Athletics News

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HOSTS 2009 AWARDS NIGHT

The Emmanuel College Athletic Department wrapped up the 2008-2009 academic year with its annual Awards Night and Dessert Reception.

Mack Spellman addresses the audience as the 2009 senior speaker

Mack Spellman addresses the audience as the 2009 senior speaker

April 25, 2009

The Emmanuel College Athletic Department concluded up the 2008-2009 academic year with its annual Awards Night and Dessert Reception. The event was held on Saturday night, April 25th. Team members from each of Emmanuel's fourteen 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 basketball captain Mack Spellman addressed the audience with a thoughtful and articulate speech that wrapped up a memorable evening.

The Women's Cross Country Team received the President's Cup for the 5th-straight year. This award is presented annually to each member of the athletic team, who together have accumulated a grade point average higher than that of any other team during the 1st semester this year. The Women’s Cross Country Team finished with an incredible combined 3.71 grade point average during the fall semester of 2008.  Team members included Victoria Cole, Katelyn DeFrain, Christine Gaspar, Stephanie Gomes, Maureen Kellett, Cathryn Lariviere, Patricia Montesque, Anna Merrow and Brittany Sorice.

The Athletic Department also presented major awards to seven individual student-athletes. These awards, which are highly competitive, 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 – Christopher Conway (Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field) 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. Chris is a two-sport athlete, participating in both indoor and outdoor track & field…set the following program records this year...Indoor Track - 55 meter hurdles and 60 meter hurdles, and was on the record-setting indoor 4 x 200 meter relay team…Outdoor Track - 110-meter hurdles…finished the indoor season ranked 17th nationally in Division III for the 55-meter hurdles…Emmanuel’s 1st NCAA Provisional…EC’s 1st Indoor Division III New England Champion…EC’s 1st Indoor ECAC Champion…All-New England honors for indoor and outdoor track…All-ECAC honors for indoor track.

Senior Scholar Athlete Award – Cathryn Lariviere (Women’s Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field) The Senior Scholar-Athlete Award is given annually to a senior athlete who has excelled in the classroom, while competing in intercollegiate athletics.  Cathryn has received her teams’ academic award for the highest GPA on the team for the past three years in all three of her sports (cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track)…a nine-time winner of the Academic Award…has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average over 12 seasons of intercollegiate athletics as an Elementary Education & Liberal Arts major.

Senior Unsung Hero Award – Andres Bustamante (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.  Andres has been a four-year player and two-year starter for the Men’s Basketball Team…has played in over 100 games for Emmanuel…His coaches describe him as one of the best defenders in the GNAC…His hustle and defense made him a true presence on the court this year…a 3-time Academic All-Conference selection…did all the little things and was the team’s Unsung Hero for the 2008-09 season.


Senior Athletic Achievement Award – Co-winners: Rob Williams-Hinton (Men’s Basketball) and Cathryn Lariviere (Women’s Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field) The Senior Athletic 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.


Rob Williams-Hinton…a four-year starter for the men’s basketball team…a two-time team captain…named GNAC Player of the Week and to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll 5 times…3-time All-Conference selection…named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team twice…led the Saints in scoring this season with 17.3 points per game… has set Emmanuel program records in 14 different categories…he will graduate from Emmanuel as the men’s basketball program's all-time leading scorer with 1,778 points.

Cathryn Lariviere…three-sport athlete for the past four years…12-time letter winner…3 sport team-captain…GNAC Cross Country Performer of the Week for 6-straight weeks this year (an unprecedented streak for an Emmanuel athlete)…won 3 of her 7 XC meets in 2008…holds the XC program record in the 5K…holds the indoor program records for the 800 meters, 1 mile, 3000 meters, and 5K…holds the outdoor program record for the 5K…voted the 2008 GNAC XC Runner of the Year…Emmanuel's 1st individual champion…named to the GNAC Sportsmanship Team…NCAA All-Regional…NCAA Division III U.S. Track & Field and XC Coaches Association All-Academic Team…Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup nominee…ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American nominee…NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.

Senior Sportsmanship Award – Lauren Buffone (Women’s Soccer)
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.  Lauren has been a 4-year player and 3-year starter as a defender for the Women’s Soccer Team…has helped to anchor the Saints’ defense over the past four years…2-time team captain…three-time GNAC Academic All-Conference selection…GNAC 2nd Team All-Conference pick this season…Emmanuel Student-Athlete Advisory Council representative for the past several years.

Senior Leadership Award - Mack Spellman (Men’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.  Mack has been a four-year starter for the men’s basketball team…started in 99 of 100 games played at Emmanuel…3-time team captain..3-time GNAC All-Conference selection…GNAC Rookie of the Week 4 times and GNAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman…GNAC Player of the Week 3 times and to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll 7 times during his career…named to 5 different all-tournament teams…has led the Saints in scoring for 2 of his 4 seasons and in rebounding for 3 of his 4 seasons…scored his 1,000th career point as a junior and will graduate from Emmanuel as the program's 2nd all-time leading scorer…holds 3 different program records, including being Emmanuel’s all-time leading rebounder.