The 2014 Saint Joseph's College Athletics Senior Awards Banquet was held at the Portland Regency on the evening of Monday, May 5th. The academic honors were given at the Saint Joseph's College Academic Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 25th.

PHOTO GALLERY   l   SENIOR ESSAYS   l   YEAR-END PHOTO SLIDESHOW

Female Student-Athlete of the Year:

Rachelle Messuri, Field Hockey/Lacrosse

A four-year contributor for the Monks’ field hockey and lacrosse programs, Messuri is shining example of a student-athlete who excels both on the field and in the classroom. A marketing major with a minor in sports management, Messuri earned an impressive list of academic accolades during her career, including four NFHCA All-Academic honors and four conference All-Academic awards. Athletically, she claimed a pair of Second Team All-NAC and Second Team All-New England honors in field hockey and collected two First Team All-GNAC and the 2014 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year award in lacrosse.

Male Student-Athlete of the Year:

Kevin Richardson, Golf

Richardson displayed excellence on the course and in the classroom during his four years as a member of the Saint Joseph’s golf team. The two-year team captain earned a pair of GNAC All-Academic honors while pursuing a degree in Environmental Science and was also chosen as the Monks’ GNAC Sportsmanship Team representative in each of the last two seasons. One of the finest golfers fielded by Saint Joseph’s in recent years, Richardson was honored as the GNAC Rookie of the Year in 2010 and earned All-Conference honors as a top-10 finisher at the conference tournament on three occasions.

Female Athlete of the Year:

Theresa Hendrix, Field Hockey/Basketball/Softball

An outstanding athlete who started for the Saint Joseph’s field hockey, basketball and softball programs last year, Hendrix helped lead three different teams to conference championship appearances – and a pair of GNAC Championships - as a senior. She played in 87 total games (field hockey – 19; basketball – 29; softball – 39) during the 2013-14 academic year and earned All-Tournament accolades in field hockey and softball and claimed First Team All-Conference honors after hitting .382 (47-123) with 31 runs, eight doubles, seven triples, four home runs and 34 RBI as a starting outfielder on the softball team, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-consecutive season.

Male Athlete of the Year:          

Matthew Medeiros, Basketball

Medeiros, a two-time First Team All-GNAC and First Team All-State honoree, posted career-bests in scoring (18.8 PPG), field goals (169), three pointers (103) and free throws made (84) along with personal-highs in assists (65) and total points (525) as a senior. He became the 36th member of the SJC 1,000-Point Club during the season and broke the Monks' single-season three-point field goal with a total that ranked third in all of NCAA DIII Men's Basketball this winter. The sharpshooter capped his career with 1,408 points, 267 three-pointers made, 362 rebounds, 195 assists and 72 steals over 107 contests and currently ranks second all-time in career three-point field goals made.

Father John Tokaz Award:     

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.

Reis Hagerman

Hagerman, a 1977 graduate who played basketball at Saint Joseph’s and later served as an assistant coach, is undoubtedly one of the Monks’ biggest supporters. He attends countless athletic events every year and plays pivotal roles in several of the department’s major annual events, including the hall of fame induction ceremony and the alumni golf outing.

Chris Kiernan Award:

Presented annually 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.

James Philbrook, Basketball

A four-year contributor and 2013-14 team captain for the men’s basketball team, Philbrook is very deserving of the Chris Kiernan Award. During his sophomore year, he lost his roommate, teammate and best friend in Clark Noonan and, as one of the leaders of the SJC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Philbrook was instrumental in the completion of Clark’s Court.

Neile Nelson Award:

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.

Jaci Lorenzen, Soccer

A four-year starting goalkeeper and two-year captain for the SJC women’s soccer team, Lorenzen proved to be a natural leader on and off the field. A Criminal Justice major, she earned GNAC All-Academic honors in 2013 and collected a bevy of athletic accolades her senior year, including NSCAA All-New England honors and a pair or ECAC New England Defensive Player of the Week awards.

Neile Nelson Award:

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.

Alex Lorenc, Baseball

Lorenc, a four-year starter and middle-of-the-order hitter for the Monks’ baseball team, has been one of the most committed male athletes at Saint Joseph’s during the last three years. A well-respected member of the SJC campus community, Lorenc is a captain of the baseball team and also worked in the athletic training room and served as a member of the student athletics event staff this year. A two-time GNAC All-Academic selection as an Exercise Science major, Lorenc has accumulated his share of athletic honors during his career, including his second First Team All-Conference award and a pair of GNAC Player of the Week nods this spring.