WESTON, Mass. - The Regis College athletics department, along with special guests and family members of graduating seniors, gathered on campus at the Casey Theatre within the Fine Arts Center Friday evening, April 26, for the 43rd Annual Regis Athletics Awards Ceremony.
Three student-athletes received the prestigious Regis-Casserly Award, the highest honor presented by the athletics department to a graduating senior student-athlete that recognizes excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and service. Zach Sweeney (Torrington, Conn.), the third recipient of the Male Regis-Casserly Award from the men's lacrosse program, was a two-year captain who led the defensive effort for the Pride, plus he will be receiving his bachelor's degree in dental hygiene and volunteered oral health presentations at multiple public schools in Weston and Framingham.
Both recipients of the Female Regis-Casserly Award are members of the women's lacrosse team, giving that program nine winners in its history. Madeline Conover (West Newbury, Mass.) is the Class of 2024 President within the Student Government Association as well as the Social Media Representative on the E-Board of the Regis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). On the field, she scored 22 goals, fourth-most on the team this season, as the Pride won nine matches and qualified for the GNAC Tournament.
Besides lacrosse, Megan Miller (Quincy, Mass.) is also a member of the swimming and diving team, providing that program an honoree for the fourth straight year and 11th winner overall. She earned All-GNAC honors in the 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke, and 200 backstroke this past year, plus she was part of a pool-record time in the 800 freestyle relay. A nursing major, she served as the Student Government Association Senator representing the Young School of Nursing and was Secretary on this year's Regis SAAC E-Board.
The Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards were presented to Kristin Barrett (Plymouth, Mass.) from the track and field team and Javin Stickney (Gorham, Maine) of the soccer team. Barrett, the 2023-24 SGA E-Board President, is also a member of the GNAC SAAC Commissioner's Council, a marketing and communication major, and most recently finished fourth in the shot put and fifth in the discus throw to help the Pride women's track and field team capture the 2024 GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Stickney earned three goals and one assist during the 2023 season and will be receiving his bachelor's degree in exercise science.
The sport of volleyball was represented by both recipients of the Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Joseph Perez (Miami, Fla.) became the second player in program history to accumulate at least 800 career kills, including 297 kills this past season to end up fifth in the GNAC in total kills as he was selected Second Team All-GNAC. Ahnasia Mckinney (Chelmsford, Mass.) was voted GNAC Setter of the Year and First Team All-GNAC after breaking the Regis single-season record with 785 assists as she led the Pride to the championship match of the GNAC Women's Volleyball Tournament.
Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) capped off a historic year by receiving the Outstanding Junior Student-Athlete of the Year Award, as he broke Regis men's basketball single-season records with 470 points and 283 rebounds, plus he became the seventh player in program history to score at least 1,000 career points at Regis. Kamdyn Tenorio (Irvine, Calif.) was voted First Team All-GNAC after finishing the 2023 volleyball season third in the GNAC with 68 service aces, fourth in the league with 437 digs, and 10th in the conference with 261 kills.
Both male recipients of the Outstanding Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year Award won individual GNAC titles. Justin Thuotte (Lebanon, Conn.) of the track and field team won indoor titles in the long jump and triple jump and then followed up with outdoor titles in the long jump, triple jump, and pole vault. Cody Werner (Bettendorf, Iowa) finished first at the GNAC Swimming and Diving Championships in the 50 butterfly and ended the season with the team's fastest times in eight different events. Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) was recognized on the women's side after scoring 513 points this season, the second-most in a single year in women's basketball program history, as she earned Second Team All-GNAC recognition.
One of the Outstanding First-Year Student-Athletes of the Year, Jack Jaynes (Reading, Mass.) led the lacrosse team's improvement as he finished the season with 29 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 48 points, plus he earned GNAC Rookie of the Week honors twice. After appearing in 17 matches for the soccer team, Aleyo Amasa-Titus (Georgetown, Mass.) was part of four indoor school records and won two GNAC titles in February on her way to be voted GNAC Indoor Track and Field Female Rookie of the Year. Colleen Curran (Woburn, Mass.) led the soccer team with nine goals and four assists, and then her versatility was key for the track and field team as she scored 11 points individually and helped the relays team earn another 18 points in the Pride's conference championship effort.
For the third straight year, graduate students were also recognized for their contributions to the Regis athletics program as they complete their athletic eligibility. Brett Kiesel (Rocky Hill, Conn.) won his first GNAC individual title in the pole vault at the GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships before earning All-GNAC honors in the pole vault, discus throw, and javelin throw at last weekend's outdoor conference meet. Hope Alto (Boston, Mass.) finished with a school-record 165 draw controls along with a team-high 60 goals as she led the women's lacrosse team to a spot in the GNAC Tournament.
The softball team received the Judith W. Burling Team Award for Academic Excellence for having the highest weighted team cumulative grade point average spanning the Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 semesters. Michael Hatch, the team manager for men's lacrosse as well as a gameday worker, received the Outstanding Athletics Student Worker of the Year Award.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Executive Board, led by president Zak Latifi (Holliston, Mass.), vice-president Toni Ondris (Mineola, N.Y.), Miller, event coordinator William Comeiro (Woburn, Mass.), Conover, and Barrett, presented Mark Clemente, Associate Athletic Director, with the SAAC Faculty/Staff Appreciation Award for his exemplary work in making sure facilities and operations are in order for practices and events. Latifi also awarded the first SAAC Member of the Year Award to Ondris for her dedicated service to the organization.
In addition, SAAC spearheaded the Reggie Awards, a series of six awards voted on by student-athletes. For the second straight year, the women's lacrosse team received Best Comeback Win, this time for rallying from a 4-0 deficit with 10 straight goals to defeat Lasell April 9, 12-6. Amasa-Titus and Rau shared the Best Record-Breaking Performance award after setting multiple school records during their various seasons.
The women's soccer team received Best Upset honors after defeating Lasell for the first time in program history Oct. 18, 2023, 3-1. The Best Playoff Victory went to the women's volleyball team for defeating Emmanuel Nov. 7 and Saint Joseph's College Nov. 9 at home to advance to the championship match of the GNAC Tournament, which it hosted Nov. 11.
The men's basketball team picked up Best Overtime Win for its 82-79 victory over Norwich at home Jan. 17. Finally, the men's volleyball team was voted Most Supportive Team for its enthusiastic support of their fellow student-athletes.
Before the awards ceremony, graduating seniors and their families were invited to a reception where they received stoles signifying their status as student-athletes to be worn at Commencement Saturday, May 11.
Regis College is a Division III member of the NCAA competing within the Great Northeast Athletic Conference in 19 intercollegiate sports.