May 7, 2010
Photo Gallery
Bronx, N.Y. -
As the 2009-10 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 76th annual Block F Awards Dinner at the Villa Barone Manor on May 6th to honor Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments during the academic year.
Among those honored were John Skelton, who was recipient of the Vincent T. Lombardi Award as Fordham's top male student-athlete, Caitlin Napoli and Jen Mineau, who were co-winners of the Claire and Jack Hobbs Award as Fordham's top female student-athlete and head men's and women's swimming coach Steve Potsklan, who was presented with the Iron Major Award as Fordham's Coach of the Year for the second straight 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.
Skelton, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Arizona Cardinals, was named the team Most Valuable Player. A four-year starter at quarterback, he wrapped up a record-shattering career for the Rams this fall, closing out the year completing 284 of 441 passes (64.4%) for 3,708 yards and 26 touchdowns. He set new school marks for completions and passing yards, breaking Kevin Eakin's former school records of 247 completions for 3,072 yards set in 2003 as well as breaking Steve O'Hare's completion percentage record of 63.1% set in 1997. Skelton led the NCAA FCS in passing yards/game (337.09) and was ranked second in total offense (348.18 yards/game), fourth in completions per game (25.82) and total passing yards and tenth in passing efficiency (149.95).
Skelton threw for over 300 yards eight times in eleven games this year, including four 400-yard games. He completed 20 of 27 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns against Cornell on October 17th, breaking the school record of 413 passing yards set by Joe Moorhead in 1995 and coming up one shy of the school record for scoring passes of six, set by Kevin Eakin in 2003. Skelton then broke his own record two weeks later, completing 43 of 67 passes for 427 yards, all school records, against Holy Cross on October 31st. He finished one passing attempt shy of the NCAA FCS record for most pass attempts in a game without an interception, just missing the national mark of 68 set by Marshall's Tony Petersen against Western Carolina in 1987 (Peterson completed 34). Skelton surpassed his own school record of 420 passing yards in a game while breaking Matt Georgia's 1999 records of 36 completions and 65 attempts.
Over his career, Skelton completed 802 passes for 9,923 yards and 69 touchdowns, all school marks. He shattered Joe Moorhead's career completions record of 518 while also surpassing Eakin's career marks for passing yards (6,112) and touchdowns (45).
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.
Napoli, a senior with the women's swimming squad, won the 500 freestyle at the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championships, earning First Team All-Conference honors and leading the Rams to their first ever team title. She also earned First Team All-Conference honors as a member of the winning 800 freestyle relay that won the event and set a new A-10 record (7:20.82). Napoli also placed second in both the 200 free and 200 fly at 2010 A-10's, earning Second Team All-Conference honors in both events.
A two-time team captain, Napoli was a member of two other relays that scored at A-10s, including the 400 free relay which placed second in a school record time of (3:23.72), earning Second Team All-Conference honors.
Napoli graduates with school records in the 200 free (1:49.55) and 500 free (4:52.07) as well as being a member of the 200 free (1:35.21), 400 free (3:23.72) and 800 free (7:20.84) relay teams.
Mineau, a sophomore record-setting pitcher with the softball team, is enjoying the finest year ever for a Fordham softball pitcher. Through 51 games this season, Mineau (29-5), has broken the records for strikeouts in a single game three times, (18, 19 and then 22) and the single season strikeout (420) and shutouts (14) records and is on pace to set Fordham's single season ERA record with her current ERA of 0.65. She's been named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week five times (Feb. 22, March 1, April 19th, April 26th and May 3rd) and was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Division I Player of the Week on May 4th after tallying her second-straight 3-0, three shutout week.
In 226.2 innings pitched Mineau's allowed just 103 hits and 27 runs, 21 earned, in 41 appearances. She has had the four best strikeout performances in Fordham history, including a 22-strike out performance in a 5-3, nine-inning win at La Salle on April 18th.
Through games of May 2nd, Mineau leads the NCAA Division in strike outs (13.0/seven innings) and is ranked second in the country in ERA and walks allowed (0.71/seven innings) and is tied for eighth in wins.
On April 7th, Mineau was announced as one of collegiate softball's elite as she was named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist by officials from the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America. She is the only sophomore and the lone representative of the Atlantic 10 on a list selected out of 20 schools and seven Division I conferences and is the only player selected from the Northeast Region.
In the first weekend of play, Mineau set two Fordham records as she pitched a seven-inning perfect game in the 10-0 season-opening win against Morehead State on February 20th. The seven-inning perfect game was the first ever in Fordham's 25 year history and was the second perfect game and third no-hitter of Mineau's career.
Mineau also has two wins over ranked teams to her credit, beating #8 Georgia Tech and shutting out #22 Texas A&M.
Steve Potsklan the 2010 Iron Major Award winner and 2010Atlantic 10 Women's Coach of the Year, wins both honors for the second consecutive year. This winter, he led the women's squad to a first place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship, Fordham's first ever A-10 title and the first A-10 championship for any women's team at Fordham, while the men's team placed fourth, matching its best ever finish. Potsklan saw almost 20 school records fall under his tutelage this year and has ten swimmers earn All-Atlantic 10 honors.
Academically, both the men's and women's teams were named CSCAA Scholar All-American Teams for the seventh straight year. To earn CSCAA Scholar All-American Team honors a team must have a minimum team GPA of 3.0 for the semester.
This is the third Iron Major award for Potsklan, who also received the honor in 2001 and 2009.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President of the University, spoke to the room full of student-athletes and their parents. He stressed the gratitude and pride the university and its alumni have for the student-athletes and extolled the student-athletes to remember their responsibilities as representatives of the university.
"We are forever in your debt for what you've done for Fordham," said McShane. "You inspire us by what you do and how you care for one another and for others through your community service. We ask you to continue to be larger than yourself and continue to better yourself and inspire others to do the same."
The night opened with a special recognition of two members of the Fordham Community. Summit security officer Steve Becker, who works as the head men's basketball coach's escort at all home games, was presented with a portrait painted by Paul Dillon, the head men's golf coach and accomplished painter.
The other university member honored was Fr. Joseph Currie, S.J., the longtime head of Campus Ministry and football team chaplain, who was presented a Fordham rocking chair and Fordham jacket as a thank you for his years of assistance to the athletic department. Fr. Currie will be assuming a new position as the Rector of the Jesuit Center in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, at the end of the academic year.
Below is a list of the other award winners:
Patrick Kenneally Award - Zac Boisvert (Men's Basketball Manager): 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.
Boisvert, a senior who has served as a four-year team manager for the men's basketball team, has assisted in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the team, taking care of all the little things on road trips and at home games.
Terence O'Donnell Award (Sportsmanship & Dedication) - Erin Fisher (Softball): 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 the team's lone senior, Fisher leads by example, playing through injuries and doing everything she can to help her team achieve its goals. She has had a banner year individually for her team, and will go down as one of the top offensive players in team history.
Fisher currently sports a .359 (55-153) batting average with nine doubles, one triple, 14 home runs and 48 RBI. Her 14 home runs ties the Fordham single season record set by Katie Davis in 2005. Fisher leads the team and the Atlantic 10 in home runs, ranking 45th nationally, and slugging percentage (.706) while tying for first in the conference in runs scored (42), ranking second in RBI, fourth in batting average. Fisher is also second in the team in stolen bases, being perfect in 14 attempts.
Jack Coffey Award - Bob Hawthorn (Men's Tennis/Squash Coach): 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.
Hawthorn has been a part of the Maroon and White of Rose Hill for as long as anyone can remember. A head coach and teacher for over 50 years at Fordham, he is a three-time Iron Major Award winner and has stood the test of time, being the last active coach at Fordham hired by the late, great Jack Coffey for whom this award is named.
A 1953 graduate of Fordham University, Hawthorn was a standout in both tennis and squash and was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977. Hawthorn gained Eastern ranking prominence in the 1950s in both tennis and squash.
Following his graduation, Hawthorn enrolled in the graduate school at Rose Hill, (eventually earning a Master of Science degree in Education in 1960), and took over the squash coaching reins in 1956. By 1958, Hawthorn was coaching the men's tennis team and teaching at Fordham Prep, a position which he just recently retired from in 2005.
Benedict T. Harter Award - Stephanie Narduzzo (Rowing): 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.
Narduzzo is a four-year letter winner with the women's rowing team. As a member of Fordham's varsity 8 boat, she was named to the 2010 Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team and is a two-time CRCA Scholar-Athlete selection.
On the water, Narduzzo led the varsity 8 boat to a fourth place finish in the grand championship at the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship as well as to a win in the petite final at the 2010 Knecht Cup and a second place showing in the petite final at the Murphy Cup. She also helped the varsity 8 defend its Fall and Spring Metropolitan titles.
Kieran Award - John Korevec (Cross Country/Track and Field): 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.
Korevec is a four-year member of the men's cross country and track teams. An international political economy major, he is a multiple-time member of the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Competing for the Rams in the distance events, he had his best performance at the 2010 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championship, scoring points for Fordham in the 3000-meter steeplechase event, an event Fordham had not scored in previously at A-10's. Korevec also placed third in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2010 Metropolitan Championships and won the event at the 2010 Monmouth Season Opener.
Kiwanis Community Service - Brittany Russell (Tennis): 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.
Russell is a three-year member of the women's tennis team, who will graduate in May after only three year as an undergraduate at Fordham and will enroll in the Fordham Law School in the fall. She has been major part of Fordham's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as a vice president this year and spearheading the group's community service to assist "Asayo's Wish Network" and its establishment, the Elizabeth Durante Medical Center in Uganda. Through her and SAAC's fundraising and gift efforts, over 600 Ugandan children have been supplied with goods, nurturing the spiritual and emotional development of children, and strengthening the capacity of the community in Uganda.
Marty Glickman Award - Gregg Caserta: 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
Ryan Coombs (Men's Swimming)
Catherine Groene (Women's XC/Track)
Brittany Hogan (Women's Soccer)
John Korevec (Men's XC/Track)
Lucien Monson (Men's Swimming)
College of Business Administration
Chelsea Berry (Rowing)
Justin Coombs (Men's Swimming)
Martina Featherston (Tennis)
Patrick Murray (Soccer)
Stephanie Narduzzo (Rowing)
Paul Szczepaniak (XC/Track and Field)
Team MVPs:
Men's Basketball: Chris Gaston
Women's Basketball: Randall Hurst
Cheerleading: Kathleen Stack
Men's Cross Country: Clifton Hilario
Women's Cross Country: Brigid Moriarty
Football: Jason Caldwell
Golf: Jason Del Rosso
Men's Soccer: Tim Richardson
Women's Soccer: Katie McDermott
Softball: Jen Mineau
Squash: James Lechleitner
Men's Swimming: Ryan Coombs
Women's Swimming: Caitlin Napoli
Men's Tennis: Dallas Harting
Women's Tennis: Martina Featherston
Men's Indoor Track & Field: Brian Schmidt
Women's Indoor Track & Field: Kerri Gallagher
Volleyball: Katie Wells
Water Polo: Andrew Dentinger
Note: Baseball, rowing and men's and women's outdoor track have not yet named an MVP.
