September Athletes of the Month

By Christine Fusselman, Student Reporter

Lauree Wiegand, Women's Volleyball

In her first term at Central Penn College, physical therapist assistant student Lauree Wiegand was named the female Athlete of the Month for September.

Wiegand plays the middle hitter position on the Central Penn College women’s volleyball team. In the team’s conference, the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), Wiegand is third in aces per set (1.41) and seventh in serve aces (55).

Head coach Roann Leatz says Wiegand is a go-to player and a “great leader on the court. Her teammates look up to her.”

Wiegand’s love of the game is not new. Growing up in Manheim, she played as a setter on her high school volleyball team for four years. She also managed the team while she was still in middle school.

Surprised by this recognition, Wiegand says, “Every player is important to the success of the team. Communication is key. As the saying goes, ‘You win as a team. You lose as a team.’”

Wiegand lives off campus and also participates in Central Penn’s PTA Club and her youth group bible study.

Dino Santiaque, Men's Soccer

Health care administration student Dino Santiaque has been chosen as the September male Athlete of the Month.

Santiaque, 20, played soccer for fun as a young child living in Haiti, but after moving to New Jersey in 2007, football and wrestling were his sports of choice at Irvington High School. When he arrived at Central Penn College he decided to play a new sport, so he tried out for the soccer team.

“Dino has been an outstanding player ever since he joined us in the fall of 2014, which was midway through the first soccer season in Central Penn's history,” says Coach Tom Birch.

“I've always admired his work ethic. He's always winning the ball back after we have lost it. This is crucial in the game of soccer and not a trait that is easy to teach.”

The team occasionally travels out of the state for games, the furthest one being played in North Carolina. Santiaque said the ride there was fun, but coming home was made better by coming home with a win.

“He isn't all hustle,” according to Birch. “Dino leads the team in goals scored with four, yet always looks to pass first. He absorbs all coaching advice and is always willing to play any position that is best for the team, even though forward is his favorite position.”

With a shining smile, Santiaque says, “I am honored to be named Athlete of the Month. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to play for Central Penn. I am working hard to put Central Penn on the map and make the coaches proud.”

Santiaque is a very big sports fan. In his free time, he can be found cheering on the New York Giants and Los Angeles Lakers. Another activity he says he enjoys being a part of is the Campus Christian Ministries (CCM).