Friday, April 23, 2010 by Eddie Anderson

4-8-2010 - Athlete of the Year, President’s Award, and Gyrene Awards Announced

AMU held its Second Annual Athletic Banquet on Thursday, April 8, 2010, at the Bob Thomas Student Union, where the 2009-2010 student athletes were given achievement awards.

Opening remarks were made by the Director of Athletics, Brian Scanlan, who introduced Ave Maria’s new coaches Jen Mavretich (Women’s Rowing), Barry Fagan (Head Football Coach), and Brad Rumsey (Offensive Line Coach). Shortly thereafter, Scanlan and Athletics Assistant Jessica Copeland, wife of men’s basketball coach Jamon Copeland, announced and handed out the conference awards to those student athletes recognized this year in The Sun Conference.

 

Women’s volleyball and basketball athlete Saira Morgan received her Champions of Character Award. This prestigious award is given to just one athlete among the 10 schools in the conference, and is voted on and awarded by the conference coaches. Morgan was selected as team captain for the 2009 volleyball season. Morgan was major asset for the Lady Gyrenes. Offensively she averaged 1.54 kills per set, and defensively, she averaged .89 digs per set. Saira is a true champion of character on and off the court. In addition to being a part of the volleyball team, Morgan is a student worker and played on the women's basketball team. Last year, Morgan was named team captain of the women's basketball team, and received the Gyrene Award given to the school's top athlete. This year, Morgan averaged 6.1 points per game for 183 total points on the year in 30 games played. She had an impressive .586 field goal percentage at the forward position.

 

Volleyball MVP Adrianna Vianna was given her First Team All-Conference award. Vianna, a senior middle hitter/blocker from Sao Paolo, Brazil, was one of just 12 players selected in the entire conference. This year, Vianna started every game and led the Lady Gyrenes with 245 total kills. On August 28th versus Southeastern University, Vianna had an amazing 22 kills. She also led her team with 49 blocks that was highlighted by two, 7 block performances (October 16th vs. Edward Waters College, October 31st vs. Warner University). The All-Conference roster was voted on by the league head coaches. Vianna was also named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year and her team’s Most Valuable Player. Vianna is currently an assistant coach for head volleyball coach Mary Reed.

 

Emily Huber who was named Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-Conference in The Sun Conference for her outstanding performance on the basketball court this season was given her awards. She was also named The Sun Conference’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 31, 2009. The Indianapolis, Ind. native averaged 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists on the week, shooting 36 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line. Emily was the first student-athlete ever to receive this award at AMU. Huber played 35 minutes against NCAA II Palm Beach Atlantic and totaled 12 points, five rebounds and nine assists to lead the Gyrenes past the Sailfish, 70-53. Two days later, Huber scored 15 points and grabbed six boards to help Ave Maria rebound from a 17-point deficit in the first half to beat conference opponent Warner 67-63. In addition to handing out four assists and registering a block, she was 7-of-9 from the free throw line, including a 4-for-4 clip in the final minute of play.

 

Huber’s teammate, Erika Derks, a junior from Slinger, Wisconsin received her award for being named to the First Team All-Conference. Derks led the Lady Gyrenes with 11 points per game and amassed a total of 330 points on the season. Derks was a major contributor for the Lady Gyrenes who finished in fourth place in The Sun Conference with an 8-6 conference record. A fourth place finish would have allowed AMU to advance to post-season play but as a first year member of the conference they were not allowed to move on. Derks scored a season high 20 points in the January 24th 80-36 blowout win over Johnson and Wales University. Derks drained 30 three-pointers in 88 attempts for the Lady Gyrenes. She scored in double digit figures 18 times during the 30 game season.

 

Head Women’s Basketball Coach Bob Batson was awarded the women’s basketball Coach of the Year Award for guiding the team to a fourth place finish in The Sun Conference after winning just four games last year.

 

Wrapping up the conference awards was Dylan Fugate of the men’s basketball team. The Valrico, Florida native was named to The Sun Conference Second Team after leading the Gyrenes to fourth place finish in the conference. Like the women’s team, it was the Gyrenes’ first year as a member of the conference which kept them from advancing to the playoffs. The 6’5”, 200 pound Dylan Fugate led the Gyrenes in scoring from the forward position with 11.67 points per game. His scoring highlights include a 24 point game against Warner University 1/15/10 and a 23 point game against Truett-McConnell College 11/28/10. He reached double digits in 16 of 26 games and scored 17 points in a 84-82 upset road win over #22 nationally ranked Warner University on February 5th.

 

Individual team awards were given by coaches Dennis Myer (golf), Brian Scanlan (representative for men’s soccer), Frank Frostino (women’s soccer), Bob Batson (women’s basketball), Jamon Copeland (men’s basketball), Mary Reed (Volleyball), Shawn Summe (Baseball), and Keith Gibson (Softball). Each coach had the opportunity to report on their team’s progress and praise the players they pushed through the season. There is a complete listing of these awards at the end of the article. Brian Scanlan spoke about the men’s soccer team on behalf of Luis Santos-Zanelli, who resigned his position as head men’s soccer coach. Zanelli left in order to further support his wife, Pita, in their business of constructing socially responsible forestry projects in the Amazon jungles of their native South America.

 

Brian Scanlan presented the Athlete of the Year Awards to baseball player Brian Trymbiski and volleyball player Adriana Vianna. Trymbiski, a junior transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, has brought experience and leadership to the young Gyrene baseball squad. The baseball team is currently in its inaugural first season, and holds a .500 record. Trymbiski plays second base and hits in a difficult third spot in the batting order. He’s currently hitting third-best on the team with a .348 batting average in 132 at bats. He has 12 stolen bases in just 16 attempts and has scored a team record 33 times. Trymbiski was also voted team captain by his teammates. 

 

President Nick Healy presented the President’s Award to women’s basketball player Mimi Loveland. This award is given to the student with the highest GPA.

 

Mimi Loveland was a multi-sport athlete in high school, excelling in both basketball and soccer. She led her basketball team to a district championship in high school with her all league senior year performance. She had a high school GPA of 4.2, taking all honors and AP courses. She was active in her Campus Ministry program and received the Fr. Gabriel Richard Scholarship to attend Ave Maria University.

 

Mimi came to the women's basketball team as a walk-on in 2008, and yet led the team in 12 offensive categories, one defensive category and, by far, led the team in most hurt knees per game category. She averaged 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

 

Last year, while carrying 16 hours (and 20 hours her second semester) she made the Dean's List with a 3.75 GPA.  She also participated in a mission trip to Ecuador. She is literally the "poster child" for AMU, featured on a locally-targeted admissions poster. Most importantly to her, she is a candidate of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother. This year, Loveland averaged 5 points per game, and 4.25 rebounds per game with as many as 11 rebounds in a game versus Division II Palm Beach Atlantic.

 

President Healy related the growth of his personal respect and affinity for AMU’s athletes. He and his wife, Jane, are reportedly “enjoying sports more than they ever have before.” Athletes Saira Morgan, Carey Fullilove, and Colin Voreis presented Mr. and Mrs. Healy with the Fan of the Year Award to recognize them for attending more games than any other fan.

 

During the banquet, Chancellor Tom Monaghan and President Nick Healy received the first two helmets in the history of the Ave Maria University football program. Football, led by Head Coach Barry Fagan and assistants Brad Rumsey and Michael Kolakowski, is currently in the early stages of recruiting student-athletes. They have already signed their first player, Daniel Mervos, a Davie, Florida native out of Cooper City High School, and have received verbal commitments from others. 2011 will be the first official season.

 

Chancellor Monaghan announced the “Gyrene Awards” given to men’s basketball player Jimmy Torney and volleyball player Megan Arago. The Gyrene Award is the highest athletics award to be handed out at AMU each year – always to one male and one female student athlete who excel in the areas of spirituality, leadership, academics and athletics. Recipients exemplify the mission statement of AMU and show potential to positively impact the world.  The award – a glass or crystal globe – signifies the students’ commission from AMU to be ambassadors to the world and is meant to be a reminder of their responsibility to carry AMU’s mission forward.

 

Jimmy Torney, a 6’8” post player, was the third leading scorer for the Gyrenes basketball team with 8.82 points per game. He had a season high of 20 points versus nationally ranked Warner University on February 5, 2010. He led the team with 124 total rebounds that included an 11 rebound performance versus Webber International University on February 6, 2010.

 

Megan Arago, a setter, was a spark plug on the volleyball team last season. She amassed 375 assists and 23 service aces to lead the team.  Megan Arago was chosen for the Gyrene Award because of her dedication and hard work on and off the court. Megan also showed a lot of leadership on and off the court, and has already been chosen as one of the captains for the 2010 season. 

 

Each head coach announced a Most Valuable Player, and presented Leadership and Coach’s Awards. See below for a complete listing of awards.

 

 

GYRENE AWARD

Jimmy Torney

Megan Arago

 

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Mimi Loveland

 

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Brian Trymbiski

Adriana Vianna

 

Women’s Volleyball – Mary Reed

MVP – Adrianna Vianna

Leadership – Megan Arago

Coach’s Award – Christianne Ludwick

 

Men’s Soccer – Presented by Brian Scanlan

MVP – Miguel Vera

Leadership – Gil Komninos

Coach’s Award – Beker Escalante

 

Men’s Golf – Dennis Myer

MVP- Tapiwa Maikacheche

Leadership – Matt Sheehan

Coach’s Award – Eric Maslak

 

Women’s Basketball – Bob Batson

MVP – Erika Derks

Leadership – Emily Huber

Coach’s – Amy Myler

 

Men’s Basketball – Jamon Copeland

MVP – Marc Rozanski

Leadership – Jimmy Torney

Coach’s – Kiel Lewis

 

Women’s Soccer – Frank Frostino

MVP – Caitlin Millich

Leadership – Beth Greve

Coach’s – Katie Condit

 

Softball – Keith Gibson

MVP – Sarah Bronson

Leadership – Marisa D’Ambrosio

Coach’s – Megan Manos

 

Baseball - Shawn Summe

MVP – Gabe Loweree

Leadership – Brian Trymbiski

Coach’s – Pete Lesniewski