SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Saint Leo University Department of Athletics honored its outgoing seniors and highlighted the year's achievements at the 2012 Athletic Awards Banquet on April 17 from the Marion Bowman Activities Center.  The annual banquet, held in front of over 400 people, featured team awards, special recognitions, as well as special awards honoring the Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year and the Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

Women’s cross country runner Tereza Novotna collected Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, while men’s basketball player Marcus Ruh earned Male-Scholar Athlete of the Year. Women’s soccer player Cassie Barbaresi was named Female Athlete of the Year, and men’s swimmer Tim Olson registered Male Athlete of the Year accolades.

Novotna was an instant impact as a freshman runner for the Lions, securing multiple honors including Sunshine State Conference Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Additionally, the Czech Republic native was selected a USTFCCCA All-South Region Runner, while setting program records in both 5K and 6K race categories. Her efforts on the course assisted her to the NCAA Championships, a program-first for the Lions.

Ruh, on the other hand, was equally an impressive student-athlete for the Lions as he sported a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average for the season. Furthermore, Ruh was named SSC All-Conference First Team, as well as to the All-Newcomer team. The junior averaged 13.2 points-per-game and registered over 1,000 minutes of action on the court, while helping guide his squad to the SSC Tournament Championship game and their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid.

Barbaresi solidified her playing career with the Female Athlete of the Year award.  A 2011 All-American, the midfielder was also selected to the Daktronics All-South Region team, Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Year award, and was tabbed First Team All-Sunshine State Conference as well as, SSC’s Player of the Year. Tallying 24 points, she notched one game-winning goal and competed in 18 games. Her most telling accomplishment, however, was that she helped guide her to the program’s first SSC Regular Season Championships all while raising her young son Emerson.

Olson notched Male Athlete of the Year accolades as capped a stellar career with an unbelievable senior campaign. Olson earned notable finishes throughout the Sunshine State Conference Championships in February, but none as memorable as his record-setting swim in the 100-Free on the final day of competition.  The Land O'Lakes, Fla. native touched with a time of 44.92, good for an NCAA "B" standard which sent his on to represent the Lions in the NCAA National Championships in Texas. He is currently the school record holder in the 50-Free, 100-Free, 100-Fly, 200-IM, and 200-Fly. Along with his individual records, he has also been a member of all five relay teams that set new program bests while securing NCAA "B" cut times. 

Spliced in between the 14 coach-narrated season-in-review videos, Associate Athletic Director Vicki Fredrickson and Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach Annie Hamel recognized women’s soccer senior Jasmine Johnson with the Patrick Monogue Award.  Johnson, a senior for the Lions and one of the most respected student-athletes, competed valiantly throughout her three seasons with Saint Leo. Overcoming multiple on-field injuries couple with her daily fight against Leukemia, the Clearwater, Fla. native persevered above all obstacles to help guide her team to the 2011 Sunshine State Conference Regular Season title.

Presented by Associate Athletic Director John Semeraro, Saint Leo President Dr. Arthur F. Kirk Jr. awarded both men’s cross country runner Eric Dirth, and women’s swimmer Sarah Earls as the inaugural Dr. Kirk Scholarship recipients.

The Saint Leo Student Athlete Advisory Committee, led by President Danielle Moreda and Vice President Andi Lott, handed out awards for the Team of the Year, the Coach of the Year Fan of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year, and Support Staff Member of the Year.

The team award went to men’s basketball for their outstanding efforts throughout the season, culminating with a Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship showdown with Florida Southern, as well as program’s first-ever berth into the NCAA Tournament. Men’s basketball coach Lance Randall added to his accomplishments this season as he was selected Coach of the Year. Softball Assistant Coach Doug Klipp was named Assistant Coach of the Year, while Evon McCobb (Miss Evon) was chosen as the Support Staff Member of the Year, and Santi Lopez was picked as the Lions’ Fan of the Year.

Congratulations to all the 2012 Seniors.

Core Value Awards: Community

Baseball	Daniel Torres
Softball	Danielle Moreda
Men’s Basketball	Spenser Mitchell
Women’s Basketball	Elise Clyburn
Cheerleading	Nicole Rothchild
Men’s Cross Country	Jeffrey VanNatter
Women’s Cross Country	Jillian Browne
Men’s Golf	Ricky Briggs
Women’s Golf	Heather Petronis
Men’s Lacrosse	Austin Underwood
Women’s Lacrosse	Kelsey Cunningha
Men’s Soccer	Andro Hrkac
Women’ Soccer	Andi Lott
Men’s Swimming	Kieran Advena
Women’s Swimming	Chloe Pellican
Men’s Tennis	Jose Morales
Women’s Tennis	Samantha White
Volleyball	Jordan Sisson

Core Value Awards:  Personal Development

Baseball	Rick Teasley
Softball	Megan Still
Men’s Basketball	Shaun Adams
Women’s Basketball	Chelsea Connelly
Cheerleading	Shayla Copeland
Men’s Cross Country	Brian Haynes
Women’s Cross Country	Elyse Snyder
Men’s Golf	Justin Foster
Women’s Golf	Goeun Lee
Men’s Lacrosse	Alex Monteferrante
Women’s Lacrosse	Kasey Tanner
Men’s Soccer	Sean Jones
Women’ Soccer	Lise Nisja
Men’s Swimming	Gabe Keown
Women’s Swimming	Bianca Muniz
Men’s Tennis	Jake Fleischer
Women’s Tennis	Jeanette McDonald
Volleyball	Lauren Campbell

Core Value Awards:  Excellence

Baseball	Zachary Miller
Softball	Rachelle Gremo
Men’s Basketball	Marcus Ruh
Women’s Basketball	Chelsea Williams
Cheerleading	Jessica Thompson
Men’s Cross Country	Eric Dirth
Women’s Cross Country	Tereza Novotna
Men’s Golf	Nick Brothers
Women’s Golf	Clare Connelly
Men’s Lacrosse	Matt Obermeyer
Women’s Lacrosse	Joanna Chadwick
Men’s Soccer	Eishun Yoshida
Women’ Soccer	Alicia Schuering
Men’s Swimming	Michael Cozzi
Women’s Swimming	Sandra Stopczyska
Men’s Tennis	Aloua Adjenak
Women’s Tennis	Maria Benkirane
Volleyball	Danielle Bletso