BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Athletics Department of Athletics held its 2012 Athletics Awards Banquet Monday afternoon to recognize and celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of the Hawk student-athletes throughout the 2011-12 academic year. Well over 400 student-athletes, family, and staff attended the event in support of the success of RWU Athletics on the year.
The first athletes to be recognized were Kyle Barlow of the Men's Cross Country and Men's Track & Field teams and Sarah Mamula of the Women's Swimming & Diving team, who each were recipients of the James R. Russo Award. The Russo award goes to the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average.
Barlow compiled a 3.75 cumulative grade point average while majoring in History. He has been a part of three Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship Cross Country teams and two CCC Championship Track & Field teams.
Mamula, a Communications major with a 3.87 cumulative GPA, is an All-New England swimmer in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay and is a member of the relay team that holds the school record in that event. She placed in the top three in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Invitational and also qualified to the New England Championships in the 50 yard Freestyle event.
Presenting the RWU Male Athlete of the Year was alumnus Nick Cambi '11, a former two-time Academic All-American on the Wrestling team. Sophomore wrestler Collin Crowell (Hampstead, N.H.) received the honor, one year after being named the 2011 RWU Male Rookie of the Year. Crowell qualified for the NCAA Wrestling National Championships at the 165-pound weight class after finishing third at the New England Championships and receiving All-New England honors. He finished the season with a 23-7 record, with the 23 wins second-best on the team. Collin finished second in the nation in the category for technical falls with 10 and currently stands third place all-time in school history in near falls after only two seasons of competition.
The RWU Female Athlete of the Year award went to Sailing senior Kelly Stannard (Salem, Conn.), presented by former Volleyball All-American and 2011 RWU Female Athlete of the Year Rebekah Dion '11. A two-time All-American and RWU All-Academic Team selection, Stannard helped the Hawks win the Atlantic Coast Championship back in November and achieve a #1 national ranking for the second time ever in school history. She also helped the Hawks finish in second place at the New England Dinghy Championships and won her division at Captain Hurst Bowl regatta, Moody Trophy, and Shell Trophy, the NEISA Conference Championship.
The RWU Male Rookie of the Year award went to Kevin Terbush (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) of the Men's Cross Country team, presented by Crowell. Terbush helped lead the Hawks to their 11th consecutive conference title by winning the race and being named 2011 CCC Rookie of the Year and 2011 CCC Runner of the Year. Earlier in the season, he took home a fifth-place finished at the Western New England Invitational out of 177 runners. In addition, he is also a standout distance runner for the CCC Champion Men's Track & Field team.
On the women's side, freshman Krystie Luczynski (Kensington, Conn.) presented the RWU Female Rookie of the Year Award to recipient Kristen Tetreault (Tolland, Conn.) of the Women's Soccer team. Tetreault appeared in all 22 contests for the team and ranked third for the Hawks in points with 18 on six goals and six assists. She ranked sixth in the conference for assists and for her season 's effort, Kristen was recognized twice as the conference rookie of the week and honored as the 2011 CCC Rookie of the Year.
Ray Cordeiro, Ambassador of Alumni Relations, presented the Raymond Cordeiro Award to Men's Swimming & Diving senior Jeremy Siegel (West Deptford, Conn.). The award honors a senior student-athlete who has shown perseverance, commitment and leadership, and whose contribution to the team may not show up in box scores or statistics. Jeremy is a 4-year varsity swimmer and team captain, helping lead the team to a third-place finish at the NEISDA Championships. He was elected as SAAC President this year and was a Dean's List student this past fall.
Former Softball standout Sarah Grill '11 handed out the Female Sharon Castelli Award, to Women's Basketball senior Paige Congdon (Westwood, Mass.). The award is given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of dedication, leadership and sportsmanship. Congdon spent the past four seasons as a great representative of Roger Williams University, the athletic department, and the Women's Basketball program. Her ability to lead in a positive and inclusive way helped the team deal with the adversity faced throughout the year, while being a model of hard work in practice and a comforting resource for her teammates facing individual challenges.
Men's Cross Country and Track & Field alum Thomas Maybury '11 presented the Male Sharon Castelli Award to Equestrian junior Lenny Carlucci. Carlucci joined the team last season having never ridden a horse. He became a member of SAAC this year, is an RA in Bayside Residence Hall, and is on multiple committees throughout the RWU community. In addition to those duties, Carlucci has volunteered for fundraising, participated in Special Olympics events, and even drove 12 hours by car to support teammate Lyndsey Burns (Newtown, Conn.) at the IHSA National Championship.
Director of Athletics Dave Kemmy presented the Scott F. Viera Director of Athletics Award to Women's Soccer senior Laurin Pendleton (Southwick, Mass.). The award honors a person within the RWU community who made tremendous contributions to RWU Athletics despite experiencing adversity. Pendleton suffered a torn ACL during the preseason for the Women's Soccer team and was projected to miss the season. She rehabilitated herself and ultimately was able to come back for the Hawks and play 14 games for the Hawks, scoring 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Her play was strong enough to earn All-CCC Honorable Mention honors, her fourth straight year on the all-conference team. She ended her career as the second-leading goal scorer in RWU history with 54.
The evening also featured speeches from Volleyball senior Marilu Gonzalez-Yanez (Los Angeles, Calif.), Sailing senior Sean Bouchard (Bermuda), and Men's Lacrosse alum Brendon Giblin '00. Giblin was also presented with the Alumni Award, for his contributions and commitment to RWU Athletics.
The President of the Student-Athlete Athletic Association (SAAC) Jeremy Siegel and NCAA Division III SAAC National Rep Jacqui Cohen awarded the annual Captain's Award to the RWU Athletics Staff member who goes above and beyond in making the student-athlete experience a positive one. This year's award was presented to Assistant Athletic Trainer Louise Humphrey-Arruda for the second consecutive year.
The year's recap includes seven of the 17 teams competing in CCC Championships emerging as champions (53%). Individually, there were six Academic All-Americans, 37 All-New England honorees, four Rookies of the Year, two Players of the Year, and 74 total all-conference team members.
The entire Athletic Department would like the congratulate all of the award winners and thank the student-athletes for another successful year.
