May 5, 2004
Poughkeepsie, NY - The Marist College Department of Athletics honored the members of its Class of 2004 this evening at the Annual Senior Awards Dinner, held at Christos Restaurant in Poughkeepsie. The Red Foxes recognized each senior student-athlete, as well as naming Stephanie Del Preore (Livingston, NJ), a member of the women's basketball team, Alyson Fiorillo (Pottsville, PA) a water polo player, and Eli Bisnett-Cobb (Ballston Spa, NY), a member of the men's track and field teams, Sportspersons of the Year.
Del Preore was a four-year letterwinner for the Red Foxes and saved her best season, for the best season in program history. She led Marist to numerous first's this year, including the first NCAA Tournament appearance and the program's first MAAC Tournament and Regular Season Titles. The Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association named Del Preore First Team All-Met this season, as well as earning All-MAAC Second Team honors, as voted by the league coaches. She averaged 23 points and 11 boards in earning MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player accolades in leading Marist to the tournament crown. She finishes her career sixth all-time with 1,195 points and fifth all-time with 709 career rebounds.
Fiorillo was honored for her efforts as a member of the women's water polo team, as well as her three seasons as a member of the swimming and diving team. She graduates as the water polo program's all-time leading scorer, with 152 career goals. Fiorillo was named to the All-MAAC First Team this season, after becoming the first water polo player in Marist history to earn MAAC postseason awards last season. As a swimmer, Fiorillo helped the Red Foxes to the 2002 MAAC Championship and won individual gold as a junior, capturing the 100-butterfly title.
Bisnett-Cobb has single-handedly re-written the men's indoor and outdoor track and field record books. With competitions still to be run this spring, Bisnett-Cobb has broken nearly 30 school records. He is a two-time MAAC Champion in the high jump, winning the 2004 indoor title and the 2002 outdoor event. He has earned All-MAAC accolades in 15 events during his career at Marist. Bisnett-Cobb became the first-ever Red Fox to qualify for the Indoor IC4A Championship in the hurdles. He is also a six-time MAAC All-Academic Team honoree.
Marist also announced that Maureen Magarity (Wappingers Falls, NY) and Jay Nahama (Hampton, NJ) the winners of the James Pizzani Award. The Pizzani Award is given annually to the persons whose service, dedication and loyalty to the advancement of Marist Athletics goes beyond all other and embodies the spirit of James Pizzani. Both Magarity and Nahama served as team captains the past two years, Magarity with the women's basketball team and Nahama with the men's lacrosse team.
The York Barbell Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year were presented to Bisnett-Cobb and women's soccer and lacrosse player Katie Tutak (North Tonawanda, NY). The award is presented annually and is given to a male and female student-athlete who empowers the principles of strength and conditioning to become a true leader in their sport.
The President's Academic Achievement Award is presented to the male and female student-athlete who attains the highest aggregate grade point average among their peers. The female recipient was Tutak, while Peter Fuller (Plymouth, MN), a member of the baseball team, earned the male award.
The Athletics Director Award is presented annually to the men's and women's program which boasts the highest cumulative team Grade Point Average. The recipients of the 2004 award were the Men's Tennis Team and the Women's Softball Team.
The Marist College Athletics Class of 2004 has helped Marist capture two of its record four consecutive MAAC Commissioner Cups, awarded for overall athletic department excellence. The Senior Class has also helped the Red Foxes lead the conference in Academic Honor Roll selections the past two years.
