Athletics Honors Division with Ever True Celebration

Photo by: Brown Athletics

Athletics Honors Division with Ever True Celebration

5/24/2024 11:25:00 AM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Ice Hockey, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Basketball, Women's Ice Hockey, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Women's Track & Field, Diversity & Inclusion, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Student-Athlete Development

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Division of Athletics and Recreation honored the 2023-24 season with the Ever True Celebration on Monday, April 29 in the Pizzitola Sports Center.

The Bears presented division awards and several Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) awards throughout the evening and celebrated years of success in competition, in the classroom, and the community.

Below were the award winners

Brown Athletics Impact Award - Samuel M. '78 and Ann S. Mencoff
Given since 1995 to individuals who contribute to the success of the Division of Athletics and Recreation in impactful ways, this award is being named from this day forward to honor Samuel M. '78 and Ann S. Mencoff. Sam Mencoff served as Chancellor of Brown University from 2016-24, and the Mencoff family truly embodies the spirit of the award, setting a new standard in demonstrating enthusiastic commitment and dedication to the Division, our mission, and our people.

Award will now be named Mencoff Family Brown Athletics Impact Award.

First Year Male-Athlete Award - Lawton Zacher, Men's Hockey
Awarded to the most outstanding first-year varsity male athlete.

Zacher was one of the best goalies in the country and compiled some of the best goaltending statistics in the 126-year history of Brown Hockey. He started 26-of-30 games as a rookie net minder - posting a 2.69 goals against average and a .916 save percentage in ECAC games. Among freshmen in program history: his 667 saves rank fourth, his 2.91 goals against rank sixth, and his .909 save percentage was good for sixth. He recorded a season-high 42 saves against Union (Feb. 3) and 41 saves against Harvard (Mar. 2), added 40 saves in the Mayor's Cup against Providence (Dec. 30), and recorded an assist against LIU (Dec. 1). He was also invited to the Florida Panthers NHL Development Camp.

Kate Silver '86 Award - Joy Okonye, Women's Soccer
Awarded to the most outstanding first-year varsity female athlete.

The Kate Silver Award is given to the outstanding first-year female athlete. Kate Silver came to Brown in 1982 after being a finalist in the women's 18 and under World Championship in squash. At Brown, Kate played number-one singles for just a few months before being diagnosed with leukemia. She died in 1984, and the Kate Silver Award was established in her name by her coach and teammates.

From Lagos, Nigeria, Okonye was a top freshman in Ivy League Women's Soccer this past fall. As an attacking center mid, she led the league in assists with eight. Because of that, she played a big part in helping the Bears capture a fourth-consecutive Ivy Championship on the pitch.

She received Honorable Mention All-Ivy accolades at the end of the season and was voted Rookie of the Year by her teammates for the annual team banquet.

Dave Zucconi '55 Award - Jack Connolly, Football
Presented to the male varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. The award is named in honor of Dave Zucconi, Brown Class of 1955 - the former Executive Director of the Brown Sports Foundation, who was often called "Mr. Brown." Our varsity weight room is also named in his honor.

Connolly is an offensive lineman who has played in 29 of a possible 30 games in his career for Brown Football. Connolly has helped to anchor an Ivy League-leading offense in many statistical categories from both guard positions on the offensive line over the past three seasons. A selfless player playing a selfless position, Jack has been a leader on and off the field and was named First Team All-Ivy this past season.

Arlene Gorton '52 Cup - Gianna Aiello, Women's Basketball
Award to the female varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. It is named in honor of former Brown Assistant Athletic Director Arlene Gorton in recognition of her development of women's athletics here at Brown.

Both in practices and in games, Gianna Aiello always finds a way to compete while playing fair and with great sportsmanship. Always one to help up an opponent from the floor if she is part of that play, Gianna is also very respectful to officials, opposing players, and coaches. According to her head coach, "G competes hard, and always maintains a level of integrity and respect." Aiello helped instill a culture of hard work, respect and winning going from six to 11 to 16 wins over the past three seasons.

Cliff Stevenson Award - Kimo Ferrari, Men's Basketball
Named in honor of former Brown men's soccer and lacrosse coach, Cliff Stevenson, who retired in 1990 after directing the men's soccer program for 31 years. It is presented to the male varsity athlete who best exemplifies Cliff's boundless enthusiasm, indomitable spirit, and devotion to the quality of life at Brown and the community.

From San Diego, this California-Cool guard has served our men's basketball program, our division of athletics, and our campus community through his efforts on and off the court. Co-president of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), he excelled in the classroom and was named Academic All-Ivy. On the court, he has long been a fan favorite for his non-stop motor and for the incredible effort, spirit, and passion with which he plays. His 39 points and program-record 10 three-pointers on Senior Night clinched the program's first-ever Ivy Madness berth.

Bessie H. Rudd Award - Meadow Carman, Women's Hockey
Presented to the female varsity athlete who displays enthusiasm, spirit, and leadership, and is devoted to the quality of life at Brown and the surrounding community. The award is named in honor of Bessie Rudd, the former Director of Physical Education at Pembroke College from 1930-1961.

A second consecutive recipient of the Bessie H. Rudd Award, Meadow Carman was a terrific player on the blue line for the Bears in her three seasons on the ice. Off of it, she has been the best and most
enthusiastic supporter of all of our varsity teams, leading the Brown Hype Squad and serving as co-president of SAAC.

She has worn red wigs at games, dressed up like Bruno firing up the crowd, and worked with our production team for ESPN+. She helped lead her team to an ECAC Playoff win over RPI. It was the first home playoff game and the winningest season in 18-years for the program.

Fredrick W. "Doc" Marvel 1894 Award - Mia Mascone, Women's Lacrosse & Hudson Blatteis, Men's Soccer
Awarded to one male AND one female senior varsity athlete who has best represented Brown over his/her career by embodying excellence in scholarship, athletic performance, integrity, leadership and community outreach.

Mascone didn't just have a good senior season; she's had a GREAT one, leading the league in both goals and points virtually all season while currently ranking fourth in assists. An All-American and Ivy League Attack of the Year, she set the single season record in points (98) and goals (62). She won five Ivy League Player of the Week awards and was named to the Mid-Season Watch List for the Tewaarton Award, given to the nation's top player.

Blatteis was pivotal in the Bears' upset of top seed Penn en route to an appearance in the Ivy League Tournament championship. A goalkeeper from Los Angeles, California, Hudson came into the game on
September 30th at Cornell and proceeded to embark on a historic season, becoming the first goalkeeper to not concede a goal in conference play and concluded the season posting six clean sheets in his eight starts. His minuscule 0.23 goals against average and his .926 save percentage both led the Ivy League last fall. In the win over the Quakers, Blatteis made a victory-sealing stop on a penalty kick and collected 25 saves.

SAAC Awards
Top Performance (Female) - Chiamaka Odenigbo, Women's Track and Field
Top Performance (Male) - Kimo Ferrari, Men's Basketball
Top Play (Female) - Margot Norehad, Women's Hockey
Top Play (Male) - Kino Lilly Jr., Men's Basketball

Marjorie Brown Smith Award - Brittany Raphino, Women's Soccer (Three-Time Winner)
Presented to the outstanding female varsity athlete of the year. It is named in honor of the former Director of Athletics at the Women's College of Brown University, Marjorie Brown Smith, in recognition of her generous support of athletics.

Raphino ended her career here in a phenomenal way, becoming the first Brown women's soccer student-athlete to ever be named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons. Raphino won four consecutive Ivy League Championships and did not lose a conference contest and led the league in goals (13) and points (33). She was a unanimous Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year selection, making her the first player in Ivy League Women's Soccer History (and Brown Athletic History) to receive a major award every year - Rookie of the Year in 2020.

She also received First Team All-Ivy, First Team All-Region, First Team All- America, and was a MAC Herman Trophy Semi-Finalist which goes to the best player in the country. She was a generational player here at Brown and is currently playing for one of the top clubs in Portugal.

Frederick "Fritz" Pollard '19 Award - Jack Kelly, Men's Swimming and Diving (Two-Time Winner)
Awarded to the outstanding male varsity athlete of the year. The trophy is named in honor of Frederick "Fritz" Pollard, Brown Class of 1919, one of our nation's true African-American pioneers, one of the greatest football players in Brown history, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Pollard is recognized as the first African-American to do the following things: play in the Rose Bowl, earn All-American honors, play quarterback at the professional level, and become a head coach in the NFL.

Kelly had a historic season for Brown Men's Swimming & Diving, finishing eighth at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in the 200
Breaststroke. The finish gave Kelly First Team All-America honors, Brown's first since 1944. He also qualified for NCAAs in the 100 Breaststroke, was the Ivy League Champion in the 100 Breaststroke, and Second-Team All-Ivy in the 200 Breaststroke. Jack has rewritten the record books in his three seasons here. He is currently the program leader in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 IM and 400 IM.

Gallery: (4-29-2024) Ever True Celebration (4.29.24)

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