Student Athletes Honored at Awards Banquets
26 April 2018 Student Athletes Honored at Awards Banquets
To commemorate the accomplishments of student athletes in the classroom and in the larger HWS and Geneva community during the 2017-2018 academic year, both Hobart and William Smith athletic teams were recognized at their annual awards banquets.
The Hobart College Athletic Department and the Statesmen Athletic Association honored the top student-athletes at the Block H Dinner on Monday. Shane Sweeney 18was presented with the Francis L. Babe Kraus 24 Memorial Award as Hobarts most outstanding senior athlete. The William C. Stiles 43 Memorial Award for leadership, determination and character was given to senior hockey goaltenderFrank Oplinger 18. The Hanna Award for excellence in citizenship, scholarship, leadership and teamwork was presented to senior lacrosse defensemanD. Bennett Moore 18. The Abe Solomon Memorial Award was presented to basketball first-yearDan Masino 21and hockey first-yearMike Faulkner 21as Hobarts Co-Rookies of the Year. Over 50 student-athletes were honored with department wide and team awards tonight in Bristol Gym.
In the fall, Sweeney rewrote the Hobart football record books. The most prolific passer in Hobart history, he played in 27 career games in his three years as a Statesman. A 2016 D3football.com All-American and two-time Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, Sweeney completed 592-of-971 passes for 7,385 yards and 71 touchdowns, all Hobart career records. Sweeney was a two-time D3football.com All-East pick and was also named to the 2017 Liberty League All-Academic Team, the National Football Foundations Hampshire Honor Society and the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.
At the annual Heron Awards Banquet on Tuesday, April 24, the William Smith Athletic Department honored their top student-athletes. Field hockey forwardHannah Wood 18was presented with the Winn-Seeley Award for her achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics, while senior soccer forwardEvie Manning 18 received the Marion Harrison Greene 20 Award for her impact on her team. In addition, squash sophomoreGabby Fraser 20was presented with the Hazel Nettleship Hardy 65 Award, given to a student in her middle years who has contributed to the growth of Heron athletics and is an excellent representative of William Smith Athletics. Basketball first-yearJuliana Gamboa 21earned the Stephanie Christie Award as the Rookie of the Year.
A three-time NFHCA All-American and two-time Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Year, Wood started all 76 games in her Heron career. A four-time first team all-league and all-region pick, Wood left her name all over the Herons record books, finishing her career as the all-time leading scorer with 95 goals. Wood led her team in scoring in each of her four years, and, on Oct. 3, she became the second player in program history to hit the 200-point mark. Wood earned Liberty League All-Academic honors in each of the past three years and was a member of William Smiths Laurel Society.