Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

Clarkson Celebrates 2014-15 Campaign at Annual Athletic Awards Ceremony

By: April 20, 2015
AthletesoftheYear15
Clarkson Athletes of the Year - John Coleman and Victoria Kirkemo

General | 4/20/2015 6:32:00 PM

Only a week shy of final exams, the Clarkson University Athletic Department took the time to celebrate the 2014-15 athletic year by handing out hardware to the top student-athletes at the 13th-annual Athletic Awards Ceremony.
 
•Slide show of 2014-15 Awards Ceremony
•Past Award Ceremonies

The Ed Sayer Memorial Award, an honor that recognizes an individual that exemplifies the former Clarkson swimmer's spirit in exhibiting compassion for their teammates, an indelible work ethic, a passion for their sport, and an appreciation of the intricacies and importance of teamwork, went to senior volleyball and women's basketball player Brooke Butkovsky. This past year Brooke faced many challenges as she had to miss games in January and February on the basketball court. Although she faced many hardships, she always had a smile on her face. When Brooke was cleared to play she worked so hard trying to do whatever she could to help the team out. A team captain and a great leader, her personality, work ethic, and determination to rise above all the obstacles that were thrown at her this year was a site to behold. A tenacious competitor on the court with a take-no-prisoners attitude, she has disdain for her opponents and is loved by her teammates and athletes across all sports.

The Male Athlete of the Year award went to two-sport standout John Coleman of the men's basketball and baseball team. Coleman earned his way on to several post-season All-American and All-Region teams and was named the Liberty League Co-Player of the Year. He led the conference in scoring, field goal percentage and steals, and became the program's all-time leading scorer this season. On the diamond for the baseball team, Coleman is batting .465 with a .548 on-base percentage and is the defending Liberty League All-Star for his position of shortstop. In addition to claiming the top athlete honor, Coleman also earned Male Scholar Athlete of the Year honors due to his 3.973 grade-point average in Mathematics. Coleman is a four-time Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American and has earned All-District honors on five occasions. With over 400 member institution in Division III, Coleman was named the Capital One/CoSIDA Scholar Athlete of the Year in the sport of basketball.

The Female Athlete of the Year award went to junior volleyball player Victoria Kirkemo. A three-time Liberty League All-Star, Kirkemo was named the conference's player of the year and also earned AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors this season, helping the team to its third straight NCAA Quarterfinals appearance. Ranked all season long, the Golden Knights finished 37-4, thanks in large part to Kirkemo's nation-leading 113 aces and 438 kills, a figure that was also third in the conference this season. A dynamic player all over the court, Kirkemo was also the Female Rookie of the Year winner for Clarkson back in 2013.

The Female Scholar Athlete of the Year winner for 2015 was junior women's lacrosse player Christine Wright. With a flawless 4.00 grade-point average in Electrical Engineering, Wright already earned Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District honors as a sophomore and should be a shoo-in for the honor again in 2015. Wright leads the conference in scoring with 66 points on 35 goals and 31 assists, averaging 4.71 points per game. She also ranks in the top five in the league in goals and assists.

The Male and Female Rookie of the Year honors went to Will Coleman of the baseball team and Shea Tiley of the women's hockey team. Coleman has won three Liberty League Rookie of the Week honors in just four possible chances, and leads the Golden Knights in wins (three) and saves (two). He also has played in 18 games in the field in both the outfield and infield and has struck out only twice in 63 at bats this year. Tiley, the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year and ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year, had an outstanding first season with the Golden Knights, ranking in the top 10 in the country in goals against average (1.40) and save percentage (.939). In league play, she had the best goals against average, best save percentage, and highest winning percentage as well.

The Individual and Team Student-Athlete Advisory Committee awards (S.A.A.C.) went to Trevor Blackwell and the Clarkson Women's Lacrosse team. Blackwell has been a tireless worker as an officer for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee since his arrival on campus nearly four years ago and has helped spearhead numerous projects by the Clarkson SAAC. The women's lacrosse team has been highly involved in all SAAC events and community service projects this year, and their presence is noted at virtually every athletic contest all year long. Their enthusiasm and sportsmanship are also highly noted.

Finally, the Team GPA award went to the women's Nordic Ski team. The members of the Nordic Ski team boasted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.43 while maintaining a high level of competition, taking third at the USCSA Nationals in March. 
Print Friendly Version