NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Merrimack College celebrated another sensational academic and athletic year on Wednesday night, as the College and Athletic Department announced their annual award winners at the 2019 Leadership, Education, Athletic and Development (LEAD) Awards held at the Rogers Center for the Arts on campus.
For the Athletic Department, the 2018-19 academic year has been historic on a number of fronts. Merrimack's athletic programs have seen and reached unprecedented levels of success, ranging from three Northeast-10 Conference Championships to four NCAA Tournament programs with potentially more to come this spring. The academic year began with arguably the most historic moment in Merrimack Athletics history when the College accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference (NEC) and begin its reclassification to full Division I status beginning in 2019-20.
Various members of the College administration and the Athletic Department were on hand to announce the Department's annual awards: Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Male and Female Academic Teams of the Year; Male and Female Rookie of the Year, in addition to many others.
MALE & FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The Athlete of the Year awards are given to student-athletes who have shown exceptional athletic ability, that are a team player and a hard worker, that show sportsmanship and coachability, are recognized by their respective conference/region, and were integral to their team's success on the playing surface.
Male Co-Athletes of the Year:
Charlie Bertrand (Men's Lacrosse) &
Juvaris Hayes (Men's Basketball)
Charlie Bertrand has seen his legacy as one of the top players in men's lacrosse program history continue to grow in 2019. The nation's leader in goal per game landed on the 2019 Tewaaraton Award watch list – the only Division II student-athlete to garner a spot for the prestigious award – earlier this season and has backed that selection up with 58 goals and 73 points to date. He was a vital piece in the program's first national championship one year ago, and has already helped guide the program to a regular season conference championship this spring.
After an incredibly decorated season featuring All-American, All-Region and Northeast-10 All-Conference, All-Tournament Team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades,
Juvaris Hayes proved once more that he was one of the best college basketball players nationwide. The star point guard was crucial in the team's first conference championship in nearly two decades, and became one of eight student-athletes ever in the program's lauded history to play in three separate NCAA Tournaments.
Female Athlete of the Year: Samantha Ridgewell (Women's Ice Hockey)
Samantha Ridgewell was the backbone for a women's hockey program that made history this winter, one that set a school record for wins while finishing fifth in Hockey East. Ridgewell was arguably the best goaltender in the league and one of the country's best, posting five shutouts over the course of the season to graduate as the best goalie in school history.
ACADEMIC TEAM OF THE YEAR
The male and female academic team of the year are awarded annually to the programs with the highest team GPA on campus.
Male Academic Team of the Year: Men's Cross Country
The men's cross country team took home the award for the first time after finishing the fall semester with a 3.361 team GPA. The Warriors placed fifth at the NE10 Championship and were top-eight in the region to highlight a tremendous year on the track and in the classroom.
Female Academic Team of the Year: Women's Golf
The women's golf team repeated as academic team of the year by edging the field with a 3.555 team GPA. Not only have they dominated the classroom, but they've dominated the links after they won their fourth NE10 title in the fall and will compete in the NCAA Super Regionals in May.
MALE & FEMALE ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
The Rookie of the year awards are presented to student-athletes who are in their first year of college eligibility, have exceptional athletic ability, are a team player and hard worker, show sportsmanship, coachability, are recognized by their respective conference/region, and were integral to their team's success on the playing surface.
Male Rookie of the Year: Chase Gresock (Men's Ice Hockey)
Chase Gresock burst onto the scene as the leading scorer on the men's hockey team. He earned Hockey East all-rookie team honors and finished with a team-high 24 points on 11 goals and 13 assists.
Female Rookie of the Year: Jordan Laplume (Women's Golf)
Jordan Laplume has had a phenomenal freshman season on the women's golf team. She was the top rookie golfer at the league championship and helped Merrimack claim its fourth Northeast-10 Conference crown in five years. She continues to excel on the links heading into the NCAA Tournament in two weeks.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S AWARDS
Reserved for the student-athlete who may not earn the highest recognition for being outstanding on the field or in the classroom. These individuals have been the epitome of what it mean to be a student-athlete at Merrimack. He or she works tirelessly on the field, in the weight room, in the classroom and in the community, and most importantly he/she is a proven leader.
Michael Babcock (Men's Ice Hockey): Michael Babcock served as team captain this winter and was part of an incredible leadership group for the men's hockey program. He also will graduate as one of the program's iron men with over 145 games played in his career.
Amber Feminella (Women's Lacrosse): Amber Feminella has led the women's lacrosse program in scoring in each of her four seasons and helped build a winning culture over the last few years. She was part of last year's record-setting 14-win season, and boasts a team-leading 41 goals and 55 points entering today.
Troy McLaughlin (Men's Basketball): Troy McLaughlin has been a true glue guy for the men's basketball team, which won the NE10 title for the first time in nearly 20 years this winter. He averaged nearly 20 minutes a game off the bench and was invaluable as a senior leader for a team that has only risen since he arrived.
Mary McNeil (Field Hockey): Mary McNeil will graduate as one of the most accomplished field hockey student-athletes to wear a Merrimack uniform. She ranks second all-time in scoring and she scored the game-winning goal in the NE10 Championship this past fall as part of a memorable season for the Warriors.
Women's Ice Hockey Seniors: The 11 graduates –
Annie Boeckers,
Jessica Bonfe,
Dominique Kremer,
Jessica Kuhlman,
Felila Manu,
Madison Morey,
Katelyn Rae,
Samantha Ridgewell,
Paige Sorensen,
Paige Voight and
Emily Volpe - from the women's ice hockey senior class of 2019 will never be forgotten. They literally helped build a program from the ground up, and over their four years have transformed Merrimack Women's Hockey into a national contender.
CAMPUS-WIDE SENIOR AWARDS
Travis G. Kong Student Leadership Award: Sophie Gorton (Women's Cross Country / Track & Field)
Awarded in recognition of outstanding service to the Merrimack College community.
Sophie Gorton is the captain of the cross country and both indoor and outdoor track & field teams this year. She helped cross country qualify for nationals in the fall and holds a 3.56 GPA as a Political Science major. She's been a four-year member of S.A.A.C. and is a member of the Pre-Law Society and Political Science Honor Society.
Joseph P. Daley Award: Mana Seifaei (Women's Tennis)
Awarded in recognition of outstanding character and unheralded service to the Merrimack community.
Mana Seifaei has been one of the top women's tennis student-athletes over the last four years. She has proven equally successful in the classroom as she has on the tennis courts and is a member of a number of academic societies on campus, as well as S.A.A.C. She is a Dean's List recipient and a member of the Engineering Honor Society, as well as a two-year Power Engineering Society scholar.
William J. Murray O.S.A. Medal: Paige Sorensen (Women's Ice Hockey)
Presented to seniors who have approximately a 2.5 G.P.A. or better, and are role models for others who through their lifestyles emulate Fr. Murray's concern, open-mindedness and compassion for others and make conscious attempts at social and spiritual growth. Principal consideration for this award should be given to those who are not currently members of the Senior Class Council. The medals will be presented at the LEAD Awards ceremony.
Paige Sorensen not only has been a fixture with the women's hockey program over the last four years, building it from the ground up into a national contender; she has had an unmistakable impact on so many others on campus. Paige is a double major in environmental studies and fine arts, as well as a double minor in biology and social justice; she has served as president of the Green Team Environmental Club for the past two years and is a member of the National Society of Leadership & Success, as well as the Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Interdisciplinary Honors Society of Alpha Iota Sigma.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING AWARDS
This award recognizes varsity student-athletes whose athletic accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning. These athletes are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments and their integrity as student-athletes.
Cody Demers (Football): Cody Demers was a role model in the weight room and those efforts shined on the field, where he graduated as one of the top wide receivers in school history. He earned all-conference and all-region accolades while ranking among the league leaders in all receiving categories this past season.
Jessica Kuhlman (Women's Ice Hockey): Jessica Kuhlman concluded a tremendous career as a member of the women's ice hockey team's inaugural senior class, helping the Warriors set a record for wins while qualifying for the Hockey East Tournament. She played in nearly 130 games over her memorable career.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
The Athletics Community Service Award is given to one team that demonstrated the core ideals of the Augustinian tradition in their endeavors beyond the playing field more than any other program over the past year.
The women's tennis program has been working with the Lawrence High School girls' tennis team, which has been unable to play on its own home courts since September's gas explosions that affected the region. Our Warriors have held clinics that have offered an educational opportunity, community connection and a bonding experience between both groups that will last for years.
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
The Unsung Hero Award goes to the student or staff member who works tirelessly behind the scenes to support Merrimack's student-athletes and exhibits an excellent work ethic and appreciation and pride in being a Warrior.
Dominic DiVincenzo has been a staple in the Merrimack College community for years, and he has been an incredible partner to the athletic department throughout that time. Whether it be assuring that events space is ready for busy days on campus, or through the many service trips he has partaken in over the years, Dom's impact not only in the athletic department, but all of Merrimack has not gone unnoticed, and it has never been more appreciated.
ATHLETICS FACULTY MEMBER OF THE YEAR
The Athletics Faculty Member of the Year is a major supporter of athletics at games, in the classroom and in the community.
Birgid Hopkins: The 2018-19 academic year has been the 24th at Merrimack for
Birgid Hopkins, who serves as a sports administrator for a number of varsity teams and is the director of the athletic training education program. She has provided wisdom and guidance to so many over the years, from coaches, to fellow administrators, and -- of course -- to student-athletes in the training room, in the sports med lab and on the field of play.
CLUB SPORT TEAM OF THE YEAR
The Club Sport of Year is awarded annually to the Merrimack club that has not only achieved success on the playing field but also exhibited a commitment to student-driven leadership through community involvement, successfully working with members of the Merrimack community and positively representing Merrimack College as a whole.
Figure Skating: The Figure Skating team had a very successful year. They were led by Isabelle Carter, Kaylyn Stewart, Emma Hoey, Kae Andrews, and Danae Angiulo. They had skaters attend various competitions and represented Merrimack at MIT, NYU, and Penn State University. In addition to seeing them perform at varsity hockey games on campus, they held a showcase in December that raised just shy of $1000. They did a multitude of community service and fundraising, and just recently they invited and held an open skate for future warriors who will be on the team next year.
