April 29, 2002
Poughkeepsie, NY - The Marist College Department of Athletics honored the members of its Class of 2002 this evening at the Annual Senior Awards Dinner, held at Christo's Restaurant in Poughkeepsie. The Red Foxes recognized each senior student-athlete, as well as naming Dave Dobbins (Rochester, NY), a member of the men's swim team, and Sean Kennedy (Northport, NY), a men's basketball player, and women's basketball player Diesa Seidel (Red Hook, NY) Sportspersons of the Year.
Dobbins was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Most Outstanding Swimmer four times during his career, and holds five individual school records. He has played a role in the Red Foxes swimming success, winning four MAAC titles during his career, and helping Marist to a program best second place finish at the 2002 ECAC Championship.
Kennedy was named the CollegeInsider.Com Mid-Major Most Valuable Player this year, after finishing third in the nation with his 7.9 assists per game. He ranks second all-time at Marist with 770 assists, and finished 20th on the all-time scoring list with 1,007 points. Kennedy led Marist to a share of the MAAC Regular Season title this season, and is a two-time First-Team All-MAAC Selection. He was also named to the All-Region One First-Team by the NABC.
Seidel is a four-year letter winner with the women's basketball team, and will graduate as the all-time leading shot blocker in program history. She led the Red Foxes to 32 wins during her career, scoring 1,248 points in the process, ranking fourth all-time. She was named to the All-MAAC Second Team this season, and earned all-MAAC accolades in each of her four seasons. She also earned All-MAAC Academic Team honors as a junior and senior.
Marist also announced Seidel and Patrick Dahnert (Scottsdale, AZ) the winners of the James Pizanni Award. The Pizzani Award is given annually to the persons whose service, dedication and loyalty to the advancement of Marist Athletics goes beyond all other and embodies the spirit of James Pizanni. Seidel and Dahnert are the Co-Chairs of the Marist Captains Council and represented the department at the NCAA Leadership Conference this past summer.
The York Barbell Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year was presented to Seidel and football player Terry Simpson (Middletown, NY). The award is presented annually and is given to a male and female student-athlete who empowers the principles of strength and conditioning to become a true leader in their sport.
The President's Academic Achievement Award is presented to the male and female student-athlete who attains the highest aggregate grade point average among their peers. The female recipient was Melissa DiBernardo (Hopewell Junction, NY) of the women's crew team, while Brian Garofola (Bellport, NY) of the men's soccer team earned the men's award.
The Athletics Director Award is presented annually to the men's and women's program which boasts the highest cumulative team Grade Point Average. The recipients of the 2002 award were the Men's Tennis Team and the Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Team.
The Marist College Athletics Class of 2002 has helped Marist capture three consecutive MAAC Commissioner Cups, awarded for overall athletic department excellence and look to become the first school in conference history to earn the honor in four consecutive academic years.
