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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Swimmer
Michelle Yoshida and soccer player
Michael O'Keeffe were named the Fairfield University Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, to headline all of the recipients at the 2011-12 Fairfield University Athletics Awards Banquet at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn on May 4. In addition, women’s lacrosse player
Courtney Chmil and men’s soccer player
Jordan Ayris were named the Fairfield University Freshmen of the Year.
Yoshida, a senior, collected nine individual MAAC championship titles, three silver medals, and one bronze relay medal over her four-year career. There are 37 school records on the books at Fairfield University and Yoshida’s name is listed under 21 of those events. She holds the MAAC Championship record in the 100-yard backstroke and is a 10-time qualifier for the ECAC championships. She has scored more team points than any other swimmer in each of her four seasons with the program. This year, she was undefeated in every individual event she swam in dual meets. She also earned MAAC All-Academic honors.
O’Keeffe, a junior goalkeeper, led the men’s soccer team to an NCAA Tournament berth after helping the Stags finish the 2011 MAAC season with an unblemished 8-0-1 record. He ranked among the MAAC top-ten statistical leaders with five shutouts, a 1.17 goals against average, and a .756 save percentage. In the MAAC tournament, this goalkeeper posted two shutouts and gave up one goal overall. During the team’s 13-game unbeaten streak, he surrendered just nine goals for a 0.69 goals against average with 42 saves for a .808 save percentage. He capped his season by earning the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year along with All-MAAC First Team honors. He was also a member of the All-Region team.
Chmil was a key member of the women’s lacrosse team, placing third on the team with 28 goals, which was the top goal total for any freshman on the team. She was an effective defender, registering a team-high 20 caused turnovers in 17 games. She capped her season with the MAAC Rookie of the Year Award, first team All-MAAC honors, and a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team.
Ayris was not only the top scorer on the men’s soccer team this season, but he was also the top scoring freshman in the MAAC. He finished his rookie campaign with 24 total points, tallying 10 goals and four assists. This forward also led the MAAC in game-winning goals, as he scored the deciding goals in six of the team’s 12 victories. He earned the MAAC Rookie of the Year, All-MAAC, and MAAC All-Rookie honors. He finished the year with a berth to the All-Region second team.
Women’s lacrosse senior
Kelley Brady was given the William Wallin Award, presented to the student-athlete who best demonstrates the highest levels of sportsmanship, character, and leadership on and off the field. She served as co-president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) this year and was a driving force behind many of SAAC’s community outreach programs, including the highly-successful student-athlete talent show. For her efforts in that project, Kelley received the Campus Hero Award in 2011 and the prestigious Fairfield University Student Achievement Award in 2012. In the classroom, Brady is a three-time MAAC All-Academic recipient. She also was awarded the Women’s Lacrosse coach’s award in 2011 for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the program.
The Alumni Association Scholar Athletes of the Year were field hockey player
Marit Westenberg and men’s tennis player
Erik Kremheller. Westenberg, a senior, the Stags in scoring with 20 points, which ranked her among the top-ten in America East for points and goals per game. She finished her athletic career fifth in career scoring with 75 points, fourth with 31 career goals, and ninth with 13 career assists. She earned All-America East honors for the second straight season. The forward was named to the NFHCA National Academic team and was named field hockey’s representative for America East’s Scholar Athlete of the Year award. She has a 3.89 GPA in International Studies. Kremheller, a junior, helped the men’s tennis team capture the 2012 MAAC Championship as well as the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. He was equally successful in doubles, securing an 18-6 overall record and a perfect 6-0 mark in doubles. For his efforts, he was named All-MAAC First Team in doubles. He also collected MAAC All-Academic honors for the second straight season and owns a 3.55 GPA in Accounting.
There were two recipients of the ECAC Certificate of Appreciation in
Dr. Milo Peck and
Ivey Speight. Dr. Peck has played an integral part in the welfare of our student-athletes for more than 15 years. As the University’s Faculty Athletic Representative, he served as the liaison between the department of athletics and the University faculty. He also was a liaison between the University and the NCAA. Speight, a member of the Class of 2012, was recognized for his dedication to telling the story of Fairfield University Athletics over the last four years as a member of WVOF and
The Mirror.
Five Stags legends were officially inducted into the Fairfield University Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2011-12 induction class consisted of women’s lacrosse player
Colleen Cunningham-Taylor ’01 and baseball players
Mike Pike ’96 and
Tom Lopusznick ’00. In addition men’s rower
Chris Duffy ’93 was presented with the Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award while
Jim Fitzpatrick ’70, M'72 was given the Serivce to Athletics Award. For more about the Hall of Fame selections,
click here.
