PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIAN BERTHIAUME '24
COLORADO SPRINGS - The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce that five Saint Joseph's College student-athletes have been selected as 2022 All-American Athlete Award recipients. This award recognizes their athletic accomplishments and dedication to strength and conditioning.
Nominated for the honor by SJC Strength & Conditioning Coach Jameson Collins '17, men's soccer senior Rowan Daligan (Portland, Maine), women's lacrosse grad student Lydia Dexter (Oakland, Maine), women's basketball senior Alyson Fillion (Bedford, N.H.), baseball grad student Ben Gravel (Rochester, N.H.), and senior track & field senior Julie Unczur (Danvers, Mass.) have garnered 2022 NSCA All-American accolades.
"Rowan Daligan is the definition of what it means to be a team player," says Collins. "In the year and a half that I have worked with Rowan, he has always given all his attention and effort and has been one of the most coachable athletes I have ever worked with. He is always perfecting his technique in whichever new exercise we are on and once mastered, is not shy to challenge himself with extra resistance. His leadership presence on the field and his discipline in the weight room make him an outstanding recipient of this award."
"Lydia Dexter is one of the most resilient athletes I have had the opportunity to work with," adds Collins. "Over the course of her career, she sustained several injuries that required surgery, but never strayed from the process and relentlessly worked to get herself back to her previous level of play. In the weight room, she challenges her teammates to push themselves while striving to reach her own goals. Lydia was part of our first class of Strength & Conditioning interns and served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach while pursuing her master's degree at St. Joe's. Her commitment to the program and dedication to the coaching profession are both reasons why Lydia is a great recipient of this award."
"Alyson Fillion checks off all the boxes that encompass an NSCA All-American," Collins adds. "To start, she is constantly working to improve her game, whether in the gym taking shots or in the weight room getting extra work outside of team lifts, she is always mastering her craft. In the weight room, her Front Squat max of 185 pounds, Bench Press max of 140 pounds, and Trap Bar Deadlift max of 275 pounds make her one of the Monks' strongest female athletes. Named as a women's basketball team captain as a senior, Aly has given her all to Saint Joseph's and her teammates and is a tremendous recipient of this award."
"Ben Gravel has been a tremendous leader both in the weight room and on the field for our baseball program during his time at Saint Joseph's," comments Collins. "He has dedicated himself to developing his strength, power, speed, and athleticism with hard work and dedication. In the weight room, Ben is pound for pound one of the strongest on his team. Between his tireless commitment to his craft and the motivation he provides for his teammates, Ben is a perfect recipient of this award."
"Julie Unczur is an impressive student-athlete and has left an incredible impact on the SJC Strength & Conditioning program," says Collins. "Julie is extremely motivated and coachable and open to new ideas in the weight room. As an athlete, she improved many of her personal records by being committed to developing her strength and power. Additionally, Julie served as an intern within our department last fall and did a phenomenal job coaching our athletes. Julie is a tremendous role model for all student-athletes at Saint Joseph's and, between her work as an athlete and her role as a coach, there is no one more deserving of this award."
About the National Strength & Conditioning Association
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit professional association founded in 1978 and is dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession around the world. The NSCA advances the profession by supporting strength and conditioning professionals devoted to helping others discover and maximize their strengths. The organization disseminates research-based knowledge and its practical application by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, and continuing education opportunities. The NSCA community is composed of more than 45,000 members and certified professionals who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength coaches, personal trainers, and other roles in related fields.
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the NSCA serves as a valuable resource for its members, the fitness industry, the general public, and the media. The association provides a wide variety of resources and opportunities designed to strengthen, build, advance, and unify.
