2012 Saint Joseph's College Athletics Awards

STANDISH, ME - The 2012 Saint Joseph's College Athletics Awards have been released. Twelve individual honors were given at the annual awards banquet, which was held at the Harold Alfond Center on Friday, April 27th.

Athlete of the Year, Student-Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors were awarded to both female and male athletes and several distinct accolades - The Neile Nelson, Sports Medicine Fighting Heart, Royal Blue, Father John Tokaz and Chris Kiernan Awards - were alse bestowed upon deserving individuals that night. All honors were voted on by the SJC head coaches and support staff.

Prior to the awards banquet a senior reception was held to recognize the 2012 graduating class. All seniors received a yearbook, compiled by Event Staff senior Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.), and a keepsake to help commemorate their time at Saint Joseph's. 2008 graduate and former women's soccer standout Jillian (Leger) Bolanz offered a heartfelt presentation to the group of seniors and their parents as well.

Two four-year athletes - Hannah Gajewski (Biddeford, Maine/McAuley) and Chris Petzy (Kensington, N.H.) - served as senior speakers during the awards ceremony and both spoke of their life-long memories of playing sports at Saint Joseph's. Senior Sarah Bartell (Exeter, N.H.) and junio Julio Vazquez (Waterbury, Conn.) served as the evening's emcees.  

A video featuring clips and photos of all athletic programs, created by David Bates of fotografixstudio.com, followed the athletics awards ceremony.

PHOTO GALLERY

 

2012 SJC Athletics Awards Recipients:

			Co-Female Athlete of the Year: Emily Leverone, Senior, Softball One of the most feared hitters in the region, Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.) has essentially re-written the SJC Softball record book and heads into the NCAA Tournament owning the Monks’ career records for runs (166), hits (254), doubles (65), home runs (36), RBI (209), slugging % (.826) and OBP (.500). She currently leads the 2012 GNAC Champion Monks in batting (.435, 54-124), hits (54), doubles (15), homers (9) and RBI (40) and has obliterated the GNAC career records for runs, hits, doubles and RBI. Arguably the finest player to ever play for Saint Joseph’s, Leverone has garnered four First Team All-GNAC accolades, a trio of ECAC All-New England honors and two New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association awards in her career.
			Co-Female Athlete of the Year: Meaghan Johnson, Senior, Field Hockey A four-year starter in goal for the Monks’ field hockey team, Meaghan Johnson (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) closed out her career as the team’s all-time leader in shutouts (17), victories (52) and GAA (1.23). She collected a bounty of accolades following her senior year, including NAC Defensive Player of the Year, Third Team NFHCA All-America, First Team NFHCA All-New England and First Team All-NAC honors. The first SJC field hockey player to gain All-America mention, Johnson ranked second in the nation in save percentage (.882) and ninth in goals against average (0.95) and went 13-6 with six shutouts during her senior campaign.
			Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Hannah Gajewski, Senior, Swimming Hannah Gajewski (Biddeford, Maine/McAuley) has claimed two GNAC All-Academic honors as an Exercise Science major and earned four GNAC All-Tournament accolades during her four years at Saint Joseph’s. The 2009 GNAC Rookie Swimmer of the Year notched 61 individual victories and 22 runner-up performances with 14 total school records, including a GNAC Championship record, over four seasons.
			Female Newcomer of the Year: Amber Dostie, Freshman, Cross Country Amber Dostie (Standish, Maine) won three races as a freshman, including the GNAC Championship with a 19:45 time at Franklin Park in Boston on October 29th. With the conference title, Dostie claimed the GNAC Runner and Rookie of the Year honors and earned an incredible six GNAC weekly accolades during her freshman campaign. She paced the Monks in all seven events in which she participated, including an 11th-place effort in the ECAC New England Championship and a 68th-place finish in the NCAA New England meet.
			Co-Male Athlete of the Year: Jonathan Horgan, Senior, Lacrosse Jonathan Horgan (Hingham, Mass.) closed out his final collegiate campaign as the Monks' leader in goals (41), points (61), ground balls (67), shots (131) and shots on goal (78) despite missing a pair of games this spring. He capped the year ranked second in the GNAC in goals, third in points, and 10th in ground balls. A two-time First Team All-GNAC selection and 2009 Conference Rookie of the Year, Horgan missed all but a few minutes of his sophomore season due to injury but still finished his NCAA career as the SJC all-time leader in goals (111), assists (67) and points (178).
			Co-Male Athlete of the Year: Zach O'Brien, Senior, Basketball Zach O'Brien (Schenectady, N.Y.), a two-time First Team All-Conference selection and 2012 First Team All-State honoree, led the Monks in scoring (17.3 PPG), rebounding (4.6 RPG) and free throws made (76) and ranked second on the squad in assists (3.0 APG), field goal efficiency (43.9%) and steals (1.2 SPG) during his final collegiate campaign. He is one of just two SJC players to accumulate at least 1,500 points, 450 rebounds and 350 assists in their career and completed his four years as the eight-leading scorer in program history with 1,533 points.
			Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Kyle Neagle, Senior, Baseball Baseball Head Coach Will Sanborn: “Kyle Neagle (Lisbon Falls, Maine) is one of the most dedicated student athletes I have had in 20 years of coaching at SJC. Kyle is undoubtedly the most dedicated student I have ever worked with. A Bio-Pre-Med major he spends countless hours studying and preparing for Medical School. Kyle carries an impressive cumulative GPA while taking some of the most demanding classes offered at SJC. I have never seen a student-athlete make his academics such a strong priority in his life. Kyle has given up a lot of things that other students enjoy in order to achieve his goals. As a player, he is a key member of our team as a captain and one of our most important pitchers.”
			Male Newcomer of the Year: Nic Lops, Freshman, Baseball Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus), the 2012 GNAC Baseball Rookie of the Year, currently leads the conference with a .419 (49-117) batting average and has tallied 22 runs, five doubles and 28 RBI in 36 contests. He claimed the GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player award after hitting .364 (4-11) with a double and two RBI in three tourney victories.
			Neile Nelson Award: Megan McDevitt, Senior, Basketball Presented annually to the student-athlete who has set an example by displaying a high level of commitment to his/her team while performing a leadership role within the Saint Joseph's College campus community. Bio
			Sports Medicine Fighting Heart Award: Theresa Hendrix, Sophomore, Field Hockey & Softball The Sports Medicine Fighting Heart Award goes to an individual who has overcome an injury/illness to come back in his/her sport while showing dedication, heart and faith. Bio
			Chris Kiernan Award: Tom Ray, Senior, Basketball The Chris Kiernan Award is named after the college’s first Director of Athletics and men’s basketball coach who later also served as the Dean of Students and the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. This award is presented to the student-athlete who has shown a consistent work ethic to develop as both a student and an athlete; who has displayed a strong commitment toward service of team and community and has proven a “never quit attitude” and the willingness to work through and overcome adversity. Bio
			Father John Tokaz Award: Sports Information Director Corey McCarthy Presented annually to the individual within the college community who has displayed extraordinary support of and assistance to the athletic department mission and to the Saint Joseph's College student-athletes.
			Royal Blue Award: David Bates, Owner & Photographer, Fotografix Studio Presented annually to the individual(s) outside the college community who has displayed extraordinary support and assistance to the athletic department mission and to the Saint Joseph's College student-athletes.

 

PAST YEARS:
2011 Saint Joseph's Athletics Awards		Photos
2010 Saint Joseph's Athletics Awards		Photos
2009 Saint Joseph's Athletics Awards		Photos
2008 Saint Joseph's Athletics Awards		Photos