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 a particular aspect of the college’s intercollegiate athletics program and were presented at the Annual Athletic banquet on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.
The Heinz Ahlmeyer 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. As a team captain, senior Lindsay Trifiletti has been nothing short of inspirational to her teammates and athletic department. Trifiletti has been a member of the women’s tennis team for three seasons with a record of 13-4 in singles play and 19-10 in doubles action. She is a two-time all-SUNYAC selection and won the SUNYAC title at third doubles in 2007. Unbeknown to Lindsay and her team she won the title with a rare form of cancer call Mysopheloma. In January of 2008, Lindsay underwent surgery to treat the cancer tumors which resulted in a leave of absence from school during the spring semester to recover and was recognized by the conference with the Award of Valor. In the fall of 2008, she returned to team and had a successful season and second doubles and helped lead the Hawks to a second place finish at the conference championships. She made a decision to not play this spring as inflammation from the scar tissue was starting to become a concern. She will graduate on time and is today cancer free. Trifiletti’s story is an inspiration that displayed her character and ability to persevere through one of the most difficult times in her life. She has shown that playing intercollegiate athletics is a privilege and to not take anything for granted. Outside the athletic department, she carries a 3.3 grade point average in international business. She is a three time member of the SUNYAC all-academic team and a two time selection to the Commissioner’s List. She is the daughter of Steve and Diane Trifiletti of Mamaroneck, N.Y.
This year’s Carol Eckman Award for outstanding contribution by a female student-athlete went to Dana Lim, a member of the women’s tennis team. Lim was named the Peter Cahill Most Valuable Player at the SUNYAC Tennis championships in the fall of 2008. She won the individual title at first singles for the third consecutive year for her fifth title overall. She garnered first team All-SUNYAC honors for the fourth year and to put it simply is the most decorated women’s tennis player to come through New Paltz. On the year she posted a 9-6 record at first singles and went 8-7 at first doubles. The elementary education major holds a 3.31 grade point average and is a two-time member of the SUNYAC all-Academic team and Commissioner’s List. Lim is the third tennis player to be honored with the Carol Eckman award. She is the daughter of Jay and Mary Lim of New City, N.Y.
The Floyd Paterson Award is presented to the outstanding male student-athlete of the year. First baseman Tyler Terlecky started all 36 games and led the team with a .380 batting average. He totaled 52 hits on 137 at bats with 29 runs scored. His 52 hits in a season, is sixth most all-time. Terlecky totaled 34 RBI, ranking him fourth in a single season and he broke the single season record for putouts with 276. He finished his career with 146 hits and 74 RBI in 121 games played. His 146 hits and 121 games played ranks him third in both categories all time, while his RBI total stands fifth. Terlecky carries a 3.12 grade point average in Communication and is the third baseball player in the last four years to garner the award. Terlekcy is the son of Bill Terlecky of Binghamton, NY and Jody Terlecky of Weston, FL.
The Kenneth F. Burda 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.
The award for the female contribution, service and leadership was awarded to senior swimmer Erica Ellis. In the pool, Ellis is a five time honorable mention all-American and a two time all-SUNYAC performer. This year she claimed her first individual SUNYAC title by winning the 100 breaststroke (1:05.95) setting a new varsity and conference record, in an NCAA provisional qualifying time. Ellis also took broke her own varsity record in the 100 fly (1:00.04). In addition she is part of the school record 200 and 400 medley relays. Her leadership as a captain and service to the athletic department is exemplary as evidenced by her work through Erick Hart’s office over the past few years and serving as an intern in the sports information office. In this regard, she has created master schedules of facility usage for the entire department and deals with requests for facility space. She assists with contracts and invoices for outside groups and serves as a face of the department at special events including Engineering Day, Science Olympiad, Relay for Life, concerts and Youth Basketball. In addition she has filled in as a building supervisor, served on the event management crew as a clock operator or line-runner and is the first to lend a hand when asked. Through the SID office she made game programs, updated the website and publicized events and the successes of fellow student-athletes. She is courteous and professional at all times and it is not often that we find a student with her qualities and work ethic. In the classroom, she carries a 3.48 grade point average as a Journalism/Business major and is a three-time member of the SUNYAC All-Academic team and two-time member of Commissioner’s List. She has been two-year member of Chi Alpha Sigma and has been a consistent member of the Dean’s List. Ellis is the daughter of Thomas and Robin Ellis of Barneveld, NY.
The award for male contribution, service and leadership was awarded to junior Sean Reminick. On the soccer field, Reminick started all18 games he played in this past season and finished third on the team with 11 points (three goals and five assists). He has worn the orange and blue 46 times over the past three years and has totaled 17 points on six goals and five assists. Off the field, he has been an active member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, serving as the Secretary this past academic year. He has helped to spearhead the student-athlete efforts at the leaf raking projects, Adopt-A-Family, Kids Sports Night and helped to coordinate all aspects of the faculty/staff recognition nights. In addition, Reminick has been selected to represent SUNY New Paltz at the 2009 NCAA Leadership Convention at the end of the May. He serves as the vice president of fundraising for the American Marketing Association and has been heavily involved with the business department this spring coming up with business plans and even conducted an interview with Donald Trump. In the classroom, the business marketing major holds a 3.66 grade point average and is a three time member of the SUNYAC All-Academic team and a two-time member of the SUNYAC Commissioner’s List. He is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma and was named an All-East Region honorable mention Scholar Athlete. Reminick is the son of Martin and Jill Reminick of East Meadow, N.Y.
The Spirit of Michelle Vargas-Robin Memorial Award is presented to someone who is a team player with intangible qualities that contribute to the teams’ success – not necessarily the best player, but the most spirited. Vargas-Robin was a four-year member for the women’s soccer team and following her untimely death, her family established the award to honor the memory of one of New Paltz’s student-athletes. Each year, the award is given to a member of the women’s soccer team who mirrors Michelle’s commitment, dedication and enthusiasm for the sport of soccer. This year’s recipient was Jennifer Moretti. She has been a three-year member of the women’s soccer team, starting 50 of the 55 games she has played in at defense. In addition to her great defensive skills, she has totaled 16 points on six goals and four assists. She is a two-time All-SUNYAC selection, was the SUNYAC Chancellors scholar athlete in 2007 and earned All-East Region Scholar athlete honorable mention. But it’s more than just stats and honors, it’s the intangibles that count. As her coach Colleen Bruely stated, “When we say her name – we smile, when she speaks – we laugh, when she runs – we laugh, – we are always laughing and smiling when she is around. Her presence, and the spirit that she has for our program, has made the last three years so enjoyable and she has added so much to our team.” She holds a 3.52 grade point average as a dual major in Spanish and Communication. She is a three-time member of the SUNYAC All-Academic team and a two-time member of the SUNYAC Commissioner’s List. Moretti is the daughter of William and Michelle Moretti of Sayville, N.Y.
The Athletic Director’s Award is presented to a person or persons who, in the estimation of the Director, have provided dedicated service to the department. This year the award was presented to an individual and a group of people for their Hawk pride and school spirit at home basketball contests. The first recipient was Ben Quick, who brought a mangy mascot costume to life. Whether climbing the beams of the Athletic and Wellness center, mimicking officials during timeouts, being lifted by the cheerleaders or falling down the bleachers he set a standard of showmanship that impressed visitors and New Paltz fans alike.
The second recipient was not one but a group of seven freshman from the baseball team that strutted into the Hawk center for the first home basketball game, confidently painted blue and orange and wearing wigs and carrying a school spirit that has not been seen before at New Paltz. This group made such an impression that opposing coaches included them in their scouting reports about playing at New Paltz. The group is comprised of Paul Merola, Chris Paulicelli, Alex Donatelli, Matt O’Neill, Philip Parker, Mike Sherlock and Pat Sylvester.
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. The male recipient was sophomore Robert Webb, a member of the men’s swim team. Webb carries a 3.79 grade point average as a special education major. He is the son of James and Carolann Webb.
For the first time was a tie for the female award between Jillian Cafarchio and Alyssa Finck. Cafarchio is a senior on the field hockey and women’s lacrosse team. She is a two-time selection to the SUNYAC all-academic team and commissioner’s list and carries a 3.96 grade point average as an art education/art history major. She is the daughter of Frank and Dale Cafarchio of Washingtonville, N.Y.
Finck is a sophomore on the field hockey team and is a two-time member of the SUNYAC all-academic team and earned Commissioner’s List status last fall. She carries a 3.96 grade point average in communication and disorders/Speech pathology. She is the daughter of James and Nadine Finck of Hudson, N.Y. Both women have been selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Collegiate National Academic Squad for two years.
The New Paltz Cup is awarded to the male and a female team that has the highest team grade point average at the conclusion of each semester. To be considered for the team prize, a team must have a minimum of ten members. Men’s soccer and women’s cross country earned the honor for the spring 2008 semester. Men’s soccer carried a team grade point average of 3.06, while women’s cross country posted a 3.5. For the fall of 2008, the honor went to baseball (3.18) and field hockey (3.37).
Baseball pitcher Jonathan Shanks was selected as the senior speaker for the evening, but he was unable to address the audience due to a class commitment so his fellow senior teammate Tyler Terlecky ‘pinch hit’ and read the speech. He spoke to the fact that sports have always been more than just a game to him and being able to play at SUNY New Paltz has definitely helped him to grow as a person. His was thankful to his teammates, coaches and department for allowing him to play that game that he has so much passion for at a school that is growing in pride. Shanks advised his fellow seniors that, “it is not always about an ultimate product of a particular goal, it is how you go about it and living in the moment.”
In addition, the following student-athletes were named the Most Valuable Player of their team for the 2008-2009 year:
Baseball – Tyler Terlecky
Men’s Basketball – Harris Wichard
Women’s Basketball – Nicole Sarcone
Men’s Cross Country – Joe Gentsch
Women’s Cross Country – Lisa Cassaro
Field Hockey – Sarah Schloss
Women’s Lacrosse – Brittany Bennett
Men’s Soccer – Anton Shipman
Women’s Soccer – Sarah Boccard
Softball – Melyssa Cilmi
Men’s Swimming – Stephen Cozzolongo
Women’s Swimming – Marissa Morris
Women’s Tennis – Kerri Serkes
Men’s Volleyball – Kevin Stross
Women’s Volleyball – Brittany Coyle
