Photo Gallery | Intro Video | Top Moments Video | Senior Sendoff Video | Full List of Winners
Riverdale, NY – On Sunday night, Manhattan College held the second annual Jasper Academic and Sports Performance Yearly Showcase (J.A.S.P.Y.S.) at Draddy Gymnasium.
Organized by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the J.A.S.P.Y.S. honored Manhattan's student-athletes for their performances during the 2017-2018 season in a number of categories.
The second annual event was hosted by
News12 personality Pat O'Keefe with senior
Molly Flores of the Women's Lacrosse Team serving as a co-host.
Lisa Fajardo of the Women's Cross Country and Track Field teams and
Brenton Foster of the Men's Track & Field Team were selected as the 2017-2018 Female and Male Student-Athletes of the Year.
Fajardo Highlights
* Set seven school records across Cross Country and Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field, reestablishing the standard in the indoor 3K, indoor 5K, indoor DMR, outdoor DMR, outdoor 5K, outdoor 10K and VCP 3K
* Took gold at the 2018 MAAC Indoor Championships in the 3K
* Placed third at the 2017 MAAC Cross Country Championships
* Won the individual title at the Met Championship while helping the Jaspers to their first Met Team Title since 1986
Foster Highlights
* Won the High Jump at the 2018 MAAC Indoor Track & Field Championships
* 2018 MAAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Outstanding Male Field Performer
* Set a school-record with a leap of 2.24 meters (7-4.5)
* Competed at the 2018 Division I NCAA Indoor Championships, earning a top-10 finish.
The second annual Mr. and Ms. Jasper Awards, which recognize student-athletes who are a well-rounded representation of what a Manhattan College student should be and went to
Charles Seward of the golf team and
Molly Flores of women's lacrosse.
Alexandra Hutzler claimed the Scholar Student-Athlete, which goes to the senior with the overall highest cumulative GPA. Hutzler entered the spring semester with a sparkling 3.96 GPA.
Andre Van Huyssteen became the second-straight student-athlete in as many years from the swimming & diving program to earn Men's Rookie of the Year honors. Van Huyssteen scored a school-record 45 points at the MAAC Championships and had a hand in setting four school records. On the women's side,
Sydney Harwood from the women's soccer team was recognized after earning All-MAAC Second Team and All-Rookie honors while helping anchor a defense that yielded just 23 goals in 21 matches.
Senior
Joseph Nafash and classmate
Amy Sniffen from the Women's Rowing Team
from the Track & Field program were recognized as the unsung heroes. Sniffen is one of two seniors on the team that has helped usher the program into Division I status while Nafash has worked tirelessly as a student assistant for the program over the past four years.
The volleyball team won the GoGreen award.
The men's swimming & diving team won the SAAC Team award.
Brendan Lawler of Women's Soccer was tabbed as the department's Coach of the Year after helping guide Manhattan to MAAC finals for the second time in three seasons.
The Draddy Award, which honors an administrator, alumnus or supporter who has positively influenced the Athletic Department, went to Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Life Skills
William Aloia.
Will Stallings of the Men's Track & Field team was selected as the Comeback Player of the Year. Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons will make a donation to the Manhattan Athletic Training Room in Stallings' name.
Two student-athletes and one team were recognized for their efforts in the weight room with the Iron Jasper Award.
Morgan Fountain (swimming & diving earned the Iron Jasper Award on the women's side with
Frank Merrill (lacrosse) being recognized on the men's side as the women's lacrosse squad captured team honors.
Manhattan' spirit squads continue to be among the nation's best and members of the cheerleading and dance teams, as well as the pep band, were presented with Spirit Awards. Earning top honors were
Brianna Sheehy (cheer),
Veronica Valerio (dance) and
Joel Sanson (pep band).
There were also four awards that were selected via a live vote on Twitter:
Best Dressed: Gemma Perez (Women's Soccer)
Best Beard: Fabian Pena (Baseball)
Best Duo: Robert Carroll &
Cole Johnson (Men's Lacrosse)
Best Shoes: Hailey Siemek (Women's Lacrosse)
In addition, Manhattan recognized each team's Most Outstanding Performer and Jasper Award winner. The Jasper Award goes to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative GPA on each team.
For the complete list of all winners click
HERE.
