Athletic Department Holds Annual Awards Night

The Emmanuel College Athletic Department wrapped up the 2007-2008 year with its annual Awards Night and Dessert Reception. The event was held on Saturday night, April 26th. Team members from each of Emmanuel's fourteen athletic teams were recognized. Sport-specific academic and athletic awards were presented to five student-athletes on each of the teams.

Eighteen Emmanuel student-athletes were inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society. The 18 student-athletes met the following criteria: varsity letter-winners, who have achieved junior academic standing and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or better. Emmanuel's 2008 inductees are: Brian Anderson (Cross Country), Megan Barrows (Tennis), Jeffrey Boughton (Soccer), Andres Bustamante (Basketball), Zach Fallon (Soccer), Christine Gaspar (Cross Country, Track & Field), TJ Griffis (Cross Country, Track & Field), Kristen Impastato (Cross Country, Track & Field), Jamie Kenyon (Tennis), Cathryn Lariviere (Cross Country, Track & Field), Leah Lipschitz (Basketball), Amanda Machado (Volleyball), Philip Meagher (Track & Field), Anna Merrow (Cross Country), Zach Michonski (Soccer), Maura Mooney (Basketball), Rachel Offenburg (Volleyball), Catherine Robinson (Tennis)

The Women's Cross Country Team and the Women's Indoor Track & Field Team received the President's Cup. This is presented annually to each member of the athletic team, who together have accumulated a GPA higher than that of any other team during the 1st semester this year. Both, teams finished in a tie, receiving a combined 3.52 grade point average during the fall semester.

The Athletic Department also presented major awards to eight individual student-athletes. These awards were voted upon by all of the Emmanuel coaches and full-time staff members. Below are descriptions of each award, as well as the recipients.

Freshman of the Year - Amber Di Nucci (Women's Soccer) The Freshman of the Year is given annually to the freshman student-athlete who has provided the greatest contribution to the athletic reputation of the college. Amber helped lead the women's soccer team to a program-record 17 wins, a GNAC Championship, and an NCAA Tournament bid...2-time GNAC Rookie of the Week (9/30/07) and (10/7/07)...2-time GNAC Weekly Honor Roll selection (10/14/07) and (9/23/07)...2- time GNAC Player of the Week (10/29/07) and (11/4/07)...GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player...GNAC 1st Team All-Conference...GNAC Rookie of the Year...Ranked 1st in GNAC for total points scored (47)...Ranked 1st in GNAC for points per game (2.24)

Senior Academic Award - Leah Lipschitz (Women's Basketball) The Senior Academic Award is given annually to a senior athlete who has excelled in the classroom, while competing in intercollegiate athletics. Leah transferred to Emmanuel after her sophomore year...A 2-year player for the women's basketball team...Has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.768, which is the highest GPA among all Emmanuel student-athletes.

Senior Leadership Award - Jacque Pannell (Women's Basketball) The Senior Leadership Award is given annually to a senior athlete who has distinguished his or herself by demonstrating the qualities desired to lead successful teams throughout his or her athletic career. Jacque transferred to Emmanuel after her sophomore year...2-year player and start as a forward for the women's basketball team...Helped lead the Saints to two-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2007...Emmanuel College Tip-Off All-Tournament Team...GNAC Tournament's Most Valuable Player...GNAC Player of the Week on March 3rd ...Member of Emmanuel's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee...President of the GNAC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

Student Athlete Perseverance Award - Robert Allen (Track & Field) The Student-Athlete Perseverance Award is given to the student-athlete who has shown great determination in overcoming physical setbacks. Through hard work and dedication, this student-athlete has been able to overcome the challenges set forth and successfully return to athletic competition. This is the first year in which this award has been given. Rob is a 4-year participant on the Men's Indoor Track & Field Team and a 3-year member of the Men's Outdoor Track & Field Team...Captain of both teams this year...Indoor program records that he has set during his career include: 55m, 55m Hurdles, 60m, 60m Hurdles, 400m, Long Jump, 4 X 400 meter relay team...Outdoor program records that he has set during his career include: 200m, 400m, 110m Hurdles, Long Jump, 4 X 100 and 4 x 400 meter relay teams.

Senior Unsung Hero Award - Joshua Sugarman (Men's Soccer) The Senior Unsung Hero Award is given annually to a senior athlete who has exhibited leadership, dedication, and athletic achievement in quiet ways, which may have gone unrecognized during the season. Josh has been a 4-year player and 4-year starter as a defenseman for the men's soccer team...2-time team captain...Team's Unsung Hero as a sophomore in 2005...received the Coach's Appreciation Award as a junior in 2006...and as a senior this year.

Senior Unsung Hero Award - Levi Smith (Men's Basketball) The Senior Unsung Hero Award is given annually to a senior athlete who has exhibited leadership, dedication, and athletic achievement in quiet ways, which may have gone unrecognized during the season. Levi has been a 4-year player and 4-year starter as a forward for the men's basketball team...is one of the 5 players in program history to score 1,000 career points. He reached that milestone this year on January 17th in Emmanuel's win over Salem State...Set program record for blocked shots in a career (195)...GNAC leader for blocked shots in a career (regular season conference games) with 124...GNAC leader for blocked shots in a career (all games) with 195...2nd in GNAC for blocked shots in a career (all tournament games) with 14...A 5-time GNAC Weekly Honor Roll selection...Named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team this year...Emmanuel's 4th all-time leading scorer

Senior Achievement Award - Jade Paez (Women's Basketball) The Senior Achievement Award is given annually to a senior athlete who has excelled on the playing field and contributed to the athletic reputation of Emmanuel College. Jade has been a 4-year player and 4-year starter as a guard for the women's basketball team...4-time GNAC All-Conference selection...D3Hoops.com 3rd Team All-New England Region and Honorable Mention All-American as a junior...D3hoops.com Pre-season All-American selection this season...2-time Emmanuel Tip-Off All-Tournament Team selection and 2-time tip-off tourney MVP...2-time GNAC All-Tournament Team selection and tourney MVP as a freshman...Became the 17th player in program history to score 1,000 career points on December 4th in Emmanuel's win over MIT...GNAC All-Tournament Team...GNAC leader for three-pointers made in tournament games (18)...2nd in GNAC history for steals in a career (353)...Emmanuel's 7th all-time leading scorer

Senior Sportsmanship Award - Stephanie Rege (Softball) The Senior Sportsmanship Award is given annually to the senior athlete who has conducted his or herself in the highest manner on the playing field, including interactions with players, coaches, and officials. Stephanie has been a 4-year player and 4-year starter for the softball team...She is a phenomenal 1st-baseman...she stepped up this season and was willing to do whatever it took for her team, so she also pitched and caught in several games for the Saints...Has played in 137 softball games for Emmanuel...Has over 100 hits and over 50 RBIs...She is one of the team captains and a tremendous leader.

Stephanie Rege wrapped up a terrific evening by serving as the senior speaker for the 2008 awards night. Her inspiring words are below:

I am very honored to be granted this opportunity to speak before you tonight. I thought long and hard before deciding what I wanted to speak about and I have decided that my words will be best received if they can be related to by everyone in this room. As it happens to be, my collegiate athletic experience is extremely different than the majority of you here tonight which is why I will only touch briefly upon my past 4 years.

Throughout my 4 collegiate seasons, I have played for 3 different coaches and struggled to wake up and drag myself to class in the morning after 9-11pm practices the night before. I am grateful that Coley Ferraro and Jen Walsh were right beside me throughout this interesting ride. Together, we were able to overcome the challenges that occur when new coaching styles, attitudes and personalities come together year after year. Despite our record, I believe that I speak for the three of us when I say this past season was by far the best in terms of cohesiveness, positive attitudes, and an amazing learning environment. Our new coach, Michelle Morales, has taught me more in one year than I have learned in the past 3. With her knowledge of the game and extremely sarcastic sense of humor, she was able to transform our losses into positive learning experiences. I want to publically thank her for all that she has done for me personally and for the Emmanuel College softball program.

With that said, I based the remainder of my speech on John Wooden's philosophy about success because, I truly believe that Emmanuel College Athletics is a perfect representation of all that he believed in and taught throughout his years as a coach and a mentor. He instilled in his players the notion that, "success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable." That is what Emmanuel College Athletics is all about, preparing as best you can, challenging yourself to the fullest, and giving 110% effort at all times.

As graduation is approaching for many of us, we won't hold onto the winning seasons but, we will always remember the individual triumphs and the great moments that we shared that could only have been experienced by fellow student athletes. And, please don't get me wrong, winning is an amazing experience especially when my NY Giants beat the Pats in the Super Bowl but, there were numerous great plays made and new records set this year by Emmanuel Athletes that should be celebrated louder and with more pride than a winning season.

Senior Caitlin Eagan scored her first goal of the season in the GNAC final. The era of the "Tallies" is concluding with the graduation of Erica Wenz, Maura Mooney and Sara Long. Almost unbelievably, 5 student-athletes score their 1,000th point this season, Jade Paez, Brittany Bushman, Mach Spellman, Rob Williams-Hinton and Levi Smith. Erica Wenz stepped up to the plate when we were short players to travel to St. Joe's Connecticut and smashed a triple down the line after not playing since high school. Matt Hickey holds the record in the 800 for men's track and Kelsey Fitzpatrick, Katie Beaton, Ashley Adamson and Alison Lynch set the new school record in the 4 by 1. And of course, how could I forget the implementation of Body by Ron which is best and most effectively demonstrated by having Howie Harrison stand and point us all in the direction of the gym. Thank you for the gun show.

For my closing remarks, I would like to start with a few words to my fellow graduating seniors. I hope that regardless of winning or losing records you all take with you the life experiences that we have gained by being student-athletes at Emmanuel College. Sharing a similar passion for sport and spending endless bus rides together on the lovely Crystal Transport has turned teammates into therapists, roommates and most importantly, life long friends. I hope that the bonds that you have made and that the life lessons that you have learned on and off the field, court or track last you your whole life through.

As for the underclassman, I wish you the courage to let down your guard and barriers and to take chances. As John Wooden said, "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." Push yourself to the max and never hold back. When people tell you these four years fly by... they are not joking!

Once again, I would like to thank the Athletic Department and my fellow student-athletes for this honor. I also wanted to thank Howie Harrison and Katie Foley for sticking with us during the past 4 years. And, I am overly grateful to my parents for making it to nearly every game, both home and away, for four years. Thank you, I love you.

Now, I will leave you with words that the man, the legend, Howie Harrison inspired us with before every game... "It's a great day to be a Saint!" Thank you and good luck!