May 6, 2003
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
Senior linebacker Aden Smith and senior cross country standout Jenny Payne were named the Stony Brook Athletes of the Year Monday night at the Stony Brook University Athletic Awards Banquet. For Payne, it was the second straight year that she garnered Female Athlete of the Year recognition, a feat accomplished only one other time in school history.
Smith was named the Stony Brook Male Athlete of the Year as he set a school and conference record with 140 tackles last fall to lead the Seawolves to a program best 8-2 mark. He was second-team all-conference selection and was named to the Sports Network Division I-AA Mid-Major All-American team. His 140 tackles gave him 323 career takedowns to make him the school's all-time leader in that category. Smith was the first football player to win the award since John Harris did so in 1998.
Payne was sensational for the second straight season, capturing the America East title last fall en route to becoming Stony Brook's first Division I cross country All American. She also compiled a 3.85 G.P.A. in the classroom and was awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and the prestigious Chancellor's Award. Payne became the second female athlete in school history to win back-to-back female athlete of the year honors. Women's hoops star Michelle White also did so in the mid-1980s.
Head football coach Sam Kornhauser was named Men's Athletics Coach of the Year following an 8-2 record last fall and a program-best second place finish in conference play. Picked to finish sixth in the conference preseason poll, Kornhauser's squad put together a five-game winning streak and went undefeated at home. A school record seven of his players were named to the all-conference team and the Seawolves made their first-ever appearance in the Sports Network Top 10 Mid-Major Poll.
On the women's side, head cross country/track & field coach Andy Ronan grabbed Women's Athletics Coach of the Year honors. Ronan's charges set new standards this season as Payne earned All-America status and his team finished a close second to BU at the America East Championships in the fall. His success continued during the track and field season where numerous school records fell by the wayside and five of his athletes grabbed outstanding senior athlete honors. It was the second straight year that Ronan has earned coach of the year recognition. He won the Stony Brook Men's Athletics Coach of the Year honor last spring.
Other award winners:
Stuart B. Cherney Outstanding Athletic Trainer Award: Gary Abrahamsen
"Backbone" Athletic Training Student Award: Heather Stock
Debbie Whittemore Memorial Award for Academic Excellence: Gary Abrahamsen
ECAC Merit Award: Women- Stephanie Smyrl (Women's Soccer), Gareth Williams (Men's Tennis)
Senior-Scholar Athlete Awards (Highest G.P.A): Women-Jenny Payne (Cross Country), Men-Jonathan Brims (Cross Country)
Seawolves Service Awards: Dini Zimmerman, Lou Rispoli, Renee Pelletier and Patrick Wong
Quantum Leap Award (Biggest Improvement): Women-Volleyball; Men-Football
Community Service Award: Women's Soccer
Outstanding Senior Athlete Awards: Beth Arikian (Women's Soccer), Scott Bard (Football), Jackie Berman (Cross Country/Track & Field), Jonathan Brims (Cross Country/Track & Field), LaToya Byerly (Volleyball), David deWolfe (Cross Country/Track & Field), Rich Graham (Baseball), Ed Kull (Baseball) , Craig Matuza (Track & Field), Jenny Payne (Cross Country), Aden Smith (Football)
2002-2003 Stony Brook MVPs & MIPs
Football: MVP - Aden Smith; MIP - Chad King
Women's Soccer: MVP - Beth Arikian; MIP - Danielle Lewis
Men's Soccer: MVP - Chris Musinski; MIP - Mike Salvador
Volleyball: MVP - Julie Zub; MIP - Tesha Harry
Women's Cross Country: MVP - Leonora Joy; MIP - Jenny Payne
Men's Cross Country: MVP - Dale Summerville; MIP - Preston Smolinski
Men's Basketball: MVP - D.J. Munir; MIP - Mike Orfini
Women's Basketball: MVP - Sherry Jordan; MIP - Danyelle Ingram
Men's Swimming: MVP - Matt Hanson; MIP - Ted Freeborn
Women's Swimming: MVP - Kim Harris; MIP - Cheryl Lynch
Women's Indoor Track: MVP - Jackie Nunez; MIP - Lauren Gengo
Men's Indoor Track: MVP - Craig Matuza; MIP - Dale Summerville
Baseball: MVP - Ed Kull; MIP - Mike Russo
Lacrosse: MVP - Jason Cappadoro; MIP - Errol Wilson
Women's Lacrosse: MVP - Danielle Werner; MIP - Annie Pugh
Softball: MVP - Stephanie DiBiase; MIP - Marissa Servello
Women's Tennis: MVP - Anne Cathrine Valle; MIP - Claire Shean
Men's Tennis: MVP - Mike Crooks; MIP - Philippe Amireault
Men's Outdoor Track: MVP - Anthony Proetta; MIP - Constantinos Seidinoglou
Women's Outdoor Track: MVP -Jackie Nunez; MIP - Abigail Nathaniel
