Bartello breaks and makes records: Marissa Bartello was impressive in her freshman season. The native of Laguna Hills, Calif., broke the school record in the 3k steeplechase all six times she competed in the event. When the year came to a close, Bartello had broken the previous school record held by Jessica Howard (2004) by 42.31 seconds. It was not just PLNU records she would break however, as she also set the PacWest Championship record. She ran a time of 10:46.54 at the championships to win the event and break the PacWest meet record by 10.55 seconds.
 
Taste of the NCAA: Marissa Bartello's season did not end at the PacWest Championships as she earned an NCAA Provisional Qualifying Standard and the right to compete in the NCAA Championships in Bradenton, Fla. She earned the 21st spot in the 22-person field. She was the only freshman in the field. In the prelims, Bartello ran her fastest time of the season to finish 11th in her heat, and 17th overall. She was the first Sea Lion to ever run in the NCAA Championships, and the first to compete for and individual title.
 
Lum vaults to NCAA mark: Celine Lum became the first Sea Lion to ever earn an NCAA Provisional Qualifying Standard when she cleared 12-1.5 (3.70m) at the Pomona-Pitzer All Comers Meet. It was the opening meet of the season for the Sea Lions. That mark allowed Lum to win the event at the meet and move into a tie for third on the Sea Lions' all-time top 10 list. She also remained on the top of the PacWest performance list all season.
 
Movement on the top 10: Nine Sea Lions either placed their name on or moved up the school's all-time top 10 list during the 2016 season. In addition to setting the school record in the 3k steeplechase, Marissa Bartello also moved into fifth place in the 5k (17:36.11). Alex Hernandez is now third in school history in the 5k with a time of 17:31.48 and ninth in the 1500m (4:39.46). Brianna Bartello is now third in school history in the 800m (2:13.19) and serventh in the 1500m (4:39.38). Sarah Levesque and Molly Murphy placed their names sixth and ninth on the all-time top 10 list, respectively, in the 3k steeplechase. Elise Tello is now 10th in the 10k with a time of 39:28.38. In the pole vault, Celine Lum is now third while Stephanie Beaulieu ranks seventh and Carly Rodgers ninth.
 
USTFCCCA honors Lum with all-region award:  Celine Lum not only laid claim to earning the first NCAA Provisional Mark for the Sea Lions in NCAA Division II, she is also the first Point Loma track & field student-athlete to ever earn USTFCCCA All-West Region honors. Lum finished the season with a career-best mark of 12-1.5 (3.70m). Lum cleared the fourth-highest mark among all West Region opponents this season, which she set at the Pomona-Pitzer Collegiate All Comers meet on Feb. 20. She was one of 21 members from the PacWest Conference to receive the honor. To be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top-5 of an individual event in the region according to final TFRRS data or be part of a top-three relay team.
 
SDHOC names Bartello Star of the Month: Marissa Bartello of the Point Loma women's track & field team has been named a San Diego Hall of Champions Star of the Month for April. Bartello was joined by professional baseball players Wil Myers of the San Diego Padres and AJ Griffin of the Texas Rangers, FedEx Cup standout Coco Vandeweghe and others. Bartello broke the PacWest meet record in the 3k steeplechase with a time of 10:46.54. That mark shattered the previous meet record by 10.55 seconds and won her the PacWest Conference Championships steeplechase title. Her time of 10:46.54 improved upon her NCAA Provisional Qualifying time as she remained 17th in the country. She also went on to place third in the 5k at the PacWest Championships as she earned 16 points for the Sea Lions.
 
Smart Sea Lions: Twenty-eight PLNU baseball student-athletes were named to the PacWest All-Academic team for the 2016 season. Stephanie Beaulieu, Erin Beezhold, Cassie Bird, Morgan Brandt, Hannah Cain, Marissa Dotter, Josie Frye, Leanne Garrels, Alex Hernandez, Ashley Julio, Kate Kalley, Kai Kaneakua, Jessica Kroeckel, Taryn Kucey, Lauren Levenson, Raina Lopez, Celine Lum, Katrina Lusky, Jordan Mageo, Mikaela Morris, Molly Murphy, Hayley Richardson, Carly Rodgers, Briana Swendener, Hallie Swenson, Janie Unkefer, Bailey Webster and Demi White each earned the honor after posting at least a 3.0 grade point average.
 
PLNU honors its own: Point Loma head coach Jerry Arvin and his coaches announced the team awards during their end of the year banquet. Alex Hernandez was named the Sea Lions' Most Outstanding Track Athlete for the second straight season and Lauren Levenson won Field Athlete of the Year honors. Janie Unkefer and Molly Murphy shared Most Improved honors while Cassie Bird won the team's Sportsmanship Award. Marissa Bartello was voted the team MVP.
 
Senior Salute: Nine PLNU seniors closed out their Sea Lion careers this year. Stephanie Beaulieu, Cassie Bird, Lauren Levenson, Mikaela Morris, Carly Rodgers and Briana Swendener were all four-year letterwinners for PLNU. Molly Murphy, Kai Kaneakua and Raina Lopez each joined Point Loma for their final two seasons of eligibility.  
 
Back for more in 2017: The Sea Lions could bring back as many as 27 student-athletes in 2017 to join a deep and talented recruiting class. This list includes members of the PLNU's all-time top 10 list Brianna Bartello, Marissa Bartello, Alex Hernandez and Celine Lum.
 
Coach Arvin's resume: Head coach Jerry Arvin just completed his 21st season as the head coach of the Sea Lions and has overseen their transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. He is a 10-time conference coach of the year.