2016-17 Annual Fontbonne Athletic Awards & Hall of Fame Induction
St. Louis, Mo.- Each year the Fontbonne University Athletic Department hands out several prestigious awards. Saturday evening award recipients and their guests were invited to campus as Director of Athletics Maria Buckel presented the 2016-17 awards.
The Angelo Simaku Award
The Angelo Simaku 100% Award honors men's soccer player Angelo Simaku who died one year after coming to Fontbonne. Simaku participated in many Fontbonne community activities, demonstrating his positive attitude in all aspects of student life. Simaku died of a brain tumor, but was kept alive for four days while recipients were four for his organs. A little boy in Pittsburgh received Angelo's heart, so a piece of him lived on.
The 2017 Angelo Simaku Award goes to Jordan Alberici (St. Louis, Mo./Trinity). The junior goalkeeper is continually looking to improve himself and his teammates on the field. "Jordan is a tireless worker every practice and game. He strives to make his teammates better, holding them accountable for their actions on and off the field. Jordan treats opposing teams, coaches and players with respect. He gives you 100% on and off the field," commented head coach Ricky Andrews.
Team Valedictorian Award
The Team Valedictorian Award is given to the team with the highest cumulative grade point average.
The 2017 team valedictorian award goes to the Women's Cross Country team. The team, comprised of five individuals holds, a 3.54 cumulative grade point average. Those on the team include Colleen and Katie Gosser, Jaylah Jones, Sarah Rhoads and Jennie Stare. Colleen Gosser represented the team at the banquet and accepted the award.
The Lee McKinney Scholar Athlete Award
Academics are the primary focus for Division III student-athletes. The Lee McKinney scholar athlete award is given to the student-athlete who best represents the University in the classroom. These students must have attained the status of either junior or senior academically in order to be eligible for this award.
Junior three-sport student-athlete Stephen Lendy was presented the Lee McKinney Scholar Athlete Award. Lendy (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame College Prep), a special education major, has a cumulative 4.0 GPA. In addition to his studies and regular practices for his main sport of men's volleyball, Lendy is also a member of the men's tennis team and this year competed in high jump and javelin during the outdoor track season. Lendy is a previous Meneve Dunham Award recipient (2016).
The Bryan Kennedy Award
This award has been established to honor the memory of Bryan Kennedy, a past men's basketball player at Fontbonne. Bryan collapsed at practice during the 1997-98 season. Measures were taken to revive Bryan after his unexpected collapse but those efforts were unsuccessful. We unfortunately lost a part of the Fontbonne Family that day to an undiagnosed heart condition. Years after Bryan lost his life on this floor the Fontbonne community set up an award in his name to recognize a student-athlete that demonstrates the attributes of a true team player and places the team's success ahead of his or her own no matter what the circumstance they are facing in their lives as Bryan always did.
This year's recipient of the Bryan Kennedy Award is Katie Gosser. A freshman, Gosser was unanimously selected to represent the Griffins on the women's track and field team for the SLIAC Sportsmanship award. Even though she competes in five to seven events each meet, Gosser can be found cheering on her own teammates and others throughout the competition. According to Coach Buckler, Gosser consistently asks how she can improve both herself and the team. Katie's twin sister Colleen accepted the award on her behalf as she was at a track meet in Utah.
The Meneve Dunham Award
This award is given to a Fontbonne University student-athlete who has made the most significant contribution to athletics at Fontbonne University for this school year. The criteria for this award includes individual talent, facilitation of team play, contribution to the University outside of their role as a student-athlete, and classroom performance. This student-athlete should also represent Fontbonne with great character.
Ethan Borrowman, a senior baseball player, was the recipient of the Meneve Dunham Award this year. Borrowman, from Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield, started 38 of 39 games this season, hit five home runs while also being a member of Fontbonne Activities Board and the Math and Computer Science Club, of which he has served as treasurer and president. Borrowman has been a student ambassador, giving recruits and potential Fontbonne students tours of campus. He has been a supplemental instructor in Math and Computer Sciences, where he won the M. Teresine Lewis Award for Service and Academic Excellence. Borrowman is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa and a member of the Dean's List. This semester the outfielder designed a mobile app for the Director of Service, Diversity and Social Justice that could track student service hours. To end his baseball career, Borrowman was first nominated as a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, voted on by Sports Information Directors based on both academic and athletic achievements and announced on Friday, he garnered third team All-SLIAC accolades.
Ethan graduated summa cum laude from Fontbonne with a degree in Computer Science and a 3.96 GPA, but not before giving the only graduating student speech at commencement.
The Mary Schoendienst Award
This award is given to a Fontbonne University female student-athlete who has demonstrated the strongest athletic performance based on statistical evidence, talent and performance. This award winner was nominated by the coaching staff and the final decision was made by the Director of Athletics.
This year, women's soccer player Natalie Sipole was honored with the award. Sipole was the only female student-athlete to garner All-Region status, being named to the NSCAA third team in the Central Region. Sipole was honored on the first team All-SLIAC, named to the All-Tournament Team and tied for the conference lead in assists. The midfielder recorded one goal and 11 assists on the season as she led the Griffins to the conference tournament championship game for the first time since 1996. Her 11 assists are fourth-most in a single season in school history and her 17 career assists are fifth-most in program history. In addition to her athletic skills, Sipole is the first Griffin to earn NSCAA third team Scholar All-Region honors. She will be continuing her education at Fontbonne in the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program.
The Red Schoendienst Award
This award is given to a Fontbonne University male student-athlete who has demonstrated the strongest athletic performance based on statistical evidence, talent and performance. This award winner was nominated by the coaching staff and the final decision was made by the Director of Athletics.
Senior Ethan Boyer is this year's Red Schoendienst Award recipient. Boyer led the baseball team with 60 hits, 44 runs scored, 23 stolen bases and six home runs. He also achieved a team-leading .390 batting average with a .578 slugging percentage and .453 on-base percentage. The shortstop-turned-outfielder tallied 38 runs batted in, 16 walks, and 11 doubles. His 23 stolen bases on 31 attempts is third-highest in a season in the history of Fontbonne baseball. He has 187 career hits, third all-time for the Griffins and his 45 career stolen bases is second-highest. On the season, Boyer was first in the SLIAC for hits and stolen bases, fifth in RBI's, sixth in batting average and seventh in home runs, earning him first team All-SLIAC accolades.
The Flying Griffin Award
This award is given to honor and recognize an individual who has provided significant contributions to the Fontbonne University Athletic Department. This individual has succeeded in lifting the hearts of Griffin student-athletes and their fans.
Fontbonne University Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Kay Graves, is the 2017 recipient of the Flying Griffin Award. In addition to being an Assistant Professor in the Department of Math and Computer Science and a liaison for the Dual Degree Engineering Programs, she has been the FAR since 2010. Kay's duties as FAR include attending SLIAC Administrative Council meetings to discuss conference bylaws and sport-by-sport issues/concerns. She also attends meetings with other FAR's from conference institutions and aids student-athletes at Fontbonne when conflicts arise between academic and athletic programs. Kay is not only available as a resource for academic issues, but she is also the constant face in the crowd at almost all home events. Student-athletes can count on Kay and even her husband Chuck, to be in the crowd cheering on the Griffins. When she thinks she's just going to be a fan, Kay even gets roped into helping if issues arise during games, whether that be helping to run the game, asking Chuck for his advise due to weather concerns or even aiding with crowd issues. Kay Graves is a constant supporter of ALL Fontbonne teams and we thank her for her unwavering support in this long overdue recognition.
2017 Hall of Fame Class
Inducted into the 2017 Fontbonne Athletic Hall of Fame were Josh Burlison, a 2010 graduate of the baseball team and Ashley (Weaver) Withers, a 2007 graduate of Fontbonne softball.
Burlison, a 2010 graduate, was a standout baseball player. Burlison played with the Griffins for four years, starting in 2007 in the outfield, at second base and at shortstop. He was a 2010 Central All-Region honoree as a shortstop, named First Team All-SLIAC that same year and Second Team All-SLIAC his junior year as an outfielder. After his final season, Burlison was awarded Fontbonne's Red Schoendienst Award, the highest award for a male student-athlete based on performance.
"I just wanted to send a special thanks to everyone who supported me along the way," said Burlison. "First and foremost, I wouldn't have this opportunity without the love and continued support of my parents, family and wife. To my teammates: thank you for making everyday a day to remember and pushing me to be my best. To all of my coaches, especially Coach Good and Coach York, thank you for the memories, support, and every opportunity you have given me. It is an honor to be inducted and something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you!"
In his career, Burlison averaged .375 at the plate, a .546 slugging percentage, recorded 188 hits, including 20 doubles and seven triples, and walked 52 times. He continues to hold the school record for number of career stolen bases (58) which were on 65 attempts. He finished his senior season with a .434 batting average. Burlison is second in Fontbonne history for hits in a season (62 in 2009), career hits and career triples. He hit a school-record four triples in 2010.
Burlison resides in Festus, Mo. with his wife Emily and a baby on the way. He is currently employed with AT&T.
Weaver, a 2007 graduate, held her softball team together in the circle and was a unanimous pick by the Hall of Fame Committee. She played with the Griffins for three seasons: 2005, 2006 and 2007. The year 2006 was the first time the National Fastpitch Coaches Association recognized any Griffin as an All-American. Weaver garnered third team All-American status, was first team All-Region, SLIAC All-Tournament MVP and SLIAC Player of the Year in 2006. After transferring to Fontbonne her sophomore year, she was named SLIAC Newcomer of the year in 2005. Weaver threw 338 K's over 376.2 innings pitched. She recorded 44 wins, 13 shutouts and four saves. In 71 appearances she had 62 starts and threw 36 complete games for a career 1.64 ERA. Weaver earned first team All-SLIAC accolades in 2005 and 2006.
"I am truly honored to be one of this year's inductees to the Fontbonne Hall of Fame," said Weaver. "Playing softball and being on the field, in the circle, with the ball in my hand, has always been one of the greatest joys of my life. I think back to when I was a little girl, that first season, I fell in love with the game and it became a huge part of my life. I spent the next 15 years playing a sport I truly loved. There were so many people who helped and supported me over the years and I am truly thankful to have met them."
Weaver continues to hold school records for innings pitched in a season (195.1) and wins in a season. Her record 25 wins was ninth amonth NCAA Division III pitchers in 2006. That year she was also named the Fontbonne Mary Schoendienst recipient, the highest honor for a female student-athlete based on performance. From 2006-2014 she held the school record for most strikeouts in a season, tallying 183 her junior year, and up until 2016 she held the career record of 338 strikeouts. Weaver threw a 1.29 earned run average her junior year while throwing 22 complete games with eight shutouts.
"Two coaches that really believed in me and gave me the opportunity to walk out to the circle to do what I loved were John Conway and Bill Rosner. Another person who also deserves recognition is, 'My Number 1 Fan,' my father, Stephen Weaver. Without him none of this would be possible. He gave up so much of his time, money, and energy to buy the uniforms and equipment I needed, along with spending countless hours being my catcher and coach, while driving me to practices and tournaments all over the country. He gave up so much, for me to chase a dream. This is for you dad...We did it!"
Weaver currently resides in Lake Saint Louis with her husband Greg Withers and two boys Stephen Jordan and Ashton. She is an Instructional Interventionist at Carondelet Leadership Academy in South City.
Congratulations to all recipients on your accomplishments!