May 6, 2009
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist department of athletics honored its senior class Tuesday night in a banquet at Christo's Restaurant. Obozua Ehikioya (West Hempstead, N.Y.), Girma Segni (Bronx, N.Y.) and Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) were honored as Sportspersons of the Year.
Ehikioya, a five-year member of the football team, holds the Marist career touchdown record with 39, and ran for 3,585 yards in his career, setting the program's Division I record. Segni, a cross country and track athlete, owns the fastest times in school history at Van Cortlandt, in the indoor 5K and the outdoor 5K and 10K. Viani is the first female student-athlete in Marist history to play in four NCAA Tournaments, recording three tournament victories and helping the team become the first in MAAC history to reach the Sweet 16 in 2007.
The recipients of the James Pizzani Award were Jake Dembow (Merrimack, N.H.) of football, Janet Mathes (Harwinton, Conn.) of women's crew and Katelin McCahill (East Grand Rapids, Mich.) of water polo. The Pizzani Award is given to the male and female seniors who best embody the qualities of the late James Pizzani, which are consistent with the college's core ideals of excellence in education, pursuit of higher human values and dedication to the principle of service. James Pizzani was a 1964 Marist graduate who died in 1988 after a nine-month battle with cancer.
The recipients of the President's Academic Achievement Award were Kathryn Bernarde (Latham, N.Y.) of women's cross country and track and Chris Nacca (Rochester, N.Y.) of men's soccer. The President's Academic Achievement Award is presented to the male and female student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point average. The winners of this award have their names engraved on a major plaque which is housed in the lobby of the McCann Center.
Head Coach Tim Smith's men's tennis team and head coach Tom Hanna's volleyball team were the recipients of the Athletic Director's award, presented to the male and female teams with highest cumulative grade-point average. The winning programs are inscribed on a major plaque in the lobby of the McCann Center.
Ray Fiumefreddo (Wayne, N.J.) of the football team and Stephanie Garland (Long Valley, N.J.) of the women's lacrosse team were honored with the Strength & Conditioning Awards. Those are presented to the male and female student-athletes who put forth the most time and exhibit the most effort in the weight room. The winners of this award have their names engraved on a major plaque in the McCann Fitness Center.
Each senior student-athlete was recognized at the banquet.
