Joey Tinsley
Men's Golf (2001-04)
Why did you choose Embry-Riddle?
I chose Embry-Riddle because I had a passion for aviation and the idea of playing golf in great weather all year was very appealing.
What’s your fondest memory about your time as an ERAU student-athlete?
The men’s golf program hadn’t won a golf tournament in many years. Every year we hosted a huge tournament during Spring Break and had participation from over 20 schools. In 2003 it all came together, and we won our tournament. Ben Van Someren, Mike Samp, Mike Zarraonandia, and David Sears all had great weekends and we had a great time celebrating the long-awaited victory with the entire team.
What do you remember most vividly about your time at ERAU?
The small college feel was great. I enjoyed going to a college where your professors knew your name and cared about you becoming successful.
Who had the biggest impact on your life while at ERAU?
Coach Lopez kept us all in line which was not easy since she was coaching the men's and women’s programs. She taught me the value of staying positive and never quitting. Things I still very much incorporate into my life today.
What do you miss most about being a student-athlete?
My teammates and the road trips to golf tournaments as a team. It always felt like a large happy family.
What was your major?
When I first got to Embry-Riddle I was majoring in Aviation Business Management. I enjoyed these classes, but it wasn’t 100% for me. I went one afternoon and talked with my advisor (Nancy Trillow), and she quickly helped me look at the best future options. The option that was most appealing was to become an Air Traffic Management Major. This certainly proved to be one of the best decisions of my life.
What did you do right after graduating from ERAU?
I worked at a golf course from May 2004-November 2005.
Tell us a little bit about what you’re doing now?
I got hired by the FAA in November of 2005. I have been an Air Traffic Controller at Atlanta ARTCC ever since. But I am currently on a detail as NATCA’s ESA OSG (Eastern Service Area Operations Support Group) Modernization Rep.
How did your experience at ERAU shape your career path?
It was directly related to my career path. The Air Traffic program at Riddle helped me get a job and be prepared to be an Air Traffic Controller.
What personal or professional accomplishment are you most proud of since you graduated?
I have been on a detail to NATCA for a few years. Being able to help air traffic controllers modernize their routes and airspace is very rewarding. Most of the projects along the East Coast are very complex and watching controllers seeing their ideas come to fruition is great.
What advice do you have for ERAU’s current student-athletes?
Listen to your coaches and professors and never be afraid to ask for help.
Do you stay connected with other alumni, and if so, who and how?
I feel like I work with a lot of alumni either as controllers or in the airlines. Aviation is a small world and the group of us that went to Riddle is even smaller. It is amazing when talking with controllers how many went to Riddle.
What do you like to do away from work? Hobbies? Fun experiences/excursions?
I still play golf one or two days a week and play in a few tournaments when able. My last few months though have been more revolved around wedding planning. I am getting married this summer to the beautiful Laura Adams and it has been a whirlwind of planning and booking venues.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Embry-Riddle women’s basketball team enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2022-23. The Eagles opened the season on a 5-0 run and were 9-1 in through their first 10 games for only the second time in program history on the way to the second 20-win season since the program’s inception in 2014.
The Eagles suffered a setback in early January, losing potential All-Conference and All-Region prospect Keturah Balabyekkubo to a season-ending injury. Prior to her injury, the fifth-year senior led the team in rebounds (5.3 rpg) and averaged 10.9 points and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field. While the loss disrupted their plan of attack, the Eagles stayed the course and proved the Sunshine State Conference head coaches wrong by placing third in the league standings, three spots above their projected finish.
Their third-place finish gave the Eagles the right to host a first-round game in the SSC women’s basketball tournament. Embry-Riddle drew Lynn in the first round and avenged a loss in the final game of the regular season to the Fighting Knights, winning 59-52 to advance to the semifinal round.
The Blue & Gold fell to Tampa on the road in the conference semis, but their regular season performance afforded the Eagles a berth in the 2024 NCAA II Women’s Basketball Tournament for just the second time in program history. Their first-round opponent was a familiar foe in Tampa, and while the Eagles kept it close throughout the game, Tampa pulled away late to end the Eagles’ season at 20-10.
Madyson Jean-Louis and Jenna Teterycz were both named to the All-Sunshine State Conference team with Jean-Louis becoming just the second woman in program history to earn first team honors and Teterycz being named to the third team. Jean-Louis was also picked as a D2 CCA Second Team All-Region honoree and with 18 points against Lynn in the SSC semifinals, she became the fifth member of the Eagles’ 1,000-point club.
Men's Basketball
The Embry-Riddle men’s basketball team enjoyed a rather successful 2023-24 campaign, finishing the season 22-10 (14-6 SSC) and making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA II National Tournament. After the 22-win campaign, head coach Steve Ridder now sits with 781 career wins at Embry-Riddle.
In total, the Eagles finished with the fifth-best three-point shooting effort in program history (.390), fifth-best free throw shooting percentage (.745), and 10th-best scoring average (86.2ppg). ERAU also reached as high as No. 5 in the regional rankings during the year.
The season was filled with big scoring and lockdown defense. Embry-Riddle saw the highlight reel of senior Malcolm Whitlow play out beautifully. Whitlow finished his career at No. 17 all-time in the ERAU record books. Against Florida Southern, he went off for 41 points, the second-most ever scored by an Eagle. Whitlow averaged 16.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest on his way to earning All-SSC, All-SSC Tournament, All-Region, and NCAA All-Star honors.
Cameron Shockley-Okeke, a grad transfer from the Ivy League’s Columbia University, averaged 11.4 points per game, including 43 points over two games in the NCAA Tournament. Michael McCalister netted 11.0 points per game, adding 5.3 rebounds and a steal per outing as well. Dru Nickson was the ultimate guard, everywhere on the floor, averaging 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4 steals per night as a starter. Nickson also was an All-SSC honoree, picking up a Third Team nod.
At the end of the regular season, redshirt freshman Milan Skoric finished with the best three-point percentage in all of the NCAA (I, II and III) with a 53.9-percent clip. He was a part of an ERAU bench which averaged nearly 27 points per game.
Along with Whitlow, senior Danny Sully enjoyed a career year, averaging 8.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, netting nine double-doubles on the season. Fellow classmate Jon Alessandro also was crucial off the bench this season, playing in all 32 games, averaging 6.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.1 minutes on average. Also off the bench were senior Nikola Jerotic and sophomore Jerry Bracey II. Bracey was hot down the stretch, and finished with an average of 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.
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Kevin and Mitchel Lindheim are one of over 40+ pairs of Eagle siblings to have played for the Blue and Gold.
Kevin Lindheim (2013-14) spent two years with the Blue and Gold and was a force at the plate and in the outfield.
The Naples, Florida product made 126 starts in his career, including 65 in 2013, which tied a program record. No other Eagle has seen more starts in right field as Lindheim was included in the starting lineup at that position on 103 occasions. He also aided the Eagles to back-to-back The Sun Conference regular season titles and appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. Additionally, Lindheim assisted ERAU in claiming a conference tournament title in 2013 and later a trip to the World Series.
Over his two seasons of action, Lindheim maintained a .330 average with 84 runs, 100 RBIs, 30 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 23 stolen bases.
In the field, he registered 218 putouts and 15 assists for a .987 career fielding percentage. Eleven of those assists came in the outfield, which tied for the third most ever by an Eagle.
After transferring from Stetson, Lindheim had his best season during his junior campaign in 2013. Lindheim produced 80 hits, the seventh most by a junior in program history, and led the squad with a .453 slugging percentage. His 54 RBIs ranked first in the league and helped Lindheim earn First-Team All-Conference honors as an outfielder. Three of those RBIs occurred on a three-run walk-off home run against No. 10 Cumberland.
Defensively, Lindheim recorded 104 putouts and 11 assists, nine of which came in the outfield, which was a single-season program record. A .991 fielding percentage allowed Lindheim to pick up a Gold Glove award for right field.
Lindheim majored in Air Traffic Management.
Mitchel Lindheim (2016-18) was a member of Embry-Riddle baseball for three seasons, joining the program two years after his brother Kevin.
In his freshman season, the infielder recorded two doubles in eight games player. He redshirted during 2017, and reappeared in 2018 for 16 games as a junior.
A Global Conflict Studies major, Lindheim was named to the Sunshine State Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2016 and 2017. He posted a perfect 4.0 GPA as a sophomore.
Male Athlete of the Month - Isaiah Hines
Isaiah Hines is the Embry-Riddle Male Athlete of the Month after a stellar March. Across five games in March, Hines totaled 31 points from 21 goals and 10 assists as ERAU went 4-1. The highlight of this came when Hines had five goals and three assists in a 15-14 comeback win over No. 14 Florida Southern on the road on March 30.
Female Athlete of the Month - Kenley Zeruto
Kenley Zeruto is the Embry-Riddle Female Athlete of the Month after helping the Eagles go 7-1 in March. Zeruto had 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 total points. She scored four or more goals on three separate occasions, with her standout performance being 10 points (four goals, six assists) in a 23-3 win over Westminster on March 9.