Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh holds annual Convocation Program
4/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh held its annual Convocation Program on Monday, April 27 at Baker Hall inside the Zoellner Arts Center to look back on the accomplishments of the past year for both team and individual performances. Senior softball standout Lisa Sweeney cleaned house with four awards, including the Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the most prestigious award given by the athletics department. Sweeney also earned the Graduating Female Athlete of the Year, the Mary O. Hurley Leadership Award, and a Distinguished Achievement Award.
The highest honor Sweeney walked away with on Monday was the Graduating Scholar-Athlete Award. A multi-year member of the Dean’s List and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, Sweeney carries a 3.79 grade point average in the classroom. A 2008 Academic All-American, Sweeney was named a preseason All-American prior to the 2009 season by ESPN.com. Sweeney has been a member of four Patriot League regular season softball championship teams during her time in the Brown and White.
Senior football player Tim Diamond garnered the Graduating Male Athlete of the Year Award. A two time All-American and All-Patriot League selection, Diamond became the first player in a decade to record back-to-back 100 tackle seasons in 2007 and 2008 and will go down as one of the top linebackers in school history. He is also just the fourth student-athlete in Lehigh Football history to earn the Archibald Johnston Cup (Team MVP) on two occasions.
Sweeney was named the Graduating Female Athlete of the Year, for her accomplishments on the softball field. A three-time First-Team All-Region and All-Patriot League selection, Sweeney became the first player in Patriot League softball history to earn the Pitcher and Player of the Year Awards in the same season, which she accomplished in 2008. Sweeney holds school records in career strikeouts and wins as a pitcher, and home runs as a batter.
Sophomore Brian Monetti was named the Phillip J. Sclar Award Winner for his efforts as a student-manager with the Lehigh track and field program. Monetti is a former student-athlete who is no longer able to compete due to injury. Now a hybrid manager-student coach, Monetti works primarily with the Mountain Hawks hurdlers, and the coaching staff credits Brian’s efforts for Lehigh’s success in that event versus archrival Lafayette earlier this outdoor season. Monetti also assists with practice set up and team travel logistics.
Senior Ashley Pritchard was honored with the Marlene “Linny” Fowler Service Award. A member of the rowing program Pritchard has worked in Lehigh University’s community service office all four years she has been at Lehigh. She won the Good Scholar Election for Cancer Research earlier this academic year, founded Lehigh’s Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and helped implement the Wonderful World of Sports series on Lehigh’s campus.
Senior women’s basketball player Melissa Rich earned the Sportsmanship Award. Rich continually put the team's interests ahead of her own, despite not being a captain, and after losing her starting role as a senior Rich stayed positive and continued to mentor her younger teammates. Rich also drew praise from her coaches for being the first one to help a competitor up following a foul.
Freshmen Julie Fernandez and Joe Kennedy were named the top freshmen athletes, respectively. Fernandez, the John Steckbeck Award Winner, currently leads the Patriot League with a .407 batting average, which is well ahead of the next closest competitor. A two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Fernandez also earned a PL Player of the Week award and she currently leads the league in hits, on-base percentage, doubles and total bases.
Kennedy, the J. Daniel Nolan award winner, was the only freshman to start for Lehigh’s wrestling team this past season, during its historic year. Kennedy compiled a record of 20-12 in 2008-09, including a 15-8 mark in dual matches. Kennedy registered nine bonus wins and was ranked in the top-20 nationally at 197 pounds for most of the season before an injury cut his season short.
Sweeney’s third award of the day was the Mary O. Hurley Leadership Award winner. A two-time captain of the softball program, Sweeney has been a member of the Student-Athlete Executive Council for the last two years, and served as the co-chair of the C.O.A.C.H. program for two years. Sweeney also interned in the John A. Cable Center for Athletics Leadership and she participated in the Naval Academy Leadership Conference.
Senior football student-athlete Brendan Van Ackeren was honored with the John A. Cable Award, given to the top graduating male leader. Van Ackeren was a captain of the football team, served a two-year term as secretary of the Student-Athlete Executive Council and was a Student-Athlete Mentor (SAM) rep for two years. Van Ackeren also participated in the C.O.A.C.H. program, served as a Peer Educator and was a tour guide for a Board of Trustees meeting in 2008.
Also on Monday, seven senior student-athletes were honored with Distinguished Achievement
Awards. These recipients are student-athletes who have displayed a high level of scholarship, significant athletic achievement at the league level and beyond and demonstrated service to the institution. The honorees included: Shannon Alejandro (cross country/track and field), Alisha Gonzales (softball), Dan Johnson (swimming and diving), Sara MacIntyre (women’s lacrosse), Sarah Serwo (track and field), Lisa Sweeney (softball), and Jen Therkorn (track and field).
2008-09 Lehigh Athletics Departmental Awards
Phillip J. Sclar Award – Brian Monetti (track and field student manager/coach)
Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award – Ashley Pritchard (rowing)
Sportsmanship Award – Melissa Rich (women’s basketball)
John S. Steckbeck (Freshman Female) – Julie Fernandez (softball)
J. Daniel Nolan (Freshman Male) – Joe Kennedy (wrestling)
Graduating Male Athlete – Tim Diamond (football)
Graduating Female Athlete – Lisa Sweeney (softball)
Distinguished Achievement Award – Shannon Alejandro (cross country/track and field); Alisha Gonzales (softball); Dan Johnson (swimming); Sara MacIntyre (women’s lacrosse); Sarah Serwo (track and field); Lisa Sweeney (softball); Jen Therkorn (track and field)
Mary O. Hurley Award (Female Leadership) – Lisa Sweeney (softball)
John A. Cable Award (Male Leadership) – Brendan Van Ackeren (football)
Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Lisa Sweeney (softball)
Photography 2009, (c) Steve Lomangino - 610-758-3174
Watch the End of Year Athletics Highlight Video
Video produced by Katie Matis
