WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 2011-12 Gallaudet University athletics year officially came to a close on Tuesday, May 1, in the Jordan Student Academic Center Multipurpose Room as the GU athletics department held its annual awards ceremony. Bison student-athletes from 14 varsity teams were recognized before a capacity crowd. Men’s track and field junior Darius Flowers (Birmingham, Ala.) and women’s track and field sophomore Leslye Kang (Wayne, N.J.) were named this year’s Student-Athletes of the Year.

Gallaudet Director of Athletics Michael Weinstock served as the host as the ceremony included remarks from Gallaudet President T. Alan Hurwitz, Provost Stephen Weiner, Dean of Student Affairs A. Dwight Benedict and a special tribute to men’s and women’s swimming head coach William Snape for his eight years of service to the athletics department and the swimming program.

The program started with the official announcement of every team’s awards including Most Outstanding Player, Most Improved and Coaches’ Award. The ceremony also highlighted the national and conference awards obtained and championships won this past year. Weinstock concluded the ceremony by thanking all of the student-athletes for their hard work in the classroom and on the field of play this past season.

Below is a list of all award winners. The winners and awards are listed in alphabetical order except for the Scholar-Athlete Award winners who are listed in numerical order first through 10th.

2011-12 GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS AWARDS CEREMONY

AL VAN NEVEL MEMORIAL AWARD
A senior athlete who holds a GPA of 3.5 or better, demonstrates positive leadership on and off the court/field and consistently exhibits good sportsmanship on and off the court/field.

Caleb Hinton (Football)

BISON COMEBACK AWARD
Overcame a significant injury or obstacle and returned to competition

Kara Gulvas (Softball)
Tony Tatum (Football)

BISON CREW OF THE YEAR
Outstanding student-worker among the Bison Crew

Christopher Green

BUFF BISON AWARD
Strong commitment to training in the offseason

Tommy Barksdale (Baseball)
Brian Bennett (Men’s Swimming)
Katie Benz (Women’s Soccer)
Leslye Kang (Women’s Basketball, Women’s Track and Field)
Griffin O’Hara (Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Track and Field)
Ann Whited (Women’s Basketball)

FAN OF THE YEAR
Gallaudet faculty and/or staff member(s) that show great Bison spirit and attend athletic events

Barry White

FOUR-YEAR ATHLETE AWARD
A student-athlete who has participated all four years at Gallaudet

Neal DiMarco (Football)
Daniel Fava (Men’s Basketball)
Ryan Hastings (Baseball)
Caleb Hinton (Football)
Paige Johnson (Softball, Women’s Volleyball)
Ryan Mahoney (Football)
James McGowan (Men’s Swimming)
Brandon McMillan (Men’s Basketball)
Sean Ryant (Men’s Soccer, Men’s Swimming)
Josh Sechman (Men’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer)
Emily Stemper (Women’s Swimming)
Tony Tatum (Football, Men’s Basketball)
John Van Wey (Football)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
First-year athlete that exceeds coaches’ expectations

Elena Ciccarelli (Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, Softball)
Kali Frowick (Women’s Volleyball)
Brandon Holsworth (Baseball)
Eric Setzer (Men’s Soccer)
Tyler Snider (Men’s Basketball, Football)
Alexandra Polivanchuk (Women’s Swimming)
Sarah Tubert (Women’s Volleyball)
Quentin Williams (Football)

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
Top 10 Cumulative GPA - Seniors only

1. Olivia Malcolm (Women’s Cross Country)
2. Daniel Burton (Men’s Swimming)
3. Paige Johnson (Women’s Volleyball)
4. Caleb Hinton (Football)
5. Amanda Lyndaker (Women’s Swimming)
6. Kinna Franklin (Women’s Swimming)
7. Jessica Buckwalter (Softball)
8. Danielle Koplitz (Women’s Swimming)
9. Sean Ryant (Men’s Swimming)
10. Brian Bennett (Men’s Swimming)

SERVICE AWARD
A coach or staff member that has made a valuable impact to Gallaudet athletics over the years

William Snape (Men’s and Women’s swimming head coach)

SPIELBERGER AWARD
Top Team Managers and Student Assistants

Jeremy Cormier (Men’s Basketball)
Michael Halloran (Women’s Basketball, Softball)
Michele Muszynski (Sports Information)
Jerez Selby (Football)
Abe Selzer (Baseball)
Felicia Williams (Softball)

STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Darius Flowers (Men’s Track and Field)
Leslye Kang (Women’s Track and Field)

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Johanna Arrigo (Women’s Soccer)
Daniel Fava (Men’s Basketball)
Sean Ryant (Men’s Swimming)

2011-12 Gallaudet University Team Awards

Pictures from the Gallaudet Athletics Awards Ceremony

Courtesy of Matt Kohashi

A full house attends Tuesday's Athletic Department awards ceremony

Student Athletes of the Year: (Pictured Left to Right)
Darius Flowers and Leslye Kang

Scholar Athletes of the Year: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Faculty Athletic Representative Kitty Baldridge, Caleb Hinton,
Amanda Lyndaker, Jessica Buckwalter, Sean Ryant, Brian Bennett

Fan of the Year: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Athletic Director Michael Weinstock and Barry White

 
Buff Bison of the Year: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Stephon Healey,
Ann Whited, Griffin O'Hara, Lesyle Kang,
Brian Bennett, Tommy Barksdale, Katie Benz

Spielberger Award Winners: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Game Management/Equipment Coordinator Kris Gould,
Jerez Selby, Michele Muszynski, Jeremy Cormier,
Michael Halloran, Felicia Williams, Abe Selzer

 
Unsung Hero Award Winners: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Assistant Athletic Director Lynn Ray Boren,
Sean Ryant and Johanna Arrigo

 
Rookies of the Year: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Mikaela Hudson,
Quentin Williams, Tyler Snider, Alexandra Polivanchuk,
Brandon Holsworth, Kali Frowick,
Sarah Tubert, Elena Ciccarelli

 
Bison Comeback Award: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Head Athletic Trainer Jon Vaughan,
Kara Gulvas and Tony Tatum

 
Service Award: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Athletic Director Michael Weinstock, William Snape

Four-Year Athlete Honorees: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Athletic Director Michael Weinstock, Ryan Hastings,
Caleb Hinton, James McGowan, Brandon McMillan,
Sean Ryant, Ryan Mahoney, Tony Tatum

Bison Crew of the Year: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Game Management/Equipment Coordinator Kris Gould,
Christopher Green

Al Nevel Memorial Award: (Pictured Left to Right) Gallaudet University
Athletic Director Michael Weinstock and Caleb Hinton