All-American lacrosse student-athlete Katie Rowan was presented with the 2009 Soladay Award, the Athletics Department's highest honor, by SU Senior Vice President and Dean of Students Tom Wolfe and Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross.
'Cuse Awards Celebrates Orange Success
4/19/2009 11:30:03 PM | Cuse Awards
Syracuse student-athletes took center stage to celebrate the extraordinary athletic, academic and community service achievements of Syracuse University Athletics in 2008-09. Orange student-athletes, coaches and staff gathered at the Landmark Theater on April 19 for the third annual 'Cuse Awards.
The 2009 Soladay Awards were presented to lacrosse student-athlete Katie Rowan and football student-athlete Ryan Durand. The Soladay award is the highest honor bestowed upon a senior male and female student-athlete. Rowan set single-season school records with 123 points and 57 assists and she has become Syracuse's all-time leader in points, assists and goals. A unanimous 2008 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Rowan earned the 2008 BIG EAST Attack Player of the Year award and was named the 2008 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player. Durand is a two-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Draddy Trophy, recognizing the best scholar-athletes in college football. In 2008, Durand and the offensive line were Instrumental in helping running back Curtis Brinkley become the eighth different player in Syracuse history to record 1,000 rushing yards in a season.
Cross country standout Nana Sang-Bender won the 2009 Courage Award, 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 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.
"The young lady we are honoring this year has truly faced adversity with courage and determination," said Greg Allen, who is one of the Syracuse 8. "She left her family and fled her native homeland in the Congo to seek better opportunities in the United States. She lived with her uncle, a professor at Syracuse University, who adopted her. The journey to freedom was indeed perilous and foreboding. Syracuse University was reluctant to admit her because of her unknown academic potential, but eventually did so. The University's thoughtful gamble was the impetus to a life of unlimited possibilities. She excelled immediately in the class room and was one of 35 students to be honored this year as a University Remembrance Scholar. Athletically, she owns two school records in track and has earned BIG EAST recognition in both track and cross country."
"The young lady we are honoring this year has truly faced adversity with courage and determination," said Greg Allen, who is one of the Syracuse 8. "She left her family and fled her native homeland in the Congo to seek better opportunities in the United States. She lived with her uncle, a professor at Syracuse University, who adopted her. The journey to freedom was indeed perilous and foreboding. Syracuse University was reluctant to admit her because of her unknown academic potential, but eventually did so. The University's thoughtful gamble was the impetus to a life of unlimited possibilities. She excelled immediately in the class room and was one of 35 students to be honored this year as a University Remembrance Scholar. Athletically, she owns two school records in track and has earned BIG EAST recognition in both track and cross country."
The field hockey squad earned Team of the Year after posting the best season in program history. Head coach Ange Bradley directed the team to the Final Four, the first appearance for Syracuse in the national semifinals. The women's tennis team was named the Most Improved Team for its turnaround. The squad finished with a 16-7 record after posting an 11-14 mark in 2008.
Head men's lacrosse coach John Desko and head women's tennis coach Luke Jensen shared Coach of the Year honors. Desko and the 2008 Orange won the national championship and the 2009 squad is enjoying a 10-2 season to date. Jensen guided the 2008-09 Orange to a 16-7 record, one of the best in the history of the program.
Field hockey senior Shannon Taylor won the Female Athlete of the Year Award, while sophomore basketball standout Jonny Flynn earned the Male Athlete of the Year honor. A Longstrenth/NFHCA Division I All-America First Team selection, Taylor led the Orange with 31 goals. Flynn led the Orange in scoring and assists in 2008-09. Freshman pitcher Jenna Caira won the Rookie of the Year award for her outstanding performances on the pitchers mound. She has thrown a school-record two no-hitters this season.
Running back Curtis Brinkley won the Comeback Athlete of the Year. The senior rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2008 after missing the last four games of 2008 due to a broken leg. Brinkley set at Syracuse record with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
Six Orange student-athletes were recognized for their All-America honors, including Rowan and Halley Quillinan from the women's lacrosse team, field hockey student-athlete Shannon Taylor, men's lacrosse standouts Steven Brooks and Mike Leveille and football fullback Tony Fiammetta. In addition, Leveille and track and field standout Jillian Drouin were honored for their CoSIDA Academic All-America selections.
The volleyball team won the team Grade Point Average awards for the fall and the spring semesters with a cumulative GPA of more than 3.5 in both semesters, while the women's basketball team won the 'Cuse Cares Award for their community engagement and the ice hockey squad earned the 'Cuse Challenge Award.
Rowan won Performance of the Year and Leveille earned Play of the Year. The Game of the Year Award went to the men's basketball team for its six-overtime victory against Connecticut in the BIG EAST Tournament and guard Eric Devendorf earned Shot of the Year for his three-point field goal from beyond half court against West Virginia in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals. Flynn won Move of the Year for his dunk in Syracuse's win at Rutgers and defensive tackle Arthur Jones earned Defensive Play of the Year for his sack for a loss of 17 yards at Notre Dame. Head men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim took home the Best Dramatic Performer Award for a post-game press conference microphone challenge.
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).
2025 Cuse Awards
Friday, June 27
Syracuse 8 Courage Award | Benjamin Campbell-Reide
Tuesday, April 29
2024 'Cuse Awards
Tuesday, April 30
This is Syracuse: 2022-23
Wednesday, May 03
