POUGHKEEPSIE, New York - The Marist Department of Athletics honored its senior class Monday night in a banquet at Christo's Restaurant. Maureen Duddy of softball, Allison Gionta of women’s lacrosse, and Joseph Radin of men’s lacrosse were honored as Sportspeople of the Year.
Duddy is the national leader in stolen bases per game this season. She holds the program’s and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s single-season record in that category. Duddy is also the program’s all-time career leader in stolen bases and runs scored. On March 30, she became the second player in program history to amass 200 career hits.
Gionta is the program’s all-time leader in assists in points, single-season record holder in points and goals, and single-game record holder in points. She has ranked in the top 10 nationally in points per game each of the last two years. Gionta has been named First Team All-MAAC each of the previous two seasons.
Radin is the program’s and conference’s single-season record holder for goals, and the program’s career record holder in goals. In January, he became the first player in program history to be chosen in the Major League Lacrosse Draft when he was selected by the Charlotte Hounds. He is also the first student-athlete in school history to be named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
The recipients of the James Pizzani Award were women’s lacrosse Jaclyn Murphy and operations assistant Randy Strickland. 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 President's Academic Achievement Award was presented to Elizabeth Peper of women’s cross country and track & field and Mark Vuono of men’s cross country and track & field. The President's Academic Achievement Award is presented to the male and female student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point average. Women’s track & field and men’s cross country were the recipients of the Athletic Director's award, which is presented to the male and female teams with highest cumulative grade-point average.
The Individual Strength & Conditioning awards were presented to Colleen McWilliams of softball, and John Brennan of football. Women’s lacrosse and men’s lacrosse won the Team Strength & Conditioning awards.
Each senior student-athlete was recognized at the banquet.
