HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Centenary University Athletic Department announced that wrestling freshman Ryan Anderson and field hockey freshman Jordan Vandermark have been named the Centenary Athletics Rookies of the Year for 2019-20.

The Rookie of the Year is presented to one male and one female athlete who have just completed their first year of collegiate athletics at Centenary and have shown tremendous ability in their respective sport. 

Anderson, who was the lone nominee in the male rookie of the year category, had a tremendously successful rookie campaign for the Cyclones.

Anderson became the second wrestler in program history and first since Chris Burdge (2011) to be named the D3wrestle.com Freshman of the Year. Anderson was also named a First Team All-American by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Coaches Group.

Anderson won the 149-pound bracket at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship and would have been the number one seed in his weight class at the NCAA National Championship. Anderson finished his freshman season with a 30-3 mark. His 30 wins are tied for sixth on the single season wins list at Centenary.

Anderson had 15 wins by fall this year, which ranks tied for fourth in single-season history at Centenary. That is also tied for 16th on the career falls list at Centenary. He also had four wins by major decision. He did not lose to a Division III opponent all year and did not lose a bout after Nov. 10 at the East Stroudsburg Open.

Anderson won his weight class at the Doug Parker Invitational, the Bob Quade Cyclone Open and the Shorty Hitchcock Tournament before winning the regionals.

The nominees for female rookie of the year included basketball's Carmen Escano and field hockey's Vandermark.

Vandermark played a key role in Centenary advancing to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) playoffs in their first season as an NCAA sponsored sport.

She was named the CSAC Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-CSAC honoree. Vandermark also took home Second Team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) accolades and one was one of just two freshmen honored by the group this fall.

She started all 16 games in the midfield for the Cyclones during her rookie campaign. Vandermark led the team in scoring with 22 points on eight goals and six assists. Vandermark ranked among the top 10 in the CSAC for goals per game (.533), assists per game (.400) and points per game (1.47). She had a season-high seven points on three goals and one assist in the win at Lancaster Bible. Vandermark also turned in a five-point performance with two goals and an assist in the win over Wells. She scored the game-winning goals at Bryn Athyn and at Lancaster Bible.