USJ Student-Athletes Recognized During End of Year Awards Banquet Monday Night
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Department of Athletics honored its student-athletes, hosting the 2023 Student-Athlete Awards Banquet Monday evening inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn. The banquet featured a set of awards that honored the department's student-athletes for their performances both in the classroom and in competition as the 2022-23 academic and athletic year comes to a close.
The evening began with opening remarks by USJ Director of Athletics Amanda Devitt, followed by speeches from student-athletes on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) E-Board to their peers. The night continued with the introduction of this year's Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society inductees. To be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, student-athletes need to achieve junior academic status or higher after their fifth full time semester and earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher. This year, 29 Blue Jays were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma.
Following the induction recognition, the Department of Athletics recognized the student-athletes who were named to USJ's Dean's List for the fall 2022 semester, as well as those who received Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly awards or were named to All-GNAC Teams. Recognitions were also given to graduate student Michael Allo (Newington, Conn.), who was an individual champion in the 200-yard breaststroke at the GNAC Swimming & Diving Championships, the men's soccer team, who won the program's first-ever GNAC Championship this past fall, as well as to the men's basketball team, who won the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament games, advancing to this year's NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
The banquet then transitioned to the awards portion of the night, beginning with the Career Scholar-Athlete Award. The Career Scholar-Athlete Award was handed out to the male and female student-athlete who has garnered the highest career cumulative GPA and participated in their sport/sports for at least two or more seasons. Senior Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.) of men's soccer earned the honor after graduating with a career 3.78 GPA, while senior Emma Kociszewski (Thomaston, Conn.) of field hockey picked up the award after finishing her career with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The next award to be handed out was the Iron-Jay Award, given to a male and female student-athlete who have consistently improved themselves physically, evolved as a leader, and made their teams, athletic department and the overall weight room better. On the men's side, junior Neil Dickey (Atlanta, Ga.) of men's basketball earned the honor, while senior Marissa Fortuna (Burlington, Conn.) of women's soccer/women's lacrosse received the award on the women's side.
Following the Iron-Jay Award was the presentation of this year's Rookies of the Year. Freshman Noah Rivera (Armonk, N.Y) of men's tennis received the honor from the men's side after being named to the All-GNAC First Team at the conclusion of men's tennis' inaugural season. Freshman Colleen Stringer (Point Lookout, N.Y.) took home the honor on the women's side after picking up both GNAC Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year accolades from the league.
Next on the night's agenda was the presentation of the Most Valuable Athlete of the Year Award. After helping lead men's basketball to a historic 2022-23 postseason run in the NCAA Tournament, graduate student Ryan O'Neill (Litchfield, Conn.) received the honor on the men's side, while senior Makenzie Dinger (Hignham, Mass.) of field hockey/women's lacrosse received the women's MVP award after a historic 2023 women's lacrosse campaign that saw her eclipse the 100-career goal and 200-career points mark. Following the MVP awards was the presentation of the Nancy Saunders Spada Leadership Award, given to a pair of student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills throughout their careers. Five-year captain of the men's basketball team, Jake Sullivan (Branford, Conn.), and Elizabeth Garlock (Meriden, Conn.) of the women's soccer team took home the accolade.
The penultimate award of the night to be handed out was the Cardarelli Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, given to a senior student-athlete who holds a 3.2 cumulative GPA or better and must be a starter or a significant reserve in their sport/sports and must compete in at least 50% of the contests in their senior year. Torres from men's soccer took home his second accolade of the night, receiving the honor on the men's side, will Garlock also received her second award, taking home the honor on the women's side.
Rounding out the awards portion of the evening was the presentation of the Blue Jay Senior Student-Athlete Award. The honor is given to a senior student-athlete who makes a significant contribution to their sport/sports for at least three years. The winner must also make a commitment to the University of Saint Joseph over their college career by demonstrating leadership, engaging in community service, and an overall commitment to school spirit. Torres received his third honor of the night, receiving the honor on the men's side, while women's soccer and lacrosse's Tatianna Bilbraut (Hartford, Conn.) earned the award on the women's side.
The night concluded with the USJ Department of Athletics honoring the senior class of 2023. The seniors from each team were called up to receive senior gifts and graduation stoles from the department, thanking them for their hard work and commitment to USJ throughout their time as a Blue Jay.
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