WESTFIELD, Mass.    ---   Westfield State University athletics held its annual SAAC Senior and Athletic Awards at the Woodward Center on Monday night, May 5.

Student athletes were treated to pre-event pizza and snacks, before settling in to honor the Owls seniors, all-conference award winners, team award winners and major award winners.

Owls junior cross country runner Julianne Kelly and sophomore football player Oliver Williams served as the student-athlete MC's of the event.  Kelly is the president of MASCAC SAAC, while Williams serves as the league representive to the NCAA National SAAC.

Special Assistant to the President Dr. Michael Freeman brought greetings from the president to the student athletes.

"College athletics is about more than just competition," he said. "Pushing yourself to the limits, working as a team, and showing up every day with a relentless desire to improve -  not just as athletes but as people.   You juggle more than most could ever imagine . . . . you're not just talentied individuals in your respective sports, but you are also scholars    leaders and role models."

Owls' athletic director Richard Lenfest, Jr.  lauded the efforts of the Owls student athletes, who have accounted for nine conference regular-season titles and three NCAA tournament teams,  an Academic All-American, home run records in both baseball and softball, and a New England Champion in track and field all this academic year.

"To our student athletes – thank you for your dedication both in the class room and in your sport , thank you for your sacrifice, your hard work, and trying to be the best version of yourself each and every day, thank you for being a good teammate, and thank you for being an Owl," said Lenfest.

The program wrapped up with an ice cream social after the event.

Senior student athletes received a Westfield State t-shirt and the "Student Athlete" stole to wear at graduation.

The full list of team award winners is listed below.  The Owls' major award winners will be detailed in upcoming days here at WestfieldStateOwls.com.

The webstream of the event is available on demand HERE.

To view photos from the event, visit our SmugMug site: https://westfieldstateathletics.smugmug.com/Athletic-Awards-Ceremony

TEAM AWARDS

Field Hockey

Kaleigh Murphy - Shanna Litterst Award

Erin Lane - Most Valuable Player

Lee Gould  - Unsung Hero

Men's Soccer 

Coleby Andrade - Most Outstanding Player

Jacoby Authier - Most Outstanding Leader

Josh Wietecha - Most Outstanding Teammate

Matt Elmasian - Most Outstanding  4-year Player

Edwin Zaruma Buri - Most Outstanding Hustle Award

Women's Soccer        

Delaney Parker - Offensive Player of the Year

Kylie Tomasetti - Defensive Player of the Year

Jaida Cochran - Justine Crocker Soccer Award

Women's Cross Country       

Tealei Chandonnet - Most Valuable Performer

Shea Hamel - Most Valuable Performer

Faith McCormack - Most Improved Performer

Brynne LeCours  - James Earley Award

Men's Cross Country

John Nekitopoulos - Most Valuable Performer

Nate Sylven - Most Valuable Performer

Brandon Hager - Most Improved Performer

Jarrod Ledvina  - James Earley Award

Football          

Anthony Messore  - Toughness Award

Justyn Gardner - Most Improved Player

Tom Cascio  - Special Teams Player of the Year

Blake Simpson - Defensive Player of the Year

Dylan Disabella - Offensive Player of the Year

Anthony Messore  - Highest GPA

Volleyball       

Julia Bartiet  - Outstanding Contributor

Chloe Schuld - Rookie of the Year

Sydney Cummins  - Rookie of the Year

Sarah Bingham - Most Valuable Player

Julia Dangel-Garcia - Leadership Award

Swimming & Diving

Jackie Roccabruna - Most Valuable Performer

Alexa Richter  - Most Valuable Performer

Katie Colby  - Outstanding Contributor

Men's Basketball       

Kobe Parker  - Rick Martin Award

Timothy-Jaden Jacobus - Rick Martin Award

Kenneth Rogers Jr. - Most Valuable Player

Cheering         

Takirah Clark  - Coaches' Award

Chelesa Brito  - Most Improved

Ernesto Matos  - Most Valuable Cheerleader

Shaylind Novick  - Rookie of the Year

Women's Basketball

Jordan Grant - Most Outstanding Contributor

Kayley Downie - Most Improved Player

Sophia DeAngelis - Ojae Beale Coaches Award

Men's Ice Hockey      

Raphael Seguin - Coaches' Award

Cooper Board - Coaches' Award

Women's Golf

Dorothy Duval - Most Valuable Player

Ashley Ames  - Most Improved Player

Baseball          

Dan Burnett - Most Valuable Player

Sean McNamara - CY Young Award

Women's Lacrosse         

Paige Jelliffe - Defensive Player of the Year

Emma Prattson - Offensive Player of the Year

Mykenzie Black - Most Valuable Player

Softball           

Katherine Canty  - Pitcher of the Year

Mia Alfonso - Player of the Year

Arielle Ostman - Phanessa Fisher Award

Men's Track and Field           

Nathan Sylven - Most Outstanding Contributor Track

Dylan Clark  - Most Outstanding Contributor Field

Women's Track and Field    

Eliza Lee - Most Outstanding Contributor Track

Bronwyn Pinsly - Most Outstanding Contributor Field

Men's Golf      

Thomas Onorato  - Brett Williamson Award

Brett Gratz  - Most Valuable Performer