Athletics News

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HOSTS 2010 AWARDS NIGHT

The Emmanuel Athletic Department hosted its annual Awards Night and Dessert Reception on Saturday night, April 24th, in the Marian Hall Dining Hall on the campus of Emmanuel College. Team members from each of Emmanuel's fifteen athletic teams, as well as the Dance and Cheerleading Teams were recognized.

Athletic Director Pam Roecker with Seniors Kate McKenna, Michael Townsend and Iman Davis

Athletic Director Pam Roecker with Seniors Kate McKenna, Michael Townsend and Iman Davis

April 26, 2010

The Emmanuel Athletic Department hosted its annual Awards Night and Dessert Reception on Saturday night, April 24th, in the Marian Hall Dining Hall on the campus of Emmanuel College. Team members from each of Emmanuel's fifteen athletic teams, as well as the Dance and Cheerleading Teams were recognized. Sport-specific academic and athletic awards were presented to five student-athletes on each of the teams and senior-athlete awards and a freshman of the year award were presented at the conclusion of the ceremony. Senior men’s volleyball captain Michael Townsend addressed the audience with a thoughtful and articulate speech that wrapped up a memorable evening.

Emmanuel College Athletic Director Pam Roecker opened the night by welcoming everyone to the celebration of Emmanuel’s individual student-athletes, team and coaches.  Roecker discussed the milestone year in the history of Emmanuel College Athletics.  She highlighted the grand opening of Roberto Clemente Field in August, the debut of Emmanuel’s varsity men’s golf program, and announced the expansion of the Saints athletic program with the addition of women’s and men’s lacrosse.  Roecker also used the occasion to introduce and publicly welcome Amanda Laws, the new Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach, and Director of Lacrosse/Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach, Brendan McWilliams to the Saints’ athletic family.

Clemente Field is the new home to the Emmanuel soccer, softball, lacrosse and track & field programs and the on-schedule opening provided an amazing home practice and competition venue for the teams, as well as an amazing spectator opportunity for students, families and friends.

Roecker also highlighted several amazing team performances including, the women’s basketball team winning its 4th straight GNAC championship and 4th trip to the NCAA tournament, the women’s soccer team advancing the GNAC championship for the second-straight season and eventual trip to the ECACs, the women’s volleyball team’s return to postseason play with an ECAC bid, the women’s tennis upset victory over JWU in the quarterfinals setting up a return trip to the GNAC semi-finals, the men’s volleyball program’s record 27 victories and trip to the NECVA tournament (their 3rd  postseason trip in 4 years) and the cross country and track programs posting an extraordinary number of record-setting performances. Head Men’s Volleyball Coach Chris Wright was also recognized for the various coaching awards he received earlier this month.

The support of the Saints Dance Team and Cheerleading squad and their contribution to the atmosphere at home basketball games was acknowledged by Roecker, as was the contribution of all of the fulltime administrators, athletic trainers, and coaching staff members.  Special thanks, and a subsequent standing ovation, were also given to the Nick Landry, the four-year manager of women’s basketball team for his support of all of the student-athletes and programs over his career at Emmanuel.

Also saluted by Roecker were the parents, guardians and family members in attendance, with special attention given to the parents of the graduating seniors. “We thank you and are going to miss all of you.  Home, away, in rain or snow, you have always been there with several of you having never missed a home contest over the past four years.  I hope as you sit here tonight that you feel even better about the decision your son or daughter made to attend Emmanuel College—it is truly a special place!”

For the sixth consecutive year, a member of the senior class has closed the program. This year, Michael Townsend, the Senior Male Athletic Achievement Award recipient and co-captain of the men’s volleyball team, delivered an emotional and inspiring speech about leadership, teamwork, camaraderie and what the Emmanuel collegiate athletic experience meant to him.  His comments motivated and inspired the returning student-athletes as well as made his senior class members very proud.

Throughout the evening, the head coach of each sport presented five different awards to members of his or her team.  The awards included: a Coach’s Appreciation Award, a Most Improved Player Award, an Unsung Hero, an Academic Achievement Award and a Most Valuable Player.  The Athletic Department also presented major awards to ten individual student-athletes. These awards, which are highly competitive, were voted upon by all of the Emmanuel coaches and full-time staff members.  The following student-athletes received awards at the 2010 Emmanuel College Athletic Awards Night:

Freshman of the Year – Taylor Dey (Women's Tennis)
Senior Perseverance Awards – Diana Grimaldi and Stephanie O’Neill (Women's Volleyball)
Senior Scholar Athlete Award – Sarah Soldano (Women's Track & Field)
Senior Unsung Hero Award – Hillary Mota (Women's Soccer)
Senior Sportsmanship Award – Nory Hayes (Women's Tennis)
Senior Leadership Award – Doug Gillum (Men's Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field)
Senior Athletic Achievement Awards – Iman Davis (Women's Basketball), Kate McKenna (Women's Soccer), Michael Townsend (Men's Volleyball)

“The President’s Cup” was awarded to the Emmanuel Softball Team for posting the highest cumulative grade point average during the fall semester this year.  The 2010 Softball Team combined for a 3.3 cumulative GPA.  The team members receiving the President’s Cup included: Samantha Luther, Kristina Borrelli, Deanna Mastrovito, Christina Proulx, Erin McSheffrey, Sarah Palmer-Thompson, Kelly Lloid, Jackie Murray, Kathryn Copp, Kristen Landers, Heather Hamel, Chelsey Guselli, Danielle Andruskiwec, Chelsie Baldwin, Jesse Hutchins and Elyse Turgeon.

MEN'S SOCCER
Coach's Appreciation Award - Dan D'Amato
Most Improved Player - Jorden LaPorte
Unsung Hero - Jeremy Scanlon
Academic Achievement Award - Ivan Barrera
Most Valuable Player - Kelly Louis-Charles

WOMEN'S SOCCER
Coach's Appreciation Award  - Jackie Murray
Most Improved Player - Alexandra Blasser
Unsung Hero - Hillary Mota
Academic Achievement Award - MacKenzie Peltier
Most Valuable Player - Kate McKenna

MEN'S GOLF
Coach's Appreciation Award - Eric Spanbauer
Most Improved Player - Daniel Ferdenzi
Academic Achievement Award - Michael Delsignore
Most Valuable Player - Nicholas Cyrus

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Coach's Appreciation Award - Nory Hayes
Most Improved Player - Erin Thornton
Unsung Hero - Jenna Reid
Academic Achievement Award - Megan Harrington
Most Valuable Player - Taylor Dey

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Coach's Appreciation Award - Stephanie Gomes
Most Improved Player - Brittany Sorice
Unsung Hero - Marissa LaFlamme
Academic Achievement Award - Victoria Cole
Most Valuable Player - Joslyn DelSignore

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Coach's Appreciation Award - Gregory Brown
Most Improved Player - Wesley Cowles
Unsung Hero - Doug Gillum
Academic Achievement Award - Doug Gillum
Most Valuable Player - Stephen Armstrong

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Coach's Appreciation Award - Rachel Swiezynski
Most Improved Player - Megan Murray
Unsung Hero - Samantha Andazola
Academic Achievement Award - Diana Grimaldi
Most Valuable Player - Jenna Ross

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Coach's Appreciation Award - Michael Townsend
Most Improved Player - Sean O'Connor
Unsung Heros - Taylor Lowe and Jake DeLuise
Academic Achievement Award - Sean O'Connor
Most Valuable Player - Curtis Abram

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Coach's Appreciation Award - Abby Brenkach
Most Improved Player - Breanna Ockimey
Unsung Hero - Casey Shevlin
Academic Achievement Award - Kristin LeBel
Most Valuable Player -  Iman Davis

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Coach's Appreciation Award - Connor Morgan
Most Improved Player - Patrick Ramsey
Unsung Hero - Zach Luster
Academic Achievement Award - Torrey Joyner
Most Valuable Player - Xavier Everson

WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Coach's Appreciation Award  - Alison Lynch
Most Improved Player - Sarah Soldano
Unsung Hero - Shannon McCabe
Academic Achievement Award - Maureen Kellett
Most Valuable Player - Simone Ford

MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Coach's Appreciation Award - Rob Littleton
Most Improved Player - Wesley Cowles
Unsung Hero - Ben Cleveland
Academic Achievement Award - Jordan Coulombe
Most Valuable Player - Jordan Coulombe

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Coach's Appreciation Award - Maureen Kellett
Most Improved Player - Irene Limlengco
Unsung Hero - Nathalie Victoria
Academic Achievement Award - Maureen Kellett
Most Valuable Player - Katasi Kulubya

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Coach's Appreciation Award - Doug Gillum
Most Improved Player - Andrew Heath
Unsung Hero - Maurizio Turco
Academic Achievement Award - Jordan Coulombe
Most Valuable Player - Ben Cleveland

SOFTBALL
Coach's Appreciation Award - Samantha Luther
Most Improved Player - Heather Hamel
Unsung Hero - Kathryn Copp
Academic Achievement Award - Kathryn Copp
Most Valuable Player - Kelly Lloid

CHEERLEADING TEAM
Coach's Appreciation Award - Michelle Guisto
Most Improved Player - Devin Bird
Unsung Hero - Rebecca Benigno
Academic Achievement Award - Holly White
Most Valuable Player - Holly White

DANCE TEAM
Coach's Appreciation Award - Amanda Sheehan
Most Improved Player - Jenna Albano
Unsung Hero - Lauren Daniel
Academic Achievement Award - Ashley Pacheco
Most Valuable Player - Nadiya Ledan