Salem State University Athletics End of Year Awards – Athletes Honored – Athletes of the Year Selected

SALEM — Salem State University’s Department of Athletics held its annual varsity awards event, better known as the VeSPYs on campus, on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the George Ellison Campus Center.

A total of 52 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 2015-16 academic -year.

Salem State presented Assistant Dean of Students Shawn Newton with the Richard B. “Mike” O’Keefe Award for outstanding service to the athletic program. Senior women’s soccer player Lauren Valdario (Winchester, Mass.) was recognized with the CHAMPS/Life Skills Award for her contributions to the community and her fellow students. Senior Danielle Terrell (Levittown, N.Y.) was honored with the Viking Award, which recognizes a Salem State student who exhibits outstanding leadership and effectively promotes the mission of Salem State Athletics within the school and community.

Senior women’s soccer player Leah Wood (Loveland, Ohio) and junior men’s ice hockey player Marcus Zelzer (Green Bay, Wisc.) received the Salem State President’s Cup, which is awarded to the top male and female athletes at Salem State. Wood, a three-time Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) performer, earned All- Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) second-team honors in 2015 as one of the best defenders in New England. Zelzer enjoyed a tremendous campaign as the Vikings’ starting goalie in 2015-16.  Zelzer, the conference player of the year, led Salem State to the MASCAC Championship and NCAA Tournament while winning a nations-best 17 straight starts. The junior was named a third-team CCM Division II-III Men’s Hockey All-American, and was a finalist for the Sid Watson Award, which is presented to the best NCAA Division III hockey player. Zelzer is also member of the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society.

Senior softball player Rebecca Krigman (Malden, Mass.) and senior baseball player Richard Fecteau (Newbury, Mass.) were the recipients of the John D. Galaris Scholar-Athlete Award. Krigman, a two-time captain, was a four-year member of the MASCAC All-Academic Team, who earned a 3.80 GPA in Sport and Movement Science. A member of the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society, Krigman was also a two-time All-MASCAC second baseman. Fecteau, a four-time all-conference infielder was MASCAC Player of the Year in 2014 and the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2013. A two-time pre-season All-American, the senior captain was named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball, ABCA/Rawlings, and D3baseball.com All-Region teams in 2014 & 2015. A member of the MASCAC All-Academic Team, Fecteau will graduate with a 3.13 in Sport and Movement Science.

Salm State Team MVP’s 2016
Baseball -  Mike Davis Peabody, Massachusetts
Softball – lleish Burney Bristol, Connecticut
Men’s Lacrosse -  Ben Melaugh Billerica, Massachusetts
Women’s Lacrosse – Erin Riley Wakefield, Massachusetts
Men’s Tennis – John Didonato Newbury, Massachusetts
Women’s Tennis – April McDermott Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Men’s Golf – Chad Alibozak Adams, Massachusetts
Men’s Ice Hockey Cam Moniz Seekonk, Massachusetts
Women’s Ice Hockey -  Kristin McKenzie Arlington, Massachusetts.
Men’s Basketball – Marcus Faison Cambridge, Massachusetts
Women’s Basketball -  Kaitlyn Bryan Lowell, Massachusetts
Men’s Soccer -  Kevin Gallo Melrose, Massachusetts
Women’s Soccer – Leah Wood Loveland, Ohio
Field Hockey – Kelsey Russell Arlington, Massachusetts
Volleyball  -  Emily Peay Lebanon, Connecticut

2016 Salem State Senior Class