Sports Briefs

ODU 2nd Overall Among State Schools
Old Dominion placed second overall, with a winning percentage of .614 in its 2008-09 intercollegiate athletic contests, in the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association Division I All-Sport championship rankings.

UVa won .648 percent of its contests to take the title for the second straight year. On the women’s side, ODU won .618 percent of its contests, followed by Virginia at .616 and JMU at .612.

Seniors Picked For All-State Academic Squad
Six graduating seniors were selected to the 2009 Virginia Sports Information Directors Academic All-State squad in July: Alexsandr Seleznev (tennis), Brittany Washko (lacrosse), Ryan Williams (wrestling), Jen Nuzzo (basketball), Jonathan Adams (basketball) and Katie Watson (soccer).

They were among 213 student-athletes who were honored.

Verlander Continues His Winning Ways
Justin Verlander, who pitched for the Monarchs from 2002-04 and is the all-time strikeout king at ODU, in the CAA and the commonwealth, continued his winning ways for Detroit this season.

An All-Star team selection in July, Verlander led the AL in strikeouts (269) and had 19 wins (tied for first in the league) at the end of the regular season.

Tunnicliffe Places 3rd At World Sailing Event
Former sailing standout and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Anna Tunnicliffe-Funk ’05 finished third at the 2009 World Laser Women’s Championships.

During the 12 races, she had three seconds, two thirds and two fourth-place finishes, but had a 15th and a fourth in her final two races.

Hudson Called Up By White Sox Sept. 1
Former pitching ace Dan Hudson ’08 (Virginia Beach) was called up by the Chicago White Sox Sept. 1 after taking the mound for the Charlotte Knights against the Norfolk Tides, becoming the 11th Monarch to play in the Major Leagues.

Hudson was 2-0 with the Knights, posting a 3.43 ERA in four starts. Previously, he had compiled a 7-0 record at AA Birmingham. The two-time All-CAA pitcher notched his first win for the Sox on Sept. 27 against Detroit.