship game this past weekend. In addition, Finizio was not only named to the Landmark Conference First Team, she was also tabbed Player of the Year.

A two-time team captain, Finizio is also a four-year member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and a two-year member of the SAAC Executive Board. She also belongs to two honor societies and APO, SU’s service fraternity.

Zamadics is a four-year member of the cross country and track & field teams, serving as captain of both teams his senior seasons.

“Joe exemplifies the Division III student-athlete,” his head coach Marty Owens said. “He was well-respected by all teammates as he was one of the hardest working and most dedicated athletes I have had the pleasure to work with. He always put team goals ahead individual goals and his leadership will be missed.”

Over his cross country career, he was a member of three Landmark Conference Championship teams and earned All-Conference honors each of those championship years.

In indoor track & field, Zamadics was the Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and over his four years, has earned First or Second-Team All-Conference honors six times. He is currently second all-time in the 800 and third all-time in the mile.

In outdoor track & field, he has racked nine First or Second Team All-Conference honors over his career, including winning the 1500 as a junior. For his career, he is fourth all-time in the 800 and 1500.

Off the track, Zamadics, an economics major with a 3.95 GPA, has been on the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll every year he has been eligible and is a five-time member of the All-Academic Team.