Saint Joseph's College 2009 Athletic Awards

Female Athlete of the Year: Alysn Ludwig '09 (Cross Country, Basketball, Softball)

Alysn Ludwig (Waldoboro, ME/Medomak Valley) has been a four-year member of the women's basketball and softball programs and joined the cross country squad as a senior. In basketball, Ludwig is listed among the career leaders in assists, rebounds and steals and played in 100 games. As one of the best outfielders in the softball programs storied history, Ludwig has helped the Lady Monks post a 95-64 (.598) record while roaming center field for Head Coach Jamie Smyth '92. She currently holds the program record for career stolen bases (61); having been thrown out only four times, and is tied for the top spot in runs (139). A first-year member of the cross country team as a senior, Ludwig finished as the top SJC runner in all nine meets during the season and garnered GNAC Women's Cross Country All-Conference honors.

Male Athlete of the Year: Pat Moran '10 (Baseball)

Pat Moran (Winterport, ME/Hampden Academy) was named the 2009 GNAC Player and Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in home runs (11) slugging (.813), wins (8) and strikeouts (75). The junior right-hander leads the Monks in all pitching categories and ranks second on the team in both RBI (44) and on-base percentage (.504). Moran was named GNAC Pitcher of the Week twice during the season and collected ECAC New England Pitcher of the Week honors on April 14th. As of May 5th, his ratio of one walk allowed per nine innings ranks ninth in NCAA DIII Baseball.

Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Julia Ostrowski '10 (Field Hockey)

Julia Ostrowski (Albany, NY/Guilderland Central), a Finance and Accounting Major with an outstanding 3.94 cumulative GPA, has been named as the Saint Joseph's Female Athlete of the Year for two consecutive years. The junior helped guide the Lady Monks Field Hockey team to a program-best 15-6 record, as well as an appearance in the NAC Championship game in 2008. Ostrowski tied for the team lead in assists (15) and ranked second in goals (16) and points (47), and set new career records for assists (32) and points (88) during the 2008 campaign. For her efforts, she received NAC Second Team All-Conference honors.

Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Ryan Prescott '09 (Cross Country, Club Ice Hockey, Lacrosse)

Ryan Prescott (Pittsfield, NH/Souhegan), with a 3.91 cumulative GPA as a Physical Education Major with a double minor in Biology and Secondary Education, has been named as the Saint Joseph's Male Student-Athlete of the Year two years in a row. The two-time GNAC Runner of the Year capped his cross country career with a 28th place effort (27:02.9) in the NCAA Regionals on November 15th, which is the best finish in Head Coach Tom Dann's thirteen seasons at the helm. Prescott, a four-time recipient of GNAC Runner of the Week honors in 2008, shattered his own course record by 48 seconds with a 26:53 effort in the 8K GNAC Championship, hosted by Saint Joseph's on November 1st. Dating back to his sophomore season, he finished as the top SJC runner in 21 consecutive races, winning four meets and placing in the top ten on 20 occasions. Also a two-year captain for the men's lacrosse team, Prescott holds the program single season record for groundballs (65) and is tied for the career high (89).

Female Newcomers of the Year: Hannah Gajewski '12 (Swimming) & Emily Leverone '12 (Softball)

Hannah Gajewski (Biddeford, ME/Catherine McAuley) participated in 22 events as a freshman for the SJC swim team, winning 17 and placing second on five occasions. She broke nine individual team records and swam a leg for four record-breaking relay teams during the 2009 season. Gajewski was named the 2009 GNAC Women's Swimming Rookie of the Year after earning GNAC Rookie of the Week honors six times and Conference Co-Swimmer of the Week once.

As a first year player, Emily Leverone (Hampton, NH/Winnacunnet) leads the St. Joe's softball team in virtually all offensive categories and has broken the program single-season records for hits, doubles and home runs. Through May 5th, the GNAC All-Conference First Team honoree ranks second in all of NCAA DIII Softball in batting (.560), fifth in on-base percentage (.589) and seventh in slugging (.940). Her batting average is currently 45 points better than the program single-season high.

Male Newcomer of the Year: Will Pike '10 (Soccer)

Will Pike (Gorham, ME/Gorham), a junior transfer from Division I Mount St. Mary's, played a pivotal role in the Monk's revival in 2008. The 2008 First Team All-Conference goalkeeper helped lead St. Joe's to a 12-7-3 overall record and posted SJC single-season bests in goals-against average (0.90), save percentage (.867) and shutouts (8), and made a GNAC playoffs-record 17 saves in the GNAC Championship game against Norwich. He was named GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week on four occasions and collected ECAC New England Defensive Player of the Week honors on September 23rd after helping the Monks post a 1-1 tie against regionally-ranked Norwich with 12 stops in goal.

Neile Nelson Award: Stephan Gorsun '09 (Baseball)

Presented to the student-athlete who has set an example by displaying a high level of commitment to team while performing a leadership role within the Saint Joseph's College campus community. Steve Gorsun (South Berwick, ME/Marshwood) has served as a great example of commitment and leadership while playing for the St. Joe's baseball team for the last four seasons. This senior team captain has struck a great balance between the demands of playing collegiate baseball and his academics, while also serving in several capacities on our campus. He has been a member of the Business Club for four years, an officer for three, and also serves as a Student Ambassador and Athletics Tour Guide. The Delta Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society Member carries a 3.9 GPA as a Marketing Major.

Royal Blue Award: John and Joan Kimball

Presented to the individual(s) outside the college community who has displayed extraordinary support of and assistance to the athletic department mission and to the Saint Joseph's College student-athletes. John and Joan have been at every home and away field hockey and softball game in which their daughter Jillian has played, with very few exceptions, even following the softball team to Florida each of the past two springs. They contribute both time and tangible goods to every single fundraiser each team does. John and Joan led the charge towards the softball parents' purchase of a gas grill this spring, actually buying one and transporting it here to campus to be stored in the softball shed, so that the group of parents could grill for the girls after each weekend home game. They are very involved, very supportive parents.

Father John Tokaz Award: Ryan Sullivan ‘09

Presented to the individual within the college community who has displayed extraordinary support of and assistance to the athletic department mission and to the Saint Joseph's College student-athletes. Ryan Sullivan (Needham, MA) embodies this description while serving as the biggest supporter for each and every Saint Joseph's College athletics team. "Sully" is always in the mix at the Monks' home events, often times starting "Defense" chants and constantly supports the fundraising efforts of the teams. The women's basketball and softball teams recognized Sullivan at their final home contests for his fandom. A certain element to home contests at Saint Joseph's will be missing after he leaves upon graduation in May.

Sports Medicine Fighting Heart Award: R.J. Mattison '09 (Basketball)

Presented to a student athlete who has defied odds from an injury or illness, and showed perseverance, faith and dedication on the road to recovery. This year's recipient, R.J. Mattison (Hamden, CT/Hamden), has done that and more. On February 22, 2008 this basketball player's career changed in an instant. Following practice, he was involved in a car accident in the midst of a snowstorm and his femur was fractured and he had a large laceration across his abdomen. A metal rod was placed in his leg as well at four screws (two at the hip, one in the middle of his thigh, and one at the knee), as well as 25 staples in his leg and five to close the gash on his stomach. He spent two and a half weeks in the hospital and another two and a half months on crutches before starting physical therapy in the summer of 08. He was allowed to start running in August and released from physical therapy in September, just prior to the start of his senior season of basketball. He worked hard, never gave up, and participated fully in the 2008-2009 season with the metal rod still present in his leg. He finished his career participating in 93 games, 145 field goals made, 52 field goals from behind the arc, and an astonishing 82% free throw percentage. In addition, he added 110 rebounds, 59 assists and 51 steals.