May 7, 2007
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
View Photo Gallery
Josh Dudash was named Stony Brook Male Athlete of the Year and Mykeema Ford and Kaitlin Leggio were named Stony Brook Female Co-Athletes of the year as Stony Brook University recognized the most outstanding performances of the 2006-07 school year at the 2007 Athletic Awards Banquet held Monday evening on campus at the Student Activities Center. The venue, decorated in Stony Brook red, saw over 450 people in attendance, as Monday's event marked the highest attended end-of-the-year banquet in the program's history.
Dudash, a second-team all-conference selection, led the Seawolves to a 5-2 conference mark in football. Directing the team's offense at quarterback, Dudash threw for 2,231 yards with 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He completed 62.8 percent of his passes for an efficiency rating of 143.12 as he averaged better than 200 yards per game. For his efforts he was named the team's offensive MVP.
Ford, a three-time all conference selection, averaged 19.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 3.9 apg for the Seawolves last season as she led the women's basketball team to a 14-2 conference mark. For her stellar season, Ford was voted America East Player of the Year. Ford ranks second all-time at Stony Brook with 1,831 points and is atop the Stony Brook record books in 3-pt field goals made (181), attempts (562) and assists (417).
Leggio, last year's America East Rookie of the Year, led the conference in points and assists per game en route to the Seawolves first-ever regular season championship. She finished the year with 71 points off 36 goals and 35 assists. For her efforts, she was tabbed to the America East First Team for the second-consecutive year and voted the 2007 America East Player of the Year..
The evening marked one of the most successful years in athletics at Stony Brook University. The program included senior reflections by Allison DeSanti, a women's swimmer, and Larry Cerasi, a men's lacrosse player, and the presentations of the Most Valuable and Most Improved Players for each of the 20 Stony Brook intercollegiate athletic teams.
Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Randy Susman presented Cerasi and Claire Lindner with the Faculty Athletic Representative Award for the high level of contribution they have given their teams, campus and community.
Later in the evening Jessica Smith was presented the Director of Athletics Recognition Award for her contributions to the Stony Brook women's basketball program, the athletics department and the University.
26 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. Vladimir Sreckovic and Sarah Beresford 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.
