On Monday, May 6^th the Worcester State University Athletic Department held their annual 2023-24 Athletic Awards Ceremony on the campus of Worcester State in the newly renamed Gene J. & Julianne DeFeudis Wellness Center.

The Department of Athletics honored players, teams, coaches, and support staff over the course of the evening. The featured speaker of the evening was senior Sthanisha Moreau, a member of the Women's Track & Field Program.

The ceremony kicked off by celebrating all of this year's graduating seniors as they received their awards and cords from Deputy Director of Athletics John Meany and Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students Julie Kazarian. President Barry Maloney was then welcome to the stage to provide remarks on the success of the student-athletes over the 2023-24 season and careers at Worcester State.

The Chi Alpha Sigma, National College Athlete Honor Society, student-athletes were celebrated for their induction into the athletic honor society at the start of the awards celebration that would honor not just on field but off field achievements from the program's student athletes. The multitude of all-conference student athletes were celebrated for their accolades over the 2023-24 athletic season. Also highlighted were those spring 2023 all-conference selections who had not been selected by last year's ceremony. The field hockey team, women's hockey team, and the men's basketball team were recognized for conference championships this past year while Brodie Jacques, Jadah Stokes, Seth Boudreau and Ciara Adu-Addo were also honored for their 2023-5 MASCAC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field championships. Jacques came away with two victories, one in indoor track in the 60m and the other in the 200m at the Outdoor Meet, Stokes would win both the Shot Put and hammer Throw at the Indoor Championship while adding her third victory in the Outdoor with another win in the Shot Put. Boudreau would claim his first MASCAC Championship in Outdoor, beating out Jacques in the 100m as Ciara Adu-Addo would claim the title at the Outdoor Championship in the Long Jump. Men's Basketball coach Tyler Hundley and Women's Ice Hockey's Eliza Kelley were honored for their 2023-4 Coach of the Year Awards.

The major athletic department award winners included,

Rich Korzec Athletic Service Award: Sean Rollins (Sports Information)

Male Rookie Athlete of the Year: Brendan Lower (Men's Soccer) and Ryan Jewett (Baseball)

Female Rookie Athlete of the Year:  Lena Waldron (Women's Basketball), Jadah Stokes (Women's Track and Field) and Fiona Hatton (Women's Ice Hockey)

Male Athlete of the Year: Aaron Nkrumah (Men's Basketball)

Female Athlete of the Year: Camryn Burgio (Volleyball) and Emma Lanpher (Softball)

Male Senior Lancer Award: Drew Eid (Men's Ice Hockey) and Jack Houlihan (Men's Track and Field)

Female Senior Lancer Award: Sarah Melanson (Women's Lacrosse)

Margaret "Peg" Nugent Scholar Athletes: Matt Alzamora (Men's Soccer) and Grace Adam (Field Hockey)

and the Robert Devlin Senior Athlete Award for honoring an outstanding athletic performance by an athlete throughout the course of their career at Worcester State,

Male Robert Devlin Senior Athlete: Ryan Rubenskas (Men's Basketball)

Female Robert Devlin Senior Athlete: Emily Bartlett (Softball)

The department also recognized that the spring sports (Women's Lacrosse, Softball, Baseball and Outdoor Track and Field) are still competing, and their all-conference and other athletic awards are yet to be announced. It was a celebratory night for all student-athletes.

Learn more about the major award recipients:

Rich Korzec Athletic Service Award: is someone who has exemplified outstanding service to the Athletic Department. This award is in memory of Rich Korzec, a former golf coach at Worcester State.

Sean Rollins has spent the last year and half going beyond as an intern in the athletics department to help cover the Lancers Sports teams. Between being one of our primary photographers at major events he has taken on a larger role this year in graphics and highlighting the individual success of each sports team as well as assisting other interns in their projects and endeavors whenever assistance is needed. Has been on hand for every major team event over the last year and has never hesitated to take on any task, even recently moving into the stats input side. 

Rookie Athlete of the Year: for outstanding athletic performance and achievement by a male and female, first-year student-athlete

Brendan Lower is a standout on the Men's Soccer team on Defense in his first season, appearing in 17 games with 15 starts. He recorded three goals for a total of six points on the season, including one game winner.

Ryan Jewett has been named MASCAC Rookie of the Week twice already this season, appearing in 31 games with 109 at bats so far this season. He has recorded 16 Runs on 32 Hits, with three Doubles, one Triple and one Home Run. Has knocked in 19 RBIs on the season with a batting average of .294 and a .944 fielding percentage.

Lena Waldron has been named MASCAC Rookie of the Week 9x this season starting in 24 of 26 games this season as a guard. Recorded 262 points with 155 rebounds on the season to go along with thirty-eight assists and thirty steals. She was named the MASCAC Rookie of the Year in Women's Basketball.

Jadah Stokes is currently the leader in the throwing pit for the Lancers where her presence has been a point contributor throughout both the indoor and outdoor Track and Field Season for Worcester. She has been named MASCAC Rookie of the Week 6x and set a new school record in the Shot Put. She currently holds three Conference Championship Titles and was named USTFCCCA All-Region in the Shot Put for the indoor season.

Fiona Hatton was named the ECHA Rookie of the Week two times this season and named to the ECHA All-Rookie Team. She recorded 2 goals, one a game winner, on defense with 11 assists for 13 points on the season being named the ECHA Rookie of the Year. 

Athlete of the Year: for outstanding athletic performance and achievement over the course of the 2023-24 academic year.

 Aaron Nkrumah is a repeat winner for Male Athlete of the Year after claiming the award last year. He is a member of the 2023-24 MASCAC Champion's Men's Basketball team as was a 3x MASCAC Player of the week. Named NABC DIII-All District First Team, D3hoops.com Preseason All-American, D3hoops.Com Region I First Team and D3hoops.com Fourth Team All-American, 2x MASCAC Player of the Year and a MASCAC 1st Team Selection. He played in 27 games on the season, recording his career 1000th point in the NCAA First Round game versus Catholic University of America. Finished 21st in the nation with 561 points and 83rd with 231 rebounds to go along with 15th in the Nation with 70 steals.

Camryn Burgio was a 3x Defensive Player of the Week and for the second year was named MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year. She appeared in 102 sets in 28 matches, thus making an appearance in every set this season where she recorded 537 Digs for 55th in the Nation. Holds the School Record for Career Digs at 1,386.

Emma Lanpher is currently in the midst of a standout season with the Softball team. Currently she has a .448 batting average where she sits in first in the conference with 34 RBIs, which is good for second in the conference. She has recorded a team leading 19 doubles, 4 triples and 41 runs on 64 hits and currently sits in sixth in the nation in doubles and 9th in overall hits. 

Senior Lancer Award: exemplifying dedication to their program, leadership qualities and good sportsmanship.

 Drew Eid, while injured for most of this past season with the Men's Ice Hockey team, supported and assisted his team in several different ways. He served as the team equipment manager, helped coach on the bench and reviewed opposition video. Has appeared in 46 games over his career recording 6 goals and six assists. Served as a Member of AMP and SAAC and was a 2023 Attendee of the NCAA Leadership Forum and a Krampede All-American Scholar Athlete. He is a member of the Tau Chapter of the National College Honor Society and Chi Alpha Sigma.

Jack Houlihan serves as a captain of the squad as well as as their social media coordinator. He has been a passionate and devoted advocate for the track and field team while also serving in athletics as work study over his time at Worcester State, being a pivotal facet at numerous events ensuring smooth and efficient running of each game. Most recently has qualified for the NE DIII NCAA Regions in the Discus in both indoor and outdoor.

Sarah Melanson is a co-captain of the Women's Lacrosse and three- year member of the SAAC E-Board and was MASCAC All-Academic her junior year. Has 65 Starts in 65 game appearances, recording a goal and an assist with 100 ground balls and 49 caused turnovers on Defense.

Margaret "Peg" Nugent Scholar Athlete: for outstanding performance by a senior student-athlete in the classroom as well as in athletic competition.

Matt Alzamora is a leader both on the field and in the classroom.  He was a member of the 2022 MASCAC Soccer Championship Team and a two-year captain. Was named to the MASCAC First Team as a Junior and a Senior while also being named to the Named to the MASCAC All-Academic Team. He has 51 starts in 52 Games as a Defender with four goals and 5 assists for 13 points with one game winner. He has maintained a 3.637 GPA over his time at Worcester State as an Early Childhood Education and Liberal Studies Major. 

Grace Adams is a member of the inaugural MASCAC Winning Field Hockey Team and was named the MASCAC Player of the Year and to the MASCAC First Team. Was additionally named to the NFHCA Second Team All-Region. Made 41 starts in 41 games for Worcester, recording 30 goals and 8 assists for 68 points in her career, with 9 game winners. Finished the 2023 season in 23rd in DIII in Goals per a Game and 25th in Points per a Game. Over her time at Worcester State has registered a 3.727 GPA as a Biology Major. 

Robert Devlin Senior Athlete Award: for outstanding athletic performance and achievement by a senior student-athlete throughout the course of their career at Worcester State; named after former athletic director, Robert Devlin in 2009.

 Ryan Rubenskas was a critical member of the Men's Basketball team, leading the team to two MASCAC Championships on his way to recording 1,130 points and 686 rebounds and 137 Blocks. In his first season at Worcester State, he was awarded the Lancer Rookie of the Year Award and was named to the MASCAC Second Team in both his junior and senior seasons. Finished this past season 14th in the Nation in Blocks and 44th in Rebounds and has been in the top 100 in the category nationally the past two seasons. Was fourth in the conference this past season in rebounds per a game at 9.1 and was 5th in field goal shooting percentage at 52.2%.

Emily Bartlett is one of the most successful Pitchers at Worcester State who has changed the way the game is played both on the mound and at the plate. She has served as captain of the team her senior year, being named MASCAC Pitcher of the Week 5x already this season. She was named the 2022 MASCAC Pitcher of the Year with a 148-strikeout season and three shutouts and was named to the MASCAC Second Team as a Junior. As a pitcher, has a career 37-24 as a pitcher with 4 saves and 29 complete game appearances. Currently sits at 511 Strikeouts and third on the all-time strikeout list at Worcester State and over her four years has accrued a 2.82 ERA on the mound with 126 games and 292 at bats. Has recorded 52 runs on 86 hits, with 9 doubles, 6 triples and a home run for 52 RBIs and a career .295 batting average. She currently sits this season at 17th in Strikeouts and finished the 2023 season 6th in Strikeouts per Seven Innings.

View the 2024 Athletics Award Ceremony here.