SALEM — Salem State University’s Department of Athletics held its annual varsity awards banquet, better known as the VeSPYs on Monday, May 1, 2017 at the O’Keefe Sports Complex.
A total of 48 seniors were honored for their collegiate athletic careers. Also recognized were the team most valuable players from each sport for their exceptional performances during the 2016-17 academic-year.
The Department of Athletics & Recreation presented Salem State University President Patricia Maguire Meservey with the Richard B. “Mike” O’Keefe Award for outstanding service to the athletic program. Senior baseball player Teghan Malionek (Salem, Mass.) was recognized with the CHAMPS/Life Skills Award for his contributions to the community and his fellow students. Former basketball player and current men’s basketball student-assistant Anthony Hodges was honored with the Viking Award, which recognizes a student athlete who has overcome significant challenges to reach a level of success in athletics and academics, and who inspires others through perseverance and leadership.
Junior softball player, Jen Crovo (Melrose, Mass.) and senior men’s basketball player, Marcus Faison (Cambridge, Mass.) received the Salem State President’s Cup, which is awarded to the top male and female athletes at Salem State. Crovo, was a 2016 All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) selection and currently is one of the top offensive players in the MASCAC. She set the season stolen base record at Salem State this year and is currently on pace to break the career mark. A three-year ALL-MASCAC All-Academic honoree, Crovo is a Dean’s List member and was inducted into the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society, having attained a 3.73 grade point average in Biomedical Sciences. Faison, a three-year starter, was a co-captain for the Vikings this year. The senior-forward led Salem State to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference title, earning MVP honors at this year’s tournament as Salem State earned its 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance. The two-time All-MASCAC first-team selection finished his career with 1,018 points and 794 rebounds, becoming just the seventh player in Salem State history with 1,000 career points and 700 career rebounds.
Senior lacrosse and field hockey player, Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.) and senior ice hockey player, Marcus Zelzer (Green Bay, Wisc.) were the recipients of the John D. Galaris Scholar-Athlete Award. Woodin, the MVP of both the field hockey and lacrosse teams in 2016-17 was among the nation’s leaders in save percentage as a goalie for the field hockey team. A captain for the lacrosse team, Woodin is a four-time member of the MASCAC All-Academic Team and is a Dean’s List and National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society member, earning a 3.91 grade point average in Social Work. A member of the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society, Zelzer entered the 2016-17 campaign as a returning All-American goalie for the Salem State ice hockey program. Injuries sidelined the former MASCAC Conference Player of the
Year this season. However, the three-time All-MASCAC Academic and Dean’s List member carried a 3.91 grade point average in Criminal Justice and will enroll in law school in the fall.
Salem State Team MVP’s 2017
Men’s Tennis – Chen Chen (Lawrence, Mass.)
Men’s Golf – Ryan Swart (Bridgewater, Mass.)
Women’s Lacrosse – Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.)
Softball – Jen Crovo (Melrose, Mass.)
Men’s Lacrosse – Travis Kneeland (Rowley, Mass.)
Baseball – Dan Connors (Danvers, Mass.)
Women’s Tennis – Madeline Allaire (Columbus, Ohio)
Men’s Ice Hockey – Jason Pucciarelli (Newmarket, Ontario)
Women’s Ice Hockey – Sara Walsh (Burlington, Mass.)
Men’s Basketball – Marcus Faison (Cambridge, Mass.)
Women’s Basketball – Norma Waggett (Saugus, Mass.)
Men’s Soccer – Mitch Tepe (Sterling, Mass.)
Women’s Soccer – Kaitlyn Curley (Wilmington, Mass.)
Field Hockey – Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.)
Volleyball – Hannah Mullarkey (Salem, Mass.)
2017 Salem State Senior Class |
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