POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The presentation of the finalists for this year's Senior Awards continues with the Male Strength & Conditioning Award announcement.
 
On Tuesday, the series opened with the announcement of the Female Strength & Conditioning Award finalists. On Thursday and Friday, the women's and men's finalists for the Pizzani Award will be introduced. Starting at April 20, each of our nominees for Sportsperson of the Year will be featured.
 
Here are the men's finalists, with comments from Strength & Conditioning Coach Aaron Suma, as well as each team's head coach:
 

SAM AHLGRIM - LACROSSE

 
Suma: "Sam is one of my favorite athletes to work with. Every lift he comes in and gets right to work and I have never had to coach him on anything but technique because I know he will always bring the intensity and effort without me having to say a word. Sam is usually focused on doing his work in the weight room, but isn't afraid to call out others if he deems them not working to the team's standards."
 
Men's lacrosse head coach Keegan Wilkinson: "The dedication that Sam has shown toward his strength training is unwavering. He is a true competitor in the weight room and has never taken a single lift or off season for granted, every year on campus he has become bigger, faster and stronger. This dedication has helped him to become one of the best defenders in our conference."
 

LUKE BUTERA - FOOTBALL

 
Suma: "Luke is the absolute embodiment of what a model Marist student-athlete is. His leadership and determination in the weight room lifted not only himself to new heights, but also many of his teammates. You never had to tell Luke anything twice, and anytime he was asked to do something he would reply with a resounding 'Yes Sir'. Even though he had a few physical setbacks, his spirit never wavered and he came back stronger and more resilient from each one."
 
Football head coach Jim Parady: "Luke used the weight room as a motivational area to overcome the injuries he suffered. He built himself bigger and stronger, and it helped him mentally and physically. He set a school record in the bench press."
 

GRANT DIXON - FOOTBALL

 
Suma: "I have had the pleasure of coaching close to 2,000 student athletes in my time as a Strength & Conditioning coach, and I have never seen such a linear physical progression in an athlete as I have in Grant. His teammates nicknamed him Captain America his freshman year because he does everything right and what you ask of him. His mentality in the weight room is unparalleled and it shows every testing day.  He currently holds multiple school Strength & Conditioning records."
 
Parady: "Grant brings consistent effort every day in the weight room. His efforts are reflected in the numbers. It shows his overall athletic ability to be near the top in every area that we test in."
 

SANTOSH KRISHNAN - TRACK & FIELD

 
Suma: "Tosh was an incredible presence in the weight room. Coach Pete Colaizzo informed me during his freshman year that Tosh had cystic fibrosis, and had he not I would never have known because his intensity and energy in the weight room were among the best in my experience as a Strength & Conditioning coach. Also, his love of Classic Rock made 6 a.m. lifts even more enjoyable for Coach Colaizzo and myself!"
 
Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Pete Colaizzo: "Tosh brought great energy to our morning lifts, as he did every day in practice. He was a true leader for us, on and off the track."
 

MICHAEL LORELLO - SOCCER

 
Suma: "Mike has been a great weight room ambassador for the men's soccer team over his career. He comes to every lift prepared and focused for the task at hand. His determination and leadership over his four years are infectious and he has helped many of his teammates make great physical improvements that showed on the field."
 
Men's soccer head coach Matt Viggiano: "Mike is the hardest worker on the team on and off the field. He's known for multiple workouts a day. He's a great example on how he fine-tuned his body to compete and excel at Division I level. He's even known for sneaking into South Field Fitness after hours in the preseason."
 

JOHN PORT - BASEBALL

 
Suma: "John joined the baseball team as a walk on, but you would never have known by the work ethic he displayed in the weight room. He came prepared and energized to every lift and really earned the respect of his teammates. If John wasn't traveling with the team, he was in the weight room working to get better so that when the opportunity came he would be ready."
 
Baseball head coach Chris Tracz: "John has one of the largest work capacities of anyone I have ever coached. He is driven and disciplined. He will catch bullpens for hours, throw on a weighted vest and run, and then put in a full workout in the weight room.  Every day he is lock-focused on his mental and physical development using our athletic facilities. John leads our baseball program through his endless work ethic."
 

CHRIS SCHLAPPICH - LACROSSE

 
Suma: "Chris came to Marist 'ahead of the game' in strength and conditioning compared to most athletes. Chris worked with a performance specialist friend of mine in high school who helped him create a great physical literacy and enhanced training age when he got to Marist. With this, Chris was able to see consistent and incredible improvements athletically and it really transferred to his field of play, but he didn't stop there. Chris and I had numerous conversations about strength and conditioning and I could see his thirst for knowledge and understanding of it, not just for his own personal growth, but for the men's lacrosse team as a whole. That really helped bring an already great team culture to even greater heights."
 
Wilkinson: "Chris has strived to put himself in optimal shape from a strength standpoint since he arrived on campus. During his journey to get there, he has helped mentor countless members of the team and in doing so has helped create a culture of excellence in the weight room."
 

RYAN SINNOTT - SOCCER

 
Suma: "Ryan is a true weight room warrior in a sense that he never complained and always did everything he could to strive for his very best. Ryan had a hampering injury that lasted most of his career and has forced many other athletes to end their careers before their eligibility was up, but Ryan pushed through and didn't let it get to him. Instead of coming to me and asking what exercises he shouldn't be doing in the weight room, he would ask what substitutions and corrective exercises he could be doing so that he could still achieve the improvements he was working for and perform at his best."
 
Viggiano: "First one in, last one out. Ryan pushed himself to new heights and transformed himself into a beast in the weight room. He overcame injuries and grinded every day."
 

MATT THOMSON - FOOTBALL

 
Suma: "Matt is an incredible person. When you are having a conversation with him, he is extremely smart, collected, and educated, but when he gets in the weight room (and on the football field) he becomes a completely different person from an intensity standpoint. Matt's mindset transforms and his energy and intensity skyrocket. If you are going to be working out with him, you better match it or go away because if you aren't, then you're only wasting his and your time." 
 
Parady: "Matt's mentality in the weight room is the same as it is in everyday life. He attacks everything with a high level of effort and intensity. Through that, he's able to achieve very impressive numbers in the weight room."
 

DAN WITTEKIND - FOOTBALL

 
Suma: "Dan is a true leader by example. One of the strongest overall athletes to ever attend Marist, Dan always pushes himself to and past his limits in the weight room and continues to raise the bar that others strive for. Never deterred by setbacks, Dan had shoulder labrum surgery and came back to set the school bench press record nine months later. A true 'walk the walk' leader."
 
Parady: "The weight room is a place where Dan finds great joy, and the numbers reflect that. It's a place where he feels very comfortable. He gets other people energized in there with his work ethic."