CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Five former Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) student-athletes were recently selected as tops in their respective sports and named to the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) All-Decade Team for the years 2010-20.
Nick Engelman (2016-18), Evan Fahs (2017-19) and Brian Zinman (2016-20) were named to the team for golf. Former standouts Andrea Watkins (2014-18) and Ebony Sanders (2016-20) made the list for women’s basketball, and Sanders also made it for her achievements in volleyball.
Lorie Khalil, PSU-LV women’s basketball coach and director of athletic programs, said it is an “incredible honor” for the Athletics department that these five players’ achievements are being recognized well after their time on campus.
“We talk about leaving a mark, being extraordinary, leaving a legacy behind, and these athletes did that,” Khalil said. “I had the honor of coaching the two women's basketball players, Andrea Watkins and Ebony Sanders, and they were amazing, talented, great-character people that put so much into their four years here at PSU-LV and deserve this recognition."
Golf
During his time at PSU-LV, Engelman earned the PSUAC Championship Medal, was a two-time USCAA 1st Team All-American and two-time PSUAC All-Conference. He excelled off the golf course as well, winning the USCAA National All-Academic twice, an honor which goes to student-athletes with a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Fahs received many accolades throughout his athletic career at PSU-LV. He was named USCAA 1st Team All-American, PSUAC Championship Medalist and two-time PSUAC All-Conference, and was selected as Lehigh Valley golf's John Fritz Sportsmanship Award Winner. Fahs was also named Lehigh Valley's Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Fahs averaged in the mid-70s over the course of his two seasons.
Now employed by GE Capital and living in Nazareth, Fahs said playing golf and having the opportunity to network with other Penn State alumni has helped him throughout every step of his career.
“I’m fortunate to be on this list and have this opportunity,” Fahs said. “Golf and the Penn State connection got me to where I am today. It taught me lessons of patience. You’re on a team, but ultimately your performance is up to you. It’s definitely exciting to be on this list.”
Zinman was a four-year member of the golf team. He led them to the 2019 PSUAC Golf Championship and was named the PSUAC Individual Medalist. He was a three-time recipient of PSUAC Conference honors and led Lehigh Valley in scoring 13 out of the 20 matches he appeared in, consistently averaging in the low 70s over the course of his career.
Women’s basketball
Watkins, known as “Dre,” was a four-year starter for the women’s basketball team at PSU-LV. She had a stellar career, starting 85 of the 89 games she played in, averaging 18 points per game. She was named USCAA Player of the Year, was a two-time USCAA First Team All-American, two-time USCAA Second Team All-American, PSUAC Newcomer of the Year, two-time PSUAC Player of the Year, PSUAC Second Team All-Conference and PSUAC Honorable Mention. Watkins led her team to postseason play each of her four years, including a trip to the PSUAC Championship and USCAA National Championship. She is Lehigh Valley’s all-time leading scorer with a total of 1,580 points.
Originally from California, Sanders was a standout in both basketball and volleyball during her time at PSU-LV. In basketball, Sanders was among the top post players to ever compete in the PSUAC, averaging a double-double in her four-year career, with 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. She finished with a total of 1,479 points and 1,320 rebounds, becoming the only PSU-LV player to achieve this milestone. Sanders was named USCAA First Team All-American, two-time USCAA Second Team All-American, PSUAC First Team All-Conference, and two-time PSUAC Defensive Player of the Year. In each of her four years, Sanders led the women’s basketball team to postseason play, and was a member of the program's first PSUAC Championship in the 2018-19 season. She also helped propel her team to the longest winning streak in program history with 24 straight victories.
Sanders was also an outstanding student. She was recognized as the USCAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year, and the John S. Egli Scholar-Athlete Award Winner in the PSUAC. She was also a two-time USCAA National All-Academic (which is awarded to student-athletes with a 3.5 or higher GPA).
Now back in her native California, Sanders is honored and grateful to be included on the All-Decade Team.
“It gives an extra opportunity to think back to all the fun times I had playing the sport I love and all the great people I met along the way at Penn State Lehigh Valley,” she said.