Equestrian 5.1.12

Student-Athletes Celebrated at Annual Athletics Banquet

Bronxville, NY - May 1, 2012

    Last night, the entire Sarah Lawrence Athletics Community got together to celebrate student-athletes and coaches under the tent on North Lawn, calling special attention to those athletes that really excelled this year whether in their play, their academics or in their character.

     With President Karen Lawrence, Dean Al Green and other special guests in attendance, the athletics department awarded its highest honors to the following students:

    The Alice Stone Ilchman Scholar Athlete Award - senior Aya Matsumoto (Sunland, Calif./Ojai Valley School) (Equestrian)

    Newcomer of the Year - first year Brenna Rice (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) (Women's Swimming)

    Athlete of the Year - sophomore Philip Naess (New York, N.Y./United Nations International School) (Men's Soccer, Swimming and Tennis)

    SAAC Spirit Award - senior Baxter Townsend (/) (Crew)

    Recognition was also given by team coaches, who honored those outstanding student-athletes who showed particular heart and dedication throughout their seasons in their respective sports. Each team awarded two honors, namely the Coaches' Award and the Gryphon Award, the qualities of each determined by the individual coach.

     For Basketball (Men's) - Coaches' Award : Nick Streltzov (Sacramento, Calif./C.K. McClatchy)
                                        Gryphon Award : Kyle Kouri

    For Crew (Men's and Women's) - Coaches' Award : Baxter Townsend (/)
                                                      Gryphon Award : Jocelyn Packman (/)

    For Cross Country (Men's) - Coaches' Award : Rob Cook
                                              Gryphon Award : Luc Mitchell (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill)

    For Cross Country (Women's) - Coaches' Award : Grace Poudrier (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe)
                                                   Gryphon Award : Taylor Zansberg (Scotch Plains, N.J./Solomon Schechter)

    For Equestrian (Men's and Women's) - Coaches' Award : Juli Janis
                                                             Rasky Award : Scheherazad Al-Salamin

    For Soccer (Men's) - Coaches' Award : Matt Elmquist
                                   Gryphon Award : Harper Hunt (Paris, Texas/Paris)

    For Softball (Women's) - Coaches' Award : Lauren Stein (Redmond, Wash./Redmond)
                                         Gryphon Award : Hayley Adams (Dover, N.H./Berwick Academy)

    For Swimming (Men's) - Coaches' Award : Doug Rubenstein (Los Angeles, Calif./Hamilton)
                                        Gryphon Award : Luc Mitchell (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill)

    For Swimming (Women's) - Coaches' Award : Liza Brandli
                                             Gryphon Award : Dzana Ashworth (Portland, Ore./Oregon Episcopal School)

    For Tennis (Men's) - Coaches' Award : Nate Currier (San Rafael, Calif./The Branson School)
                                   Gryphon Award : Aman Banerji

    For Tennis (Women's) - Coaches' Award : Jane Lowe (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks South)
                                       Gryphon Award : Mary Kim

    For Volleyball (Men's) - Coaches' Award : Riley Smith (West Linn, Ore./Palo Alto (Calif.))
                                       Gryphon Award : Harrison Holmes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Webb School)

    For Volleyball (Women's) - Coaches' Award : Jenny Sharp (Harpswell, Maine/North Yarmouth Academy)
                                           Gryphon Award : Xina Graham-Vannais (Newtown, Pa./George School)

    Also honored at the banquet were four year athletes, seniors Sarah Morris (Ganseveort, N.Y./Saddlebrook Prep) (tennis), Lauren Stein (Redmond, Wash./Redmond) (softball), Nick Streltzov (Sacramento, Calif./C.K. McClatchy) (basketball), Baxter Townsend (/) (crew), Antonia Verdi (Annapolis, Md./Key School) (tennis) and Adam Weissman (soccer), along with all the graduating seniors, who received framed pictures of their teams to commemorate their many experiences together.

    The Athletics Department would like to thank all the student-athletes and coaches who make this program what it is. Congratulations to all of you!

    Go Gryphons! Go Green!