Goucher Athletics Returns to In-Person Athletic Awards Banquet Monday Night
TOWSON, Md. - For the first time in three years, the Goucher athletic department held its annual Athletic Awards Banquet in person on Monday night inside the main gymnasium of the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.
Senior Justin Arriaga (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) of men's lacrosse was the recipient of the Neumann Award. Elizabeth Bobo (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) of women's volleyball and men's basketball's Cam Isaacs (Randallstown, Md./Randallstown) were the winners of the Josephine E. Fiske Gopher Pride Award, with Isaacs winning for the second time. Caroline Altman (Las Vegas, Nev./Adelson Educational Campus) of women's soccer and Omosesan Adebamgbe (Philadelphia, Pa./Lower Merion) were the athletics winners of the Ruth Baird Thompson '31 Award.
Equestrian's Celeste Fazioli (Seabrook, Texas/Clear Falls) was the Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, while Kristen Wilhelm (Columbia, Md./Liberty) earned the equestrian program's Neena Tolley Ewing Memorial Fund award. The Coaches' Award was presented to Julia Gazzola (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) of women's lacrosse. Finally, the women's tennis team was the recipient of the Robert Lewand Team GPA Award for the fifth straight year.
A total of 60 graduating senior student-athletes were recognized with senior gifts, while the annual All-Goucher Team was announced at the end of the evening.
Neumann Award winner Justin Arriaga with Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Javin Dodd
The Neumann Award has been presented annually since 1973 to the well-rounded student-athlete who, through his or her character, loyalty and dedication, has evolved into an effective leader, outstanding citizen and distinguished athlete. The members of the department take great pride in honoring the student-athlete who has shown, through example, the principles that Bill Neumann, a former chair of the History Department at Goucher, believed in.
Josephine E. Fiske Gopher Pride Award winners Elizabeth Bobo (top) and Cam Isaacs with Shaill Vasavada, Assistant Director of Student Engagement
The Josephine E. Fiske Gopher Pride Award, established in 1986, is presented annually to one men's sport athlete and one women's sport athlete in good academic standing who play important roles in the success of their teams. Variables to be weighed in determining the recipients include, but are not limited to, sportsmanship, citizenship, positive attitude, leadership and service to young adults or children.
Caroline Altman (top) and Omosesan Adebamgbe, winners of the Ruth Baird Thompson '31 Award, with Dr. Kate Carnell, Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement
The Ruth Baird Thompson '31 Award was established in 2002 and presented annually to one or more students who have demonstrated academic excellence and sportsmanship in an athletic endeavor, through their participation in Goucher's sports, dance and/or equestrian programs.
Women's tennis captains Ceri McCaffrey (left) and Sara Healy (right) accept the Robert Lewand Team GPA Award from Assistant Athletic Trainer Rachel Robbins
The Robert Lewand Team GPA Award is presented to the athletic team that holds the highest team grade point average for the prior calendar year. Women's tennis has won the award five straight times dating back to 2017-18.
Kristen Wilhelm receives the Neena Tolley Ewing Equestrian Award from Lauren Greenberg, Acting Director of the Counseling Center
The Neena Tolley Ewing Memorial Fund award is an honor for the student on the Goucher equestrian team who is judged to demonstrate the most outstanding leadership, scholarship, riding talent and teamwork.
The Scholar-Athlete Award has been presented annually since 1923 to a member of the junior class who has maintained high standards of academic achievement and consistently demonstrated varied and admirable participation in athletics and extra-cirricular activities. In choosing a recipient, coaches and staff are asked to consider 70 percent a student's academic background, 20 percent athletic achievement and 10 percent extra-cirricular experience. Fazioli, a junior member of the equestrian team who is a double major in political studies and environmental science, had the award accepted on her behalf by teammate Sydney Smith.
Coaches' Award winner Julia Gazzola with Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Andrea Preston
The Coaches' Award is given annually to the senior athlete or athletes that have most competitively represented Goucher College throughout his or her athletic career. Factors involved in the selection of the winner include accomplishments in their sport, including awards and honors garnered for athletic ability, and displayed leadership skills towards his or her teammates.
The 2021-22 All-Goucher Team was announced at the end of the evening. The All-Goucher Team, established in 2010-11, is selected by a panel of coaches and administrators and represents the 10 most distinguished athletes and most outstanding coach during an academic year. Full releases on the All-Goucher Team will be posted early next week.
The 2021-22 All-Goucher Second Team (L-R): Belle St. Jean (women's soccer), Jeremiah Odubade (men's soccer), Cole Jackson (equestrian) and Tahira Bakare (women's track and field). Not pictured, Calis Nguyen (men's tennis)
All-Goucher First Team (L-R): Steve Baum (head coach, women's tennis), Makaylin Shoop (equestrian), Omosesan Adebamgbe (men's tennis), Anais Dhillon (women's tennis), Brian Kane (men's tennis), Carter Hinton-Ayodele (women's track and field)