Utica, NY (5/16/2013) - Senior's
Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) (women's basketball),
Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) (football),
Sylvester Owusu-Afriyie (Mt. Vernon, NY/Walton High School) (track & field) and
Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) (softball) garnered Utica College's senior student-athlete awards at the College's Pioneer Hall of Fame and Senior Athlete Recognition dinner Wednesday night. The student-athletes were honored in front of the Utica College community after the College's Hall of Fame inductions at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center.
Fiore and Benkwitt were the second-annual recipients of the Jim “Doc” Spartano Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award, while Plummer and Owusu were named the 26th annual Richard “Dick” Miller Most Inspirational Student-Athletes.
The Spartano award, which is voted on by a panel of coaches and administrators, honors athletes who have fulfilled the educational goals of the Utica College Athletic Department to the highest degree. The educational goals include: teamwork, leadership, loyalty, perseverance and sportsmanship. The award is named after Jim “Doc” Spartano, who retired in December after a 38-year career as a coach and Athletic Director at UC. He truly embodied the mission of the department by ensuring that a positive student experience remained paramount at all times, and his ability to connect with students, faculty and staff has undoubtedly left an impression on the College that will live on for years to come.
The Dick Miller Award, which has recognized 59 UC student-athletes since 1987, honors dedication to physical fitness, athletic competition and a commitment to excellence. It is awarded annually to deserving male and female senior student-athletes who have exhibited excellence, determination, hard work and outstanding athletic achievement over the course of their time spent at Utica College. The history of the Dick Miller Award, which is voted on by a panel of coaches and administrators, can be found in the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center trophy
case.
Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) – Women's Basketball – Forward – Journalism
Fiore is a four-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection, including three straight seasons as a first-team pick. She is a two-time ECAC Upstate All-Star and also a member of the Empire 8 President's list for her efforts in the classroom. She will graduate ranked fourth on the College's all-time scoring list and she is just the fifth player in program-history to join the 1,000 point/500 rebound club. In her freshman campaign she helped to lead the Pioneers to an Empire 8 Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Meghan was also an active member of the College's Student Newspaper, as the Sports Editor of the Tangerine. Meghan is originally from Epping, New Hampshire and she will graduate with a degree in Journalism.
Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) – Football – Quarterback – Criminal Justice
Benkwitt started all four years at the quarterback position and is one of the most decorated student-
athletes in the history of the UC football program. Throughout his illustrious career he broke 18 individual school-records on his way to becoming the first player in program-history to be named the Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He is a four-time All-Conference selection and this past season he was named to the D3football.com All-East Region Second Team. As a freshman, he was named the Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year, the ECAC Northwest Rookie of the Year and the ECAC Division III Rookie of the Year. This past year he was also the recipient of the 2012 Pioneer and Captain Awards, given out by the football program. Andrew is from Mamaroneck, NY and he will graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) – Softball – First Baseman – Psychology
Plummer is a four-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection, including being named First Team All-Conference three times. She was also a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selection in 2011. In addition, Bridgette was twice named to the Empire 8 President's list as well as an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete. After starting all 162 games in her career, she set new school records for hits, runs scored, doubles, and total bases. This past season, her third as a captain, she led the Pioneers to their best season ever, which included an Empire 8 regular season title, hosting rights for the conference championship, and an NCAA tournament appearance- all program firsts. A native of Saratoga Springs, NY, Bridgette will graduate with a degree in psychology.
Sylvester Owusu-Afriyie (Mt. Vernon, NY/Walton High School) – Track & Field – Sprinter – Master's Health Care Administration
Owusu-Afriyie is a three-time Empire 8 All-Conference First Team selection. He was also recently named the 2013 Empire 8 Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet after breaking the conference record in the 60-yard dash with a time of 7.08. Sylvester also helped lead UC to a program-best second place finish at the 2013 Empire 8 Outdoor Championships. He holds school records in the indoor 60-meter dash, and outdoor 100 and 200-meter dashes. A native of Mount Vernon, NY, Sylvester is pursuing a master's degree in health care administration.
Below is a list of the College's All-Time Dick Miller Award Winners:
1987-88
Heidi Olensik
Robert Wuest
1988-89
Shelley Turner
David Fontaine
1989-90
Mark Carmichael
Jennifer Ryan
1990-91
Andrew Spigner
Tammy Van Epps
1991-92
Ted Wheelock
Kathy Bachmann
1992-93
Michael Mignone
Lari McLaren
Kristen Ferraraccio
1993-94
Edward Koebel
Michele Tansey
1994-95
Bonnie Parent
Brad Anderson
Jim Murnane
1995-96
Heather Washburn
Scott Clarke
1996-97
Bobby McMail
Richard Kuc
1997-98
Mary Castle
Jason Ricci
1998-99
Joshua Saxton
Melissa Milham
1999-00
Betsy O'Hara
2000-01
Steve Crawford
Ben Mack
Kelly Ewald
Alicia Taranto
2001-02
Carrie Stanek
Mike Plonisch
2002-03
Tom Swift
Devon Bonnemere
Katherine Walter
2003-04
Brian Bansner
Allison Montante
2004-05
Matthew Donaldson
Alicia Vantresca
2005-06
Justin Cichon
Shannon Rohacek
2006-07
Deana Wiegand
Ava Thomas
Jack Lighthall
2007-08
Jame Proniewych
Ashley Kaufman
2008-09
Doug Herring
Katie Kutas
2009-10
Michael Bulger
Cody Elliot
Jill Doherty
2010-11
Jessica Berry
Tammy Kohanski
James Patterson
2011-12
Shelby Barbay
Tim Coffman
Mick Krajacic
2012-2013
Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville)
Sylvester Owusu-Afriyie (Mt. Vernon, NY/Walton High School)
