POUGHKEEPSIE - The Marist Department of Athletics honored its senior class Monday night in a banquet at Christo's Restaurant. Rycke Guiney of women’s soccer and Chuckie Looney of football were honored as Sportspersons of the Year.
Guiney is the women’s soccer program’s all-time leader in assists and points, a three-time All-MAAC honoree, a MAAC All-Rookie Team recipient and two-time MAAC All-Tournament Team honoree. She was an integral part of the program’s first MAAC championship team in 2011.
Looney set the program’s single-season and all-time records in completions, attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns, as well as the single-game record for passing touchdowns. He led his team to the PFL championship in 2013.
The recipients of the James Pizzani Award were Leanne Ockenden of women’s lacrosse and Gannon Osborn of men’s lacrosse. The Pizzani Award is given to those 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 Siclovan, Flavia of women’s crew and Kevin O’Sullivan of men’s cross country and track. The President's Academic Achievement Award is presented to the male and female student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point average. Volleyball and men’s tennis were the recipients of the Athletic Director's award, presented to the male and female teams with highest cumulative grade-point average.
The Individual Strength & Conditioning awards were presented to Leanne Ockenden of women’s basketball andPaul Sakowski of football. The Team Strength & Conditioning awards were presented to women’s lacrosse and men’s lacrosse.
The beginning of the Glenn Marinelli Award for Excellence in Athletic Training was announced. This will be awarded annually, beginning this year, to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in the study of athletic training at Marist. The award will be given at a Baccalaureate ceremony the day prior to graduation, which will take place this year on May 23 in Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel. Marinelli, Marist’s Head Athletic Trainer, has been battling cancer for the past three years.
Each senior student-athlete was recognized at the banquet.
