May 7, 2002
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
Jenny Payne and Kevin Pall were honored as the female and male athletes of the year, respectively, at the Stony Brook University Athletic Awards Banquet held Monday night at the Meadow Club in Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. Head women's basketball coach Trish Roberts and cross country/track & field head man Andy Ronan pulled down coach of the year recognition.
Payne enjoyed an standout year on the track. She dominated the 5000m indoor event, capturing the title at both the America East Championships and the ECAC Championships. She also recorded a top individual finish for Stony Brook at the America East Cross Country Championships.
Pall has been one of the most prolific goal scorer in Division I lacrosse over the past three season. This year, he led the team to an America East title with 48 goals becoming the school's all-time leading scorer along the way. A first-team America East all-tournament selection, Pall earned 2002 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America honors earlier this year.
Roberts, 2001-02 Women's Athletics Coach of the Year, guided her team through an improbable run to the America East championship game in March. The No. 7 Seawolves upset No. 2 Boston University and No. 6 New Hampshire before falling in a thrilling matchup with hometown favorite Hartford. The Seawolves finished 16-14.
Ronan was the mastermind behind the most successful season at the Division I level for both the cross country and track & field team. His teams teams set 12 new school records and qualified for the Millrose Games in both the 4x800m relay and the men's 3000m.
Fourteen seniors earned Stony Brook Outstanding Senior Athlete Awards: Steve Armsworthy, Martha Barrett, Deb Falkenberg, Jamie Gaither, Jill George, Tim Larkin, Lisa Mariano, Tom Marshall, Kerri McCabe,
Also honored Monday night were the Most Improved and Most Valuable Players from each team during the season. The winners were: Football - Aden Smith (MIP), Scott Bard (MVP); Women's Soccer - Jen Fontanetta (MIP), Brittany Norwood (MVP); Men's Soccer - Olubode Banjoko (MIP), Jamie Gaither (MVP), Volleyball - Susanne Westing (MIP), Deb Falkenberg (MVP), Women's Cross Country - Laura Hixson (MIP), Jenny Payne (MVP); Men's Cross Country - Michael Thompson (MIP), Dave deWolfe (MVP); Men's Basketball - Patrick Spitler (MIP), D.J. Munir (MVP); Women's Basketball - Sarah Burkett (MIP), Sherry Jordan (MVP); Men's Swimming - Ted Freeborn (MIP), Tim Larkin (MVP); Women's Swimming - Laura Zuffante (MIP), Kristi Schubert (MVP); Women's Indoor Track - Nicola Baker (MIP), Corinne Leake (MVP); Men's Indoor Track - Chris Hunt (MIP), Michael Thompson (MVP); Baseball - Ed Kull (MIP), Anthony Stutz (MVP); Lacrosse - Aaron Weiss (MIP), Denis Scannell (MVP); Softball - Amanda Staschuk (MIP), Stephanie Poetzsch (MVP); Women's Tennis - Oleysa Ianovitch (MIP), Karen Hansen (MVP); Men's Outdoor Track - Kareem Vargas (MIP), Chris Hunt (MVP); Women's Outdoor Track - Corinne Leake (MIP), Jackie Berman (MVP).
Other award winners included: ECAC Merit Award - Susanne Westing and James Smith; Community Service - Women's Basketball; Quantum Leap - Men's Swimming and Women's Track & Field/Country. Winning the Seawolves Service Award were: Dr. Mark Wolff, Shannon Sheaff, Greg Delimitros, Kerri McCabe, Erica Zimmerman, Heather Metz and Jennifer Metz.
