Fordham Athletics Host 81st Annual Block F Awards Dinner

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Bronx, N.Y. - As the 2014-2015 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 81^st annual Block F Awards Dinner at the Villa Barone Manor on April 29 to honor Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments during the academic year.
 
Among those honored were Mike Nebrich, who was the recipient of the Vincent T. Lombardi Award as Fordham's top male student-athlete for the second consecutive year, Titi Fagade, who was the winner of the Claire and Jack Hobbs Award as Fordham's top female student-athlete and head men's soccer coach Jim McElderry, who were presented with the Iron Major Award as Fordham's Coach of the Year.
 
The Vincent T. Lombardi Award is presented to the Male Athlete of the Year for distinguished athletic achievements in the winning tradition of Vince Lombardi. The award honors the memory of one of Fordham's famed Seven Blocks of Granite, who is considered to be one of football's greatest coaches.
 
­Nebrich, a 2014 Beyond Sports Network All-American and the 2013 and 2014 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, enjoyed another successful year as the Rams' signal caller, despite missing two games due to illness. He completed 270-of-423 passes (63.8%) for 3,599 yards with 30 touchdowns. He ranked in the top ten nationally in passing yards (third), passing yards per game (299.9 - fourth), passing touchdowns (25 - sixth), passing efficiency (154.5 - seventh), completions per game (22.5 - seventh) and total offense (291.9 - tenth).
 
Over his Fordham career, Nebrich completed 637 of 926 passes for 8,804 yards and 66 touchdowns. He set the school career completion percentage record (.688) and is second on the Fordham career completion, passing yards and passing touchdowns lists while he holds school single season marks for completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns.
 
The Claire & Jack Hobbs Memorial Award is presented to the Female Athlete of the Year who has achieved outstanding athletic accomplishments. The award is named in honor of the late Claire and Jack Hobbs.  Jack was a 1938 graduate of Fordham College and a 1941 graduate of Fordham Law, and he and his wife were avid Fordham followers. 

Fagade, a First-Team All-East and First and Second Team All-Atlantic 10 performer during the 2014-2015 indoor track and field season, set four school records this past winter. She was a member of the record-setting 4x800 relay that won the 2015 Atlantic 10 Indoor title and took second at the ECAC Indoor Championships in a school record of 8:45.02. Individually, Fagade won the 500m at the ECAC Championships in a school record time of 1:12.23 to earn First Team All-East honors while placing second in the 800m at the Atlantic 10 Championships to garner Second Team All-A-10 accolades.
 
In addition to the 500m, 800m and the 4x800 relay, Fagade also broke the school 400m record (56.37).
 
In the final indoor rankings, Fagade ranked fifth in the nation in the 500 meter run, as her time of 1:12.23 was behind only South Carolina's Erika Rucker (1:10.06), Indiana State's Alethia Marrero (1:11.08), Clemson's Olivia James (1:11.24), and Duke's Madeline Kopp (1:12.11).  The women's 4x800 relay ranked third in the nation at 8:45.02, behind only Villanova (8:33.94) and Georgetown (8:36.32).
 

McElderry, who won the Iron Major award for the second time over the past four years, opened the 2014 season with a roster that featured 18 new players. Over the course of the season with plenty of ups and downs, he guided those new players and blended them in with the returnees to reach the conference tournament and put together a magical four-day stretch, which saw them defeat the #1, #2, and #3 seeds to win the team's second Atlantic 10 conference title and a berth into the NCAA championship.
 
In addition to winning the championship, three Rams were named All-Atlantic 10, five were named to the all-championship team, and the team received the NSCAA team academic award for the fifth consecutive year and tied duke university for the sixth-highest team GPA in the country.
 
The night opened with a special recognition of three members of the Fordham Community.  John Buckley, associate vice president for enrollment at Fordham, and James and Joanne Kastberg, both former student-athletes at Fordham who spearheaded the Varsity Athletic Challenge, were presented honorary letters by Director of Athletics, David Roach.
 
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Roach and Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President of the University, spoke to the room full of administrators, coaches, student-athletes and their parents.
 
Roach commented on how the Block F Award Dinner is one of his favorite event of the year since it is all about the student-athletes and their successes, both on and off the field, and thanked the student-athletes for their dedication to Fordham, especially the graduating seniors.
 
McShane opened with a saying, "The Storied Fordham Rams", and promised to come back to that after offering his thanks and gratitude top the student-athletes for their selflessness and dedication to Fordham.   
 
"When I am around alumni, we talk about you with such great enthusiasm," said McShane to the student-athletes. "We celebrate your championships but also the way you take joy in celebrating the efforts of others."
 
McShane returned to the "The Storied Fordham Rams" maxim he opened with by explaining that it was the group assembled at the Vila Barone Manor who were the true Storied Fordham Rams.
 
"Your stories become our stories," said McShane. "It's your stories, your accomplishments, that make up what we know as the Storied Fordham Rams and for that we will always be grateful."
 
Below is a list of the other award winners:
 

Patrick Kenneally Award – Will Reimann (Football Student Assistant): The Patrick Kenneally Award is presented to a Fordham student who serves the Athletic Department in capacities other than athletic participation.  The award honors the memory of Pat Kenneally, equipment and business manager for 54 years.
 
Reimann put in countless hours, routinely spending late nights & weekends in the office to contribute to his team's success.  Primarily assisting on the defensive side, he helped his coaching staff with all aspects of the program, including drafting scouting reports, giving campus tours, and facilitating morning check-ins.  He has also served as treasurer of the team's uplifting athletes chapter for three years.
 
Terence O'Donnell Award (Sportsmanship & Dedication) – Ian Williams (Football): The O'Donnell Memorial Award is presented to the Fordham athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, loyalty, dedication and self-discipline.  The award is in memory of Terry O'Donnell, a 1955 graduate who died in a military plane crash shortly after graduation.
 
As one of his team's leaders, Williams is one of the hardest working, team-oriented players you'll find. Always ready with a smile and a handshake to whomever he meets, he has been an all-league performer in not just the Patriot League or the Atlantic 10, but in life.
 
Williams was an All-Patriot league performer as a defensive back, an All-Atlantic 10 performer with track's relay teams, and has been a volunteer and mentor with seven different service programs over his tenure at Fordham.

Jack Coffey Award – Frank Taylor (Academic Advisor):  The Jack Coffey award is presented to a Fordham administrator, alumnus or coach for outstanding contributions and dedication to the athletic program.  It is named for the late Jack Coffey, long-time baseball coach and graduate manager of Athletics.
 
Taylor has been at the head of the Athletic Academic Advising department for nearly two decades, working closely every day with his staff to do everything they can for the Fordham student-athlete.  His loyalty and dedication to his department, the Fordham student-athlete, and his craft are second to none.
 

Benedict T. Harter Award – Michele Daubman (Softball): The Benedict T. Harter award is presented to the Gabelli School of Business senior athlete who has made significant academic and athletic contributions.  The award honors Ben Harter, Gabelli School of Business Class of 1939, a former dean of both Fordham's undergraduate and graduate schools of business, who was an avid follower and supporter of Fordham Athletics. 
 
Daubman is a four-year member of the softball team.  Serving as one of the team's captain, she is a two-time first team Academic All-District and Academic All-Atlantic 10 selection, and this year was one of 30 candidates for the 2015 senior class award.  These are just a few of many academic accomplishments to go along with being the 2014 Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Year and the most outstanding player of last year's Atlantic 10 Championship.
 
Kieran Award – Nicole Arrato (Rowing): The Kieran Award, presented to the Fordham College senior athlete who has made significant academic and athletic contributions.  The award honors the memory of John Kieran, Fordham College Class of 1912, and a famous radio broadcaster, sports editor of the New York Times and a member of Baseball's Hall of Fame.
 
Arrato is a four-year member of the women's rowing team.  A psychology major with a minor in Spanish, she is a member of the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic team for rowing.  This season, she was a part of the varsity 8 that grabbed bronze at the 2015 Kerr Cup.
 
Kiwanis Community Service – Ian Williams (Football): Fordham Kiwanis is part of a worldwide service organization that is committed to improving the quality of life through volunteer action.  The members of Fordham Kiwanis, comprised of university faculty, staff, and administrators, wish to recognize student-athletes who not only excel in academics and in their respective sports, but who are also committed to working in community service activities.
 
Williams has been a mentor and volunteer for countless organizations over his time at Fordham, serving as a mentor at the Eagle Academy for young men in the Bronx and as a volunteer with Jumpstart, a national early education organization that helps young children from low-income neighborhoods develop language, literacy and social skills.
 
Williams has volunteered his time to the Sandy Solidarity Project, as well as the part of the solution soup kitchen in the Bronx, Trinity Church International, and the St. Barnabas reach out and read program.
 
Marty Glickman Award – D.J. Sixsmith: Presented to the WFUV student play-by-play announcer who best follows the examples taught by Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman.  The award honors the memory of Marty Glickman, who was the broadcast coach at WFUV from 1987-99.
 
Athlete Academic Achievement Awards: (Presented to senior student-athletes who have been selected for outstanding athletic and academic achievement with a 3.5 GPA or better):
 
Fordham College
Nicole Arrato, Rowing
Kayla Lombardo, Softball
Danielle Drummond, Track and Field/ Cross Country
Kristen Stuart, Track & Field
Savannah Coe, Swimming
Maureen McKenna, Swimming
Anika Novacek, Tennis
Melissa  Higgins, Track and Field/Cross Country
Diana Kwon, Rowing
Theresa Santoro, Swimming
Caitlin Sershon, Rowing
Patrick McGuire, Track & Field
Ori Raz, Water Polo
 
Gabelli School of Business
Michele Daubman, Softball
Mischa Koran, Tennis
Max Peara, Tennis
Ross Garlick, Squash
Kevin Soares, Football
Serena Moroukian, Softball
Daniel Green, Track and Field
Jillian Brooks, Track and Field/Cross Country
Will Slattery, Track and Field/Cross Country
Bella Genkina, Tennis
Brianna Turgeon, Softball
Kevin Kosciuk, Swimming
Maria Lorena Canicatti, Soccer
 

Team MVPs
 
Baseball: Joey Runco
Men's Basketball: Mandell Thomas
Women's Basketball: Emily Tapio
Cheerleading: Alexa Michos
Men's Cross Country: Quincy O'Connor
Women's Cross Country: Brianna Tevnan
Football: Mike Nebrich
Golf: Ben Alcorn
Rowing: Ashley Hawkesworth
Men's Soccer: Ryan Cupolo
Women's Soccer: Jessica Widmann and Ally White
Softball: Rachel Gillan
Squash: Kincade Webster
Men's Swimming & Diving: Steve Sholdra
Women's Swimming & Diving: Megan Polaha and Shannon Lulley
Men's Tennis: Pol Giraldez
Women's Tennis: Sarah Ali and Julie Leong
Men's Indoor Track & Field: Lester Taylor
Women's Indoor Track & Field: Titi Fagade
Volleyball: Abigail Konovodoff
Water Polo: Noah LeBeau 
 
Note:  Men's and women's outdoor track have not yet named an MVP.