Student-athletes honored for excellence on and off the field

Bryant community celebrates historic first year in Division I at annual awards banquet.

Jessica Clark ’09 (Barnstable, MA) had a great view for one of best wins in the history of Women’s Soccer at Bryant. She was the goalkeeper last year when Bryant beat perennial powerhouse Franklin Pierce for the first time in the history of the program. It’s a moment she will never forget.

“As the final whistle sounded securing the win, the entire team came running on the field and piled on top of me,” she remembers of the game that was part of a record-setting 17-victory season. “I had never felt an adrenaline rush like seeing my team’s excitement, hearing our home crowd cheering, and feeling the pride of winning such a huge game.”

Clark had the opportunity to reflect upon a remarkable career on and off the field at the annual Athletics Award Banquet held earlier this month. She was the big winner of the night and took home honors as the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year and was the female recipient of the William T. O’Hara Leadership Award.

“I know there are many athletes who are inspiring leaders on their teams, as well as the Bryant community,” says Clark, who is co-chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, a member of President Ronald K. Machtley’s Senior Advisory Council, and public relations chair of the Media Production Club. “To be recognized with the William T. O’Hara Award for my leadership abilities is both humbling and extremely gratifying.”

A communication major and Honors Program member, Clark says her Bryant education and involvement in athletics has prepared her to excel after graduation.

“Being part of a team teaches you so much about establishing priorities, taking personal responsibility, accepting criticism, pushing yourself, and working with others,” she says. “These skills are important in all aspects of life.”

Alex Pfau ’09 (Bel Air, MD) of the Men’s Lacrosse team was also awarded a Scholar Athlete Award. The applied actuarial math major is a two-time selection to the Northeast- 10 Men’s Lacrosse All-Academic Team. He appeared in 10 games this year recording one goal. In his career, he netted eight goals.

Leading the way

Steven Branch ’09 (Montclair, NJ), the male recipient of the William T. O’Hara Leadership Award, says his four years on the Football team have helped him become a better leader.

“I have been able to learn many valuable things about people, leadership, and trust that I might not have been able to learn if I was not part a team for so long,” says Branch, who will enroll in Bryant’s Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program. “I know that there will be opportunities for me to use the skills that I have learned while playing sports.”

Zack Greer ’09 MBA (Whitby, Ontario) has only been on campus for a year, but he has left quite an impression on opposing teams and the Bryant community. Before the season, Greer was named a co-captain of Men’s Lacrosse, and in the team’s first Division I win, Greer scored six times in a 22-goal onslaught against Sacred Heart. The team’s leading scorer, Greer helped lead the team to a 10-win season. For his efforts, he was named one of the Male Athletes of the Year.

(L-R) Athletic Director Bill Smith, Male Athletes of the Year Zack Greer ’09 MBA (Whitby, Ontario) and Pat McKenna ’09 (Orange, CT), and President Ronald K. Machtley.

He says the award is a tribute to his teammates and coaching staff. “In lacrosse, no individual is successful without a great group of guys to play with.”

Sharing honors with Greer as Male Athlete of the Year was Pat McKenna ’09 (Orange, CT), a shortstop and three-year captain on the Baseball team. He says it was an honor to be recognized with Greer, the NCAA all-time career goals leader.

“It is a privilege to share the award with one of the greatest lacrosse players ever to play,” says McKenna. “I’m honored that the hard work I’ve put in is recognized alongside Zack’s.”

Filled with the spirit

Delia Glover ’09 (Marston Mills, MA), a two-sport starter on the Women’s Volleyball and Women’s Lacrosse teams, earned Female Athlete of the Year honors She was also named a Distinguished Student Athlete by the Rhode Island Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, as well as NCAA Woman of the Year.

The volleyball co-captain says one of her most memorable experiences on the court actually came in a defeat. She will always remember the effort showed by her teammates as her team lost a hard-fought contest to Navy earlier this year in their first Division I tournament. “I will never forget the feeling of pride I had for our team as we were able to hold our own against a premier program at the highest level,” she says. “We left everything on the court.”

Glover’s fellow volleyball co-captain, Maureen Atkins ’09 (St. Louis, MO), earned the Omar Shareef Spirit Award. She was selected by her fellow student-athletes.

“To be recognized by my peers is such an honor,” she says.

The final honor, the 12th Man Award, was given posthumously to Peter Sullivan ’68, a member of the 1966-67 undefeated Men’s Basketball team that was inducted into the Bryant Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Banner year

In the first year of a four-year transition to Division I, the Bulldogs tallied well over 100 wins and posted a 43-47 overall record against Northeast Conference opponents. Bryant was not eligible for postseason play and could not defend the Presidents’ Cup Trophy the University earned the last two years as the top team in the Northeast-10 conference.

The Women's Basketball team shows off the winter President's Cup awarded by President Machtley for compiling 11 wins against Division I competition.

President Ronald K. Machtley awarded his own President’s Cup to the team with the highest winning percentage against Division I competition for each season.

The football team captured fall honors with a 5-4 record against D-I opponents and Women’s Basketball’s 11 wins captured the winter award. The spring award will be determined at the conclusion of baseball season later this month.

Bulldog Award Recipients (Team MVPs)

Lauren Alexander ’09 (Simsbury, CT), Field Hockey
Maureen Atkins ’09 (Fenton, MO), Women's Volleyball
Tom Casey ’09 (Cornwall, NY), Men's Cross Country
Martha Chapman ’12 (Orange, CT), Women's Tennis
Justine Douvadjian ’09 (Andover, MA), Women's Track & Field
Alex Engel ’10 (Spencer, MA), Men's Track & Field
Allison Faiola ’10 (Billerica, MA), Women's Lacrosse
Casey Fenwick ’09 (Wayland, MA), Women's Cross Country
Kevin Gardiner ’10 (Powder Springs, GA), Men's Tennis
Zack Greer ’09 MBA (Whitby, Ontario), Men's Lacrosse
Cara Johnson ’09 (Endicott, NY), Women's Basketball
Peter Lambert ’09 (Cumberland, RI), Men's Basketball
Jessica Looney ’10 (Goffstown, NH), Women's Swimming
Danielle Malta ’09 (Bethel, CT), Women's Soccer
Bryce Martins ’09 (Uncasville, CT), Football
Pat McKenna ’09 (Orange, CT), Baseball
Stephanie Mirando ’09 (North Haven, CT), Softball
Steve Nguyen ’11 (San Jose, CA), Men's Swimming
Manny Rodriguez ’09 (North Branford, CT), Men's Soccer
Jason Thresher ’10 (West Suffield, CT), Golf

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To learn more, visit 2009 Athletics Awards Banquet.