Georgian Court University Women's Track

Murawski has been at the helm of the Women's Track and Field Program since January of 2013 and the Men's Track and Field Program since the teams inception in the winter of 2014. While at Georgian Court he has led his teams to multiple Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Titles. The women in 2016, 2015, and 2014 and the men in 2016 and 2015. He, along with his staff have coached, 1 Individual National Champion, 5 NCAA All-Americans, and 39 NCAA Qualifiers.   Georgian Court finished this past year with a 3-peat for the women and a repeat on the mens side at the CACC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. The men finished 3 rd and the women tied for 4 th at the ECC Indoor Track and Field Championship. The men racked up two National Provisional Qualifies, Peter Collins in the hammer and Joe Kaas in the shot put, and a National Automatic Qualifier, Mike Brazzel in the javelin. As well as a top 10 team ranking in the East Region, 4 men selected to the USTFCCCA 2016 Indoor All-East Region Honors, 5 men selected to the USTFCCCA 2016 Outdoor All-East Region Honors, and 2 men selected to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors. Showing the teams major improvements in only its third year in existence. The women had a Provisional Qualifier of their own in Alyssa Whipkey in the javelin, 3 women selected to the USTFCCCA 2016 Indoor All-East Region Honors, and 2 women selected to USTFCCCA 2016 Outdoor All-East Region Honors. As well as a number of all conference selections in the CACC and the ECC for both men and women.        As a coach, Murawski is no stranger to success. During his time at Georgian Court, Murawski was honored in the CACC as the 2015 CACC Mens and Womens Outdoor Track and Field BSN Coach of the Year, 2016 CACC Mens and Womens Outdoor Track and Field BSN Coach of the Year, and led his teams to the 2015 CACC Mens and Womens Track and Field Team Sportsmanship Award. He and his staff have helped to coach many individual CACC standout student-athletes. Including, 2015 Womens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Shelby Frink), 2015 Womens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Malawi Allen), 2015 Mens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Joseph Kaas), 2015 Mens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Michael Brazzel), 2016 Womens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Octivia Booker), 2016 Womens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Alba Herrero-Gomez), 2016 Mens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Michael Brazzel), and 2016 Mens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Nathan Gill).   In the ECC, Murawski has also seen success for himself when he was name the 2013 ECC Womens Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. In addition, Murawski, as well as his staff, have coached athletes who have received similar honors. Octivia Booker in 2015 won the ECC Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Peter Collins in 2015 won Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Tiffany Okieme in 2014 won the ECC Indoor Athlete of the Year, Alyssa Hudgins in 2013 won the ECC Women's Outdoor Athlete of the Year, and Lauren Calorel in 2013 won the ECC Womens Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year.   Coach Murawski joined the Lions after serving as the Head Men's and Women's Track and Field Coach at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania where he developed two Honorable Mention All-Americans, 14 NCAA Division II Provisional Qualifiers, and 113 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) qualifiers.    A former NCAA Division I multi-event track and field student-athlete and captain at Duquesne University, Michael went on to serve as the assistant track and field coach at his alma mater of Holy Cross High School in Delran, N.J. before beginning his tenure at West Chester.   Michael, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Rhetorical Studies from Duquesne and a Master of Science in Sports Management from California University (PA), is a USATF Level II certified collegiate coach.   Originally from Cinnaminson, NJ, Murawski and his wife, Ashley currently reside in Woodstown, NJ with their son and daughter.   Michael Murawski Head Track & Field Coach/ XC Coach Michael Murawski has been at the helm of the Women's Track and Field Program since January of 2013 and the Men's Track and Field Program since the teams inception in the winter of 2014. While at Georgian Court he has led his teams to multiple Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Titles. The women in 2016, 2015, and 2014 and the men in 2016 and 2015. He, along with his staff have coached, 1 Individual National Champion, 5 NCAA All-Americans, and 39 NCAA Qualifiers.   Georgian Court finished this past year with a 3-peat for the women and a repeat on the mens side at the CACC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. The men finished 3 rd and the women tied for 4 th at the ECC Indoor Track and Field Championship. The men racked up two National Provisional Qualifies, Peter Collins in the hammer and Joe Kaas in the shot put, and a National Automatic Qualifier, Mike Brazzel in the javelin. As well as a top 10 team ranking in the East Region, 4 men selected to the USTFCCCA 2016 Indoor All-East Region Honors, 5 men selected to the USTFCCCA 2016 Outdoor All-East Region Honors, and 2 men selected to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors. Showing the teams major improvements in only its third year in existence. The women had a Provisional Qualifier of their own in Alyssa Whipkey in the javelin, 3 women selected to the USTFCCCA 2016 Indoor All-East Region Honors, and 2 women selected to USTFCCCA 2016 Outdoor All-East Region Honors. As well as a number of all conference selections in the CACC and the ECC for both men and women.        As a coach, Murawski is no stranger to success. During his time at Georgian Court, Murawski was honored in the CACC as the 2015 CACC Mens and Womens Outdoor Track and Field BSN Coach of the Year, 2016 CACC Mens and Womens Outdoor Track and Field BSN Coach of the Year, and led his teams to the 2015 CACC Mens and Womens Track and Field Team Sportsmanship Award. He and his staff have helped to coach many individual CACC standout student-athletes. Including, 2015 Womens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Shelby Frink), 2015 Womens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Malawi Allen), 2015 Mens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Joseph Kaas), 2015 Mens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Michael Brazzel), 2016 Womens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Octivia Booker), 2016 Womens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Alba Herrero-Gomez), 2016 Mens CACC Field Athlete of the Year (Michael Brazzel), and 2016 Mens CACC Field Rookie of the Year (Nathan Gill).   In the ECC, Murawski has also seen success for himself when he was name the 2013 ECC Womens Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. In addition, Murawski, as well as his staff, have coached athletes who have received similar honors. Octivia Booker in 2015 won the ECC Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Peter Collins in 2015 won Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Tiffany Okieme in 2014 won the ECC Indoor Athlete of the Year, Alyssa Hudgins in 2013 won the ECC Women's Outdoor Athlete of the Year, and Lauren Calorel in 2013 won the ECC Womens Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year.   Coach Murawski joined the Lions after serving as the Head Men's and Women's Track and Field Coach at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania where he developed two Honorable Mention All-Americans, 14 NCAA Division II Provisional Qualifiers, and 113 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) qualifiers.    A former NCAA Division I multi-event track and field student-athlete and captain at Duquesne University, Michael went on to serve as the assistant track and field coach at his alma mater of Holy Cross High School in Delran, N.J. before beginning his tenure at West Chester.   Michael, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Rhetorical Studies from Duquesne and a Master of Science in Sports Management from California University (PA), is a USATF Level II certified collegiate coach.   Originally from Cinnaminson, NJ, Murawski and his wife, Ashley currently reside in Woodstown, NJ with their son and daughter.  

Napoli begins his ninth year with the GCU track and field program serving as the Lions' throws coach.   Since Georgian Court Universitys inaugural womens track and field season of 2009, the throws program established by Coach Napoli has proven to be highly effective.   Since 2011, GCU throwers have dominated the NCAA DII East Region with numerous student-athletes earning All-East Region honors in all four throwing events.  Coach Napoli has been honored multiple times by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). In 2012 Coach Napoli was named the NCAA DII East Region Womens Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2016 he was named the NCAA DII East Region Mens Assistant Coach of the Year.       With over 35 years of throws experience, Coach Napolis philosophy is to educate the student-athlete and build athleticism through core training, body awareness, technique and strength conditioning.  Coach Napoli has the technical expertise in all of the throwing events and a true passion to see his student-athletes excel.  Joe is also the president of the Worlds Longest Throws Club-NJ and since 2004 numerous WLTC-NJ athletes have qualified for the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships with 15 achieving All-American honors.  In 2007 Coach Napoli also crowned a National Scholastic Indoor Shot Put champion and has crowned numerous NJ State champions in all throwing events.  Coach Napoli is currently training some of the best and brightest young throwers in the country. 2016 was a banner year for his throws club athletes with many qualifying for the New Balance National Indoor and Outdoor Championships.  Coach Napoli's top club athlete, Alyssa Wilson, placed 2 nd in the discus, 4 th in the hammer, and won the shot put at the New Balance National Outdoor Championships with a personal best throw of 17.00m (55'-9.25").   Alyssa than went on to win the 2016 USATF National Junior Championships in the shot put with a throw 16.03 meters (52-7.25), and placed 4th in the hammer with 58.36m (191'-2").  Winning the USATF National Juniors enabled her to compete for Team USA at the U20 IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland where she finished in 3rd place in the shot put with a throw of 16.33m (53'-7.5").   While at Kent State University Coach Napoli was recruited and coached by 1972 Olympic hammer thrower, Al Schoterman, and graduated in 1986 with a B.S. degree in physical education.  During his years at KSU, Joe was a 4X Mid-American Conference shot put/discus champion and also school and MAC Conference record-holder in the discus.  In his junior and senior years, he was named Co-Captain of the Golden Flashes track and field team. Napolis knowledge, passion, and versatility in all of the throwing events made him a force to be reckoned with.   Joe and his wife Ellen have three children: Brittany, Samantha and Priscilla. He proudly works for Colavita USA as the Operations Manager since 1986.   2016 highlights   In 2016, Coach Napoli led 3 athletes to NCAA provisional qualifying marks, one NCAA automatic qualifying mark, two indoor conference champions, eight outdoor conference champions, six new school records, seven new conference records, six USTFCCCA All-East Region performances, and one representative for GCU at the DII NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Bradenton,  Florida.   Mike Brazzel in his sophomore year, again surpassed the automatic DII NCAA qualifying mark in the javelin with a throw of 69.68 meters (228-7). That distance ranked Brazzel as the #2 performance in all of DII and gave him the honor of being named the USTFCCCA East Region Field Athlete of the Year. Mike finished 3 rd at the DII outdoor track and field nationals making him the first All-American in the programs history.   Peter Collins in his last year of eligibility was able to hit the NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the hammer with a throw of 53.68 meter, (176-2). At the CACC outdoor track and field championship meet Collins was crowned as the hammer champion and scored in all four throwing events. In the indoor season Collins set a new conference record in the weight throw with a mark of 16.66 meters, (54-6) and a new school record of 16.72 meters, (54-10).   Joseph Kaas had a productive year with hitting two NCAA provisional marks. One in the indoor season for shot put with a mark of 16.06, (52-8.25), and one in the outdoor season with shot put with a mark of 16.27 meters (53-4.5). At the CACC outdoor track and field championship meet Kaas racked the points by being crowned as the champion in both the shot put and discus and placing in the javelin and hammer. Kaas also set two new school and conference records at the CACC championship meet. One in the shot put with his provisional qualifying mark of 16.27 meters, and the other coming in the discus with a throw of 48.68 meters, (159-9). In the indoor season Joe was also crowned as the conference champion in the shot put.   Alyssa Whipkey in only her freshmen year was able to hit a provisional qualifying mark in the javelin with a throw of 43.34 meters, (142-2), which also set a new school record for the women.   2015 Highlights   In 2015, Coach Napoli guided three athletes to five school records, crowned three indoor and thirteen outdoor conference champions as well as qualifying two to represent GCU at the DII NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   Mike Brazzel, in only his freshman year, surpassed the automatic DII NCAA qualifying distance in the javelin of 67 meters at the Stockton Invitational with a throw and new school record of 68.41 meters (224-5).  That distance ranked Brazzel as the #3 performance in all of DII.  Mike finished in 15th place at the NCAA DII championships held at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI.  Later in 2015 Brazzel was invited to compete in the prestigious Javfest competition in PA placing 4th while achieving a new personal best of 70.83m (232-4).     Shelby Frink completed her senior year in style moving up the all-time GCU top 10 list to 3rd place in the shot put with a throw of 14.58m (47-10) Frink also qualified for the NCAA DII Championships finishing in 17th place with a throw of 13.68m (44-11).   Joseph Kaas had a productive year winning the conference championships in both the shot put and discus while adding to his school records; shot (indoors) 14.96m 49-1, (outdoors) 15.26m (50-1), discus 47.57m (156-1).   Peter Collins also won a conference title while adding to his school record in the hammer throw 53.89m (176-10).  Pete also set a new school record in the 35lb weight throw 16.18m (53-1)   2014 Highlights   2014 was a tremendous year for our GCU throws program as Coach Joe Napoli crowned his first National Champion in the womens shot put.  Napoli also had one athlete earn 2 NCAA DII All-American honors, produced five conference champions (indoors) and six (outdoors) and two athletes either set new or increased 5 school records.   Tiffany Okieme continued to shine in the throws capturing the 2014 Indoor NCAA DII shot put title at the JDL Fast Track Facility in Winston-Salem, NC earning All-American honors in the event.  Tiffanys throw of 15.91m (52-2.5) also set a new JDL Fieldhouse record.  Okieme was not done as she also earned All-American honors in the 20lb weight throw finishing 5th with a throw of 18.60m (61-1).  During the regular season, Tiffany lead all of DII in the shot put with a new school record of 16.35m (53-8.75) taking first place at the George Mason Last Chance meet in Fairfax, VA.  Okieme also set the a new school record in the 20lb weight at the Bucknell Mini Meet in Lewisburg, PA with a throw of 19.47m (63-10.5). Outdoors Tiffany stepped up her game in the hammer ring setting a new school record 54.65m (179-3) at the Rowan Tri Meet increasing her PR by 29.    Amy Berry had a fantastic season setting a new school record in the javelin 42.84m (140-7) at the Rowan Tri Meet provisionally qualifying for the NCAA meet.  Amy also captured the CACC Conference title in the event.     2013 Highlights 2013 was an historic year for Georgian Court University and the GCU track and Field program as it produced its first ever All-Americans in school history.  Coach Napoli had two athletes earn NCAA DII All-American honors (one indoor/one outdoor), produced two indoor conference champions, six (outdoor conference champions and two athletes that either set new or increased six school records.    Alyssa Hudgins has a superb season qualifying for the Indoor NCAA DII National Championships finishing 5th in the 20lb weight with a throw of 18.44m (60-5) achieving All-American honors and at the Outdoor NCAA DII National Championships she finished 10th in the shot put and 17th in the hammer.  Hudgins was the first GCU student-athlete in any sport in school history to achieve All-American honors.  She was a dominate force in the program, setting school records in the 20lb weight 18.60m (61-.25), Discus 45.28m (148-5), Hammer Throw 54.52m (178-10), and reaching 2nd place on the GCU All-Time top 10 list in the Shot Put with a throw of 14.90m (48-10)   Tiffany Okieme, in just her freshman year, dominated the shot put in the Indoor campaign charting the 2nd longest throw in all of DII with 15.65m (51-3).  She also qualified for NCAA DII National Championships finishing 16th.  Experience played a huge role in Okiemes outdoor campaign having the 3rd longest throw of 15.67m (51-5) during the season and finishing 2nd place at Outdoor NCAA DII National Championships held in Pueblo, CO with a throw of 15.51m (50-10.75) earning All-American honors.  Okieme also had the opportunity to compete in the USATF Junior National Championships held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa finishing 4th place with a throw of 14.93m (48-11.75).  This earned her USATF All-American honors and was chosen as an alternate to compete for the USA Junior team in the World Junior Pan-American Games in Medellin Colombia.  Okieme holds both the indoor and outdoor shot put school records and has added more than 10 onto her throw since high school.   2012 Highlights In 2012, Coach Napoli guided one athlete to three school records, crowned four outdoor conference champions as well as qualifying one to represent GCU at the DII NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Pueblo, Colorado.  During this year Coach Napoli was also selected by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the 2012 NCAA DII East Region Womens Assistant Coach of the Year.   Alyssa Hudgins was Napolis first recruit who helped to lay the foundation for this highly successful throws program.  It was an honor for Hudgins as she was selected by the USTFCCCA as the 2012 NCAA DII East Region Female field athlete of the year. In that same year Alyssa also qualified for the Outdoor NCAA DII National Championships finishing 16th in the hammer throw. Alyssa was not done as she went on to set school records in the shot put, weight throw, discus and hammer throw.  She also won the CTC conference championships in the shot, discus and hammer throw.   Nicole Way had a standout year in the javelin as she improved her conference leading distance in the javelin to 38.20m (125-4) while being crowned CTC conference champion in the event.