Lehigh Celebrates 2022-23 Academic Year at Annual Student-Athlete Awards Convocation
5/8/2023 4:25:00 PM | Field Hockey, Athletics, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Track and Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field, Volleyball, Men's Wrestling, Student Athlete, Flight 45
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of the 2022-23 academic year at the annual Student-Athlete Awards Convocation, held at Baker Hall inside Zoellner Arts Center on Monday, May 8. The Convocation featured the announcement of Lehigh's department award winners, the annual end of year highlight video and recognition of the athletic department's University award winners.
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Carley Barjaktarovich from the softball team received the department's highest honor – the Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Barjaktarovich is a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Patriot League and NFCA All-Region honoree, with 2023 honors still to be announced. She graduated last May with a 3.86 GPA with a double major in marketing and management and is currently working towards a graduate certificate in cognitive science. Barjaktarovich was the 2021 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for softball and a two-time Academic All-District selection.
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The Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award was presented to Maddie Kahn from field hockey. Kahn was the spring 2021 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and was MVP of the Patriot League Tournament last November when Lehigh won its first league title since 1994. She was also a two-time All-Patriot League selection and a two-time NFHCA All-Region honoree.
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Wrestler Josh Humphreys captured the Graduating Male Athlete Award. Humphreys capped his career in the brown and white as a four-time NCAA qualifier, a three-time EIWA Champion at 157 pounds and a two-time All-American, earning first-team honors in 2020 following the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament and adding a third place finish in 2023.
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Martina Sell from the women's cross country and track and field programs received the Mary O. Hurley Female Leadership Award. A leader who supported her teammates at every opportunity and stepped into a larger leadership role during the absence of a coach, Sell was also a member of Lehigh's Flight45 executive board and a Student-Athlete Mentor.
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The John A. Cable Award, presented to the department's outstanding graduating male leader, went to Evan Taylor from men's basketball. A team captain for the Mountain Hawks on the court, Taylor also was an executive board member for Flight45. He set the example on the court, twice earning All-Patriot League honors and adding academic all-league recognition.
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The John Steckbeck Award, presented to the top first-year female student-athlete, went to Laura Reigle from women's track and field. Reigle won the Patriot League indoor championship, setting a league record in the pole vault and added a second title this past weekend in the outdoor pole vault.
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The top first-year male athlete award, the J. Daniel Nolan Award, went to Richard Checo from men's lacrosse. Checo was a first team All-Patriot League selection and set a school record for caused turnovers with 54 this past season. He leads the NCAA in caused turnovers per game.
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The department's top service award, the Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award went to Vinny Polignano from men's track and field. Polignano was a four-year Student-Athlete Mentor and served as a Peer Health Advisor and Orientation Leader. He was an all-around reliable representative of the Athletics department and university in both student affairs and academia.
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Anna Harvey from the women's basketball team won the department's Sportsmanship Award. Harvey was lauded for leading with integrity and consistently doing the right thing. She demonstrated a fierce competitive spirt, coupled with respect for the game and others, and was the consummate teammate, always attuned to how she can support others.
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Twelve student-athletes were recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award. These recipients are senior 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. Winners included Barjaktarovich, Humphreys and Kahn, plus Kerem Ayhan and Jake Martinez from men's cross country and track and field, Sarah Bonthuis from field hockey, Frannie Hottinger and Mackenzie Kramer from women's basketball, wrestlers AJ Burkhart and Brian Meyer, Mike Sisselberger from men's lacrosse and Daniel Song from men's golf.
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Volleyball manager David Hinkle was honored with the Phillip J. Sclar Award, which recognizes an underclass student worker or manager who exemplifies the spirit and character of the late Phil Sclar.Â
ÂGallery: (5-8-2023) 2023 Awards Convocation
2022-23 Lehigh Athletics Department Awards
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Phillip J. Sclar Award – David Hinkle '24 (Volleyball manager)
John Steckbeck Award – Laura Reigle (Women's Track and Field)
J. Daniel Nolan Award – Richard Checo (Men's Lacrosse)
Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award – Maddie Kahn (Field Hockey)
Graduating Male Athlete Award – Josh Humphreys (Wrestling)
Sportsmanship Award – Anna Harvey (Women's Basketball)
Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award – Vinny Polignano (Men's Track and Field)
Mary O'Hurley Leadership Award – Martina Sell (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field)
John A. Cable Leadership Award – Evan Taylor (Men's Basketball)
Distinguished Achievement Awards – Kerem Ayhan (Men's Track and Field), Carley Barjaktarovich (Softball), Sarah Bonthuis (Field Hockey), AJ Burkhart (Wrestling), Frannie Hottinger (Women's Basketball), Josh Humphreys (Wrestling), Maddie Kahn (Field Hockey), Mackenzie Kramer (Women's Basketball), Jake Martinez (Men's Cross Country/Track and Field), Brian Meyer (Wrestling), Mike Sisselberger (Men's Lacrosse), Daniel Song (Men's Golf)
Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award – Carley Barjaktarovich (Softball)
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Carley Barjaktarovich from the softball team received the department's highest honor – the Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Barjaktarovich is a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Patriot League and NFCA All-Region honoree, with 2023 honors still to be announced. She graduated last May with a 3.86 GPA with a double major in marketing and management and is currently working towards a graduate certificate in cognitive science. Barjaktarovich was the 2021 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for softball and a two-time Academic All-District selection.
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The Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award was presented to Maddie Kahn from field hockey. Kahn was the spring 2021 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and was MVP of the Patriot League Tournament last November when Lehigh won its first league title since 1994. She was also a two-time All-Patriot League selection and a two-time NFHCA All-Region honoree.
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Wrestler Josh Humphreys captured the Graduating Male Athlete Award. Humphreys capped his career in the brown and white as a four-time NCAA qualifier, a three-time EIWA Champion at 157 pounds and a two-time All-American, earning first-team honors in 2020 following the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament and adding a third place finish in 2023.
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Martina Sell from the women's cross country and track and field programs received the Mary O. Hurley Female Leadership Award. A leader who supported her teammates at every opportunity and stepped into a larger leadership role during the absence of a coach, Sell was also a member of Lehigh's Flight45 executive board and a Student-Athlete Mentor.
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The John A. Cable Award, presented to the department's outstanding graduating male leader, went to Evan Taylor from men's basketball. A team captain for the Mountain Hawks on the court, Taylor also was an executive board member for Flight45. He set the example on the court, twice earning All-Patriot League honors and adding academic all-league recognition.
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The John Steckbeck Award, presented to the top first-year female student-athlete, went to Laura Reigle from women's track and field. Reigle won the Patriot League indoor championship, setting a league record in the pole vault and added a second title this past weekend in the outdoor pole vault.
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The top first-year male athlete award, the J. Daniel Nolan Award, went to Richard Checo from men's lacrosse. Checo was a first team All-Patriot League selection and set a school record for caused turnovers with 54 this past season. He leads the NCAA in caused turnovers per game.
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The department's top service award, the Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award went to Vinny Polignano from men's track and field. Polignano was a four-year Student-Athlete Mentor and served as a Peer Health Advisor and Orientation Leader. He was an all-around reliable representative of the Athletics department and university in both student affairs and academia.
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Anna Harvey from the women's basketball team won the department's Sportsmanship Award. Harvey was lauded for leading with integrity and consistently doing the right thing. She demonstrated a fierce competitive spirt, coupled with respect for the game and others, and was the consummate teammate, always attuned to how she can support others.
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Twelve student-athletes were recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award. These recipients are senior 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. Winners included Barjaktarovich, Humphreys and Kahn, plus Kerem Ayhan and Jake Martinez from men's cross country and track and field, Sarah Bonthuis from field hockey, Frannie Hottinger and Mackenzie Kramer from women's basketball, wrestlers AJ Burkhart and Brian Meyer, Mike Sisselberger from men's lacrosse and Daniel Song from men's golf.
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Volleyball manager David Hinkle was honored with the Phillip J. Sclar Award, which recognizes an underclass student worker or manager who exemplifies the spirit and character of the late Phil Sclar.Â
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2022-23 Lehigh Athletics Department Awards
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Phillip J. Sclar Award – David Hinkle '24 (Volleyball manager)
John Steckbeck Award – Laura Reigle (Women's Track and Field)
J. Daniel Nolan Award – Richard Checo (Men's Lacrosse)
Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award – Maddie Kahn (Field Hockey)
Graduating Male Athlete Award – Josh Humphreys (Wrestling)
Sportsmanship Award – Anna Harvey (Women's Basketball)
Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award – Vinny Polignano (Men's Track and Field)
Mary O'Hurley Leadership Award – Martina Sell (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field)
John A. Cable Leadership Award – Evan Taylor (Men's Basketball)
Distinguished Achievement Awards – Kerem Ayhan (Men's Track and Field), Carley Barjaktarovich (Softball), Sarah Bonthuis (Field Hockey), AJ Burkhart (Wrestling), Frannie Hottinger (Women's Basketball), Josh Humphreys (Wrestling), Maddie Kahn (Field Hockey), Mackenzie Kramer (Women's Basketball), Jake Martinez (Men's Cross Country/Track and Field), Brian Meyer (Wrestling), Mike Sisselberger (Men's Lacrosse), Daniel Song (Men's Golf)
Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award – Carley Barjaktarovich (Softball)
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Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
IF
/ Softball
M/F
/ Field Hockey
184
/ Men's Wrestling
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
157
/ Men's Wrestling
GK
/ Field Hockey
G
/ Women's Basketball
165
/ Men's Wrestling
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
FO/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Men's Golf
G
/ Men's BasketballUndergraduate Commencement
Sunday, May 18
Graduate Commencement & Doctoral Hooding
Saturday, May 17
Commencement - Undergraduate Degrees
Sunday, May 19
Commencement - Graduate Degrees
Saturday, May 18
