May 1, 2008
Bronx, N.Y. - As the 2007-08 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 74th annual Block F Awards Dinner at the Villa Barone Manor on April 30th to honor the Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments in the 2007-08 academic year.
Among those honored were Benjamin Dato and Bryant Dunston, who were co-recipients of the Vincent T. Lombardi Award as Fordham's top male student-athlete, while Allison Twarowski received the Claire and Jack Hobbs Award as Fordham's top female student-athlete and head football coach Tom Masella was 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.
A Consensus All-American in 2007, Benjamin Dato earned First Team Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America honors by the CollegeSportsReport.com and The Sports Network as well as Second Team All-America accolades by the Associated Press.
A First Team All-Patriot League selection this fall for the second straight season, Dato led the League and ranked third in the NCAA FCS (tenth in all of the NCAA Division I), averaging 44.66 per punt. He kicked 67 times for 2,992 yards with 26 of his 67 punts being downed inside the opponent's 20. His 2,992 punting yards is a Fordham single season record, surpassing the former record of 2,931 yards set by Anthony DiFino in 2005.
Dato was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week twice in 2007. He helped the Fordham punt return squad record the highest net punting averaging in all of NCAA Division I football (40.52 yards/punt).
Over his career, Dato punted 125 times for 5,579 yards, an average of 44.6 yards/punt. His 44.6 yards/punt average is a Fordham career record, surpassing Barry Cantrell's mark of 39.9 yards/punt set between 1994 and 1997. Dato also is ranked fifth on Fordham's all-time punt yardage list.
He signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL on April 28th.
Bryant Dunston, a 6-8 forward, led the men's basketball squad in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg, and rebounding, averaging an Atlantic 10 best 9.8 rpg. He also led the 2007-08 team in blocks with 79 and was second in field goal percentage (.252) while recording 57 assists and 29 steals. Besides rebounding, Dunston ranked among the Atlantic 10 leaders in scoring (11th), field goal percentage (second) and blocks (second).
Dunston, who was also named to the 2008 Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team, recorded an Atlantic 10-best 15 doubles-doubles this year, including eight in the last ten games, to bring his career double-double total to 40.
Last month, Dunston was one of 64 collegiate seniors invited to participate in the 2008 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, the only tournament for college seniors to participate in and be evaluated by the National Basketball Association prior to the NBA's pre-draft camp in Orlando.
Over his four-year career, Dunston appeared in all 120 career games, starting 118, amassing 1,832 career points, good for second place on the Fordham all-time scoring list. He also pulled down 993 career rebounds, good for third all-time at Rose Hill, and this winter he became Fordham's career blocked shots leader, graduating with 294 career rejections.
Dunston, the 2005 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the year, received All-Atlantic 10 accolades all four years at Fordham, earning First Team honors as a sophomore in 2005-06 and Second Team honors in 2004-05 and in 2006-07.
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.
Allison Twarowski, the 2008 Hobbs Award winner, will graduate as one of the most prolific offensive softball players in school history. This year, she became Fordham's leader in hits (248), doubles (44), RBI (143), runs scored (178), at bats (747) and total bases (395) while ranking second in home runs (29) and fourth in stolen bases (30). Her career batting average of .332 (248-747) currently ranks among the top six all-time at Fordham.
On the year, Twarowski is third on team in hitting with a .320 average (63-197) with 14 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 34 RBI. She leads the Atlantic 10 in hits, is second in runs scored and third in doubles.
Twarowski has also chipped in from the mound, compiling an 11-7 record with a 1.91 ERA this spring, fifth best in the conference. Over the past two years, she has picked up 17 wins, tied for fifth best all-time at Fordham, while her career ERA of 1.80 is second best in school history.
Last year, Twarowski set Fordham single season marks for hits (75), runs scored (58) and total bases (117) while earning Second Team NFCA All-Region and Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors as well as being named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament team.
Tom Masella, the 2008 Iron Major Award winner who also received Patriot League Coach of the Year honors this fall, led the Rams to an 8-4 overall record and a 5-1 Patriot League mark, winning the League title for the second time in the past five years (2002). Fordham, who was picked to finish sixth of the seven Patriot League teams prior to the season, displayed one of the biggest turnarounds in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), going from 3-8 in 2006 to 8-4 this fall.
The Rams traveled to Massachusetts for their first round NCAA Division I FCS playoff game on November 24th, giving the seventh-ranked Minutemen all they could handle, tying the game at 35 in the fourth quarter before falling, 49-35.
Masella, who was also named the 2007 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year as well as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award as the NCAA FCS Coach of the Year, saw 12 of his players named All-Patriot League, including freshman running back Xavier Martin who garnered Rookie of the Year honors.
Below is a list of the other award winners:
Terence O'Donnell Award (Sportsmanship & Dedication) - Bailey McKay (Volleyball): 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.
McKay truly represents the Jesuit ideal of being a person for others. Over her career, she has been a team leader, constantly providing a positive force, whether it was cheering on her teammates at games or leading the way as a volunteer with Global Outreach, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, and the Reach Out and Read Program at St. Barnabas. A killer server for the volleyball team, she has served as the vice president of SAAC and is Fordham's representative at Atlantic 10 SAAC functions.
Jack Coffey Award - Scott Kwiatkowski FCRH '01 (Assistant Sports Information Director): 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.
Patrick Kenneally Award - Marisa Colangelo (SAAC President): 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.
Colangelo is a senior who has been a devoted member of the student-athlete advisory committee for the past two years, serving as president this year. She spearheaded a number of SAAC events, highlighted by the St. Jude's fundraiser and carnival which raised over four thousand, two hundred dollars for the children's research hospital, as well as the reach out and read program at St. Barnabas. She has also been a volunteer at numerous Fordham athletic events, such as the golf outing and Hall of Fame day.
Benedict T. Harter Award - Eric Reese (Baseball): The Benedict T. Harter award is presented to the College of Business Administration senior athlete who has made significant academic and athletic contributions. The award honors Ben Harter, College of Business Administration 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.
Reese is a four-year member of the baseball team who is concentrating in finance with a secondary concentration in marketing. A First Team All-Conference second baseman, he became the ninth Ram to reach 200 career hits and is among the national leaders this season in stolen bases. He is currently second on the team in batting average, runs scored, RBI, and stolen bases.
Kieran Award - Caroline Gibbons (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.
Gibbons is a four-year member of the women's rowing team. An American Studies major, she holds the highest GPA of any senior student-athlete in Fordham College. A collegiate rowing coaches association national scholar-athlete, she is a member of the women's varsity 8, which won both the fall and spring Metropolitan Championships and took sixth at the Atlantic 10 championship.
Kiwanis Community Service - Laura Muzzatti (Women's Soccer): 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.
Muzzatti is a four-year member of the women's soccer team, who has excelled on and off the field. Away from the pitch, she has been involved in an initiative for the Global Aids Campaign, which raised funds through a 3-on-3 basketball tournament held at Fordham, and served as secretary for the student-athlete advisory committee, helping plan a number of events throughout this past year. She has also been involved with the Union Community Health Center and the Reach Out and Read Program.
Marty Glickman Award - Ryan Ruocco: 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.
Honorary Letters: Honorary letters were presented to Scott Robson, Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing and Promotions, and Linda Bruno, retiring Atlantic 10 Commissioner.
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):
Donato Callara (Men's Diving)
Breean Daley (Women's Soccer)
Tom Finnerty (Men's XC/Track)
Caroline Gibbons (Women's Rowing)
Justin Kopunek (Men's XC/Track)
Tara McWilliams (Women's Swimming)
Eric Reese (Baseball)
Ryan Serkes (Men's Track)
Trevor Seufer (Golf)
Team MVPs:
Men's Basketball: Kevin Anderson
Women's Basketball: Megan Mahoney
Cheerleading: Casey McCurdy
Men's Cross Country: Matthew Lownethal
Women's Cross Country: Melissa Salerno
Football: John Skelton
Men's Soccer: Einar Oddsson
Women's Soccer: Courtney Fedge
Softball: Allison Twarowski
Squash: Steve Sangiacomo and Charles Sterken
Men's Swimming: Donato Callara
Women's Swimming: Nicole Marshall
Men's Tennis: Dallas Harting
Women's Tennis: Dominique Liguori
Men's Indoor Track and Field: Matt DiBuono
Women's Indoor Track and Field: Melissa Salerno
Volleyball: Christi Griffiths
Water Polo: Paul Shrewsbury
Note: Baseball, golf, men's and women's outdoor track and rowing have not yet named an MVP.
