CATS Awards recognize student-athletes' triumphs

Teammates walked a Wildcat blue carpet on Sunday evening into the Klump Academic Center Auditorium, where the season-after-season successes of Penn College student-athletes were celebrated during the sixth annual CATS Awards.

Chi Alpha Sigma
The CATS (Celebrating Athletic Triumphs and Successes) ceremony began with induction of the college's fifth Chi Alpha Sigma class: 26 students representing 12 teams and posting an average GPA of 3.674. Student-athletes must be in their junior or senior year with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 to be eligible for membership in the collegiate student-athlete honor society.

Baseball
Keegan M. Nytz and Zac G. Weaver

Men's basketball
Will F. Sulesky

Women's basketball
Emily Pardee, Shelby L. Pyatt and Allison M. Troup

Men's cross-country
Spencer H. Doughty

Golf
Trevor L. Keaton

Lacrosse
Angelo L. Varcadipane

Men's soccer
Will J. Gallagher, Tyler M. Hendershot, Gabriel T. McKeon, Brandon S. Ratjavong, Tad A. Shellenberger, William C. Watson and Tyler T. Weimert

Women's soccer
Kaelynn N. Sheetz

Softball
Maggie J. Mangene and Ivvy R. Morder

Men's tennis
Zackary R. Burkhart

Women's tennis
Georgia L. Macensky

Volleyball
Christine A. Limbert

Wrestling
Noah R. Hunt, Gabriel R. Kennedy-Citeroni, Logan W. Ledebohm and Andy A. Muzika

Community Service
Presented for the first time this year, the Community Service Award reflects Wildcat Athletics' goal of giving back to the campus and local community. The lacrosse team completed 548.5 hours and raised $12,434, greatly contributing to overall totals of 2,494.5 hours and $12,907.

Assistant coach
Another new award that will be presented annually honors assistant coaches for their time, effort and personal sacrifice to improve their programs, teach student-athletes and assist head coaches. This year's Assistant Coach of the Year Award was presented to Devon M. Sanders, assistant baseball coach.

Staff
There were co-winners for the staff awards, introduced by Scott Kennell, director of athletics, as being among the "people working behind the scenes to keep an Athletics Department running at full steam": Matt J. Blymier, assistant director of athletics for compliance and athletics communication, and Britni E. Mohney, assistant director of athletics/senior woman administrator.

Seniors
Coaches took to the stage to recognize their graduating team members, who were presented with student-athlete stoles to wear during their upcoming graduation. "There's a reason only 7% of high school athletes participate in collegiate athletics," Blymier noted. "It's really hard work – to balance academics, a social life and athletics. And because of that, it's important that you identify yourselves as student-athletes during your commencement ceremonies."

Men's Newcomer of the Year
The Newcomer of the Year, awarded to a first-year collegiate player that is a significant starter/contributor to their respective team, was presented to Isaac C. Cory. Cory, an electric power generation technology: diesel emphasis student from Muncy, became the first wrestler in program history to qualify for the NCAA National Tournament after taking silver at the NCAA Mideast Regional. He was the only freshman in the 184-pound bracket at nationals and was named to a national all-freshman team. Cory was regionally ranked for the majority of the season and won the prestigious Ned McGinley Invitational.

Other nominees for the award were Mitchell S. Campbell, cross-country; Alec M. Cooper, basketball; and Camden T. Elmo, lacrosse.

Women's Newcomer of the Year
Named Newcomer of the Year for women's sports was Alexis T. Troup, a nursing student from Huntingdon. She led the basketball team in points with 249, averaging 9.6 per game. She started in 22 games and played in all 26, averaging 28.9 minutes a game. Troup's game highs include 25 points, nine rebounds, four assists and six blocks. She scored double-digit points in 14 games and was the leading scorer in 10 of the team's 26 games.

Other nominees for the award were Brooke E. Klinger, soccer, and Lexi M. Snyder, softball.

Athletes of the Year
This award is given to the male and female athletes who best exemplify excellence in athletics, and is based on athletic performance, team contributions, and achievement and/or leadership in sports competition.

Men's honoree – Gavin P. Barrett, of Roselle, New Jersey, who became the first player in Wildcat men's basketball history to earn first team all-conference honors. The business administration student tornadoed his way to two triple-doubles last season and led the entire conference in both points and assists.

Other nominees were Sam R. Hills, lacrosse; Peyton M. Mussina, golf; and Brian Robison, baseball.

Women's honoree – MacKenzie R. Weaver, a softball player who finished last year as first team all-conference selection and is on track to repeat that performance. A pre-radiography student from Williamsport, she currently leads the United East conference in ERA and opponents' batting average, and she tossed a perfect game this season. When she’s not pitching, Weaver plays second base and is third on the team with a .387 batting average.

Other nominees were Kaelyn N. Sheetz, soccer, and Rachel E. Teats, basketball.

Scholar-Athletes of the Year
This award is presented to the male and female athletes who best exemplify Penn College’s athletics philosophy. Recipients will have displayed academic success, sportsmanship, fair play and integrity, and will have enhanced the experience of all members of the campus and/or community. Among the criteria are athletic performance, campus/community leadership, team contributions, and achievement and/or leadership in sports competition.

Men's honoree – Wrestler Gabriel R. Kennedy-Citrioni, of Blairsville, who has a 4.0 overall GPA as a civil engineering technology major and has been a Dean’s List selection in every semester. He won 17 matches last season and is a cadet in the Army ROTC Bald Eagle Battalion.

Other nominees were Isaac M. Hernandez, lacrosse, and Will F. Sulesky, basketball.

Women's honoree – Jordan Specht, of Frederick, Maryland, who boasts a 4.0 overall GPA in nursing and served as a medical missions intern on a Global Experiences trip to Guatemala. She is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma athletics honor society and is a two-time all-region selection in softball.

The other nominee was Rosey Thomas, cross-country.

The awards presentation was followed by an ice-cream reception in the Wrapture area of the ACC's first floor.