May 4, 2010
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist department of athletics honored its senior class Monday night in a banquet at Christo's Restaurant. Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) and Loic Sessagesimi (Blonay, Switzerland) were honored as Sportspersons of the Year.
Fitz is the program's all-time leader in seven major statistical categories and the first women's basketball player in MAAC history to win Player of the Year three times. She was named Honorable Mention Associated Press All-America each of the last two years. Sessagesimi has been named Most Outstanding Performer at the MAAC Tournament each of the last three seasons and posted the best individual result in program history at the ITA Regional Championships. He also did not lose a match in conference play in his career.
Sessagesimi was also a recipient of the James Pizzani Award, along with Terrence Turner (Brooklyn, N.Y.) of football and Dawn Jan (Belleville, N.J.) of volleyball. 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 Brittany Burns (Watertown, N.Y.) of women's cross country and track and Matt Francis (Lansdale, Pa.) of men's lacrosse. 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 Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Pete Colaizzo's women's cross country and track and field teams 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.
Francis was also honored with the Strength & Conditioning Award, as was Samantha Swartz (Harleysville, Pa.). Those are presented to the male and female student-athletes seniors who have shown the most commitment, dedication and leadership while exhibiting an exemplary attitude in the weight room. They are the heart and soul of their teams during strength and conditioning. The winners of this award have their names engraved on a major plaque in the McCann Fitness Center.
A new award -- the team Strength & Conditioning Award -- was established this year, with the winners being men's lacrosse and water polo. This award is presented to the men's and women's teams that have shown the most commitment, dedication, consistency and leadership while exhibiting an exemplary attitude 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.
