May 1, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's standouts Nicole Antonini (field hockey) and Teddy Meyers (cross country/track) were named the Outstanding Senior Student-Athletes at the annual Saint Joseph's Athletic Awards Ceremony. In addition, student-athletes from every team were honored, including the Outstanding Player for each squad.

Antonini became the only player in SJU field hockey history to earn Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team honors all four seasons. She was named to the A-10 All-Tournament Team after helping the Hawks reach the championship game. The team's leading scorer with 34 points in 2006, Antonini finshed her career ranking second on the SJU career lists for points (130) and goals (52), while tying for first with 26 assists.

Meyers was the Atlantic 10 champion in the 5,000 meters indoors for the second consecutive year. He also helped the distance medley relay team to a second-place finish at the A-10 meet and is an IC4A qualifier for the upcoming outdoor championships. Meyers finished seventh in the A-10's Cross Country Championship to earn All-Conference honors, and placed fourth at the IC4A Championship.

The 2007 Most Outstanding Players for men's sports were as follows: Baseball- Ben Wendle; Basketball - Ahmad Nivins; Cross Country- Mike DiDio; Golf- Phil Arouca; Lacrosse - Mike O'Neill; Rowing - Dan Lachant; Soccer- Dean Niedosik; Tennis- Jarrett Chirico; and Track-Teddy Meyers.

The Most Outstanding Players for women's sports were: Basketball- Ayahna Cornish; Cross Country- Andrea Florida; Field Hockey- Maureen Casserly; Lacrosse- Suzy Herlihy; Rowing- Debbie Bateman; Soccer- Kimmy Leigh; Softball- Danielle Gonzales; Tennis- Stephanie Velazquez; and Track- Julie Lentz.

The Raymond Vasquez Award is given every year to student-athletes who best exemplify the spirit of Jesuit values "of being a person for others". This year's recipients were: Kevin Walsh (Baseball); Dan Timby (Men's Basketball); Shawn Duffy (Men's Cross Country); Chris Reedman (Golf); Alex DiBiasi (Men's Rowing); Alex McColough (Men's Lacrosse); Sean McLaughlin (Men's Soccer); Phil Garabedian (Men's Tennis); and Joe Witiw (Men's Track); Zoya Pavlovskaya (Women's Basketball); Maddie Bell (Women's Cross Country); Maureen Casserly (Field Hockey); Jen Fletcher (Women's Lacrosse); Meg Henry (Women's Rowing); Emily Brant (Women's Soccer); Lauren Cognini (Softball); Krysta Contino (Women's Tennis); and Erin Kelly (Women's Track).

The Dorie Leahy Award is awarded annually to student-athletes from each team who are dedicatd and loyal to their teams. This year's recipients were: Ben Wendle (Baseball); Arvydas Lidzius (Men's Basketball); Brian O'Neill (Cross Country); Ryan McCarty (Golf); Paul Crisafulli (Men's Lacrosse); Alex DiBiasi (Men's Rowing); Joe Grayauskie (Men's Soccer); Lucho Perez-Abreu (Men's Tennis); Matt McClure (Men's Track); Mary Kate McDade (Women's Basketball); Suzie McHenry (Women's Cross Country); Charlsie Agro (Field Hockey); Katelyn Kinney (Women's Lacrosse); Alicia Easby-Smith (Women's Rowing); Kimmy Leigh (Women's Soccer); Christa Lane Hooper (Softball); Erika Guers (Women's Tennis); and Amanda Guthridge (Women's Track).

Academic Awards were given to the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average on each team. The recipients are: Kevin Walsh (Baseball); Artur Surov (Men's Basketball): Brian O'Neill (Men's Cross Country); Steve Hudacek (Golf); Robert Keogh (Men's Lacrosse); Kevin Connors (Men's Rowing); Ian Kane (Men's Soccer); Phil Bayliss (Men's Tennis); Shawn Duffy (Men's Track); Zoya Pavlovskaya (Women's Basketball); Krista Bordogna (Field Hockey); Andrea Florida (Women's Cross Country); Jessica Westlake (Women's Lacrosse); Ashley Bugnar (Women's Soccer); Rebeka Shumock (Softball); Debra Bateman (Women's Rowing); and Lauren Kuhmerker (Women's Tennis).