2008 'Cuse Awards Highlights Syracuse Athletics Accomplishments
4/29/2008 6:53:00 PM | General
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 2008 'Cuse Awards showcased academic and athletic talents and community service outreach within the University community, as well as the neighboring community, and recognized many outstanding achievements from 2007-08. Orange student-athletes took center stage to celebrate the extraordinary athletic, academic and community service achievements of Syracuse University Athletics at the Landmark Theater on April 29 at the 'Cuse Awards, presented by TK-99, the flagship radio station of Syracuse Athletics.
The 2008 Soladay Award, the most prestigious honor bestowed upon a student-athlete at Syracuse University, was presented to track & field student-athlete Jillian Drouin and lacrosse student-athlete Mike Leveille. Presented annually to one male and one female senior student-athlete, the Soladay Award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, University/community service and leadership. The award is named for the late Doris Soladay, a longtime athletics administrator and SU's only Director of Women's Athletics, who retired in 1995.
The first Syracuse multi-event student-athlete to earn All-America accolades, Drouin finished third in the heptathlon at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championship. She is a three-time BIG EAST Champion in the high jump, pentathlon and heptathlon, and a four-time All-conference performer. Drouin owns three Syracuse school records in the pentathlon, heptathlon and outdoor high jump.
The 2007-08 BIG EAST Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Drouin is a Syracuse University Remembrance Scholar and 2006-07 Academic All-America Second Team honoree. A three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, Drouin has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll every semester at Syracuse. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and Phi Beta Delta – an honor society of international scholars.
Drouin is the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Student-Athletes Across Borders and is the vice president of the Student Peace Action Network. In addition, she has served on several University planning committees, including the "Take Back the Night" and "Ten Tons of Love" programs.
Leveille is one of 22 nominees for the 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy, presented to the nation's most outstanding lacrosse player. He ranks in the top 10 nationally in points per game (4.7), goals per game (2.8) and assists per game (1.9) and leads the Orange in points (61), goals (36) and assists (25). Leveille has registered at least one point in each of his last 52 games, the second-longest active scoring streak in the country and fifth-longest in school history. Leveille ranks 15th on SU's career goals record list (119), 16th on assist record list (74) and 16th in scoring (193 points).
One of 10 finalists for the national 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, Leveille owns a cumulative GPA of 3.8 in accounting. A two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team selection, he has been named to the SU Athletic Director's Honor Roll in every semester.
The other nominees for the prestigious Soladay award included Ryan Armstrong (crew), Brad Peetoom (soccer), Kristin Brady (lacrosse), Allison Doodeman (rowing), Joscie Kaup (volleyball), Gloria Nantulya (field hockey) and Jennifer Taormina (soccer).
The 'Cuse Awards program included live musical performances by Syracuse student-athletes Jake Flaherty (football) and Skyy Simmons (track and field), who performed Lupe Fiasco's "Superstar", and Divinia Davis, accompanied by Kristin Brady (women's lacrosse) on piano and Chris Mandry on drums, who performed Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time". In addition, Orange Appeal, an SU men's a cappella group, entertained the audience with a medley of "Stand by me" and "Beautiful Girls". The Sour Sitrus Society also performed prior to the show.
The event also recognized the best that the Syracuse athletics had to offer. The men's lacrosse team earned the award for Team of the Year, edging out field hockey, men's crew, women's basketball and women's lacrosse.
Head coaches Ange Bradley (field hockey) and Quentin Hillsman (women's basketball) shared Coach of the Year honors. Both Bradley and Hillsman were honored as 2007-08 BIG EAST Coach of the Year in their respective sports. The other nominees for Coach of the Year included John Desko (men's lacrosse), Gary Gait (women's lacrosse), Chris Fox (cross country/track & field) and Dave Reischman (men's crew).
The Male Athlete of the Year was bestowed upon Leveille, while Drouin (track & field) and Katie Rowan (lacrosse) shared the Female Athlete of the Year honor. Basketball point guard Jonny Flynn was named the 2008 Rookie of the Year. The nominees for the Male Athlete of the Year included Armstrong, Mike LeBlanc (track & field), Jeff Scull (track & field) and Hansen Woodruff (soccer), while the nominees for Female Athlete of the Year included Doodeman, Kaup and Amy Kelley (softball).
The Performance of the Year awards went to Drouin for her pentathlon title at the BIG EAST Indoor Championship, where she was named the meet's Most Outstanding Field Performer. The other nominees for the award included women's basketball's Fantasia Goodwin, Kelley, LeBlanc and Rowan.
The Best Dramatic Performance went to volleyball coach Jing Pu, who beat out men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim, women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman and men's lacrosse coach John Desko. In addition, basketball standouts Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene took home the Move of the Year honor, women's basketball guard Erica Morrow was honored with the Shot of the Year award, and men's lacrosse standout Steven Brooks won Play of the Year accolades.
The Orange football victory at nationally-ranked Louisville earned the award for Game of the Year, while the women's basketball team was recognized as the Most Improved Team. The 2008 'CUSE Challenge Award went to the field hockey squad, while the women's lacrosse team won the 2008 'CUSE Cares Award.
The department also handed out the Syracuse 8 Courage Award to women's basketball standout Fantasia Goodwin. In November, 2006, the University honored the Syracuse 8, who is a group of African-American student-athletes who had the courage to stand up for their convictions. To honor these brave men and the important contributions they made in the university quest to achieve diversity and understanding, the athletic department has created the award of courage.
This award is presented annually to a student-athlete who has overcome a socially, economically or otherwise disadvantaged background or serious injury and, in the opinion of his or her coaches and teammates, has demonstrated uncommon bravery or highly principled behavior in the face of adversity. Moreover it is awarded to that athlete, regardless of race, color or gender, whose actions, like the actions of the men in whose honor this award is being made, both reflect these values and a commitment to sportsmanship and academic achievement.
In addition to highlight the numerous accomplishments of Syracuse's teams and student-athletes, the evening also featured team awards. Each SU program handed out two awards to their respective student-athletes (complete list of winners). Also, All-Americans, Academic All-Americans and numerous other individuals were recognized for their achievement throughout the past year.
