Steven Waldeck and Lucy Van Dalen Named Athlete of the Year
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's Department of Athletics held its annual Awards Ceremony tonight at the Student Activities Center on campus. During the evening's program a number of awards were handed out, including the Male and Female Athletes of the Year to junior Steven Waldeck (Levittown, N.Y.), a member of the men's lacrosse team, and sophomore Lucy Van Dalen (Wanganui, New Zealand) of the cross country and track & field teams.
Waldeck was named to the All-America East first team for the second consecutive season in 2009 as he led the Seawolves to a share of the America East regular season championship. He was first in the America East in ground balls (96) and ranked seventh in the nation in ground balls per game (6.4). One of the team's captains, he also played an offensive role as well, notching career highs of five goals and five assists, ranking fourth in the nation in scoring among long poles.
Van Dalen won every race she entered in the indoor track season leading up to the NCAA championships, including a pair of America East titles. Van Dalen won at distances of 1,000 meters, one mile and 3,000 meters; setting school records in all three events. Her record of 4:36.71 in the mile automatically qualified her for the NCAA championships, becoming the first SBU student-athlete to qualify indoors, where she finished 14th. Outdoors she established new marks in the 800 and 1,500-meter events, winning the America East title at 800 meters and qualifying for the NCAA regional meet in both. She was also a part of a record breaking 4x800 relay team that also won a conference championship.
Van Dalen was also a key component on the Seawolves cross country team that won its second straight America East championship. She finished among the top-three Seawolves in each race she competed in; earning all-conference honors for her fifth-place performance at the America East championships. Van Dalen finished 14th at the NCAA regional meet, helping SBU to its second straight NCAA championships appearance.
Named as Stony Brook's Rookies of the Year were Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) from the football team and Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y.) from the women's soccer squad. Gowns broke the school single-season rushing record in 2008 and was named the Big South Freshman of the Year as well as the national Freshman of the Year by the College Sporting News. McKenna was named the America East Rookie of the year after leading the league in goals.
Academics were also celebrated, with Kim Wodiska (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) of the women's lacrosse team and Youssef Fassi-Fehri (Fes, Morocco) of the men's tennis team being honored with the Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards as the seniors with the highest cumulative GPAs that made a significant contribution to their teams. A total of 34 senior student-athletes were recognized with Senior Academic Achievement Awards for recording a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better during their careers.
Also recognized during the evening was senior Lawrence Lovell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) of the football team who was honored with the Faculty Athletic Representative Award for his contributions to his team and to the Stony Brook community, with Wodiska also being honored with an FAR award. Junior Marisa Viola (Cutchogue, N.Y.) of the women's soccer team and Waldeck were awarded the Athletic Directors Award for their contributions to their teams and their representation of the ideals of Stony Brook Athletics.
Stony Brook University President, Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny, was presented the Seawolves Service Award for her special contributions to Stony Brook Athletics, the University community and SBU's student-athletes. It was also announced that the Seawolves Service Award will be renamed the Shirley Strum Kenny Service Award in her honor.
Senior Mike Errigo (Bayside, N.Y.) of the baseball team also took home two awards, both of which were presented for the first time. He was honored with the Courage Award, which is given to a student-athlete who has overcome personal tragedy or serious injury and has deomonstrated uncommon bravery in the face of adversity. He was also recognized by his peers with the Swagger Award, which is given to the student-athlete that best exemplifies his or her team's definition of swagger.
Most Valuable and Coaches awards for all 20 of Stony Brook's intercollegiate teams were also handed out at the event.
Waldeck was named to the All-America East first team for the second consecutive season in 2009 as he led the Seawolves to a share of the America East regular season championship. He was first in the America East in ground balls (96) and ranked seventh in the nation in ground balls per game (6.4). One of the team's captains, he also played an offensive role as well, notching career highs of five goals and five assists, ranking fourth in the nation in scoring among long poles.
Van Dalen won every race she entered in the indoor track season leading up to the NCAA championships, including a pair of America East titles. Van Dalen won at distances of 1,000 meters, one mile and 3,000 meters; setting school records in all three events. Her record of 4:36.71 in the mile automatically qualified her for the NCAA championships, becoming the first SBU student-athlete to qualify indoors, where she finished 14th. Outdoors she established new marks in the 800 and 1,500-meter events, winning the America East title at 800 meters and qualifying for the NCAA regional meet in both. She was also a part of a record breaking 4x800 relay team that also won a conference championship.
Van Dalen was also a key component on the Seawolves cross country team that won its second straight America East championship. She finished among the top-three Seawolves in each race she competed in; earning all-conference honors for her fifth-place performance at the America East championships. Van Dalen finished 14th at the NCAA regional meet, helping SBU to its second straight NCAA championships appearance.
Named as Stony Brook's Rookies of the Year were Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) from the football team and Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y.) from the women's soccer squad. Gowns broke the school single-season rushing record in 2008 and was named the Big South Freshman of the Year as well as the national Freshman of the Year by the College Sporting News. McKenna was named the America East Rookie of the year after leading the league in goals.
Academics were also celebrated, with Kim Wodiska (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) of the women's lacrosse team and Youssef Fassi-Fehri (Fes, Morocco) of the men's tennis team being honored with the Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards as the seniors with the highest cumulative GPAs that made a significant contribution to their teams. A total of 34 senior student-athletes were recognized with Senior Academic Achievement Awards for recording a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better during their careers.
Also recognized during the evening was senior Lawrence Lovell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) of the football team who was honored with the Faculty Athletic Representative Award for his contributions to his team and to the Stony Brook community, with Wodiska also being honored with an FAR award. Junior Marisa Viola (Cutchogue, N.Y.) of the women's soccer team and Waldeck were awarded the Athletic Directors Award for their contributions to their teams and their representation of the ideals of Stony Brook Athletics.
Stony Brook University President, Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny, was presented the Seawolves Service Award for her special contributions to Stony Brook Athletics, the University community and SBU's student-athletes. It was also announced that the Seawolves Service Award will be renamed the Shirley Strum Kenny Service Award in her honor.
Senior Mike Errigo (Bayside, N.Y.) of the baseball team also took home two awards, both of which were presented for the first time. He was honored with the Courage Award, which is given to a student-athlete who has overcome personal tragedy or serious injury and has deomonstrated uncommon bravery in the face of adversity. He was also recognized by his peers with the Swagger Award, which is given to the student-athlete that best exemplifies his or her team's definition of swagger.
Most Valuable and Coaches awards for all 20 of Stony Brook's intercollegiate teams were also handed out at the event.
