The first awards being presented in Worcester State Athletics’ Virtual Awards Week are the Male and Female Rookie Athletes of the Year. This season, we have one male winner and two female winners.
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The recipient of the Male Rookie Athlete of the Year is a member of the men’s basketball team, who joined the team in the second semester and made an immediate impact in the Lancer backcourt. This athlete averaged 10.2 points per game in 17 games, and was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week and Worcester Area College Basketball Association Rookie of the Week three times each. His three-point field goal percentage of 48.1 percent in conference games ranked second in the MASCAC behind only his brother. In Worcester State’s convincing 96-72 MASCAC Semifinal win over MCLA, this athlete poured in a game-high 24 points to lead all scorers and punch the Lancers’ ticket to the MASCAC title game.
The 2020 Worcester State Male Rookie Athlete of the Year, from the men’s basketball team, is SAM DION!
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The first of our two Female Rookie Athletes of the Year is a freshman on the women’s indoor and outdoor track & field teams. While this athlete did not get the opportunity to compete in her outdoor season, she dominated a handful of events all winter, winning one MASCAC Individual Championship, and leading her team to a second place finish at the MASCAC Championship meet. A four-time MASCAC Rookie of the Week, and one-time MASCAC Field Athlete of the Week, this athlete was the conference champion in the long jump at 5.40 meters and the runner up in the 60 meter dash. This athlete ranked 61st and 76th nationally in the two events respectively, and finished eighth at the New England Championships in the 60 meter dash.
The first 2020 Worcester State Female Rookie Athlete of the Year Award recipient, from the women’s indoor and outdoor track & field teams, is MAUREEN GRADY!
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The second Female Rookie Athlete of the Year is also a member of the women’s indoor and outdoor track & field team, which finished second at the MASCAC Indoor Championships. This athlete won a trio of Individual championships at the MASCAC meet, winning the triple jump, 200 meter dash, and the 4x200 meter relay. She was also the conference’s runner up in the 60 meter hurdles in her first season ever running the event. Her 4x200 meter relay team would go on to place third at the Division III New England Championships. This athlete won three MASCAC Rookie of the Week Awards and two MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week Awards during her freshman season.
The second Female Rookie Athlete of the Year, from the women’s indoor and outdoor track & field teams, is AVONIA HERBERT!
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Stay tuned on Tuesday as we release two more awards on day two of Virtual Awards Week, the Senior Class Awards and the Senior Lancer Awards!