Drexel University Athletics
Athletics Honors Best of Blue and Gold at Year-End Banquet
6/5/2015 12:11:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Drexel Athletics
PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel Athletic Department came together to honor the top performers of the 2014-15 academic year at the annual Best of Blue and Gold Banquet, held last night at the Drexel Rec Center. Hosted by field hockey's Jantien Gunter and Jenna Knouse, the event marked the culmination of the athletics calendar for the Dragons.
The event was highlighted by the annual recognition of the John and Mary Semanik Award recipients, the top senior student-athletes in the department. This year's winners were Melissa Chapman of women's soccer and Robert Liberatore of men's soccer. Chapman helped lead the team to two CAA Tournament appearances, finishing her career with three First Team All-CAA selections, two NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All_Region nods, three CAA Commissioner's Academic Awards and a Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area recognition. Liberatore helped the men's team to a pair of CAA championships and NCAA Tournament appearances while also twice earning the Philadelphai Soccer Six Academic Player of the Year award. He was twice a Third Team All-CAA choice and earned two Inquirer Academic All-Area team nods.
In addition to recognizing award winners from the individual Drexel athletics programs, the banquet highlighted the department for winning the CAA Food Drive Challenge in 2014-15. CAA Deputy Commissioner Ron Bertovich was on hand to present the award to SAAC President Joelle Hartke of women's lacrosse.
The Mario Mascioli Highest GPA Award was presented to Courtney Sabo of women's squash. Women's tennis and wrestling took home honors as the Dragon Cup winners for supporting fellow student-athletes at other events around campus. Meanwhile, Johnson Bowie was recognized for his 40 years of service in the department and his constant support of all the programs on campus with the Calvin Hicks Spirit Award.
The event continued with the naming of the All-Mario Team, honoring the ten best freshmen in the department, as well as the First, Second and Third Team All-Dragon squads to recognize the best overall performers at Drexel. A full list of those student-athletes can be found below.
Finally, the night turned into a celebration for the Drexel crew team which has now won three consecutive Dad Vail Regatta titles. Coach of the Year went to Paul Savell. The Dad Vail team title was named the Victory of the Year, while the Dragons' narrow defeat of Temple during the event earned Play of the Year. Culminating the honors was the 2014-15 Team of the Year honor to Drexel crew.
All-Mario Team
Third Team All-Dragon
Second Team All-Dragon
First Team All-Dragon
The event was highlighted by the annual recognition of the John and Mary Semanik Award recipients, the top senior student-athletes in the department. This year's winners were Melissa Chapman of women's soccer and Robert Liberatore of men's soccer. Chapman helped lead the team to two CAA Tournament appearances, finishing her career with three First Team All-CAA selections, two NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All_Region nods, three CAA Commissioner's Academic Awards and a Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area recognition. Liberatore helped the men's team to a pair of CAA championships and NCAA Tournament appearances while also twice earning the Philadelphai Soccer Six Academic Player of the Year award. He was twice a Third Team All-CAA choice and earned two Inquirer Academic All-Area team nods.
In addition to recognizing award winners from the individual Drexel athletics programs, the banquet highlighted the department for winning the CAA Food Drive Challenge in 2014-15. CAA Deputy Commissioner Ron Bertovich was on hand to present the award to SAAC President Joelle Hartke of women's lacrosse.
The Mario Mascioli Highest GPA Award was presented to Courtney Sabo of women's squash. Women's tennis and wrestling took home honors as the Dragon Cup winners for supporting fellow student-athletes at other events around campus. Meanwhile, Johnson Bowie was recognized for his 40 years of service in the department and his constant support of all the programs on campus with the Calvin Hicks Spirit Award.
The event continued with the naming of the All-Mario Team, honoring the ten best freshmen in the department, as well as the First, Second and Third Team All-Dragon squads to recognize the best overall performers at Drexel. A full list of those student-athletes can be found below.
Finally, the night turned into a celebration for the Drexel crew team which has now won three consecutive Dad Vail Regatta titles. Coach of the Year went to Paul Savell. The Dad Vail team title was named the Victory of the Year, while the Dragons' narrow defeat of Temple during the event earned Play of the Year. Culminating the honors was the 2014-15 Team of the Year honor to Drexel crew.
All-Mario Team
| Madison Dunn | Women's Soccer |
| Nadia Pelham-Lacey | Women's Lacrosse |
| Michael Kay | Men's Lacrosse |
| Michael Meuer | Men's Lacrosse |
| Adam Mistretta | Golf |
| Clarry Rodriguez Cruz | Women's Tennis |
| Hamza Laalej | Men's Tennis |
| Haley Hughes | Women's Squash |
| Stephen Loiseau | Wrestling |
| Dad Vail Men's Freshmen 8 | Crew |
Third Team All-Dragon
| Robert Liberatore | Men's Soccer |
| Lauren Stollar | Women's Soccer |
| Matt Cimato | Wrestling |
| David Pearce | Wrestling |
| Atticus Kelly | Men's Squash |
| 400 Free Relay | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Dad Vail Men's Varsity 4 | Crew |
| John Grosh | Men's Soccer |
| Jenna Knouse | Field Hockey |
| Cole Shafer | Men's Lacrosse |
Second Team All-Dragon
| Paula Ueno | Softball |
| Megan Hammaker | Women's Soccer |
| Jantien Gunter | Field Hockey |
| Dad Vail Men's 2nd Varsity 8 | Crew |
| Rachel Pearson | Women's Basketball |
| Nicole Pivonka | Women's Tennis |
| Jocelyn Quaile | Women's Lacrosse |
| Miles Thomas | Men's Lacrosse |
| Rachel Bernhardt | Swimming & Diving |
| Noel Blanco | Wrestling |
First Team All-Dragon
| Melissa Chapman | Women's Soccer |
| Jessica McCarthy | Field Hockey |
| Sarah Curran | Women's Basketball |
| Ryan Belka | Men's Lacrosse |
| Sylvia Llamas | Softball |
| Joel Berryman | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| David Sanchez | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Kevin Devoy | Wrestling |
| Chris Crawford | Golf |
| Damion Lee | Men's Basketball |
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
D/M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerCAA
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