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CCSU Athletics Senior Awards 2020-21 | #GoBlueDevils

Sponsored by Connecticut Department of Transportation
As the 2020-21 year comes to a close, CCSU Athletics is recognizing the amazing accomplishments of an extraordinary senior class. This "virtual" awards presentation is a recognition of the commitment and success our student-athletes have displayed on the fields of competition and in the classroom during a year of unprecedented challenges. Go Blue Devils!

NEC Champions

Women's Cross Country | The Blue Devils won the Northeast Conference championship for the third straight season. Ashley Dana won the individual crown, edging teammate Angie Rafter in a photo finish. Five CCSU runners earned All-NEC honors, including Dana (Most Outstanding Performer) and Juliana Cancellieri (Most Outstanding Rookie Performer).

NEC Champions

Women's Soccer | CCSU went 7-1 overall and won the 11th NEC title in program history. The Blue Devils returned to the NCAA Tournament and faced South Florida. CCSU swept the major NEC awards with Jenna Rae Covello (Offensive), Brianna Williams (Defensive), Roma McLaughlin (Midfielder), Amanda McQuillan (Goalkeeper) and Kelly Brady (Rookie) earning Player of the Year honors. Mick D'Arcy (Coach of the Year) had eight of his athletes named to the All-NEC squads.

NEC Champions

Baseball | CCSU went 28-15 overall and 21-9 against league foes and won the 7th NEC title in program history. The Blue Devils won the NEC crown for the second straight postseason, and the third time since 2017. CCSU returned the NCAA Tournament and played in the Eugene Regional against Oregon and LSU. Jake Neuman was named NEC Rookie of the Year, while a total of 10 Blue Devils earned All-Northeast Conference honors.

2020-21 CCSU Senior Student-Athletes

Baseball

  • Andrew Braun (Finance)
  • Buddy Dewaine (Strategic Communications)
  • Brandon Fox (MBA)
  • Dave Matthews (MBA)

Men's Cross Country / Track & Field

  • Miles Fye-Moore (Construction Management)
  • Richard Grudzwick (Physical Education)
  • David Kerns (Biomolecular Sciences)
  • Nick Kocienda (Construction Management)
  • Robert Moore (Finance)
  • Charlie Taubl (Spanish)

Men's Soccer

  • Francesco Ambrosino (Exercise Science)
  • Khalid Rose (Criminology)
  • Joey Zacchia (MBA)

Football

  • Cheickna Doucoure (MBA)
  • Carlos Teixeira II (Exercise Science)

Women's Basketball

  • Ashley Forker (Interdisciplinary Science/Biology)
  • Emma McCamus (Marketing)
  • Jewel Porter (Psychological Science)
  • Tiffany Slicklein (Management)

Women's Soccer

  • Jenna Rae Covello (Exercise Science)
  • Brianna Williams (Social Work)

Women's Lacrosse

  • Cooper Cowdin (Nursing)
  • Olivia Prizzi (Biomolecular Sciences)
  • Kaitlyn Rapp (Exercise Science)
  • Morgan Sinton (Counselor Education)
  • Emma Sullivan (Finance)
  • Nina Sutton (Exercise Science)

Swimming & Diving

  • Erin Brown (Graphic/Information Design)

Women's Cross Country / Track & Field

  • Hailey Rospierski (Physical Education)

Softball

  • Kaitlin Paterson (Sociology)

Cheerleading

  • Cayla Balzarini (Psychology)
  • Sophia Dingle (Criminology)
  • Marielle Godbolt* (Strategic Communications)
  • Alyssa Salafia* (Nursing)
  • Ashley Williams* (Psychology)

* - Captains

Pepsi Academic Awards

Highest Team GPA

Volleyball

Highest Female GPA

Angie Rafter | Women's Cross Country / Track & Field

Highest Male GPA

Aidan Rosa | Football

Most-Improved

Bryce Hampton | Men's Cross Country / Track & Field

Academic Awards

Student-Athlete Academic Award recipients have achieved a 3.2 GPA. A * indicates student-athlete is a member of the Athletic Directors All-Academic Team with a 3.5 GPA.

BASEBALL

  • Justin Adamo
  • Dylan Benton
  • Matt Bertochi
  • Joe Bonvicini
  • Andrew Braun
  • Vince Camera*
  • Jack Clancy*
  • Dan Covino
  • Michael Delease
  • Brandon Fox
  • Joe Frammartino*
  • Kyle Gordon
  • Steve Homza
  • Jack Kelley*
  • Noah Martinez
  • Jeff Nicol
  • Jack Nolan
  • Ryan O'Connell
  • Andrew Paradis*
  • Hunter Pasqualini*
  • Patrick Reilly
  • Randy Reyes
  • Dylan Sanchez*
  • Matt Shane
  • Michael Spataro
  • Michael Torniero

Men's Basketball

  • Myles Baker
  • Tre Mitchell
  • Zach Newkirk*
  • Ola Olamuyiwa*
  • Nigel Scantlebury

Men's Cross Country / Track & Field

  • Chris Abbey*
  • Troy Bardos
  • Qasim Danazumi
  • Yankarlos Diaz
  • Jovan Dixon
  • Elias Field
  • Andruw Flemming*
  • Miles Fye-Moore
  • Nick Gianni*
  • Clayton Goodrich*
  • Leon Green
  • Richard Grudzwick
  • Hank Jean-Jacques
  • David Kerns*
  • Nick Klaiber*
  • Nick Kocienda*
  • Tyrone Mack*
  • Ryan McCauley
  • Greg McGuire*
  • Robert Moore*
  • Eddie Nicholas
  • Sean Oushana
  • Alex Pratcher
  • Ed Radzion
  • Craig Starkey*
  • Charlie Taubl*
  • Carlos Villarini

Football

  • Alec Ambrosia*
  • Duane Binns
  • J'Von Brown
  • Aidan Clark*
  • Qasim Danazumi
  • Aaron Dawson
  • Jadd Dolegala
  • Vincent Dyer
  • Trinidad Gonzalez
  • Alex Hawkom*
  • Foday Jalloh
  • Tyshaun James
  • Tre Jones
  • Tyler Logan*
  • Keonte Lucas
  • Ifeanyi Okorji
  • Kyren Petteway
  • Jiovany Pierre
  • Michael Plaskon*
  • Blake Romano
  • Aidan Rosa*
  • Mason Schloop*
  • Brandon Scott
  • Jake Skinner*
  • Nasir Smith
  • Tyler Smith
  • Reis Spicer
  • Carlos Teixeira II
  • Dan Toatley*
  • Neil Tompkins
  • Noah Washington
  • Brett Williams*
  • DeQuan Williams
  • Craig Wood
  • Narain Yearwood
  • Paul Yiadom

Men's Soccer

  • Barom Balliu*
  • Jason Dubrovich*
  • Ivan Farias-Martinez*
  • Kyle Halehale*
  • Gjergj Kllobochista
  • Petter Kobberstad*
  • Rida Kori*
  • Tomas Lazicki*
  • Mitchell Lyons*
  • Amin Mohammad
  • Johnny Morell
  • Yaw Nimo-Agyare
  • Matthew Skelton
  • Kacper Skonieczny*
  • Nicholas Wlodarczyk
  • Joey Zacchia*

Women's Basketball

  • Samantha Chadwick*
  • Danielle Delano
  • Ashley Forker*
  • Belle Lanpher*
  • Emma McCamus*
  • Jamey Napoleon*
  • Carly Reynolds
  • Tiffany Slicklein*

Women's Cross Country Track & Field

  • Kaylia Bailey*
  • Juliana Cancellieri*
  • Kayla Cohen*
  • Ashley Dana*
  • Danyelle Engels
  • Emily Fedor
  • Hazel Hudson*
  • Leah Jensen*
  • Annaly Khanthaphixay*
  • Taylor Knupp*
  • Briyanna Labbie*
  • Margaret LoSchiavo*
  • Brooke Morabito*
  • Angie Rafter*
  • Hailey Rospierski
  • De'ja Salahuddin*
  • Kaitlyn Stevens
  • Aaliyah Walker

Women's Lacrosse

  • Molly Coogan*
  • Cooper Cowdin
  • Madison Cowdin
  • Jessica Denike
  • Eliz Fino*
  • Jill Levis
  • Ceilidgh O'Brien*
  • Madison Palumbo*
  • Katelyn Parker*
  • Olivia Prizzi*
  • Kaitlyn Rapp*
  • Alexandra Ruel*
  • Jillian Schwab*
  • Lily Sheridan
  • Morgan Sinton*
  • Emma Sullivan
  • Nina Sutton*
  • Lauren Valluzzi

Women's Soccer

  • Rosa Arini
  • Tess Atkinson*
  • Erica Bardes*
  • Abbey Chase*
  • Jamie Collimore*
  • Jenna Rae Covello
  • Katherine Crouse*
  • Celia Debrocke*
  • Sydnie Dorman*
  • Olivia Fiori*
  • Giavanna Inzerillo
  • Kristina Kelly*
  • Delaney Lawler*
  • Zoe McGlynn
  • Roma McLaughlin
  • Amanda McQuillan*
  • Caitlin Murphy*
  • Kacey Rolfe*
  • Charlotte Simmons*
  • Autumn Skowrenski*
  • Taylor Smith
  • Lindsay Stevenson*
  • Brianna Williams*
  • Ashley Wright

Softball

  • Hannah August*
  • Carli Backlund
  • Molly Bruyns*
  • Emily Cronin
  • Meg Dugas
  • Rian Eigenmann
  • Hannah French
  • Meg Gorman*
  • Kim Howard*
  • Kari Marks
  • Kaitie Master
  • Kaitlin Paterson*
  • Alex Rogers*
  • Madi Rogers*
  • Kristin Rose*

Swimming & Diving

  • Abby Bacon*
  • Erin Brown*
  • Katie Czulewicz
  • Destiny Johnson
  • Jeannette King*
  • Alex Lindgren*
  • Kaylin McMahon*
  • Morgan O'Hara*
  • Hallie Perrin*
  • Ava Santacroce
  • Cassidy Stotler*
  • Kelly Stotler*
  • Shannon Welcome

Volleyball

  • Tori Boulay*
  • Ashlyn Eisenga
  • Emma Henderson
  • Nicole Kramer
  • Mia Lombardo*
  • Nyjha Marcelin
  • Samantha McCreath*
  • Margaret Nolan*
  • Natalie Novak*
  • Molly Pincince*
  • Isabelle Roufs
  • Eline van Heijningen

Athletic Training

  • Brandon Austin
  • Bruce Diggs
  • David Dodge
  • Abigail Fisher
  • Daniel Navarette
  • Pasquale Rosado
  • Lindsay Socquet
  • Tyler Spicer

Special thanks to our Academic Advisors

  • Kevin Oliva (Director)
  • Inez Vera (Advisor - Men's Basketball, Women's Lacrosse)
  • Cathy Sylvester (Advisor - Women's Basketball, Baseball)
  • Alicia Akers (University Assistant/Academic Mentor - Women's Soccer, Swimming & Diving)
  • Rick Fasciano (University Assistant/Academic Mentor - Football)
  • Sharyn Lopez (University Assistant/Academic Mentor - Softball, Women's Track & Field)
  • Jeff Oakes (Math Tutor)
  • Jim Pescarmona (University Assistant/Academic Mentor - Men's Soccer, Men's Track & Field, Volleyball)
  • Lou Rascoe (University Assistant/Academic Mentor - Football)
  • Eva Vrdoljak (Department Secretary)

Gail Rutz Award

The Gail Rutz Award is given annually to the top female senior student-athlete(s) at Central Connecticut. Past winners of the award include CCSU Hall of Famers, professional athletes, and successful business women. Recipients have successfully combined academic achievement, athletics and citizenship. The 2020-21 Gail Rutz Award winners are:

Jenna Rae Covello

Women's Soccer | 2020-21 Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year ... Two-time 1st Team All-NEC ... United Soccer Coaches All-North Region 2nd Team (2020-21) ... NEC All-Rookie Team (2017) ... NEC All-Tournament Team (2018) ... Team won three straight NEC titles ... NEC Academic Honor Roll ... 67 career games (13 goals, 13 assists)

Kaitlin Paterson

Softball | Northeast Conference Golden Glove Award, All-NEC First Team (2021) ... 177 career games, .307 average, 6 homeruns, 72 RBIs, 90 runs ... Ranks among CCSU career Top-10 in hits (154), runs (90) and is #2 all-time with 36 doubles ... Member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll.

"What Kaitlin Paterson did for our program on the field was remarkable. To be among the career leaders in any statistical category is impressive, to be on multiple lists is flat out amazing. Kait was one of those rare athletes who stepped into the starting lineup her first game as a freshman, and never left. Writing Kaitlin Paterson in the top four hitters on the lineup card was automatic. There will definitely be a game next season when I do it out of habit! When Kaitlin was injured early in 2019 we were all devastated, but we tried to remember everything happens for a reason. In the moment we felt lucky to be able to have her back for one extra year, but ultimately we were able to have her back for two. I tell Kait all the time the moment she committed to be a Blue Devil was program-changing. She was a part of my first recruiting class as a head coach, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to coach her. She made all of us better people, and her impact on countless teammates will be felt forever. It was awesome to watch her play her best softball yet this season. The game rewards those who deserve it, and the year Kaitlin had this season is proof."

- Breanne Gleason, Softball Head Coach

Frederick M. Gladstone Award

The Frederick M. Gladstone Award is given annually to the top male senior student-athlete(s) at Central Connecticut. Past winners of the award include CCSU Hall of Famers, professional athletes, and successful business men. Recipients have successfully combined academic achievement, athletics and citizenship. The 2020-21 Frederick M. Gladstone Award winners are:

Richard Grudzwick

Track & Field, Cross Country | School-record holder for 800m Indoor & Outdoor ... Two-time 800m NEC Outdoor Track & Field champion ... Won 800m at 2020 NEC Indoor Championships ... Two-time medalist at NEC Indoor Championships ... Two-time All-NEC in Cross Country Championships ... Ran on 2016 and 2017 NEC Cross Country Championship squads.

Congratulations and Thank You Blue Devils!

Credits:

Steve McLaughlin Photography