BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Athletics and Recreation Department held its 37th Annual All Sports Banquet on Tuesday, May 2nd honoring various teams and players.
Associate Vice President for Athletics and Student Wellness, Dr. Mary Beth Lamb, emceed the ceremonies.
President Fred Clark was on hand to present the Dr. Adrian Tinsley Scholar Athlete of the Year awards to Alexandra Ruprecht (softball) and Adam Couch (football).
Former Director of Athletics, John Harper, returned to present the John C. Harper Athlete of the Year awards to standouts Jayci Andrews (track & field) and Corey Stalters (track & field). Andrews is the first four-time winner of the award.
Other major award winners were Rookies of the Year, Cailey Simard (swimming & diving) and Scott Emerson (baseball); Lee Harrington Unsung Hero Award recipients, Kylee Piche (basketball) and Joey Molis (baseball); and the Yoshitaka Ando Student-Athlete Leadership Award recipient, Caroline Tripp (basketball).
The Department of Athletics formally announed that the Student-Athlete Leadership Award would hereinafter be named after Yoshitaka Ando, former Bridgewater State football player and longtime athletic trainer at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School who passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer. Mr. Ando's wife, Cheryl, and children, Lucas, Kyle, Marcus and Olivia, were in attendance at the banquet for the presentation. Longtime Lincoln-Sudbury football coach, Tom Lopez, as well as English teacher and former lacrosse coach, Tim Jason, spoke on the life of Mr. Ando and the impact he had on so many others.
Associate Director of Athletics, Susan Crosby-Tangen, presented the Yoshitaka Ando Student-Athlete Leadership Award. Ms. Crosby-Tangen also announced the Team Academic Award winners. The equestrian team had the top grade point average on the women's side checking in at 3.60, while the men's cross country squad was the men's winner with a GPA of 3.58.
Also honored were more than 230 student-athletes who maintained at least a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or who earned Dean’s List honors for the fall 2022 semester. The 2022-2023 team captains and senior student-athletes were honored as well as the members of Chi Sigma Alpha (National College Athlete Honor Society).
Also in attendance were Vice President of Student Life, Dr.Joseph Oravecz, and Assistant Director of Athletics, Derek Viveiros. Oravecz presented the Rookie of the Year Award winners, while Viveiros presented the Lee Harrington Unsung Hero awards.
The BSU women's basketball team won the Bear Cup for the second straight year. The Bear Cup is awarded, based on a points system, to the varsity team which demonstrates community service, leadership development, and support of other teams while achieving succees in the classroom and in the athletic arena.
Athletics Banquet Program (PDF) | Athletics Banquet Annual Award Winners (1986 to Present)
