St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Celebrates Successful 2024-25 School Year at Athletic Awards Banquet
5/6/2025 10:00:00 PM | Baseball, Fencing, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball, Men's Fencing, Women's Fencing
Red Storm student-athletes were honored on Tuesday night at Carnesecca Arena
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's Athletic Department celebrated a stellar year of accomplishments during its annual awards celebration on Tuesday night. The 79th edition of the awards banquet celebrated another successful year for the Red Storm both on and off the field of competition.
The evening began with mass led by Campus Minister for Athletics, Fr. Richard Rock C. M. at St. Thomas More Church. Following the mass, Vice President & Director of Athletics Ed Kull kicked off the awards celebration by highlighting the succeses of the 2024-25 athletic department.
Following dinner, Co-Masters of Ceremony Senior Associate Athletic Director Kristin Quinn and Senior Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes Ray Howell introduced the winners of various team and special recognition awards.
Student-athletes Jed Boyle of baseball and Desiree Pagan of track & field served as the student presenters handing out superlatives voted on by all 17 athletic programs.
The Softball MVP award was renamed the Derek "D.J." Southerland Memorial, in DJ's honor after his passing in April. Ana Serafinko was the recipieint of the award on the same day she was tabbed BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year.
Nine special recognition awards were presented to acknowledge those athletes, coaches and staff members who have gone above and beyond the sport in their most recent season. Additionally, 20 individuals were recognized by their teams and three individuals were celebrated for their accomplishments with the spirit programs.
The Herbert V. Hess Award was awarded to the department's coach of the year. This year's winner was Men's Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino. The Hall of Famer captured three major National Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Johnnies to a 31-5 overall record.
The Frank C. Haggerty Memorial Award and the John W. Kaiser Award are presented to the Red Storm's most outstanding male and female student-athletes. Two male student-athletes Peicheng Chen of men's golf and RJ Luis Jr. of men's basketball earned the Haggerty, while London Jarrard was named the John W. Kaiser Award winner.
Braeden Pratt of lacrosse and volleyball's Giorgia Walter earned the Rickard McSwiney Awards for their pride in team achievements, determination as a competitor and the ability to lead.
Women's soccer's Megan Sical and men's soccer's Eric Danquah were presented with the Elizabeth Lapchick Awards, given to the student-athletes that have improved the most academically over the last year.
Men's basketball's Zuby Ejiofor was named the John DaSilva Memorial Award recipient, an honor bestowed upon a deserving student-athlete who exhibits courage, persistence and fortitude.
Each year, St. John's celebrates a team manager who has played a significant role for his or her sport. This year's James Kevin Beatty Memorial winner was presented to Jasmin Harris for her dedication to the
The Walter T. McLaughlin Award, which recognizes unsung staff members for their dedication to the Red Storm's student-athletes, was awarded to Directors of Multimedia Services Libby Sears and Michael Ruvo.
Listed below are the night's award winners:
Team MVP Awards
Christian L. Thomsen Memorial Award: Kadary Richmond, Men's Basketball
Victoria Porter MVP Award: Lashae Dwyer, Women's Basketball
John T. "Doc" Gimmler Golf MVP Award: Peicheng Chen, Men's Golf
Women's Golf MVP: Xuan Khue Minh Doan, Women's Golf
George Santelli Award: Darii Lukashenko, Men's Fencing
Women's Fencing MVP Award: Julia Cieslar, Women's Fencing
George Seewagen Memorial Award: Ignacio Vinas, Men's Tennis
Connie Kaiser Memorial Award: Noemi Babikova, Women's Tennis
Kenneth F. Perrone Memorial Award: Alec McLachlan, Men's Soccer
Marianne Viscovich-Powderly Memorial Award: Jailene DeJesus, Women's Soccer
Indoor Track and Field MVP: Jamora Alves, Track and Field
Outdoor Track and Field MVP: Nora Haugen, Outdoor Track and Field
Susan Kearns Memorial Award: Leyre Campo de Quevedo, Cross Country
Dr. Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick, S.C. Award: Rashanny Solano Smith, Volleyball
Francis A. McCall Memorial Award: Brian Kelly, Lacrosse
Derek "DJ" Southerland Memorial Award: Ana Serafinko, Softball
Lawrence R. Thomsen Memorial Award*: Zuby Ejiofor, Men's Basketball
Marianne Noonan Memorial Award^: Jailah Donald, Women's Basketball
The Excalibur Award#: Vlad Covaliu, Men's Fencing
Joseph J. Calcagno Award%: Malwina Kolodziejczyk, Women's Fencing
Kathleen Murphy Meehan Award: Erin Jones, Volleyball
John Holohan Spirit and Dedication Award: Phillip Impasato, Pep Band
Cheerleading Team Spirit and Dedication Award: Ava Carrano, Cheerleading Team
Dance Team Spirit and Dedication Award: Jordan Benvenisti, Dance Team
* Presented to a member of the Men's Basketball Team who "makes the most improvement athletically during the school year".
^ Presented to a member of the Women's Basketball Team who best exemplifies the unselfish attitude and team spirit of Marianne Noonan, in whose memory the award was established.
# Presented to the St. John's fencer who best exemplifies those qualities of sportsmanship that are traditional with the sport.
% Presented to a member of the Women's Fencing Team who exemplifies the unselfish attitude and team spirit needed for success.
! Presented to a member of the Volleyball Team who exhibits the leadership, integrity, sportsmanship and dedication exemplified by the person for whom the award is named.
Special Recognition Awards
John DaSilva Memorial Award: Zuby Ejiofor, Men's Basketball
Dr. Peter Vitulli Award: Bjorn Nikolajewski, Men's Soccer and Nicole Multer, Women's Soccer
James Kevin Beatty Memorial Award: Jasmin Harris, Women's Basketball
Herbert V. Hess Award: Rick Pitino, Men's Basketball
Walter T. McLaughlin Award: Michael Ruvo and Libby Sears
Rickard F. McSwiney Award: Giorgia Walther, Volleyball
Rickard F. McSwiney Award: Braeden Pratt, Lacrosse
John W. Kaiser Award: London Jarrard, Softball
Frank C. Haggerty Memorial Award: RJ Luis Jr., Men's Basketball and Peicheng Chen, Men's Golf
Community Service Award: Lacrosse
Elizabeth Lapchick Award
Eric Danquah, Men's Soccer
Megan Sical, Women's Soccer
The evening began with mass led by Campus Minister for Athletics, Fr. Richard Rock C. M. at St. Thomas More Church. Following the mass, Vice President & Director of Athletics Ed Kull kicked off the awards celebration by highlighting the succeses of the 2024-25 athletic department.
Following dinner, Co-Masters of Ceremony Senior Associate Athletic Director Kristin Quinn and Senior Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes Ray Howell introduced the winners of various team and special recognition awards.
Student-athletes Jed Boyle of baseball and Desiree Pagan of track & field served as the student presenters handing out superlatives voted on by all 17 athletic programs.
The Softball MVP award was renamed the Derek "D.J." Southerland Memorial, in DJ's honor after his passing in April. Ana Serafinko was the recipieint of the award on the same day she was tabbed BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year.
Nine special recognition awards were presented to acknowledge those athletes, coaches and staff members who have gone above and beyond the sport in their most recent season. Additionally, 20 individuals were recognized by their teams and three individuals were celebrated for their accomplishments with the spirit programs.
The Herbert V. Hess Award was awarded to the department's coach of the year. This year's winner was Men's Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino. The Hall of Famer captured three major National Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Johnnies to a 31-5 overall record.
The Frank C. Haggerty Memorial Award and the John W. Kaiser Award are presented to the Red Storm's most outstanding male and female student-athletes. Two male student-athletes Peicheng Chen of men's golf and RJ Luis Jr. of men's basketball earned the Haggerty, while London Jarrard was named the John W. Kaiser Award winner.
Braeden Pratt of lacrosse and volleyball's Giorgia Walter earned the Rickard McSwiney Awards for their pride in team achievements, determination as a competitor and the ability to lead.
Women's soccer's Megan Sical and men's soccer's Eric Danquah were presented with the Elizabeth Lapchick Awards, given to the student-athletes that have improved the most academically over the last year.
Men's basketball's Zuby Ejiofor was named the John DaSilva Memorial Award recipient, an honor bestowed upon a deserving student-athlete who exhibits courage, persistence and fortitude.
Each year, St. John's celebrates a team manager who has played a significant role for his or her sport. This year's James Kevin Beatty Memorial winner was presented to Jasmin Harris for her dedication to the
The Walter T. McLaughlin Award, which recognizes unsung staff members for their dedication to the Red Storm's student-athletes, was awarded to Directors of Multimedia Services Libby Sears and Michael Ruvo.
Listed below are the night's award winners:
Team MVP Awards
Christian L. Thomsen Memorial Award: Kadary Richmond, Men's Basketball
Victoria Porter MVP Award: Lashae Dwyer, Women's Basketball
John T. "Doc" Gimmler Golf MVP Award: Peicheng Chen, Men's Golf
Women's Golf MVP: Xuan Khue Minh Doan, Women's Golf
George Santelli Award: Darii Lukashenko, Men's Fencing
Women's Fencing MVP Award: Julia Cieslar, Women's Fencing
George Seewagen Memorial Award: Ignacio Vinas, Men's Tennis
Connie Kaiser Memorial Award: Noemi Babikova, Women's Tennis
Kenneth F. Perrone Memorial Award: Alec McLachlan, Men's Soccer
Marianne Viscovich-Powderly Memorial Award: Jailene DeJesus, Women's Soccer
Indoor Track and Field MVP: Jamora Alves, Track and Field
Outdoor Track and Field MVP: Nora Haugen, Outdoor Track and Field
Susan Kearns Memorial Award: Leyre Campo de Quevedo, Cross Country
Dr. Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick, S.C. Award: Rashanny Solano Smith, Volleyball
Francis A. McCall Memorial Award: Brian Kelly, Lacrosse
Derek "DJ" Southerland Memorial Award: Ana Serafinko, Softball
Lawrence R. Thomsen Memorial Award*: Zuby Ejiofor, Men's Basketball
Marianne Noonan Memorial Award^: Jailah Donald, Women's Basketball
The Excalibur Award#: Vlad Covaliu, Men's Fencing
Joseph J. Calcagno Award%: Malwina Kolodziejczyk, Women's Fencing
Kathleen Murphy Meehan Award: Erin Jones, Volleyball
John Holohan Spirit and Dedication Award: Phillip Impasato, Pep Band
Cheerleading Team Spirit and Dedication Award: Ava Carrano, Cheerleading Team
Dance Team Spirit and Dedication Award: Jordan Benvenisti, Dance Team
* Presented to a member of the Men's Basketball Team who "makes the most improvement athletically during the school year".
^ Presented to a member of the Women's Basketball Team who best exemplifies the unselfish attitude and team spirit of Marianne Noonan, in whose memory the award was established.
# Presented to the St. John's fencer who best exemplifies those qualities of sportsmanship that are traditional with the sport.
% Presented to a member of the Women's Fencing Team who exemplifies the unselfish attitude and team spirit needed for success.
! Presented to a member of the Volleyball Team who exhibits the leadership, integrity, sportsmanship and dedication exemplified by the person for whom the award is named.
Special Recognition Awards
John DaSilva Memorial Award: Zuby Ejiofor, Men's Basketball
Dr. Peter Vitulli Award: Bjorn Nikolajewski, Men's Soccer and Nicole Multer, Women's Soccer
James Kevin Beatty Memorial Award: Jasmin Harris, Women's Basketball
Herbert V. Hess Award: Rick Pitino, Men's Basketball
Walter T. McLaughlin Award: Michael Ruvo and Libby Sears
Rickard F. McSwiney Award: Giorgia Walther, Volleyball
Rickard F. McSwiney Award: Braeden Pratt, Lacrosse
John W. Kaiser Award: London Jarrard, Softball
Frank C. Haggerty Memorial Award: RJ Luis Jr., Men's Basketball and Peicheng Chen, Men's Golf
Community Service Award: Lacrosse
Elizabeth Lapchick Award
Eric Danquah, Men's Soccer
Megan Sical, Women's Soccer
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Men's Golf
Saber
/ Fencing
Saber
/ Fencing
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
MID
/ Women's Soccer
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
/ Women's Track and Field
SS
/ Softball
S/RH
/ Women's Volleyball
ATT
/ Men's Lacrosse
Foil
/ Fencing
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Saber
/ Fencing
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
/ Women's Golf
DEF
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
/ Women's Track and Field
DEF
/ Men's Lacrosse
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
P
/ Softball
GK
/ Women's Soccer
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Men's Tennis
OH
/ Women's VolleyballSt. John's End of Year Highlight Video
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Mass of Christian Burial for Luigi “Lou” P. Carnesecca
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