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Athletics Department Changes Venue for Varsity Awards Due to Structural Changes; Award Winners to be Announced Starting Next Week

KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The annual Varsity Awards Ceremony, which is hosted by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Department of Physical Education & Athletics, will not take place on Thursday, June 16, 2011 due to internal structural changes. However, the Department does have wonderful venues to honor this year’s midshipman-athletes.

In anticipation of the announcement of awards winners, below is a list of the impressive nominees for Female and Male Athlete of the Year, as well as Female and Male Rookie of the Year.

Awards Announcements and Locations:

The Female and Male Rookie of the Year winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Lunch in Delano Hall. In addition, the ECAC Certificate of Appreciation Awards, Mark J. Paradiso Service Award and the Power of Inspiration Award will be handed out.

The Female and Male Athlete of the Year winners will receive their awards at the Awards Convocation in Ackerman Auditorium on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 10:00 a.m., however, the winners will be announced at the May 25 Lunch in Delano Hall.

 

Julie Berke Trophy – Female Athlete of the Year Nominees

1. Ana Fuschetto (Volleyball/Softball) – Fuschetto was a 4-year starter and a 2-time team captain for the USMMA volleyball team. She led the squad in digs this year with 295 and had the highest digs-per-game average (2.84). The Alexandria, Ind. native also was a member of the softball team this year playing various positions in both the infield and outfield for Head Coach Cassie Arroyo. Fuschetto played softball for three seasons at Kings Point. In addition, Fuschetto’s well-roundedness includes being First Battalion Executive Officer, a member of the school newspaper staff and midshipmen chorus, and serving as a female mentor. 

2. Rebecca Grimes (Women’s Basketball) – Grimes was a 2-year team captain and four-year starter on the USMMA women’s basketball team. She was selected to Landmark All-Conference squads in both her Junior and Senior seasons. Grimes was also the team’s leading scorer in both her Junior and Senior years and this past year, she became the fourth women’s basketball player in KP history to score over 1,000 career points. On the non-athletic side of her accomplishments, Grimes has held a high-ranking regimental position, trained a dog in the Guide Dog Foundation and has been a true team leader both on and off the court.

 

Admiral Giles C. Stedman Trophy – Male Athlete of the Year Nominees

 
  1. Nicholas Halbach (Men’s Swimming & Diving) - Halbach has had an outstanding four year career at Kings Point.  His accomplishments are as follows:
  • NCAA Record on 3 Meter (2011)
  • 2x National Diver of the Year (2011 and 2009)
  • 4 x NCAA Champion (1M/3M-2011, 1M/3M-2009)
  • 8x All-American (1M/3M-2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008)
  • Qualified for NCAAs in every meet during his career
  • 4x Landmark Conference Diver of the Year (2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008)
  • 4x ECAC Diver of the Year (2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008)
  • 3x Met Conference Diver of the Year (2011, 2010 and 2009)
  • 10 Records-NCAA (1), Landmark (2), ECAC (2), Mets (1) and Academy (4).  The Academy records were held by previous NCAA Champions. 
  • 2x Captain
  • Academy’s Rookie of the Year (2008)
  • 3x Team MVP (2011, 2010 and 2009)
  • Significant (sometimes only) member of 4 Top 30 finishes at NCAAs 
  • Significant Member of 4 Consecutive Conference Championship teams
  • Four year varsity letter winner
 

Halbach has scored the most individual points at NCAAs then any other Swimmer and Diver in KP history.  He is the only diver, of two previous NCAA Champions, to win both boards at NCAAs.  The Mariners have relied on him to win every dual meet, Invitational, Conference Championship and NCAA Championship.

 

2.      Karl Heimbrock (Football) – Heimbrock was voted Team Captain during his junior and senior seasons, was the Team MVP and All-Liberty League as a sophomore at Outside Linebacker, was the Andrew E. Gibson Award Winner following his junior year, and was named Offensive MVP and All-Liberty League Honorable Mention as a Tailback (junior year). He rehabbed a partially-torn ACL while at sea junior year and came back and played senior year as a Tailback. During this season, the Greenwood Village, Colo. native injured his knee in the fourth game, but returned to play in last four games. Moreover, Heimbrock was awarded the Toner/Perich Team Above Self Award for 1/c Year accomplishments.

 3.  Matt Hueber (Men’s Basketball) – Hueber has been an important four-year member of the KP men’s basketball team and this year eclipsed the 1,000-career point benchmark. He has been named an All-Landmark First Team selection twice, is a Commander in the Regiment and served as a team captain his senior season. 
 
4. Vincent Renaut (Wrestling) – Renaut has been a four-year member of the USMMA Wrestling squad and one of its most decorated Mariners in program history. In his junior season, Renaut became the first national wrestling champion in Kings Point history when he won the 165-pound crown. In addition, the Plymouth, Mass. native was selected for the Outstanding Wrestler of theMeet award. In his senior season, Renaut was named an All-American.
5. Dan Twito (Men’s Soccer/Wrestling) – Twito was an integral part of both the USMMA men’s soccer and wrestling teams during his senior year. A two-year soccer athlete for Head Coach Michael Smolens, he helped the Mariners to the “Elite 8” round of the NCAA Tournament (the first time any Academy team reached that plateau) by scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 win over Muhlenberg College. He also scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Coast Guard this season. The Cedar Falls, Iowa native was also the leading point scorer for the soccer team (goals/assists/points) and was tied for the team-lead in goals. During the winter seasons, Twito wrestled four years for Head Coach Greg Ilaria. This past year, he went on to win the 157-pound National Championship (the Academy’s second national wrestling title). He harbors a career record of 105–33, he was a 4-time National Qualifier, and an All Academy runner-up. Twito led the wrestling team to an eighth-place overall team finish, the highest in program history.
 

Julie Berke Rookie of the Year – Female Nominees 

1. Maggy Ashton (Dinghy Sailing) - Ashton had an outstanding year as a plebe and showed that she was capable of succeeding at a very high level while at Kings Point.  Having only sailed sparingly prior to KP, Ashton immediately threw herself into competition on the Dinghy Team.  She has blossomed into an all-conference level sailor in only one year and currently is the strongest sailor on our women’s team.  When she returns next year, Ashton will bring a level of continuity with our team and I am confident that she will be an early-season candidate for all-conference and All-American crew.  What’s more, Ashton has an attitude that can’t be beat – she is a delight to be around as a coach and is constantly pushing herself and her teammates.

2.  Julie Flaherty (Volleyball/Softball) – Flaherty was a member of both the USMMA volleyball and softball teams during her plebe year. She led the volleyball team with 233 kills and also had the highest hitting percentage (.288), most blocks on the team (45) and most points on the team (300.5). Flaherty also played first base and third base for Head Softball Coach Cassie Arroyo this season.

 

3. Elizabeth Radzwill (Women’s Swimming & Diving) - Radzwill helped the USMMA women’s swimming and diving squad win many dual meets this year. She was the team’s number one 100, 200 and 500 freestyler. Her additional accomplishments are as follows:

  • Placed 1st 18 times this season
  • Finaled 7x at the Landmark Conference Championship
  • Finaled 7x at the Metropolitan Conference Championship
  • Scored the most points on our team this year
  • Led the team to improving its standing in the Landmark Championship by one place.  Also, we scored 107.5 more points than last season. 
  • Academy Record Holder in the 200 freestyle.  Record stood since 2006. 
  • Major part of breaking 4 Academy Relay Records (400 and 800 Free Relay, 200 and 400 Medley Relay).
  • She was voted Mariner of the Meet twice this season.
4.Kristina Walz (Women’s Basketball) – Walz saw much playing time as a plebe on Head Coach Matt Dempsey’s women’s basketball squad. She was a great team player with lots of potential both offensively and defensively. She was a terrific student with a very high Grade Point Average and embodied the perfect student-athlete that should reflect Kings Point.
 

Julie Berke Rookie of the Year – Male Nominees

 

1. Warren Hartmann (Baseball) – As a plebe, Hartmann started in every game at second base except one for the USMMA baseball squad. He was a leader in a number of statistical categories – batting average (.377), At-Bats (122), Runs Scored (32), Hits (46), Triples (2), and Stolen Bases (18).  He was a solid performer throughout the year and he produced in both the 3 and 5 slots in the line-up.  Hartmann is the type of player that loves pressure and he is at his best when the game is on the line.  On a number of occasions he scored the go-ahead run or drove in the tying or go-ahead runs.  Following season’s end, the Wyckoff, N.J. native was named the Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Conference First Team.

2. Jeffrey Mark (Men’s Basketball) – Mark appeared in 24 of the KP men’s basketball team’s 26 games, averaged 7.5 points per game in conference play, and was the starting point guard for majority of season as a freshman.

3. Josh McCormick (Men’s Swimming & Diving) - McCormick had an unbelievable plebe season. He swam well during the year and really shined at the Championships.  His accomplishments this season were as follows:

 

Landmark Conference

-  Finaled in all three individual events

-  Named to the All-Conference First Team

-  3x Conference Champion and Record Holder

  • 500 Free-Placed 1st in a Conference Record
  • 800 Free Relay-Placed 1st in a Conference Record
  • 400 Free Relay-Placed 1st

-  200 Fly-Placed 2nd

-  400 Medley Relay-Placed 2nd

-  100 Fly-Placed 7th

-   Major part of the team winning its 4th Consecutive Landmark Championship. 

-   He placed first 12 times this season

-   Finaled at Mets in 4 events.

-   Major part of the team placing 2nd at the Metropolitan Championship

 

McCormick came to USMMA as a sprinter-freestyle/butterfly.  This year the coaching staff changed his events to the 500 free, 200 fly and stayed with the 100 fly.  He adapted well, really improved and had tremendous amount of success.

 

4. Ben Runchey (Football) - Runchey started every football game at Right Offensive Tackle as a plebe for Head Coach Mike Toop. Offensive linemen receive little recognition as they do not have statistics, but he was nominated for Liberty League Rookie of the Week on several occasions.

 

Please forward this e-mail on to parents and whomever else may be interested in this information. Thank you.