NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz Department of Athletics announced the winners of the prestigious Heinz Ahlmeyer, Carol Eckman, Floyd Patterson, Athletic Director’s, Kenneth F. Burda, and Donald Bishko awards. These awards are given annually to outstanding student-athletes who have contributed in an exemplary fashion to the college’s intercollegiate athletics program and were presented at the Annual Athletic banquet on Wednesday, May 9, 2007.
Junior Katie Becofsky (Altamont, NY) was the recipient of the Heinz Ahlmeyer Award. The award is presented annually to a junior or senior athlete with at least two years of varsity participation whose dedication, perseverance and service throughout his or her athletic career at SUNY New Paltz has been an inspiration to both his/her teammates and fellow students. Becofsky is a setter on the women’s volleyball team, who helped lead the team into the SUNYAC semifinals and finished the year with 978 assists. She carries a 3.91 grade point average, is a Student-Athlete Mentor, a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Board and was selected the SUNYAC East Division Player of the Year. What speaks most to who Katie is was how she handled herself after getting injured in September. She was told she would be out for six weeks, so she rehabbed and continued to support her teammates by not missing a practice or game and being there for them. Because of her dedication to her team she was back on the court in three weeks. Becofsky is the thirteenth women to receive the award out of the 43 previous winners.
Michelle Coombs (Newburgh, NY) earned the Carol Eckman Award. Given to the top female athlete of the year, Coombs became the first female SUNY New Paltz national champion as she claimed the 100 freestyle with a time of 50.84 at the 2007 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships held in Houston, TX. She touched second in the 100 backstroke (56.59) and third in the 50 free (23.46), to garner three first-team All-America honors. Coombs teamed up with Laura Lipp, Erica Ellis and Ashley Williamson to finish 14th in the 200 MR, 16th in the 200 FR, and 16th in the 400 MR to earn three honorable mention All-America awards. Coombs was named the Outstanding Female Swimmer of the meet at the SUNYAC Championships. Coombs won the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, setting new SUNYAC meet, conference and varsity records in all of her individual events and was named to the All-Conference first team for her performance.
A member of the men’s basketball team, Senior Amseshem Foluke-Henderson (Jamaica, NY) claimed the Floyd Paterson Award as the top male athlete of the year. Foluke-Henderson averaged 18.5 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, two assists and two steals; shooting 60% from the floor for 445 points. He scored his 1,000 point against Baruch and career high 31 points verse Brockport. On the year he led the team in scoring eleven times, rebounds ten times and steals eight times. Foluke-Henderson finished his three year career as Hawk with 1,114 points and 451 rebounds.
The Kenneth F. Burda Award was presented to seniors Kim Clouston (Baldwinsville, NY), Kristen Jackson (East Islip, NY) and John Hauser (East Williston, NY). The award is presented to a student-athlete, who has participated for at least three years and who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, sportsmanship, citizenship, ethical conduct and leadership throughout his/her career, beyond that which is generally expected of student-athletes at New Paltz.
A member of the women’s volleyball team, Clouston is a two time team captain who carries a 3.87 cumulative gpa in Psychology and a 4.00 in her major. She has received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and has been named to the AVAC All-Region team, Honorable Mention All-American, and is a first team All-Conference selection. Win or lose, she seeks out and thanks officials after matches and congratulates opponents who stood out during a match. Clouston is a part of the leadership academy, SAAC, and an athlete mentor.
John Hauser has been a staple on the Hawks starting line up for four seasons. A three-year team captain and MVP, he started 94 of a possible 99 games. He eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark on Dec. 31, 2006 against Chaminade and finished his career with 1,299 points and 551 rebounds. His career best is 31 points scored vs. SUNYIT on January 19, 2007. Off the court he trains the ball boy, Victor, is a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Board and was the recipient of the Heinz Ahlmeyer Award in 2006. He is the first Hawk to be named to the CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-American third team and recently received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Following graduation, he will be working for Ernst and Young Accounting Firm.
Kristen Jackson is a two-time captain of the women’s basketball team, who helped lead the Hawks to the SUNYAC semifinals with a miracle comeback win over Geneseo. She is an all around team player giving 110% everyday. In her four seasons she has scored 461 points and grabbed 261 rebounds. Her career best is 17 points scored against Buffalo State in 2004. Off the court, she helps raise awareness for the Pallister-Killian Syndrome or PKS, which her nephew has been diagnosed with. PKS is a chromosome abnormality when a tetrasomy of the short art of chromosome 12 (12p) occurs for no known reason.
The Athletic Director’s Award is presented to an individual who has provided dedicated service to the Department. For living and dying orange and blue for the last 17 years, for making ever student-athlete feel special and important, for giving of himself for the cause of New Paltz athletics whether at home or on the road, Keith Sobel is the 2007 recipient.
Seniors Kim Clouston (Baldwinsville, NY), John Hauser (East Williston, NY) and Masanori Hotta (Kawanishi, Japan) were the recipients of the Donald Bishko Award. The Donald Bishko Award is given each year to the male and female student-athlete who had the highest grade point average at the conclusion of the fall semester. A member of the women’s volleyball team, Clouston earned a 3.96 grade point average as a psychology major. Hauser, a member of the men’s basketball team, earned a grade point average of 3.78 while majoring in accounting. A member of the men’s soccer team, Hotta, earned a 3.78 in communication.
In addition, the following student-athletes were named the Most Valuable Player of their team for the 2006-07 year:
Baseball – John DeKams
Men’s Basketball – Amseshem Foluke-Henderson
Women’s Basketball – Amber Sohns
Men’s Cross Country – Robert Grazier
Women’s Cross Country – Kelly Dunphy
Field Hockey – Justine Fairclough
Men’s Soccer – Dan Cocciardi
Women’s Soccer – Kerri Kelty
Softball – Kelly O’Hea
Men’s Swimming – Johnny Fleckenstein
Women’s Swimming – Michelle Coombs
Women’s Tennis – Jennifer Larson
Men’s Volleyball – Christopher Holden
Women’s Volleyball – Kim Clouston
