CAA Recognizes 20 Student-Athletes with Leadership & Sport Excellence Awards
Miles McQuiggan
RICHMOND, Va. (June 28, 2022) – The Colonial Athletic Association has named 20 student-athletes as recipients of Leadership & Sport Excellence Awards for the 2021-22 academic year.
The award mimics the Chuck Boone Leadership Award in football and the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award in men’s and women’s basketball. One student-athlete, who represents the highest standards of teamwork, integrity, leadership and sportsmanship in his or her academic and athletic achievements, was selected in each of the other 19 sports sponsored by the Conference.
After evaluating the nominees, the CAA’s Faculty Athletic Representatives voted on the winners.
The 2021-22 CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award winners are as follows:
Baseball:
Burke Camper, Towson – Camper holds a 3.89 GPA as an Exercise Science major. The Pennsylvania native ranked seventh in the CAA and second on the Tigers with nine home runs in 2022 while earning
Collegiate Baseball News National Player of the Week recognition in March. Camper was selected to the Buster Posey Award Watch List in 2021. He has been named to the CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll in all semesters at Towson, serves as a SAAC Vice President, and worked with the Baltimore Urban Baseball Association to increase youth baseball participation in Baltimore City.
Men’s Cross Country:
Andrew Miller, Elon – Miller achieved a 3.43 GPA as an Exercise Science major and Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognition seven times entering this spring. A three-time team captain, Miller holds the school record in the 10K – surpassing the previous mark by 70 seconds – and earned top-10 finishes at the CAA Championship in 2019 and 2020. The Florida native contributed time off the cross country course to the CityGate Dream Center in Burlington.
Women’s Cross Country:
Hannah Miller, Elon – Miller has recorded a 4.00 GPA in her Elon tenure while studying Environmental and Sustainability Studies. A five-time Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient, Miller has run in the CAA Cross Country Championship in each of the last three years and scored in the steeplechase in the last two Outdoor Championships. The junior from Virginia received the A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete Award from Elon University this spring for the highest cumulative GPA among student-athletes with at least two years of competition and has contributed to local clean-up and farm maintenance with Elon Sustainability.
Field Hockey:
Femke Strien, Delaware – Strien compiled a 3.51 GPA as a Psychology major in Newark and was a nine-time Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient. The Blue Hen captain was a two-time NFHCA All-America selection and three-time All-CAA first team for Delaware, where she ranks seventh all-time in points and 13
th in goals. The midfielder from The Netherlands helped Delaware to four CAA titles in her five seasons. Strien earned NFHCA National Academic Squad honors in all five years on the Delaware roster and contributed off the field to Special Olympics efforts.
Men’s Golf:
Maxwell Ferrari, Elon – Ferrari recently completed a Master of Science in Business Analytics with a 3.88 GPA after completing a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Project Management with a GPA of 3.81. The Massachusetts native was a four-time team captain for Elon, where he held a career stroke average of 73.77. Ferrari collected Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognition in all semesters with the Phoenix and was named Most Outstanding Student of his master’s program. His community contributions included an organization to provide safe rides home to students, the Elonthon dance marathon to raise money for children with life-threatening illnesses, and assisting in a festival at a local church.
Women’s Golf:
Carly Lyvers, James Madison – Lyvers achieved a 3.4 GPA as a Communication Studies (Public Relations) major with minors in General Business and Sports Communication. The South Carolina native helped JMU to the 2021 CAA title with a final round 73 in the Dukes’ comeback effort and was a team captain in 2022. Lyvers has served as Communications Co-Chair of SAAC, a member of the Dukes LEAD Leadership Academy, and with the JMU Faculty Athletic Advisory Committee. She also participated in the NCAA Career in Sports Forum and NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Training in her time in Harrisonburg.
Men’s Lacrosse:
Tim Hegarty, Hofstra – Hegarty completed a degree in Athletic Training with a 3.74 GPA. The defenseman from Long Island was a team captain for the Pride this season and collected Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year awards from both Hofstra and the NSCA. Hegarty also earned the honor of wearing the No. 27 jersey for Hofstra in 2022 in memory of the late Nick Colleluori. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Marques Colston Fellowship in Health and contributed to community service efforts with the HEADstrong Foundation and Tunnel to Towers.
Women’s Lacrosse:
Lucy Schneidereith, Drexel – Schneidereith recorded a 3.70 GPA in her time as a Nursing major in Philadelphia while helping Drexel to its first two NCAA Tournament appearances. The midfielder from Maryland was a team captain in the Dragons’ at-large NCAA selection in 2021 and first CAA title in 2022, being named Most Outstanding Player of the 2022 CAA Championship. A two-time first-team All-CAA selection, Schneidereith contributed over 600 hours of community service time to endeavors including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Harlem Lacrosse, and as a camp counselor at Camp Wright.
Women’s Rowing:
Olivia Krause, Villanova – Krause holds a 3.67 GPA as a Political Science major at Villanova. The junior from North Carolina helped the Wildcats’ Varsity 8 earn Boat of the Week honors twice this season and was recognized in 2021 with the VERITAS Award for exemplary leadership and adherence to program values. Krause serves as a group leader for UNITAS Women’s Empowerment for Villanova Athletics, a leadership ambassador for the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership at Villanova University, and as a member of the Spotlight on Leadership Committee at Villanova.
Men’s Soccer:
Sam Bacon, Elon – Bacon is a repeat winner of the Leadership and Sport Excellence Award in men’s soccer after previously earning the honor last season. The midfielder from Virginia graduated summa cum laude as a double major in Statistics and Computer Science with a 3.96 GPA. Bacon played in all 19 games in 2021 for an Elon team that made its first CAA title game appearance. A two-time captain and team representative in SAAC, Bacon contributed to community service efforts with Special Olympics, TOP Soccer, Christmas Cheer of Alamance County, and First Presbyterian Church.
Women’s Soccer:
Lucy Porter, Hofstra – Porter collects the Leadership and Sport Excellence Award in women’s soccer for the second consecutive year. The senior from England graduated summa cum laude last December with a 3.87 GPA in Community Health with minors in Neuroscience and Psychology and was a four-time team captain. Porter was named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2020 and to the watch list in 2019 and 2021, while earning All-America recognition in her final three seasons. Hofstra captured the CAA title in four of Porter’s five years in Hempstead.
Softball:
Kristi DiMeo, Drexel – DiMeo recorded a 4.00 GPA in her graduate studies of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum. A finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, DiMeo was a four-time team captain for the Dragons and SAAC Member. A four-time All-CAA selection, including three first team selections, DiMeo was named an NFCA All-Region honoree three times and a Fast Pitch News Second Team All-America selection. The first baseman from South Jersey completed her Drexel career in the program’s top five in putouts, at-bats (first in both), batting average, hits, doubles, RBIs, games played, and games started.
Men’s Swimming and Diving:
Brent Hoshall, UNCW – Hoshall compiled a 3.61 GPA while majoring in Business Administration. The senior from North Carolina was named to the Team Leadership Group in 2021-22 and earned All-CAA distinction in the 200 back for the second straight year. Hoshall, who earned CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognition in each of his first three years in Wilmington, contributed outside the pool to Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, and a beach cleanup with the SurfRider Foundation.
Women’s Swimming and Diving:
Bailey Smith, Northeastern – Smith achieved a 4.00 GPA with a major of Cell and Molecular Biology and minor in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. The senior from Upstate New York served as Vice President of Outreach for SAAC and earned SASS Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition from Northeastern in addition to two years as a team captain. A three-time All-CAA honoree in the 200 back, Smith earned silver in the event at the CAA Championships and finished fifth in the 200 fly. Smith collected CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll accolades in every semester in Boston.
Men’s Tennis:
Kyle Frankel, Elon – Frankel recorded a 3.75 GPA in his postgraduate work in Business Analytics. A three-time team captain, Frankel was a first team All-CAA honoree in 2022, CAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2021, and 2019 CAA Championship Most Outstanding Performer. The graduate student from Aruba has earned Commissioner’s Honor Roll distinction in every semester at Elon and three ITA All-Academic honors. Frankel has contributed over 75 hours of community service efforts including the Boys & Girls Club, packing meals at a food bank, and wrapping Christmas presents for local children.
Women’s Tennis:
Mya Fuentes, Drexel – Fuentes achieved a 3.52 GPA to earn a degree in Business Legal Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies. A team captain and SAAC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair, Fuentes also contributed as Vice President of the Black Student-Athlete Union and President of Drexel Athletes #MeToo. A six-time CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient, Fuentes led Drexel in singles and doubles victories. The senior from Florida contributed in volunteer efforts with the Asian Students Association, Drexel Women’s Empowerment, and other advocacy groups.
Men’s Track and Field:
Alex Loukili, William & Mary – Loukili completed a degree in Business Administration / Finance with a 3.43 GPA. A team captain who served SAAC as President, Wellness Chair, and Treasurer, Loukili was also Vice President of the Finance Academy, oversaw the operations of LinkedIn networking for W&M student-athletes, and helped relaunch the athletic department’s annual awards event. The senior from Northern Virginia was a three-time scorer in two CAA Championship meets.
Women’s Track and Field (Co-Winners):
Madison George, Elon – George has earned a 4.00 GPA in her Engineering studies with a Biomedical concentration. The junior from Arizona is a team captain and Vice President of SAAC while also serving on the President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council and Honors Advisory Council. George’s volunteer work includes time with Girls to Empowered Teens and creating a tool to assist in the day-to-day tasks of a wheelchair-bound girl. George has finished in the top five in the pole vault at the CAA Outdoor Championships in each of the last two seasons.
Shelby Staib, James Madison – Staib holds a 3.98 GPA as a Finance major with a minor in Computer Information Systems. She will enter her senior year as Vice President of the Association for Information Systems, has contributed to the National Society of Leadership and Success and spoke at the General Education Student Conference on government and policy topics. The Pennsylvania native has given time to volunteer efforts at a homeless shelter and soup kitchen, 5K for breast cancer research, and animal food drive in addition to other endeavors. In competition, Staib holds the program record in the javelin, finished third at the CAA Championships in 2021, and qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary.
Volleyball:
Julia Brown, William & Mary – Brown recorded a 3.91 GPA in her MBA work after achieving a 3.87 GPA as a Biology major and Management and Organizational Leadership minor. The Illinois native was a three-time team captain, Senior CLASS Award nominee, SAAC Community Service Chair, Student-Athlete Services Chair, and a winner of a President’s Award in 2021. Brown’s advocacy extended to her own team, for which she helped lead an organization to reinstate programs originally slated for discontinuation. The W&M middle blocker was a two-time All-CAA first team honoree and holds the school record for single-season hitting percentage.
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