St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Celebrates 70th Annual Athletic Awards Banquet
5/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
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VIDEO: St. John's Athletics End of the Year Highlight Video
VIDEO: Athletic Awards Banquet Recap
QUEENS, N.Y. - On Monday night, the St. John's Athletic Department hosted its annual awards banquet in Carnesecca Arena, celebrating the upcoming completion of yet another successful academic year for the Red Storm.
The evening began with introductory remarks from Interim Athletic Director Joseph Oliva, Esq., who addressed the crowd of student-athletes and recognized many special guests in attendance. Among those he mentioned was Athletic Director Emeritus John W. Kaiser, who has been present at all 70 St. John's Athletic Awards Banquets so far.
After Oliva, Conrado "Bobby" Gempesaw, Ph. D., President, St. John's University, took to the stage and addressed the audience, stressing the vital role that student-athletes play in the University community.
At the conclusion of Dr. Gempesaw's remarks, three student-athletes, Ty Blankmeyer, Harry Burke and Shirley Chui, combined to give a speech on the St. John's motto of "Win. Graduate. Serve." and what the mantra has meant to them over their careers as Red Storm student athletes.
Following dinner, the awards presentation began, with co-emcees Kathleen Meehan, Associate Vice President for Athletics, and Dr. Nancy Kaplan, Associate Provost for Academic Support Services, introducing the winners of various team MVP and special recognition awards.
A list of award winners is as follows:
Team Awards
Christian L. Thomsen Memorial Award: Kassoum Yakwe, Men's Basketball
Victoria Porter MVP Award: Danaejah Grant, Women's Basketball
John T. "Doc" Gimmler Golf MVP Award: Seung Yub Baek Men's Golf
Women's Golf MVP Award: Anna Kim, Women's Golf
George Santelli Award: Roman Sydorenko, Men's Fencing
Women's Fencing MVP Award: Marta Hausman, Women's Fnecing
George Seewagen Memorial Award: Lucas Hejhal, Men's Tennis
Connie Kaiser MVP Award: Natallia Vavulina, Women's Tennis
Kenneth F. Perrone Memorial Award: Gabriel Camara, Men's Soccer
Marianne Viscovich-Powderly Memorial Award: Rachel Daly, Women's Soccer
Indoor Track and Field MVP Award: Pariis Garcia/Claire Mooney, Track & Field
Outdoor Track and Field MVP Award: TBA
Susan Kearns Memorial Award: Izzi Batt-Doyle, Cross Country
Dr. Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick, S.C. Award: Karin Palgutova, Volleyball
Francis A. McCall Memorial Award: James Bonanno, Lacrosse
Softball MVP Award: TBA
Marianne Noonan Memorial Award: Sandra Udobi, Women's Basketball
The Excalibur Award: Yevgeny Karyuchenko, Men's Fencing
Joseph J. Calcagno Award: Mathilda Taharo, Women's Fencing
Kathleen Murphy Meehan Award: Hope Demel, Volleyball
John Holohan Spirit and Dedication Award: Nathaniel Hailey, Pep Band
Dance Team Spirit and Dedication Award: Amy Cork, Dance Team
Cheerleading Team Spirit and Dedication Award: Kathleen Ramirez, Cheerleading Team
Special Recognition Awards
John DaSilva Memorial Award: Ferenc Valkai, Men's Fencing
Dr. Peter Vitulli Award: Sandra Udobi, Women's Basketball
James Kevin Beatty Memorial Award: Paige Band, Volleyball
Herbert V. Hess Award: Ian Stone, Women's Soccer
Rickard F. McSwiney Award: Ty Blankmeyer, Baseball
Rickard F. McSwiney Award: Pariis Garcia, Track & Field
John W. Kaiser Award: Rachel Daly, Women's Soccer
Frank C. Haggerty Memorial Award: Thomas Hackimer, Baseball
Community Service Award
Women's Tennis Team
Dr. Michael Pisano Memorial Awards
Ty Blankmeyer, Baseball
James Bonanno, Lacrosse
Harry Burke, Lacrosse
Michele Caporizzi, Men's Fencing
Alex Caruso, Baseball
Emily Cubbage, Women's Soccer
Josh Dillon, Men's Soccer
Joey Graziano, Baseball
Thomas Hackimer, Baseball
Shelby Halasz, Women's Soccer
Marta Hausman, Women's Fencing
Lucas Hejhal, Men's Tennis
Christopher Hughes, Lacrosse
Margaret McDonald-Smith, Women's Fencing
Karin Palgutova, Volleyball
Michael Paoline, Lacrosse
Yvonne Rericha, Softball
Diamond Thomas, Women's Soccer
Veronica Thompson, Track & Field
Elizabeth Lapchick Award
Gabriel Camara, Men's Soccer
Taylor Hill, Softball
Players Mentioned
