PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The female and male athletes of the year were announced at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s annual athletic awards banquet May 2. Melanee Terry of the softball team and Kevin Collins of the men’s basketball team came away with the prestigious honors.
Terry, a freshman from Moreno Valley, California, led the Owls with a .526 batting average and also had six home runs and 31 RBI, both tops for the team. She also had eight stolen bases, good for fourth on the Owls in that category, and was a major part of the successful campaign which saw the squad compile a 25-13 overall record.
Collins, a senior from Fort Washington, Maryland, averaged a team-best 14.9 points per game and 4.3 rebounds for the UMPI team which posted a 13-14 overall record.
Several other special awards were handed out. The annual Al Arman “make a difference” award is presented to the student-athletes or students who have made a difference within athletics and the campus community. This year’s male recipient is Kristijan Gavrilovski of Gostivar, Macedonia and the female recipient is Alissa Edwards, a junior from Nebraska City, Nebraska.
The Stanley H. Small coaches award, which is presented to either a junior or senior who has shown exemplary dedication to the athletic program during their years at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, went to Michael Guerrette, a senior from Presque Isle, and member of the men’s soccer team.
The Ruel Parks award is presented in memory of the former assistant women’s basketball coach and goes to a women’s basketball player who is a passionate player who may not always be the star, but is very dedicated to her team, has a passion for the sport and is essential to team chemistry. Kendra Silvers, a freshman from North Berwick, is this year’s recipient.
The Donald N. Zillman character award honors a student-athlete who, through their actions in the competitive arena of intercollegiate athletics, demonstrated one or more of the ideals of character development through sportsmanship, including fairness, civility, honesty, unselfishness, respect and responsibility. The recipient promotes and enhances the integrity of higher education and civility in society. This year’s recipient is Jessi Dickison, a senior from Houlton who played on the women’s soccer and basketball teams.
The women’s cross country team received the Royal Goheen award, which is given to the team with the highest grade point average. The men’s cross country team is this year’s recipient of the Sharon Roix award, which goes to the team with the most improved grade point average.
The Athletic Training Awards went to senior Nicole Marucci of Naples and senior Christian Lunn of Mapleton.
Team awards were presented as follows:
Men’s cross country: Rookie of the year, Kyle Davis; most inspirational, Danny Gillotti; and coach’s award, Saul Nunez.
Women’s cross country: Rookie of the year, Emilia Churchill; most inspirational, Jennifer Sanborn; and coach’s award, Chenoa Jackson.
Men’s soccer: Rookie of the year, Paul Kaplan; most inspirational, Michael Guerrette; and most valuable player, Matthew Manter
Women’s soccer: Rookie of the year, Casey Lovely; most inspirational, Laura Sturgeon; and most valuable player, Mikayla Churchill.
Women’s volleyball: Rookie of the year, Maddie Thweatt; most inspirational, Miranda Washinawatok; most improved, Margaret Dickinson and Cynthia Figueroa; and most valuable player, Washinawatok.
Golf: Most inspirational, Jordan Hanscom; and most valuable player, Austin Coulston.
Men’s basketball: Most inspirational: Kristijan Gavrilovski; coach’s award, Anthony Chacho; and captain’s awards, Kevin Collins, Kim Collins, Maurice Harris and Chacho.
Women’s basketball: Rookie of the year: Marissa Reagle; most inspirational, Jessy Dickison; offensive most valuable player: Rhylee Wright; and defensive MVP: Emilia Churchill.
Men’s nordic skiing: Rookie of the year: Antonio Manzella; most improve, Jason Bartley; and most valuable skier, Connor Hrynuk.
Women’s nordic skiing: skier of the year: Valentina Annunziata.
Baseball: most inspirational, Colby Spencer; coach’s award, Frank Nunez; and captain’s awards, Matt Cauchon, Matt Curry and Saul Nunez.
Women’s softball: Rookies of the year: Melanee Terry and Brookelynn Garcia; most inspirational, Jordi Legassie; and coach’s awards: Alissa Edwards and Sara Packard.
Men’s track and field: Rookie of the year, Paul Kaplan; most inspirational, Allen Stanback; and coach’s award, Matthew Payan.
Women’s cross country: Rookie of the year, Casey Lovely; most inspirational, Jennifer Sanborn; and coach’s award, Chenoa Jackson.
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- Dan Kane, athletic director at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, presents the Female Athlete of the Year Award to Melanee Terry during the awards banquet held May 2. (Courtesy of UMPI Athletics)
