Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Senior Athletes Honored at Annual Awards Dinner
5/4/2010 8:00:00 AM | Bison Club
May 4, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Nineteen outstanding Bucknell senior student-athletes were presented awards at the 49th Annual Department of Athletics & Recreation Senior Recognition Dinner, held Tuesday evening in the Terrace Room on campus. The outstanding careers of some 138 senior athletes were honored at the dinner, and Patriot League champion swimmer Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen) and two-time All-America wrestler Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) walked off with the evening's top honor, the Christy Mathewson Award, which goes to the outstanding male and female senior athletes.
Christy Mathewson Award winner Courtney Warren  |
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Warren enjoyed an outstanding career at Bucknell, culminating in her second Patriot League title in the 100-yard backstroke and her second consecutive ECAC title in that event in 2010. She was the only Bison to win a Patriot League event during her four years, while she is the lone swimmer in school history to win two career Eastern crowns. The Bucknell record-holder in the 100 back (54.55), Warren ranks in the top 10 in program history in four different events, and was a member of 14 relay squads that posted top-10 times. She was a four-time All-Patriot League selection, including two berths on the first team.
Rendos became the second wrestler in program history to claim two career All-America honors with a sixth-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Championships and a fifth-place showing in 2009. The 165-pounder posted a 33-7 record in 2009-10 and finished his career with a program-record 121 victories. This year became Bucknell's first-ever individual EIWA champion and finished his career with 24 pins, good for seventh in program annals. A four-time NCAA qualifier, Rendos went 5-3 at the 2010 NCAA Championships and claimed 12 victories at the national tournament in his career.
Elsewhere, women's water polo All-American Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) and men's soccer All-American Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) were given the Bison Club Award, presented to the senior athletes who best exemplify the winning spirit of the University's athletic program.
The Alvin F. Jackson Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, presented for outstanding academic and athletic achievement, and future promise as Bucknell alumni, went to standout rower Kim Weaver (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and men's soccer Academic All-American Patrick Selwood (Darnestown, Md./The Heights School).
Chelsey Musante (Shelton, Conn./Shelton), a Patriot League champion thrower on the Bison women's track and field team, and Patriot League champion golfer Andrew Cohen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) were awarded the Lee S. "Bud" Ranck Memorial Award, presented for outstanding spirit and contributions to the Bucknell athletic program.
The Bradley N. Tufts Award went to Patriot League Women's Tennis Player of the Year Tania Varela (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy) and two-time men's lacrosse All-American Austin Winter (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes). The Tufts Award is given in recognition of exceptional athletic achievement and contribution to Bucknell athletics.
The Robert A. Latour Service Award, presented for extraordinary service to Bucknell and local communities, went to softball stalwart Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) and men's track and field's Kyle Anthony (Barryville, N.Y./Eldred Central), who was just named the 2010 Patriot League Championship Field Athlete of the Meet after winning both the long jump and triple jump.
The Bryan-Humphreys Award, presented to an individual for outstanding versatility within his/her sport, went to multi-event track and field star Amy Mantush (Drums, Pa./Hazleton) and all-conference running back and kickoff return specialist A.J. Kizekai (Pawtucket, R.I./Blair Academy).
The Edward W. Pangburn Award, presented for sportsmanship, fellowship and contribution to the University, went to all-conference middle distance runner Allison Janda (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) and four-time NCAA Wrestling Championships qualifier David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central).
Mary Wilson (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West), the coxswain on Bucknell's 2010 Patriot League champion varsity eight, and All-America water polo goalie Nick Donahue (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lawrenceville) earned the Ronald J. "Pete" Pedrick Award, presented in recognition of demonstrated improvement and special contributions to Bucknell athletics over a four-year period.
Men's track and field's Sean Coyne (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) was bestowed the `Ray Bucknell Diversity Award for his work with the Bucknell Office of LGBT Awareness and other community service organizations in an effort to promote social understanding on campus.
In addition to the student-athlete awards, two alumni and two staff/faculty members received special awards. Robert Midkiff, Bucknell's Assistant Provost, received the ECAC Appreciation Award, which is presented to students, faculty, staff or friends of Bucknell for extraordinary contribution to the Bucknell department of athletics. Prof. Tim Sweeney received the Bucknell Athletics Academic Appreciation Award in honor of his work with Bison student-athletes over the last three decades.
Dianne Czarnecki `87 and Michael Sinkus `74 were presented Alumni Athlete Achievement Awards, given to former Bucknell athletes who have achieved success in their chosen profession.
Bucknell Senior Athletic Awards Summary
Bucknell Athletics Academic Appreciation Award: Tim Sweeney.
ECAC Appreciation Award: Robert Midkiff, Assistant Provost.
Alumni Athlete Achievement Award: Dianne Czarnecki `87 (softball), Michael Sinkus '74 (golf).
`Ray Bucknell Diversity Award: Sean Coyne (track & field).
Ronald J. "Pete" Pedrick Award: Mary Wilson (rowing), Nick Donahue (water polo).
Edward W. Pangburn Award: Allison Janda (track & field), David Marble (wrestling).
Margaret L. Bryan-Albert E. Humpreys Award: Amy Mantush (track & field), A.J. Kizekai (football).
Robert A. Latour Service Award: Sherry Finkel (softball), Kyle Anthony (track & field).
Bradley N. Tufts Award: Tania Varela (tennis), Austin Winter (lacrosse).
Lee S. "Bud" Ranck Memorial Award: Chelsey Musante (track & field), Andrew Cohen (golf).
Alvin F. Jackson Jr. Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award: Kim Weaver (rowing), Patrick Selwood (soccer).
Bison Club Award: Valentina Rozas (water polo), Conor O'Brien (soccer).
Christy Mathewson Award: Courtney Warren (swimming), Andy Rendos (wrestling).
