Lehigh University
Charles '38 and Helen Marie Zell Men's Basketball Banquet
Mountain Hawks celebrate season at banquet
4/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh held the Charles F. ’38 and Helen Marie Zell men’s basketball banquet on Saturday, April 8 at University Center on the Asa Packer Campus. Three Lehigh players captured awards on the evening, in a program that included dinner, presentation of three awards, reflections from the program’s five departing seniors (James Anderson, Joe Knight, Mike Fischman, Mitch Gilfillan and team manager Amanda Jasinowski), and the viewing of a highlight film that looked back at the Mountain Hawks’ 2005-2006 season.
Junior Jose Olivero captured the Athlete of the Year award. The Athlete of the Year award is presented to the team member who makes the most outstanding athletic contribution to the accomplishments of the team. Olivero was a first team All-Patriot League selection this season, and led the league in scoring and three-point field goals made. On January 7, 2006, Olivero became the 26th Lehigh men’s basketball player to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau in the Mountain Hawks’ victory over American.
Senior Joe Knight was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Scholar-Athlete award goes to the student-athlete who in the eyes of his/her teammates exemplifies the ideal of the scholar-athlete. Knight earned a 3.11 grade point average in the fall 2005 semester, while working through adversity on and off the court and is on schedule to earn his degree in Sociology next month.
Senior Mitch Gilfillan won the Coaches Award at the banquet. The Coaches Award is presented to the individual who made significant contributions to the well being of the team in terms of attitude, improvement, or special leadership. A team tri-captain, Gilfillan epitomized leadership for the Brown and White, both on and off the court. Gilfillan started 26 games as the Mountain Hawks’ point guard and led the Patriot League in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Sixth Man Award, which is given to an individual or group of people who have made a major impact on the program, was given to “The LEHIGH Guys,” a group of students who made their presence known both at Stabler Arena and on the road in support of Lehigh Basketball.
At the end of the evening, head coach Billy Taylor announced rising seniors Adam Hyncik, Kyle Neptune, and Jose Olivero as captains for the 2006-07 season.
