Lehigh University Athletics
Kokal wins Steckbeck Award
9/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
The Lehigh Athletics Department honored its outstanding student-athletes at an Awards Convocation held at the Zoellner Arts Center on Tuesday, May 8, 2001. Listed below are all award recipients for the 2000-01 academic season: JOHN S. STECKBECK AWARD - Established in 1976, this award honors former Instructor of Physical Education and Director of Intramural and Recreation Sports John Steckbeck. "Steck" as he was known to thousands of Lehigh students, was beloved for his enthusiasm, dedication to Lehigh students, and love of all sports, particularly the "new" women's sports at Lehigh. The honoree is an outstanding first year female athlete who has maintained a satisfactory academic record. The John S. Steckbeck Award is sponsored and funded by alumnus Robert A. Kaufman '68 who has also provided the financial support for the Women's Athletics Fields on the Goodman Campus. 2000-01 Finalists (Winner in bold): Katie Dukatz (Track & Field, Volleyball) - A two-sport athlete, Dukatz finished sixth in the Patriot League in volleyball blocks. On the track she finished first at the Indoor Patriot League Championships in the high jump which capped off an undefeated indoor season. Outdoors she qualified for the prestigious Penn Relays and the ECAC Championships and finished third in the Patriot League outdoor high jump. Linsey Kokal (Swimming & Diving) - The top dual meet and Patriot League individual scorer on the championship women's swimming and diving team, Kokal set a school record in the 200 yard breastroke and recorded the second best time in school history in the 100 yard butterfly. At the league championships she finished first in the 100 butterfly and 200 breastroke and placed third in the 200 Individual Medley. Rachel Samson (Tennis) - The Patriot League fall champion at first singles and second doubles, Samson finished with a 11-2 overall dual match record, 3-0 in the Patriot League and 9-3 in doubles overall, 2-1 in the Patriot League. J. DANIEL NOLAN AWARD - Named for former Lehigh All-American quarterback, three-sport athlete and Hall of Fame member Dan Nolan '57. This award honors the most outstanding first-year male athlete. It has been awarded since 1961. 2000-01 Finalists (Winner in bold): Doug Cusick (Soccer) - A member of the Patriot League championship soccer team that faced Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Cusick was named the league's Rookie of the Year. He also earned Patriot League Second Team honors. Cusick finished third overall in the League with 1.72 goals per game. In 18 games, he scored a League third best 13 goals and added five assists for 31 points. During Patriot League play, Cusick tallied two goals with one assist for five points. Brian Golebiewski (Swimming & Diving) - The top scoring freshmen in the Patriot League Championships, Golebiewski was the fourth leading scorer on his Lehigh team. He placed third at the league championships in the 1650 freestyle, fourth in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 200 backstroke. His times were the fifth, seventh and tenth best all-time respectively in those events. He earned All Patriot League honors and was named the team's Freshman Swimmer of the Year. Mario Stuart (Wrestling) - After an injury sidelined him at the start of the season, Stuart came on strong to finish second at the EIWA Championships. That was just the beginning. At the NCAA Championships he earned All America status by placing fifth. Stuart is the first Lehigh freshman All-American since 1980. Making his performance even more impressive was the way he did it - beating the 5th, 6th and 12th seeds. SENIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Established in 1979, this award recognizes the top senior male athlete in the Department of Athletics. Contributions over a four-year career are considered as well as distinctive senior-year achievements. The recipient is to have displayed a high level of character and to have maintained at minimum a satisfactory academic record. 2000-01 Finalists (Winner in bold): Andrew Casey (Soccer) - A member of the Patriot League Championship soccer team that faced Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Casey started all 74 games of his collegiate career, playing over 5,000 minutes. Casey earned Patriot League First Team honors as a senior, and Second Team honors as a junior and finished 19th nationally in assists this past year. This year Casey earned Regional All-America honors capping a career which also saw him earn the 1997 Patriot League Rookie of the Year award. Dave Esposito (Wrestling) - A two-time All-American, Esposito finished in second place at the NCAA Tournament as a senior and in third place as a junior. Esposito finished his career with a 125-26 record in addition to setting school records with 56 career dual meet wins and 35 major decisions. Esposito is also a two-time EIWA Champion. Brian McDonald (Football) - A member of a team that won three straight Patriot League Championships and made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, McDonald was captain of the team as a senior and also served as treasurer of his fraternity. As an offensive linemen on the field McDonald was named a Kodak and Associated Press All-American as a senior and earned All ECAC First Team honors. McDonald was also named to the All Patriot League Team as a junior and senior. SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Established in 1980 this award recognizes the top senior female athlete in the Department of Athletics. Contributions over a four-year career are considered as well as distinctive senior-year achievements. The recipient is to have displayed a high level of character and to have maintained at minimum a satisfactory academic record. 2000-01 Finalists: Jami Bisetti (Soccer) - The Patriot League's 2000 Defensive Player of the Year, Bisetti is the first Lehigh women's soccer player to win such an honor. Bisetti posted a 1.56 goals against average, started ten games as a senior and 58 of the 61 games she played in. Bisetti also earned All League First Team honors. A member of the COACH program, Bisetti also served as a tutor for the Bethlehem Boys & Girls Club and was the house manager of her sorority. Bonnie Hoffman (Softball) - A two-time captain, Hoffman led Lehigh to a Patriot League softball championship as a senior and regular season title as a junior. She is President of the Student-Athlete Executive Council. Hoffman is also a member of the COACH program, Lehigh Philharmonic Orchestra and frequently assists the Alumni Association. Hoffman was also recipient of the Undergraduate Merit Award and Bosey Reiter Leadership Award. On the field Hoffman earned All-Patriot League First Team honors becoming only the fourth player in league history to achieve that distinction four times. Katie Spain (Track & Field) - Spain's career started as a tennis player when she played third singles and first doubles as a freshmen. After that initial season she concentrated on track & field where she set the Lehigh and Patriot League record in the 20 lb. Weight. Spain also set Lehigh records in the indoor and outdoor shot put and hammer throw. She is a national qualifier in the 20 lb. Weight ranking 21st in the country. A two-time ECAC qualifier in the 20 lb. Weight and hammer, she also qualified three times in the shot put. MARY O. HURLEY AWARD - The top leadership award for females in the department is named for counselor Mary O. Hurley by her daughter Ruth Hurley, former Associate Dean of Students. This is awarded to the female athlete who best represents the Lehigh traditions of leadership, character, athleticism, scholarship, service, sportsmanship, a cooperative attitude and enjoyment of sports. 2000-01 Finalists (Winner in bold): Colleen Glass (Track & Field) - Captain of the track & field for two years, Glass was a member of the Leadership Council, Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority and the Army ROTC. Within the Athletics Department she was a member of the Student-Athlete Council Executive Board. Glass also excelled academically as she is a member of the Dean's List and an Academic All American Team member. Bonnie Hoffman (Softball) - A two-time captain, Hoffman led Lehigh to a Patriot League softball championship as a senior and regular season title as a junior. She is President of the Student-Athlete Executive Council. Hoffman is also a member of the COACH program, Lehigh Philharmonic Orchestra and frequently assists the Alumni Association. Hoffman was also recipient of the Undergraduate Merit Award and Bosey Reiter Leadership Award. On the field Hoffman earned All-Patriot League First Team honors becoming only the fourth player in league history to achieve that distinction four times. Michelle Kantor (Soccer) - Captain in both her junior and senior year, Kantor was one of Lehigh's top defenders all four years she played. A recipient of the Undergraduate Merit Award, Kantor battled back from a torn ACL early in her junior year. A sorority member, she served as a teaching assistant as a junior and senior and was a member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. MALE LEADERSHIP AWARD - the top department leadership award for men is annually presented through an endowed gift by the John Hancock Agency of Allentown. Joe DiMento, "Friend, Tom Nikles '82, and Jim Serratelli '86." This is awarded to a male student-athlete who best represents the Lehigh traditions of leadership, character, athleticism, scholarship, service, sportsmanship, a cooperative attitude and enjoyment of sports. 2000-01 Finalists (Winner in bold): Bryant Appling (Football) - A member of a team that won three straight Patriot League Championships and made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, Appling was captain of the team as a senior and a member of the COACH program for two straight years. He also served as Vice President of the Marketing Club. On the field Appling earned Patriot League First Team status as a junior and senior. Bryan Dunker (Swimming & Diving) - A Cadet Corp Leader, Dunker was the highest ranking undergraduate student in ROTC and a winner of the Alumni Association's Undergraduate Merit Award as well as the University Service Award. Captain as a senior and a member of the Deans List, Dunker won two of three team awards this past year (MVP and Scholar-Athlete). As a senior he finished second in the Patriot League in three events (100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley). Edil Lacayo (Basketball) - A member of the student-athlete council executive board, Lacayo participated in many Alumni Association activities throughout his four years at Lehigh. He participated in the department's Adopt A Family initiative and has worked continuously with the Bethlehem Boys & Girls Clubs. He also participated in numerous basketball camps and clinics for Lehigh Valley Youth. A back-to-back winner of the team's Coaches Award, Lacayo served as captain as a senior and helped Lehigh to its most wins since the 1992 season. ECAC MERIT AWARD - awarded to senior student-athlete(s) who have displayed a high level of scholarship (minimum GPA 3.0), significant athletic achievement at a very high level, and service to the institution. 2000-01 Recipients: Matt Andrews (Football) - A three-year starter who was part of three straight NCAA Tournament and Patriot League Championship teams, Andrews served as captain as a senior and was named to the Collegiate Athletics Director's All-Academic First Team. Ryan Bernholz (Wrestling) - A captain for three years, he set the Lehigh record for most wins as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Bernholz was a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Tournament, All-American in 1999 and EIWA Champion in 1998. Jami Bisetti (Soccer) - The Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Year, Bisetti is the first Lehigh women's soccer player to win such an honor. Bisetti posted a 1.56 goals against average, started ten games as a senior and 58 of the 61 games she played in. Bryan Dunker (Swimming & Diving) - A Cadet Corp Leader, Dunker was the highest ranking undergraduate student in ROTC and a winner of the Alumni Association's Undergraduate Merit Award as well as the University Service Award. Captain as a senior and a member of the Deans List, Dunker finished off his senior year placing second in the Patriot League in three events (100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley). Bonnie Hoffman (Softball) - A two-time captain, Hoffman led Lehigh to a Patriot League softball championship as a senior and regular season title as a junior. On the field Hoffman earned All-Patriot League First Team honors becoming only the fourth player in league history to achieve that distinction four times. Steve Richardson (Track & Field) - Richardson was a four-time IC4A qualifier as a member of Lehigh's 4x800 meter relay team. He broke a 15-year-old school record in the 1000 meters, qualified for the ECAC's in the same event and garnered All-East honors with his fourth place indoor IC4A Championship performance. A Deans List member, Richardson is a Faculty Athletics Council Scholar, Presidential Scholar and Samuel Shipley Scholar. Katie Spain (Track & Field) - Spain set the Lehigh and Patriot League record in the 20 lb. weight. Spain also set Lehigh records in the indoor shot put, hammer and outdoor shot put. She is a national qualifier in the 20 lb. Weight ranking 21st in the country. A two-time ECAC qualifier in the 20 lb. weight and hammer, she also qualified three times in the shot put. SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Established in 1994 as the highest honor that can be received by a Lehigh student-athlete, this award goes to the individual or individuals in the graduating senior class who epitomize the ideals of a true scholar-athlete: exceptional academic achievement, outstanding athletic performance, and exemplary character. 2000-01 Finalists (winner in bold): Matt Andrews (Football) - A three-year starter who was part of three straight NCAA Tournament and Patriot League Championship teams, Andrews served as captain as a senior and was named to the Collegiate Athletics Director's All-Academic First Team. As a senior he earned All-Patriot League Second Team honors as well as being named the team's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A mechanical engineering major, Andrews was also a member of the Lehigh baseball team as a senior. Bonnie Hoffman (Softball) - A two-time captain, Hoffman led Lehigh to a Patriot League softball championship as a senior and regular season title as a junior. She is President of the Student-Athlete Executive Council. Hoffman is also a member of the COACH program, Lehigh Philharmonic Orchestra and frequently assists the Alumni Association. Hoffman was also recipient of the Undergraduate Merit Award and Bosey Reiter Leadership Award. On the field Hoffman earned All-Patriot League First Team honors becoming only the fourth player in league history to achieve that distinction four times. Steve Richardson (Track & Field) - Richardson served as captain of both the cross country and track & field teams as a senior. He was a four-time IC4A qualifier as a member of Lehigh's 4x800 meter relay team. He broke a 15-year-old school record in the 1000 meters, qualified for the ECAC's in the same event and garnered All-East honors with his fourth place indoor IC4A Championship performance. A Deans List member, Richardson is a Faculty Athletics Council Scholar, Presidential Scholar and Samuel Shipley Scholar with a 3.60 average in finance.
