For Immediate Release: May 6, 2009
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU athletics honors student-athletes at 62nd annual awards ceremony
Rivera, Patterson, McDonough "Athletes of the Year;" Seniors recognized

VESTAL, N.Y.– Binghamton University honored its student-athletes at the 62nd Annual Varsity Awards Program Wednesday night at the Events Center. More than 400 students, staff, families and supporters were on hand as the department unveiled its 2008-09 award winners. The event was video streamed live on BU's website for the third straight year. Together with a Senior Recognition Ceremony held prior, the evening featured four student speakers and concluded with the annual highlight film.

"it takes strength of character to be a student-athlete," Director of Athletics Joel Thirer said. "You have a total commitment to your sport and to your school work and you bring passion to everything you do. Keep moving forward and set new goals for yourself."

"Thank you for all the recognition you bring to the University," University President Lois B. DeFleur said in her opening remarks to the athletes. "You make us so proud with your athletic achievement, academic success and all the wonderful service and volunteerism you perform."

The major winners included Athletes of the Year D.J. Rivera (basketball), Josh Patterson (wrestling) and Michelle McDonough (volleyball). Other seniors earning recognition for their career achievements were swimmer Brenno Varanda, basketball player Laura Franceski, volleyball player Jaclyn Strader and soccer player Barry Neville.

The full list of award winners is below.

2008-09 Athletes of the Year
MALE - D.J. Rivera (Jr., Basketball)
Rivera led the Bearcats to their finest season in 63 years. He scored 20 points a game to lead the conference and rank 26th in the country. Rivera was named all-conference and was the MVP of the America East Championship. He set school records for most points, field goals and free throws in a season and electrified crowds everywhere with his highlight-reel dunks and athleticism.

MALE - Josh Patterson (Jr., Wrestling)
Patterson produced one of the most dominating seasons in the sport’s history. A junior wrestler at 184 pounds, this athlete led the entire country in wins with 46, and pins with 22. No other wrestler in any weight class at any divisional level matched those totals. He lost just twice in 26 dual matches and was ranked as high as No. 6 in the country before becoming the program’s first Division I All-American. Patterson, a conference champion, won five matches at the NCAA Championship and broke school records for wins and pins in a season

FEMALE - Michelle McDonough (So., Volleyball)
McDonough is a two-time all-conference selection who led the volleyball team to the 2008 America East Championship game. She was named to the conference first team, all-tournament team and all-academic team. She led the team and ranked second in the conference in kills per set. McDonough was also selected to the Collegiate Volleyball Update’s National Team of the Week and was a two-time conference player of the week. She amassed 385 kills on the season and becomes the second straight member of the volleyball team to be named Female Athlete of the Year.

2009 Jake Pitler Award
(career achievement, leadership, given to senior male)
Barry Neville (Sr., Soccer)
Neville is a two-year captain on the men’s soccer team. He was named first-team all conference as a midfielder in 2007 and as a back this past season. He was also named second-team All-Region following his senior season. In each of the past three seasons, Neville was named to the America East All-Tournament team but his crowning honor was being named the Most Outstanding Player in 2006. In the classroom, he has been named to the America East Honor Roll each season and was also named to the 2007 America East Fall Academic squad.

2009 Jessie A. Godfrey Award
(career achievement, leadership, given to senior female)
Jaclyn Strader (Sr., Volleyball)
Strader is a four-year starter for the volleyball team who has led the team in digs every year since 2005. She is graduating as the program’s all-time leader in digs and ranks second in career service aces and sets played. She was an instrumental member of the 2005 America East Championship team and helped guide the 2008 squad to a conference final as a team captain.

2009 John Bilos Alumni Awards (male and female)
(career performance in athletics)
MALE - Brenno Varanda (Sr., Swimming)
Varanda is a four-year swimming standout who won eight individual America East titles and four more with relays. He set 10 school records, nine conference marks and eight pool records in his stellar career. A breaststroke specialist, Varanda was a two-time team MVP who won the 2008 America East Most Outstanding Swimmer honor and the 2009 America East Coaches’ Award for most career points at the conference championship. He was also named the 2008 America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year for swimming and is a three-time All-Academic honoree.

FEMALE - Laura Franceski (Sr., Basketball)
Franceski is a four-year letterwinner on the women’s basketball team. She finished her career at Binghamton ranked second all-time in career blocks. Twice in the past three seasons, she led the America East Conference in blocks per game. Also twice in her career, she was named the America East Player of the Week. She recorded six career double-doubles and reached the 20 point mark in scoring twice.

2009 BUAC Citizenship Awards (male and female)
(sportsmanship, community service)
MALE - Brendan McGovern (Sr., Soccer)
McGovern is a four-year soccer player whose achievements are widespread. He was a three-year member of SAAC, a two-time ECAC Merit Medal winner and a Dean’s List student who served as president of the School of Management Scholar’s Program. He earned his bachelor’s degree last May and will receive his master’s degree in accounting this month. A licensed and regionally-recognized soccer referee, McGovern has also worked with autistic children and represented the university at Advocacy Day in Albany.

FEMALE - Sandy Meadows (Sr., Softball)
Meadows is a four-year softball starter and all-conference player who ranks among program leaders in games played, runs, hits, walks and stolen bases. She was a leader of SAAC for three years, serving as vice president for the past two. She was instrumental in numerous community outreach projects such as St. Jude’s, which raised more than $29,000 this year, and Relay for Life and also spoke at the Women’s Athletics Luncheon in February. A multi-talented and caring individual, Meadows has worked as a student trainer in the sports medicine area and also as a daycare provider and counselor back in her home state of Arizona.

2009 Director's Awards
(outstanding contributions to the athletics department)
Maurice "Mo" Taylor, Director, Pep Band
Taylor has elevated the BU Pep Band to new heights in just two years as director. He has written and produced new musical arrangements, including the “not yet official” BU FIGHT SONG, and his dedication and enthusiasm has transformed the Pep Band into a showcase group. While the band is an SA chartered group, their existence not only supports the Athletic Department, but reaches out to the entire campus and local community helping to spread Bearcat pride and spirit. Under his leadership and direction the band has nearly doubled its initial membership. Taylor's distinctive voice can also be heard over the PA system at home softball and lacrosse games and he is a loyal fan of all the Bearcats teams and student-athletes.

Maura Kisloski, Head Coach, Cheer Team
Kisloski was hired in June of 2006 to direct the BU Cheer Team. She quickly earned the respect of her squad and began to expand the routines and stunts performed during time outs and in the pre-game routines. She has assisted in choreographing the popular McDonald’s pre-game shows that features all 4 spirit squads. Kisloski works with the Athletic department in handling all mascot appearances both on and off campus. Her team is active in promoting the sport of cheerleading to the local high school and grammar school teams by performing demonstrations at their local competitions. In addition, the BU squad participates in numerous community fundraisers including the Breast Cancer Awareness walk, the CHOW walk and the campus Relay for Life event.

2009 Student-Trainer Awards
(Presented by Orthopedic Associates, the medical group that provides outstanding service and expertise to BU student-athletes throughout the year)

Athletic Trainer of the Year - Rajdeep Singh
Singh is a senior from Poughkeepsie who has worked with the sports medicine staff for two years. He has a 3.4 GPA in biology with a minor in chemistry. In addition to his training work, Singh works at a local optometry office 20 hours a week and plans to attend Optometry School at Salus University in Philadelphia in the fall.

Scholarship Recipient - Matt Powers
Powers is a junior who has worked in sports medicine for two years. He has worked 6-8 hours a week in the training room and also helped with home event coverage for men’s basketball and soccer. A biology major, Powers has a 3.18 GPA and also participates in club soccer and volunteers at Willow Point Nursing Home. He plans on attending medical school after graduating next spring.

Team Most Valuable Players
Baseball - Murphy Smith and Corey Taylor
Men's Basketball - D.J. Rivera and Reggie Fuller
Women's Basketball - Laura Franceski
Men's Cross Country - Chris Gaube
Women's Cross Country - Jamie Schulte
Golf - Jake Katz
Men's Lacrosse - Larry Kline
Women's Lacrosse - Kara Slowik
Men's Soccer - Barry Neville
Women's Soccer - Charlotte Foster
Softball - Sandy Meadows
Men's Swimming & Diving - Brenno Varanda
Women's Swimming & Diving - Amanda Ciccone
Men's Tennis - Sven Vloedgraven
Women's Tennis - Yulia Smirnova
Men's Track & Field - Cazal Arnett
Women's Track & Field - Caitlin Wright
Volleyball - Michelle McDonough
Wrestling - Josh Patterson