Salve Regina holds annual Seahawk Awards Ceremony

NEWPORT, R.I. (Sunday, May 5, 2024) -- Salve Regina University athletics presented 23 awards at the annual Seahawk Awards Ceremony on Sunday, May 5, 2024. 

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It has been a landmark year for Salve Regina athletics. It was the first year for 16 of the 20 varsity sports in the NEWMAC. Of these sports women's basketball, women's lacrosse, men's lacrosse, and baseball advanced to the postseason conference tournament. Both Seahawk ice hockey teams hosted playoff games in their final season in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) - with the men skating to a one-goal loss in the championship final.

This year's award class is comprised of student-athletes who set a standard for excellence in the classroom and on the field. 

Samantha Mansolf, winner of the Sister Philemon Banigan Award is recognized for her contributions to Salve Regina athletics as a team manager for the football team in the fall and the baseball team in the spring. She has dedicated her time to promoting, supporting and encouraging student-athletes and coaches however she can. She can be found recording stats in the dugout or on the sideline, assisting with practices, taking photos and designing graphics for fans to enjoy. Mansolf does all of this while holding a leadership position as a peer mentor for the University.

Joining Mansolf, the Seahawk Spirit Award is given to Anthony Del Tufo, from the men's ice hockey team. Not only is he a goalie and leader on the ice, his play-by-play and camera work have added significant value on the sidelines as well. He brings a professional and enthusiastic mindset to the press box. Following an injury last season, he continued to provide support through broadcast and game management roles to his fellow Seahawks. 

Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award winners Ashley Lefebvre, from field hockey, and Brandon Grover, from baseball, are recognized for the emphasis they placed on performance in the classroom as well as the playing field as seniors at Salve Regina. Grover and Lefebvre will leave a lasting legacy on the baseball and field hockey programs. Head baseball coach Eric Cirella commends Grover for his organization, leadership and commitment to his teammates. 

"In almost two decades of coaching college baseball, I would put Brandon Grover in the top 1% of best students, athletes, teammates, and people that I have ever coached," said Cirella. "His work ethic, leadership, and organizational skills are off the charts. He has been a team captain for three years and is the truest extension of the coaching staff, in a player that I have ever witnessed. And he is the glue that holds us together daily because of his attention to detail and commitment."

Lefebvre, who will continue on the graduate degree path at Salve Regina next year, adds this accolade to an impressive list of accomplishments which includes class of 2024 valedictorian. 

"Ashley Lefebvre served as a team captain this past fall and was a four-year member of the team," said head field hockey coach Jennifer Foster. "She was recognized as a NFHCA Scholar of Distinction this year and has been a NFHCA DIII National Academic Squad honoree all four years of her career while also being recognized on both the CCC and NEWMAC Academic All-Conference teams. She will be finishing her master's degree here at Salve next year after graduating later this month as a class valedictorian for the Salve Regina class of 2024… a distinguishment that she earned by maintaining a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA throughout her collegiate career."

Four athletes are highlighted with 2024 service awards. Julia Govoni, from women's lacrosse, took it upon herself to connect with local nonprofits, NOSOLO Brand and Block Cancer to promote at home games and help fundraise for their causes. Luke Maruca from the football team donated his white blood cells through Be The Match to a cancer patient. Rachael Stortz, from women's soccer, volunteers at New Vocations Thoroughbred Adoption Program, Rebuilding Saratoga and End of Life Care at hospitals in Saratoga. Garrett Szeremley from the men's ice hockey team organized the program's mental health awareness night. He teaches street hockey at local elementary schools and organized an elementary school reading buddy partnership with the team. 

In addition to their aforementioned recognitions Govoni and Grover are both winners of the 2024 Habershaw Stewardship Award. 

Isabella Hastings, Gina Richard and Parker Mabbett are the freshman class award winners. Hastings was the top Seahawk finisher at every cross country race during the 2023 season. As a freshman she is the third Salve Regina athlete ever to qualify for the DIII National Championship. She ran the first leg of the 4x800 meter relay that broke the Seahawk women's track and field record by 21 seconds on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Richard, from women's ice hockey, led the CCC in scoring with 15 goals last year and was rewarded for her stand-out freshman year with two significant post season accolades, CCC second team All-Conference and CCC Rookie of the Year. Mabbett got to work in his collegiate debut on the Salve men's ice hockey team from scoring his first goal against New England College to netting the team's sixth goal in the Seahawks 7-0 defeat of top seed Curry College in the semifinals of the CCC tournament.

The sophomore class honorees, Julia Decker from field hockey and Sean Mulligan from baseball, both provided noteworthy performances when their teams needed them this past year. Decker had 18 goals and two assists, finishing the season first in the NEWMAC in points and second in goals. One of her biggest goals of the season came with 13 seconds remaining on a corner which gave the team their first ever NEWMAC win to start the 2024 season. In just two years Mulligan he has been named CCC Rookie of the Year, All-Conference, and Regional Rookie of the Year. This year he has helped lead the Seahawks to the top of the NEWMAC standings.

Declan Walmsley and Kate Johnson are recognized as junior class award winners. Walmsley is a men's basketball captain and three-year starter. He led the team in scoring and rebounding on the way to being named to the NEWMAC all-conference team. He has made the dean's list in every semester and has recently been inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society as well as being named NEWMAC Academic All-Conference. Johnson, a sailing team captain, competed in the top crew position in most events since spring 2023, including the team's recent victory in the New England Dinghy Tournament. She mentors younger athletes by sailing with developing freshmen and her presence as an RA on campus has helped to improve team cohesion.

Women's basketball earns the Meghan E. Strathman Award slot with Briana Neary winning the accolade. Neary finished fourth in the NEWMAC in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game, sixth in field goal percentage at 49%, and nineth in free throw percentage at 79%. She hit the 1,000-point milestone in February and finished the season with 1,082 career points. The 2023-24 team captain earned a spot in the NEWMAC All-Conference team.

This year Liam Cooney from men's lacrosse and Jake Stack from football are both recognized as Brother Michael Reynolds Award winners. Cooney was a 2024 team captain. He has served four years as a SAAC representative, is on the Salve Regina's dean list, has over 100 career points, is an orientation leader and peer mentor, is an admissions student ambassador and a Mosaic staff writer. Stack was a 2024 football team captain, two-time NEWMAC player of the week and 2024 NEWMAC All-Conference honoree. He holds Salve Regina records in best completion percentage in a season, best passing efficiency in a season, best average yards per attempt in a season and best in touchdown passes in a game. 

The award celebration ended by honoring Maddie Cox, Christian Homa and Zack Ludemann with the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award. Cox is the 16th highest scoring player in program history, totaling 102 games played, 19 goals, 23 assists and 42 points. She was voted 2023-24 team MVP, selected CCC first team All-Conference and awarded New England Hockey Writers Association All-Star as one of the best defensemen in New England, a first in program history. In 2023 Homa put together one of the best seasons of any player in program history and earned himself unanimous first team All-American honors. This year, he leads the team in doubles, extra-base hits, and RBIs in his first season at second base. Ludemann adds athlete of the year to a long list of accomplishments. In the fall of 2023 he was named DIII football All Region, New England Sportswriters All Region, NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year, NEWMAC first team All-Conference and NEWMAC Academic All-Conference.

Seahawk Award winners 2024: