The Wilson College Athletics Department is proud to recognize student-athletes for their outstanding achievements over the 2019-2020 season. The department, unable to host the annual awards banquet on campus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced this year’s awards through social media.
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Seventeen student-athletes made the list of scholar-athletes, meaning they obtained a GPA of 3.5 or higher, participated in one of 10 varsity teams, and were in attendance for at least three semesters. The Student-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence, awarded to the male student-athlete with the highest overall GPA, was won by junior Jacob Whittington of the baseball team. Sophomore Juliann Winkler, of the women’s soccer team, won the Chuck Naso Award for the female student-athlete with the highest overall GPA. Junior Kyle Hoffman took home the Bill Kalbaugh Award for the highest GPA on the men’s basketball team.
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AWARDS
Six student-athletes were recognized for their accomplishments both on and off the playing field. Rookie of the Year is awarded to the first-year athletes who have made significant contributions to their teams during the current season. The recipients must have excelled individually and contributed to the overall performance of their teams. The winners were first-years Alexis Pflumm of the field hockey team and Aaron Harrison of the men’s soccer team.
The Phoenix Award goes to one male and one female athlete who have ignited the fire in their teams, provided the spark, support and motivation for their teams, encouraged others to pursue their burning desire for athletics’ excellence and enjoyment—the athletes who are their respective team’s phoenix. The winners were sophomore Breeann Sheaffer of the field hockey team and senior Oliver Perry of the men’s soccer, volleyball and golf teams.
The Senior of the Year Award goes to one male and one female senior who have made outstanding contributions to their teams over their entire athletic careers. The recipients must have excelled individually and contributed significantly to the overall performance of their teams. The winners were Megan Potter of the softball team and Daniel Perry of the men’s soccer, volleyball, and golf teams.
FOUR-YEAR LETTER AWARDS
Ten student-athletes were honored as four-year letter winners for having earned a varsity letter each year in their sport. The winners were Carrie Stemple and Noemi Regan of the women’s soccer team, Jennifer Cail and Alison Shockey of the softball team, Oliver Perry of the men’s soccer team, Rashaan Bean of the men’s basketball team, Jordyn Day of the women’s basketball team, Ian Firestone of the men’s volleyball team and Sam Ritter and Daniel Perry of the golf team. Wilson Athletics is proud of all of the 23 seniors for all of their accomplishments both on and off the field.
COLONIAL STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AWARDS
Fourteen student-athletes were honored by CSAC, and one head coach was named as an All-Conference honoree. Sophomore Adrian Thomas and senior Rashaan Bean, both of the men’s basketball team, were selected to the all-conference team while head coach Brian Zoeller was named the conference’s Coach of the Year. Women’s basketball landed first-year Samira Murphy with all-conference honors. Field hockey tabbed four with juniors Krista Nayadley, Michaela Singer and Jenna Carty, and first-year Alexis Pflumm. First-years Joe Pacheco and Aaron Harrison, and senior Daniel Perry of the men’s soccer team received all-conference nods. At the same time, junior Jasmine Bankert was selected from the women’s soccer team. Women’s volleyball had sophomore Tioleaoauli Posiulai and first-year Anika Eigen-Zucchi selected, while senior Ian Firestone of the men’s volleyball team was also honored. Singer was also named to the all-conference team by the Eastern College Athletics Conference (ECAC).
The field hockey team was honored for winning the CSAC Championship and earning their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. During the CSAC Championship game, sophomore Breeann Sheaffer was named the MVP.
SPECIAL DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Field hockey head coach Shelly Novak was honored as the Athletics Department Coach of the Year. There were also four new inductees into the Gwendolyn Jensen Athletics Hall of Fame: Seniors Daniel Perry, men’s soccer, Rashaan Bean, men’s basketball, Ian Firestone, men’s volleyball, and Megan Potter, softball. The department created a new award, the Lori A. Frey Award, in honor of the department’s longtime director, Lori Frey, who recently stepped down after 31 years to return to full-time teaching at the College. This award goes to the student-athlete whose extraordinary commitment and dedication serves as an inspiration to teammates, coaches, and fellow student-athletes. Senior Jarrett Rickerds was named the first-ever recipient of the award.
The Wilson College Department of Athletics would like to thank all of their student-athletes for a wonderful, and certainly memorable, 2019-2020 season. As we look forward to the return of sports on campus, we must also remember we can RISE UP as ONE WILSON and overcome!
