Lee S. Weissman

Sixth Annual HOFSPYS Takes Place At Adams Playhouse; Hofstra Honors And Celebrates The Year

5/10/2023 9:00:00 AM | By: Len Skoros

Hempstead, NY - It was another outstanding year for the Hofstra University Department of Athletics as on Monday evening the University and department celebrated the year in Pride athletics with its annual HOFSPYS Awards.

The event was held at John Cranford Adams Playhouse, located on the University's South Campus.

The evening included the presenting of a slew of awards as well as camaraderie between the many teams and people in attendance. Attendees had the chance to walk the red carpet as they entered and take photos in the lobby.

Hofstra alum and longtime University public address announcer Siddique Farooqi welcomed the crowd and Hofstra President Dr. Susan Poser delivered her opening remarks.

Following the handing out of all the awards, Trey Rogers of the wrestling team had the honor of being the Senior Speaker and then Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. closed the evening with his yearly message to the group.

The following awards were presented at the HOFSPYS:

Strength and Conditioning Athlete Award From A Men's Team
This award is presented to an athlete for outstanding performance and commitment to strength and conditioning. The strength and conditioning staff select the recipient.

Nominees: Jonathan Mahrt Guyou (Tennis), Griffin Barrouk (Basketball), Kevin Bruggeman (Baseball), Santino Rosso (Baseball)
Winner: Jonathan Mahrt Guyou (Tennis)

Strength and Conditioning Athlete Award From A Women's Team
This award is given to an athlete for outstanding performance and commitment to strength and conditioning. The strength and conditioning staff select the recipient.

Nominees: Aliya Catanzarita (Softball), Mackenzie Sullivan (Soccer), Sarah Pierre (Volleyball), Megan Carroll (Lacrosse)
Winner: Aliya Catanzarita (Softball)

Strength and Conditioning Team Award
This award is given to a team for outstanding performance and commitment to strength and conditioning. The strength and conditioning staff select the recipient.

Nominees: Baseball, Women's Golf, Men's Tennis, Volleyball
Winner: Baseball

Golden Lion Awards
These awards are given to two individuals who best represent what it means to be a Hofstra University student-athlete. The recipients must demonstrate commitment to their respective teams, as well as their fellow student-athletes, and show dedication in their academic pursuits and community service endeavors.

Winners: Margo McCormack (Lacrosse) and Kevin Bruggeman (Baseball)

Pride Cup Award
The Pride Cup is a year-long competition between teams that incorporates academic achievement, team performance, community service, attendance at mandatory programming, and support of fellow athletic teams.

Winner: Women's Tennis

Hofstra Pride Community Service Award
This award is presented to the student-athlete that has completed the most hours of service throughout the academic year.

Winner: Liv Truong (Field Hockey)

Spirit Support Group Award
This honor is awarded to the spirit support group whose collaboration has demonstrated success and overall contribution to the Athletics Department this past year.

Nominees: Dance Team, Cheer Team, Kate and Willie Pride, Pep Band
Winner: Kate and Willie Pride

Pride Service Award
The Pride Service Award is presented to a colleague on campus who has been an invaluable ally to Hofstra Athletics, and goes above and beyond in their work with our student-athletes and staff.

Winner: Dr. John Guthman

Team Pride Award
The Team Pride Award is selected by each coaching staff, and honors a student-athlete that is selfless and always puts their team first. This individual serves as a guiding light for the rest of the team and represents the program in the highest standards in everything they do.

Recipients: Clara Bal (Volleyball), Kasey Collins (Softball), Danny DeSanti (Men's Lacrosse), Simran Desai (Women's Tennis), Sam Diamond (Women's Soccer), Jaxon Hummel (Men's Golf), Sorelle Ineza (Women's Basketball), Pierce Infuso (Men's Soccer), Zachary Knighton-Ward (Wrestling), Jonathan Mahrt Guyou (Men's Tennis), Ryan Morash (Baseball), Cara Scanio (Women's Lacrosse), Mike Silveri (Men's Cross Country/Track), Tyler Thomas (Men's Basketball), Liv Truong (Field Hockey), Leslie Villafuerte Castro (Women's Cross Country//Track), Cynthia Zhao (Women's Golf)

Rookie of the Year Awards
This award is presented to freshmen who show maturity and display outstanding athleticism and dedication in his sport, but also understand the importance of sportsmanship and what it takes to be a member of the Pride.

Women's Team Nominees: Jamie McMillan (Field Hockey), Nikki Mennella (Lacrosse), Sabira Mohamed (Tennis), Alanna Morse (Softball), Dagny Run Petursdottir (Soccer), Izadora Stedile (Volleyball), Emma Von Essen (Basketball)

Men's Team Nominees: Abraham Longosiwa (Cross Country/Track), Dylan Palmer (Baseball), Trey Parkes (Lacrosse)

Winners: Izadora Stedile (Volleyball) and Abraham Longosiwa (Cross Country/Track)

Coaching Staff of the Year Award
The Coaching Staff of the Year Award is to honor a staff which has demonstrated a sound ability to develop and improve individual and team performance throughout the year through promoting fun, fairness, participation, respect, and upholding the rules, values, and goals of Hofstra University.

Winner: Men's Basketball (Head Coach Speedy Claxton, Assistant Coach Tom Parrotta, Assistant Coach Serge Clement, Assistant Coach Mike DePaoli, Special Assistant to the Head Coach Colin Curtin, Director of Men's Basketball Operations Sean Smith, Video Coordinator Antwon Portley)

Team Most Valuable Player Awards
Recipients: Kevin Bruggeman (Baseball), Dino Capazario (Men's Golf), Aaron Estrada (Men's Basketball), Jimena Garbino (Women's Tennis), Meghan Giordano (Softball), Eliot Goldthorp (Men's Soccer), Ostap Kovalenko (Men's Tennis), Abraham Longosiwa (Men's Cross Country/Track), Jordyn McDonnell (Women's Cross Country/Track), Tara McNally (Field Hockey), Taylor Mennella (Women's Lacrosse), Chase Patterson (Men's Lacrosse), Sarah Pierre (Volleyball), Trey Rogers (Wrestling), Anja Suttner (Women's Soccer), Brandy Thomas (Women's Basketball), Savannah Weyrauch (Women's Golf)

Team of the Year Award
This award is presented to the team who has achieved outstanding success throughout their season during the 2022-23 academic year. The members of this team have represented the Pride in all aspects, demonstrating the utmost commitment, athleticism, and dedication to their sport.

Winner: Men's Basketball

Nick Colleluori Unsung Hero Awards
This award was established in 2007 to recognize a student-athlete that has always been an exceptional representative of the Hofstra athletics program. The award is named after the former Pride lacrosse player, who waged a courageous 14-month battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma before passing away in November 2006 at age 21.

Men's Team Nominees: Mario Biancamano (Wrestling), Nelson Boachie-Yiadom (Basketball), Roc Carles (Soccer), Jaxon Hummel (Golf), Corey Kale (Lacrosse), Jonathan Mahrt Guyou (Tennis)

Women's Team Nominees: Kasey Collins (Softball), Jackie Gatti (Lacrosse), Annabel Hofmann (Soccer), Sorelle Ineza (Basketball), Jordyn McDonnell (Cross Country/Track), Liv Truong (Field Hockey), Cynthia Zhao (Golf)

Winners: Roc Carles (Men's Soccer), Kasey Collins (Softball), Sorelle Ineza (Women's Basketball)

Colonel E. David Woycik, Jr. Award for Leadership and Service
This award was established in 2021 to recognize a student-athlete who has demonstrated the highest degree of excellence in their commitment to their country, Hofstra University, and their community by displaying unselfish devotion in leadership towards others while maintaining the principles of honor, courage, and commitment in the pursuit of success.

Recipient: Marlene Fries (Women's Soccer)

Dr. James M. Shuart Award
This award is presented to the top male scholar-athlete and is named after the former Hofstra University President (1976-2001), who was also a two-sport athlete (football, lacrosse) at the University and a 2006 Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.

Nominees: Nelson Boachie-Yiadom (Basketball), Hendrik Hebbeker (Soccer), Tim Hegarty (Lacrosse), Will Kennedy (Baseball), Ostap Kovalenko (Tennis), Trey Rogers (Wrestling)

Winners: Hendrik Hebbeker (Soccer) and Trey Rogers (Wrestling)

Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Award
This award is given to Hofstra's top scholar-athlete from a women's team and is named after a woman who served a Hofstra University director of women's athletics and played a major role in advancing Hofstra's athletics program, both men and women, during her tenure. Dr. Giallombardo also coached the women's basketball team for 16 years, and served as coach of the softball, tennis and fencing programs during her tenure. She was a 2006 inductee to the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame.

Nominees: Beatriz Alves (Volleyball), Jimena Garbino (Tennis), Karissa Hough (Field Hockey), Sorelle Ineza (Basketball), Angelina Ioppolo (Softball), Jordyn McDonnell (Cross Country/Track), Taylor Mennella (Lacrosse), Anja Suttner (Soccer), Savannah Weyrauch (Golf)

Winner: Anja Suttner (Soccer)

Howard "Howdy" Myers Award
This award was created in honor of a man who served as Hofstra University's director of athletics, head men's lacrosse coach, and head football coach for a quarter of a century. Coach Myers recorded 214 wins as lacrosse coach and made four NCAA Division I Championship Tournament appearances. He recorded 141 wins as football coach and in 1959 he led the team to the first undefeated season in Hofstra football history. Coach Myers was a 2006 inductee into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame.This award is presented to the student-athlete of the year from a men's team.

Nominees: Aaron Estrada (Basketball), Eliot Goldthorp (Soccer), Ostap Kovalenko (Tennis), Chase Patterson (Lacrosse), Trey Rogers (Wrestling)

Winner: Aaron Estrada (Basketball)

Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Award
This award was created in honor of a woman who has been an integral part of women's athletics at Hofstra University. Dr. Smith started the volleyball and women's lacrosse teams at Hofstra, and coached field hockey as well. She toured the world as a member of the United States women's lacrosse team, and served as chairperson of our Physical Education Department. In 2006, she was inducted into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame. The award is presented to the student-athlete of the year from a women's team.

Nominees: Krista Agostinello (Soccer), Beatriz Alves (Volleyball), Kasey Collins (Softball), Jimena Garbino (Tennis), Jordyn McDonnell (Cross Country/Track), Brandy Thomas (Basketball)
Winner: Beatriz Alves (Volleyball)

Senior Speaker
The Senior Speaker program was introduced in 2005 as a way of having one representative from the graduating senior class convey the Hofstra student-athlete experience. The Department of Athletics feels that the message of the senior class is best delivered by an individual who has represented the University at a high level in the classroom, on the fields of play, and in the community. Each year the Senior Speaker is selected based on these criteria. The 2023 Senior Speaker was Trey Rogers from the wrestling team.

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