15th Annual 'Cuse Awards Spotlight 2020-21 Orange Success

15th Annual 'Cuse Awards Spotlight 2020-21 Orange Success

6/9/2021 8:29:00 AM | Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Men's Rowing, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Rowing, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, General, Ice Hockey, Cuse Awards, Cheer, Dance Team, Student-Athlete Engagement

A virtual celebration of the 15th annual 'Cuse Awards, presented by Excellus, capped one of the most challenging years for Syracuse University student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. For the second year in a row, due to COVID-19, the Syracuse University Athletics Department honored the outstanding performances on the field of competition, in the classroom and in the community in an online presentation via social media. Find all of the content using the hashtag #CuseAwards or scroll through the official athletics accounts (Twitter: @Cuse/Facebook: SyracuseOrange/Instagram: CusePics).

"I am really proud of all of our 600 student-athletes for the perseverance and dedication that they displayed this year to get to a place where they could compete, which we did and did so successfully," said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. "The work of the athletics department staff and the support we received from the Chancellor and the University was instrumental in us being able to compete. We should celebrate and honor those who did some amazing things this year under incredibly unusual and challenging circumstances."

Seniors Kristen Siermachesky (ice hockey) and Drake Porter (lacrosse) earned the 2021 Soladay Awards, the highest honor presented to a female and male senior student-athlete each year. The award is named in honor of long-time athletics administrator Doris Soladay.

A sport management major and team captain, Siermachesky was the 2020-21 president of Syracuse's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and vice president of the Diversity and Inclusion Student-Athlete Board (DISAB). A native of New Liskeard, Ontario, Siermachesky captained the 2020-21 hockey team after serving as an assistant captain as a junior. The defender scored 17 points (five goals and 12 assists) in her 125-game career. In 2019 she was part of Syracuse's first College Hockey America championship team that earned the program's first invitation to the NCAA Tournament. A captain of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Siermachesky is a three-time CHA All-Academic Team and ACC Honor Roll honoree.

Porter is a three-year starter in net for 'Cuse who returned for his additional season of eligibility after earning All-America honors in 2020. A 2021 team captain and Senior CLASS Award finalist, Porter earned his bachelor's degree in advertising from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and is currently enrolled in Syracuse's intercollegiate advising and support program. A four-time member of the ACC Honor Roll, Porter averaged 12.0 saves per game and posted a save percentage of .476 in 2021

The female Soladay Award candidates included Rachel Bonner (cross country), Kailee Coonan (soccer), Grace Eaton (spirit), Lila Nazarian (lacrosse), Miranda Ramirez (tennis), Alexa Romero (softball), Kailey Smith (field hockey) and Meg Varcoe (rowing). The male candidates for the Soladay Award were Cameron Grimm (rowing), Sondre Norheim (soccer), Aidan Tooker (cross country).

The Syracuse Eight Courage Award, an honor bestowed upon an individual who has overcome a disadvantaged background, a serious injury, or has demonstrated uncommon bravery or highly principled behavior in the face of adversity, went to Lucy Pearce for her determination, persistence and courage in coming back from injuries that resulted from an interpersonal violence assault. She was diagnosed with a concussion that forced her to miss the first four months of the rowing season and resulted in post-concussion syndrome, which occurs when concussion symptoms last beyond the expected recovery period after the initial injury. It is an injury which still affects her daily activities and rowing. Despite the challenges, the U23 Australian National Team member and Olympic hopeful worked her way back into the 2021 varsity eight boat that finished 12th at the NCAA Championships and was part of an Orange team that placed 10th overall, the highest finish in program history. Pearce graduated with an undergraduate degree in nutrition and a master's degree in nutrition science in five years.

The Orange women's lacrosse team earned the Women's Team of the Year honors for the second consecutive year after winning the award in 2019 (no award was given in 2020 due to COVID). The 2021 squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament championship game for the third time in program history, losing to ACC rival Boston College, 16-10, in the title game. The second-ranked Orange faced the toughest schedule in the nation, playing 14 games against teams ranked in the top 10 in the final rankings, and posted a 17-4 record. The Orange earned the No.3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated Loyola and Florida to advance to Championship Weekend for the eighth time since 2008.

The 2021 Men's Team of the Year honor went to men's rowing. The Orange varsity eight reached as high as the third spot in the IRCA national rankings, which was the top ranking in head coach Dave Reischman's tenure. At the Intercollegiate Rowing Association's (IRA) National Championship Regatta three boats made the grand finals for the first time in Reischman's tenure. The varsity eight finished fourth overall while the second varsity eight finished in fifth and the varsity four placed seventh.

Junior Meaghan Tyrrell earned the Female Athlete of the Year award after leading the Orange in every offensive category and ranking among the top scorers in the nation. Her 2021 performance among the all-time best in program history. Her 112 points tie for third on Syracuse's single-season record list, while her 68 goals ranks eighth and her 44 assists are fourth. She ranked third in the nation in points, seventh in goals and 10th in assists en route to earning first-team All-America and All-ACC honors.

Men's lacrosse senior Stephen Rehfuss garnered the Male Athlete of the Year honor after leading the Orange in points (56) and closed his career ranked ninth on the SU career assists record list (110) and 25th on the all-time scoring list (188 points). An All-ACC selection, Rehfuss led the Orange in assists in every season at 'Cuse. He won the 2020 Soladay Award and was a 2021 Tewaaraton Award and Senior CLASS Award nominee.

Viktoriya Kanapatskaya (tennis) and Owen Hiltz (men's lacrosse) earned Female and Male Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.

Kanapatskaya made an immediate impact on the Orange in her freshman campaign. She earned All-America honors after earning a top-16 seed on the NCAA Individual Singles Tennis Tournament. The Minsk, Belarus native posted a 12-6 singles record predominantly at the No. 1 spot. Kanapatskaya was one of two freshman to earn first-team All-ACC honors.

In his rookie season, Hiltz tied the Syracuse freshman record with seven goals and added two assists to become the first player to score nine points in a game since Dylan Donahue (2016). He finished the season with 29 goals and 19 assists (48 points) in 13 games.

Men's rowing coach Dave Reischman won the Men's Coach of the Year honor after guiding the Syracuse men's rowing team, specifically the varsity eight, to its highest ranking in during his tenure as head coach and as far as the heavyweight polls go back in archives (2004). The Orange placed three boats in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association's (IRA) National Championship Regatta grand finals for the first time in Reischman's tenure. The varsity eight finished fourth overall while the second varsity eight finished in fifth and the varsity four placed seventh. It marked the second-straight IRA regatta that three Orange crews placed in the top-10 and the first time in over 20 years three boats qualified for the grand finals. The Orange finished undefeated in head-to-head races in the varsity eight during the regular season, beating five top-12 crews along the way.

Luke McGee earned the Women's Coach of the Year award for leading the rowing team to its best finish in school history. Syracuse placed a program-best 10th at the NCAA Championship and finished a program-record 11th in the national rankings. At the NCAA Championship, the varsity eight finished 12th, while the second varsity eight and the varsity four came in 11th. The program accomplished another first when all five boats placed in the top three at the ACC Championship. During the season, Syracuse achieved its' highest ranking in program history at #8 after a strong showing at the Big Ten Invitational (April 17-18). The Orange were ranked in the top 10 in three polls during the season and in the top 11 for the final seven weeks of the season.

Amanda Vestri (track & field) and Buddy Boeheim (basketball) earned the Female and Male Performance of the Year awards.

At the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championship, Vestri made her move two-thirds of the way through her 5,000-meter run never looked back. She distanced herself from the rest of the field through the final laps of the race to claim the ACC Championship becoming the latest 'Cuse star to dominate the 5000-meters. Since the Orange joined the ACC, Syracuse has won at least one of the 5ks (men's or women's indoor or outdoor) in six of the seven years which both ACC Championships were held (excludes 2020). She is the second women's winner, joining Paige Stoner, who won both the indoor and outdoor events in 2019.

Boeheim Scored 30 points against San Diego State in Syracuse's 78-62 win in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He shot 11-15 from the field, including 7-of-10 from 3-point, turning in the sixth-best point total in NCAA Tournament games for an SU player. The 7 3-pointers ranks second on that Orange record list.

The Orange women's lacrosse team earned the Game of the Year award with a thrilling 19-17 victory against Boston College in the ACC Tournament semifinal game. Syracuse scored the last three goals of the first half and another after intermission to take a 12-6 lead. The Orange led 13-7 before the Eagles went on a 7-0 run to take a one-goal lead. Neither team could pull away and the game was tied at 17-17 with 3:18 to play. Freshman Emma Ward put the 'Cuse ahead for good with 1:39 on the clock and sophomore Emma Tyrrell added a goal for a 19-17 Orange victory.

The 'Cuse Award for Play of the Year went to sophomore Geana Torres. The Syracuse catcher and utility player stepped into the plate with bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh with the Orange trailing #11 Clemson, 6-5. She singled up the middle to drive in two runs as the Orange earned a walk-off win against the nationally-ranked Tigers on Senior Day. It was the first top-25 win of the season for 'Cuse and the first win vs. a #11 opponent since 2013. The win put Clemson's pursuit of the ACC Regular Season title on hold for a day.

For the outstanding work in the Syracuse community, the Syracuse Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Diversity and Inclusion Student-Athlete Board (DISAB) shared the 'Cuse Cares award for community service. The student-led organizations, guided by their presidents, Kristen Siermachesky and A.J. Walker, respectively, collaborated on multiple community engagement activities in 2020-21, including a fund drive for Blessings in a Backpack in the fall and the Black Athletes Lives Matter (BALM) March for all student-athletes during the spring semester.

The Orange ice hockey and men's rowing teams team garnered the Team GPA awards. Victoria Amado (dance), Dana Gardner (volleyball), Zoe Loeb (dance), Cara Quimby (lacrosse), Ella Simkins (lacrosse), Jenna Tivnan (soccer), Yuliia Yastrub (volleyball) and Reilly Zink (cross country) all earned 'Cuse Scholar awards from their perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

The Team Scholars, recognizing the highest GPA on the team, went to Victoria Amado (dance), Arnaud Buard (men's rowing), Claire Cooke (field hockey), Elizabeth Cultra (track & field), Dana Gardner (volleyball), Teisha Hyman (basketball), Max Kent (soccer), Chris LaValle (basketball), Patrick Linehan (mascot), Zoe Loeb (dance), Natalie Novotna (tennis), Lucy Pearce (rowing), Drake Porter (lacrosse), Cara Quimby (lacrosse), Gavin Richards (track & field), Alexa Romero (softball), Ella Simkins (lacrosse), Allison Small (ice hockey), Jenna Tivnan (soccer), Shayla Walsh (orange cheer), Sam Warren (football), Paige Yamane (blue cheer), and Yuliia Yastrub (volleyball).

The following individuals won their team 'Cuse Award as a standout performer and teammate, as voted on by the coaches and/or teammates.

Men's Basketball                                Marek Dolezaj
Women's Basketball                          Tiana Mangakahia
Cheer                                                   Colton Green
Men's Cross Country                         Joseph Dragon
Women's Cross Country                   Amanda Vestri
Dance                                                   Carleigh Lutz
Field Hockey                                       Eefke van den Nieuwenhof
Football                                                Mikel Jones
Ice Hockey                                          Allison Small
Men's Lacrosse                                  Stephen Rehfuss
Women's Lacrosse                          Asa Goldstock
Men's Rowing                                     Ryan Elsinga
Women's Rowing                               Christie Castorino
Men's Soccer                                     Deandre Kerr
Women's Soccer                               Lysianne Proulx
Softball                                                 Neli Casares-Maher
Tennis                                                Ines Fonte
Women's Track                                  Amanda Vestri
Men's Track                                        JP Trojan
Volleyball                                             Elena Karakasi
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