May 1, 2008

CHICAGO - After another successful season of competition, Loyola University Chicago handed out its awards at its annual banquet last Sunday at the Gentile Center. The banquet serves as a way to bring the Loyola athletic community together to pay tribute to the student-athletes and recognize both teams and individuals for their success over the past year.

Several specialty awards were also presented at the celebration. Men's basketball senior Tom Levin, who played a key role off the Loyola bench this season, was the recipient of the Donald B. Izban Award for the fourth consecutive season. The Izban Award is given annually to the men's basketball player with the highest grade-point average who, through his hard work, shows an unwavering pursuit of excellence. Seniors Aaron Harter (Men's Golf), Markian Zyga (Men's Soccer) and Jennifer White (Women's Volleyball) were honored with the 2007-08 Male and Female Director's Awards, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA.

Softball senior Nora Schober was honored with the Bud Gorman Award, which is given to the student-athlete that has excelled on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Listed below are the award-winners for each team, aside from softball whose season is still in progress.

Men's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: J.R. Blount
Most Improved Player: Aric Van Weelden
Coaches Award: Andy Polka

Women's Basketball
Most Improved Player: Jessica Hylton
Coaches Award: Nicole Garcia

Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Tom O'Hara Award: Ben Reifenberg
Sean Earl Pheidippides Award: Tom Andreoni
George Crosby Award: Donte Prisby
Excellence in Field: Jamar Johnson
Newcomer of the Year: Ben Reifenberg
Scholar-Athlete Award: Erik Hernandez

Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Leigh Anne Renk Award: Pam Staton
Excellence in Field Award: Jordan Rohlfing
Ad Majorum Dei Gloriem Award: Rachel Hansen
Newcomer of the Year: Alison Rack
Scholar-Athlete Award: Rachel Hansen

Women's Golf
Most Valuable Player: Lucy McGovern
Most Improved Player: Megan Sujack
Positive Mental Attitude Award: Michelle Puch

Men's Soccer
Most Valuable Player: Michael Ferguson
Defensive Most Valuable: Iradj Farahmand II
Scholar-Athlete Award: Markian Zyga

Women's Soccer
Most Valuable Player: Cynthia Morote-Ariza
Newcomer of the Year: Colleen Dougherty
Kim Noonan Award: Caitlin Brown

Men's Volleyball
Most Valuable Player: Ian Anderson
Most Improved Player: Michael Morice
Coaches Award: Kyle Exline

Women's Volleyball
Julie McShane Award: Melissa Craig
Therese Boyle Award: Dana VanDiggelen
Most Improved Player: Alyse Serritella

Spirit Teams - Coed Cheerleaders
Most Collegiate Award: Jill Terry
Rambler Spirit Award: Kim Nyquist
Most Improved Award: Chuck Meehleib

Spirit Teams - Dance
Best Performer Award: Katie Metzger
Most Collegiate Award: Christine Del Priore
Most Improved Award: Jackie Courtney