May 24, 2011

Garden City, N.Y. -

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On Thursday, May 5, Adelphi University held its annual End of the Year banquet for Adelphi student-athletes, recognizing them for their accomplishments throughout the year.

Junior Claire Petersen and senior Thorne Holder won Female and Male Athlete of the Year, respectively. Petersen just helped guide the wonen's lacrosse team to their third consecutive National Championship, earning Tournament Most Valuable Player in the process. She also won her second straight NE-10 Player of the Year honor and registered over 200 points this season, an NCAA record. Holder, who just finished his senior season with the men's soccer team winning their second straight ASC Tournament Championship where he was named Co-Defensive MVP, is now a member of the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He was also a First-Team All-ASC selection as well.

Richard Byrd of the men's basketball team was recognized as Senior Male Athlete of the Year, while Hilary Pavels represented the volleyball team as Female Athlete of the Year. Byrd and the Panthers claimed the Northeast-10 Title this season and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006-07. A four-time All-Conference selection, Byrd ended his career as the program's all-time leader with 2,013 career points. Pavels, a two-time First-Team All-NE-10 member, led the Panthers to the Regional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Also, Pavels was nominated for the 2011 Northeast-10 Woman of the Year award.

The Junior Athletes of the Year went to Mauricio Mora of men's soccer and Jeanette Heimerle of field hockey. Mora had a very successful junior campaign as he was named First-Team All-ASC, Co-Defensive MVP of the ASC Tournament, and Second-Team All-Region. Heimerle and the Panthers finished with a 13-9 overall record and a spot in the NE-10 Semifinals. Heimerle was named First-Team All-NE-10 and First-Team All-American, while leading the nation in assists.

Women's lacrosse midfielder Demmianne Cook and cross country's Andrew Coelho were named Sophomore Athletes of the Year. Cook, a two-time National Champ, was also named Second-Team All-NE-10, All-Tournament Team for the Final Four, and First-Team All-Region. Coelho earned a fourth-place finish at Regionals this season which sent him to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships where he finished 88th. He also collected three NE-10 Weekly Honors.

Two lacrosse players garnered Freshman Athletes of the Year, Frankie Caridi (women's lacrosse) and Ken Fundus (men's lacrosse). Caridi, fresh off a National Championship, received numerous accolades in her first year at Adelphi. She was named the NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Year, First-Team All-NE-10, First-Team All-Region, and All-Tournament Team for the Final Four. Fundus, an NE-10 All-Rookie Team member, scored two goals, added one assist, and picked up 17 ground balls in his freshman season. Fundus has one game left this year as the Panthers are back in the National Championship game on Sunday for the first time in 10 years.

Senior Kristie Hirten of the women's swimming team received the Elizabeth Magillian Glenbocki Memorial Award for her dedication, hard work, team spirit, and sportsmanship.

Senior Michael Aquino of men's soccer was given the Ed Fonseca Memorial Award for his devotion to the game of soccer, his teammates, and following in the footsteps of the late Ed Fonseca.

Junior Eric Janssen won the Kitay Loughlin Award presented to the Most Outstanding Defensive Player on the men's lacrosse team, while graduate student Tommy Susko received the Donald E. Kohart Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Senior David Akinyooye of the men's basketball team garnered the Marshall Williams Memorial Award for his dedication, hard work, team spirit, and sportsmanship.

Sophomore Samantha Breidenbach of the women's basketball team received the Mary Ann Beaudy Memorial Award for exhibiting the essence of sports as Mary Ann did.

Senior Robert Nixon was awarded the Kevin J. Lanigan Memorial Award as the team's Most Outstanding Pitcher.