St. John's University Athletics
Seven Student-Athletes Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars
5/23/2022 10:04:00 AM | General
Representatives from five programs earn prestigious honor for academic and athletic success
QUEENS, N.Y.- Seven St. John's student-athletes have been designated as 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars. The prestigious award is presented to collegiate athletes of color all across the country who achieve success in their sport and in the classroom.
The Johnnies seven honorees are: Ignacio Garcia (men's tennis), Angelica Kusnowo (women's golf), Jessie Kweon(women's golf), Wesley Leggett (men's soccer) Samantha Morillo (track and field) Michael Pisanelli (lacrosse) and Dylan Willis (lacrosse), all of whom were recognized for their accolades both on and off the field.
The award was created in honor of tennis legend Arthur Ashe Jr. and his passion for education and tennis. To qualify a student must be at least a sophomore in academic standing, maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher, excel in athletic competition and demonstrate commitment to leadership in their communities.
Garcia is a two-time All-BIG EAST Team member and a 2019 BIG EAST Champion. Over his three seasons in Queens, Garcia posted a 38-8 career record in dual-match singles play. The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native will graduate with his degree in biology and has been named scholar-athlete by both the BIG EAST and Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
A 2022 All-BIG EAST selection, Kweon led the Red Storm women's golf program this past season. The Little Neck, N.Y., native posted the lowest score during seven of the Johnnies' events throughout the 2021-22 campaign. Kweon was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year after a stellar rookie season in 2019 and has been named to the All-BIG EAST Academic Team three times.
Leggett appeared in all 20 matches and made four starts for the Johnnies men's soccer squad that reached the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2021. The forward has scored six career goals in two seasons with St. John's. As of the end of the Fall 2021 semester, the Lawrence, N.J., native boasts a stellar cumulative GPA of 3.83.
The team's assist leader in 2022, Willis served as a captain and trusted leader of the Red Storm lacrosse team. The midfielder paced the Johnnies with 22 assists and added nine goals in 2022. The Baldwin, N.Y., native volunteers his time coaching youth lacrosse in his community and is a three-time All-BIG EAST Academic honoree.
A longtime member of the track & and field program, Morillo has been a staple for St. John's in throwing events. In the 2022 BIG EAST Indoor Championships, the senior earned a bronze medal, after a career-best throw of 13.47 meters. In 2019, she was named to the All-BIG EAST Team as a sophomore. Morillo has landed herself on the All-BIG EAST Academic Team following each of the past three academic years.
A sophomore women's golfer, Kusonwo made strides on the course in her second year with the program. During the team's title run at the Hartford Invitational in March, she finished third overall and shot a 73 in the final round. Academically she has been flawless, posting a perfect 4.0 GPA through her first three semesters as a finance major.
Pisanelli is a three-year member of the lacrosse team. The long-stick midfielder has appeared in eight career games. As a student, the Pingree, Mass., native has recorded a 3.74 cumulative GPA, while pursuing a degree in criminal justice & homeland security.
The Johnnies seven honorees are: Ignacio Garcia (men's tennis), Angelica Kusnowo (women's golf), Jessie Kweon(women's golf), Wesley Leggett (men's soccer) Samantha Morillo (track and field) Michael Pisanelli (lacrosse) and Dylan Willis (lacrosse), all of whom were recognized for their accolades both on and off the field.
The award was created in honor of tennis legend Arthur Ashe Jr. and his passion for education and tennis. To qualify a student must be at least a sophomore in academic standing, maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher, excel in athletic competition and demonstrate commitment to leadership in their communities.
Garcia is a two-time All-BIG EAST Team member and a 2019 BIG EAST Champion. Over his three seasons in Queens, Garcia posted a 38-8 career record in dual-match singles play. The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native will graduate with his degree in biology and has been named scholar-athlete by both the BIG EAST and Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
A 2022 All-BIG EAST selection, Kweon led the Red Storm women's golf program this past season. The Little Neck, N.Y., native posted the lowest score during seven of the Johnnies' events throughout the 2021-22 campaign. Kweon was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year after a stellar rookie season in 2019 and has been named to the All-BIG EAST Academic Team three times.
Leggett appeared in all 20 matches and made four starts for the Johnnies men's soccer squad that reached the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2021. The forward has scored six career goals in two seasons with St. John's. As of the end of the Fall 2021 semester, the Lawrence, N.J., native boasts a stellar cumulative GPA of 3.83.
The team's assist leader in 2022, Willis served as a captain and trusted leader of the Red Storm lacrosse team. The midfielder paced the Johnnies with 22 assists and added nine goals in 2022. The Baldwin, N.Y., native volunteers his time coaching youth lacrosse in his community and is a three-time All-BIG EAST Academic honoree.
A longtime member of the track & and field program, Morillo has been a staple for St. John's in throwing events. In the 2022 BIG EAST Indoor Championships, the senior earned a bronze medal, after a career-best throw of 13.47 meters. In 2019, she was named to the All-BIG EAST Team as a sophomore. Morillo has landed herself on the All-BIG EAST Academic Team following each of the past three academic years.
A sophomore women's golfer, Kusonwo made strides on the course in her second year with the program. During the team's title run at the Hartford Invitational in March, she finished third overall and shot a 73 in the final round. Academically she has been flawless, posting a perfect 4.0 GPA through her first three semesters as a finance major.
Pisanelli is a three-year member of the lacrosse team. The long-stick midfielder has appeared in eight career games. As a student, the Pingree, Mass., native has recorded a 3.74 cumulative GPA, while pursuing a degree in criminal justice & homeland security.
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