Newburgh, NY – What an amazing year it's been here at the Mount! Last night, student-athletes, coaches, and staff came together to celebrate all of the amazing work, both on and off the field, our department has done. While only a handful of student-athletes were honored with awards, each and every Knight deserves recognition for their hard work and contributions to their programs.



The evening kicked off with opening remarks from Director of Athletics Shane Bell, Interim President Father Greg Fluet, and Director of Sports Information D.J. Bevivino. The three speakers shared their appreciation for being part of the Knight family and recounted memories from the year.

The first item of the banquet was the induction of the newest class of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society. The National Student-Athlete Honor Society's Alpha Pi Chapter was established at the Mount in March 2020. Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Prof. Scott Russell and chapter president Riley Norwood presented the candidates and led them in their oath.

The newly inducted members are Noah Anderson (Nursing, Baseball), Edwin Bernabe (Business, Soccer), Aubrianna Boyce (Psychology, Volleyball), Chris Calvario (Sports Management,           Baseball) Jenna Cedeno(Childhood Education, Softball), Kathleen Crooker (Health Care Management, Women's Lacrosse), Robert Desantis (Pyschology, Men's Lacrosse), Michael Di Tullio (Sports Management, Baseball), Anthony Dziedzic (Cyber Security, Men's Lacrosse), Axel Hernandez (History/Education, E-Sports), Liam Horan (History/Education, Baseball), Jessica Kerrigan (Nursing, Women's and Track), Gia Maietta (Biology, Cheerleading), Angelina Mainiero (Marketing, Women's Tennis), Aria Mandile (Mathematics, Women's Tennis), Darla Petricca (Math/Adolescent Education, Women's Soccer), Lauren Petrie (Sports Management, Women's Basketball), Raina Quinones (Nursing, Women's Soccer), Matthew Riccardi (Biology, Men's Soccer), Anastazia Sakowicz (Nursing, Women's Lacrosse), Stefanie Sommer (Secondary Education/Math, Women's Swimming), Trevor Zamudio (Finance, Men's Golf), and Michael Zeszutek (Math/Education, Men's Lacrosse).

 

The program then moved to the individual awards.

Scholar-Athletes of the Year
This award recognizes outstanding work both in the classroom and on the field.

Jayden Racca (Men's Basketball): This young man currently holds a 3.8671 GPA as a double major in advertising and public relations as well as journalism. He's a two-time captain, a four-time Skyline Academic Honor Roll member, and a two-time recipient of the NABC Honors Court award. Racca appeared in 70 games, totaling 373 career points and 168 rebounds.


Sophia Reed (Softball): This student-athlete holds a 3.8 GPA and completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in sports management in just four years at MSMC. She is an exemplary student, a great athlete, and a wonderful person. Reed is a consistent contributor to the team, always smiling and bringing positive energy.


Rookies of the Year
This award recognizes outstanding first-year players who made an immediate impact on their programs.

Kyan Muendell (Track and Field): This young man had an incredible first year. He dominated in the first competition, finishing first at the USMMA Invite with a toss of 144 feet 8 inches. Muendell set a new school record of 47.91m in his third meet and won the Skyline Conference tournament by a margin of 23 feet. He was also named Rookie of the Week by the conference.


Delisianna Naccarato (Women's Lacrosse): A two-sport athlete at the Mount, she made her mark on the women's lacrosse team this spring. With 22 goals, 9 assists, 35 ground balls, 35 draw controls, and 22 caused turnovers, this young woman controlled the midfield and quickly became a key player. She was recognized by the conference as Rookie of the Week in March.


Seniors of the Year
This honor is given to four-year members who made an impact on their team and in the classroom.


Christopher Christiano (Cross Country & Track): Christiano has a 3.94 GPA and holds school records for the indoor 800m, 1000m, and mile, as well as the outdoor 800m and 1500m. He is the president of the Tri-beta Honor Society and a member of the Gamma Sigma, Psi Chi, and Alpha Chi Honor Societies. He will graduate Summa Cum Laude and works as a tutor for biology and chemistry.


Olivia Ferrara (Softball): Ferrara holds a career batting average of .318 with 80 RBIs, a .404 slugging percentage, and 149 hits. While impressive offensively, she is best known for her outstanding defense in centerfield. Ferrara is a converted outfielder, and her hard work and dedication led to exceptional results. She also maintains a 3.4 cumulative GPA in nursing.


Knights of the Year

This award recognizes student-athletes who embody the traditions and pillars of the college, representing their teams well and making a difference in the community.


Adam Leone (Baseball): Leone is a team captain and one of the team's best hitters. He is highly respected by teammates and coaches, and is involved in numerous groups around campus, including Kappa Mu Epsilon, Chi Alpha Sigma, and Kappa Delta Pi.


Riley Norwood (Softball): A true example of a Knight of the Year, Norwood is involved across campus, in the community, in the classroom, and on the field. Some of her highlights include the Honors Nursing Program, 5x Dean's List, Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society President, Student Nurses Association President, a Morgan's Message Ambassador, and a Ralph Scholar. In addition to all her commitments, she is a .311 hitter and a strong third baseman.


Athlete of the Year

This award recognizes the student-athletes who are difference-makers, the X-factors, the ones their teams couldn't function without.


Kenny Leen (Men's Lacrosse): Leen was vital to his team's success. His 63% save percentage and average of 17 saves per game were crucial. He earned Skyline Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on the First Team All-Conference Skyline Team.


Grace MacDonald (Softball): MacDonald has had an outstanding year, stepping into a larger role with authority. Since the start of conference play, she's pitched every inning, posting a 9-3 record in conference games and supplementing those with mid-week wins. Her 3.52 overall ERA and dominant 1.52 ERA in conference play are impressive, as are her 123 strikeouts in 153 innings. MacDonald also leads her team in batting average (.444 overall, .489 in conference). Her passion and competitiveness are evident to anyone who's seen her play.


Student Workers of the Year

This award recognizes student-athletes who went above and beyond to help the department, working at games and supporting their teams.


Liz Petrellese (Women's Lacrosse): Petrellese served as a spotter for many soccer games and nearly all basketball games, even driving long distances during breaks to help out. She also contributed articles to the website, serves as an Admissions Ambassador, and is a positive presence on campus.


Emily Gursky (Swimming): Gursky sought out the department to expand her writing portfolio and quickly added photography to her skills, becoming a valuable asset for the teams. She is also the voice of Knights radio and a great person to know.


The Father Gregoire Fluet Award ("The Greg")

This award commemorates the biggest athletic supporter on campus, someone who bleeds Knights colors and cheers with unwavering enthusiasm.


Father Gregoire Fluet (Interim President, Campus Chaplain): If you've been to a Mount sporting event, you've likely seen (and definitely heard!) Father Greg on the sidelines. He's a tireless supporter of student-athletes both on and off the field, and it's fitting that this award celebrating fandom is named after him.


Closing Remarks
While only a handful of student-athletes could be formally recognized, the Mount Athletics Department is proud of each and every Knight who suited up this year.