May 16, 2005

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Kristen Brust and Kyle Pearl were named Stony Brook Athletes of the Year as Stony Brook University recognized the most outstanding performances of the 2004-05 school year at the 2005 Athletic Awards Banquet held Monday evening on campus at the Student Activities Center. The venue, decorated in Stony Brook red, saw over 400 people in attendance, Monday's event marked the highest attended end-of-the-year banquet in the program's history.

Brust and Pearl took home the highest honors of the evening after leading their respective teams to the conference finals. Brust, a four-year letterwinner for the softball team garnered first team All-America East honors this year after a unanimous coaches vote. Brust was among the league leaders in total bases, slugging percentage, batting average and home runs. Over the weekend, she swatted a walk-off three-run homer that propelled SB into the conference finals.

Pearl, preseason All-America pick , captained a Seawolves lacrosse squad that earned a Top 20 national ranking this season for the first time in the program's history, climbing as high as No. 14 during the 2005 season. His defensive efforts helped Stony Brook defeat nationally-ranked UMBC, Penn State and Rutgers, marking the first time that the Seawolves have defeated three ranked teams in one season. At season's end he earned his third straight first-team All-America East selection as was a league Player of the Year finalist.

The evening marked the end of yet another successful year in athletics at Stony Brook University. The program included senior reflections by Annie Pugh, a women's lacrosse player, and Bryan Karp, a football player, and the presentations of the Most Valuable and Most Improved Players for each of the 20 Stony Brook intercollegiate athletic teams.

Senior Associate Athletic Director Paul Schlickmann presented Pugh and senior football player Chimezie Okobi with the Faculty Athletic Representative Awards for the high level of contribution they have given their teams, campus and community.

Thirteen Stony Brook student-athletes completed their careers with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and were honored for their outstanding academic achievements. Jackie Anthony, women's soccer, James Berkowitz, men's swimming and diving, Chris Blumenstetter, football, Bojana Bogetic, women's basketball, Will Brumfield, baseball, Brust, softball, Meghann DeVito, women's cross country/track, Abby Egan, volleyball, Billy Fick, men's swimming and diving, Jan Krejci, men's tennis, Danielle MacKnight, volleyball, Okobi, football, Michael Poch, men's lacrosse, Pugh, women's lacrosse, Starlyn Rupinski, women's swimming and diving, Marissa Servello, softball, Jane Stein, softball, Nick Theoharis, baseball and Laura Zuffante, women's swimming and diving. Blumenstetter and Servello achieved the highest grade point averages throughout their years at Stony Brook and were honored with Senior Scholar Athlete Awards, marking their tremendous contributions to their teams.

Brust and Pearl were also named Outstanding Senior Athletes along with football players David Bamiro, David Charles, Eddie Cobbinah, Karp, T.J. Moriarty and Okobi, baseball players Matt Devins, Andrew Larsen and Jon Lewis, men's cross country and track runner Dale Summerville, men's swimmer Ted Freeborn. Volleyball player Julie Zub as well as Krejci and Stein also received recognition in that category.

Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Training Kathy Koshansky presented the student athletic trainers with awards marking their achievements this year. Barima Anyaana-Yeboah received the Stuart B. Cherney Outstanding Athletic Trainer Award for her leadership, initiative, knowledge, maturity, willingness to learn and professionalism in the field. James Pierre-Glaude was given the "Backbone" Award for his dedication and dependability. The Debbie Whittemore Memorial Award for Academic Excellence winner was Nick Chiofalo, who spent over three semesters as the student athletic trainer with the highest cumulative grade point average.

2005 STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC AWARD WINNERS