May 1, 2003
Poughkeepsie, NY - The Marist College Department of Athletics honored the members of its Class of 2003 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 Susan Golden (Vernon, CT), a member of the women's cross country and track and field team, and Joseph Crespo (Bolton, CT), a men's soccer player, Sportspersons of the Year.
Golden has had a record setting career over her four years at Marist, currently holding six individual and six relay school records. She became the first female track and field athlete to score points at the ECAC Championship, as she placed 4th in the 1,000-meters in February 2003. Golden has won 10 MAAC Titles between the indoor and Outdoor Championships, most recently the 2003 Indoor mile and the 2002 Outdoor 800-meter run. At the 2000 MAAC Indoor Championship, Golden won the 800 and 1,500-meter events, and earned the program's first Most Outstanding Athlete award.
Crespo will graduate as one of the top offensive threats in Marist College men's soccer history. He finished his career third all-time with 21 assists, a number he equaled in career goals, which ranks him 9th in program history. Combined he totaled 63 career points, which is the 6th highest total in Marist history. Crespo was named the 2000 MAAC Player of the Year, and led Marist to its first-ever MAAC Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament appearance that season. He has also earned All-MAAC First Team honors three times, and was named to the All-New York State Team in each of his last two seasons.
Marist also announced that Jen Klier (Williamsville, NY) and David Slater (St. Alban's, UK) 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. Klier served as team captain for the Red Foxes cross-country and track and field teams, a position that Slater held with the men's tennis program.
The York Barbell Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year were presented to softball player Kathleen McEvily (White Plains, NY) and Mike Loniewski (Wayne, NJ) of the football team. 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 Jenny Shanks (Sound Beach, NY) of the women's soccer team, while David Bennett (Salt Lake City, UT), a basketball player, earned the male award. The duo became the third and fourth student-athletes in department history to earn CoSida/Verizon Academic All-America accolades, with Bennett earning Second Team honors and Shanks Third Team.
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 2003 award were the Men's Tennis Team and the Women's Soccer Team.
The Marist College Athletics Class of 2003 has helped Marist capture three consecutive MAAC Commissioner Cups, awarded for overall athletic department excellence, and helped the school to the distinction of being the first in conference history to earn the honor in four consecutive academic years.
