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Kean's Flemings, TCNJ's McChesney Named NJAC Athletes of the Year

PRINCETON, NJ --- Kean's Jenna Flemings and TCNJ's James McChesney were named the 2023-24 New Jersey Athletic Conference Female and Male Athlete of the Year, respectively, announced at the annual NJAC Awards Brunch at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton on Sunday afternoon.

JENNA FLEMINGS, Kean Field Hockey

Flemings earned the conference's biggest honor after a year that saw her propel Kean into its first NCAA Final Four in program history to wrap up a stellar career in Union.

Flemings is a two-time All-American by two different organizations and this year earned the NFHCA Region IV Player of the Year honor after being named NJAC Goaltender of the Year for the third straight year. In leading Kean to the Final Four, she put together one of the best goalie performances in memory with 17 saves including three penalty stroke stops when the Cougars upset #3 Christopher Newport 1-0 in overtime on CNU's home field in the Second Round. She went on to add 11 more saves in a 2-1 upset of #11 Lynchburg in the national quarterfinals that punched the Final Four ticket.

Off the field, Flemings graduated with a 3.94 grade point average in Physical Education & Health. Her academic prowess earned her the NFHCA Division III National Scholar-Athlete of the Year award this year. She was an Academic All-American for the 2022 season with this year's Academic All-America yet to be announced. 

JAMES McCHESNEY, TCNJ Swimming

McChesney earns the conference's biggest honor on the heels of a tremendous senior season of an already decorated career. A two-time national champion in the 200 freestyle, he also owns the NCAA Division III record in that event.

He earned All-America honors in seven events this year while leading TCNJ to a 10th place finish at the NCAA Championships, the highest since 2016. In addition to winning the 200 freestyle title, he was the national runner-up in the 100 freestyle while also earning All-America accolades in the 50 free, 200 and 400 medley relays, and 400 and 800 freestyle relays. For his career, he earned All-America honors 18 times. 

This season he also led TCNJ to the first-ever NJAC Championship meet title. He swept the sprint freestyle events at the NJAC Championship, collecting gold medals in the 50, 100, and 200 free. He was also part of four gold-medal-winning relays, including the 200 and 400 medley relays and 400 and 800 freestyle relays. 

Out of the pool, he graduated with a 3.55 in Accountancy and was a CSCAA First Team Academic All-American.