2023-2024 Penn State York Student-Athletes recognized at the Athletic Awards Ceremony
PSUAC and USCAA awards presented
York PA. — Penn State York student-athletes were honored for their outstanding achievements in the 2023-24 sports season, both academically and athletically. The Annual Athletic Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center on the Penn State York campus.
Athletic Awards were presented for play in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
The following Awards were presented:
PSUAC Academic All-Conference Awards
Fifty-One Penn State York student-athletes earned the distinction of PSUAC Academic All-Conference. This honor is bestowed on those student-athletes who have a semester grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher during the semester of competition, and a completion of at least 24 credits. Recipients in their sports are:
Baseball: Andrew ‘AJ” Miller (Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania); Andrew Russo (Coral Springs, Florida); Blake Adkins (Mechanicsville, Maryland); Brandon Ritchey (Red Lion, Pennsylvania); Brian Hauer (Forest Hill, Maryland); Chris SanGermano (Marlton, New Jersey); Cole Sinnott (Stewartstown, Pennsylvania); Colin Eckinger (Marietta, Pennsylvania); Colin Heaps (Mountville, Pennsylvania) Jackson Lauzon (Landenburg, Pennsylvania); Kolby Miller (Weston, Florida); Lawrence Williams (Upper Marlboro, Maryland); Michael Kern (Hershey, Pennsylvania); Nathaniel Uzelac (New Cumberland, Pennsylvania); Quinton McNew (Wrightsville, Pennsylvania); Ryan Schubert (Stewartstown, Pennsylvania); Sean Hooper (Bel Air, Maryland); and Shane Hulbert (Bowie, Maryland).
Volleyball: Audra Foster (Lebanon, Pennsylvania); Emily Snader (Myerstown, Pennsylvania); Jayda Simmons (Hanover, Pennsylvania); Jessica Dunbar (Hanover, Pennsylvania); Kyla Kolivoski (Dillsburg, Pennsylvania); Makayla Dyson (Hanover, Pennsylvania); Olivia Giltner (Georgetown, Delaware); Rebecca Lazo (Hanover, Pennsylvania); Riley Lower (Hammonton, New Jersey); Sadie Schantz (York, Pennsylvania); Whitney Smyth (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania); and Hannah Knight (Bluff City, Tennessee).
Women’s Basketball: Ashlynn Loe (Montoursville, Pennsylvania); Desiree Garcia-Hernandez (Tenerife, Spain); Erin Henry (Adamstown, Pennsylvania); Hannah Knight (Bluff City, Tennessee); Jayla Brown (Hanover, Pennsylvania); Jillian Foster (York, Pennsylvania); Kaya Camasta (Lebanon, Pennsylvania); Michaela Fink (Dover, Pennsylvania).
Men’s Basketball: Anthony Campbell (Baltimore, Maryland); Deriq Brown (New Oxford, Pennsylvania); Jayden Battle (Alpha, New Jersey); Lui Abdeta (Washington, D.C.) Mitchell Saxton (York, Pennsylvania). Golf: Benjamin Segal (York, Pennsylvania); Dylan Sechrist (York, Pennsylvania); Mason Steward (York, Pennsylvania).
Soccer: Brandon Monath (Red Lion, Pennsylvania); George Kenne (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); Ibrahim Holbrom (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Kian Seifi (York, Pennsylvania); Owen Bricker (Dallastown, Pennsylvania); Sumit Ghimire (Lancaster, Pennsylvania); and Zachary Benzel (West York, Pennsylvania).
USCAA Academic All-American
This honor is bestowed on those student-athletes who have a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher and have completed a minimum 24 credits. Recipients are: Jayden Battle (M Basketball/Alpha New Jersey); John P. Dyson (Baseball/Hanover, Pennsylvania); Makayla Dyson (Volleyball/Hanover, Pennsylvania); Desiree Garcia-Hernandez (W Basketball/Tenerife, Spain); Olivia Giltner (Volleyball/Georgetown, Delaware); Hannah Knight (Volleyball and W Basketball/Bluff City, Tennessee); Sadie Schantz (Volleyball/York, Pennsylvania); Whitney Smyth (Volleyball/Gettysburg, Pennsylvania); and Carter Williams (Baseball/Wyomissing, Pennsylvania).
PSUAC All-Conference Awards
First Team: Desi Garcia-Hernandez (W Basketball/Tenerife, Spain); Jayla Bown (W Basketball/Hanover, Pennsylvania); Deriq Brown (M Basketball/New Oxford, Pennsylvania); Marquise McClean (M Basketball/York, Pennsylvania); Jason Williams (Baseball/Stewartstown, Pennsylvania); Colin Eckinger (Baseball/Marietta, Pennsylvania); Andrew “AJ” Miller (Baseball/Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania); Anthony Benkovic (Golf/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); Andrew Manges (Golf/Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania); Jessica Dunbar (W Volleyball/Hanover, Pennsylvania); Jayda Simmons (W Volleyball/Hanover, Pennsylvania); and Whitney Smyth (W Volleyball/Gettysburg, Pennsylvania).
Second Team: Hannah Knight (W Volleyball/Bluff City, Tennessee); Makaya Dyson (W Volleyball, Hanover, Pennsylvania); and Owen Bricker (Soccer/Dallastown, Pennsylvania).
Honorable Mention: Nathan Fowler (Baseball/Great Falls, Montana)
John Fritz Sportsmanship Award
In recognition of excellent sportsmanship, in displaying ethical, appropriate, polite, and fair behavior while participating in athletic competition. Named in honor of past PSUAC Conference Commissioner, John Fritz.
· Baseball: Lawrence Williams (Upper Marlboro, Maryland)
· W Basketball: Jillian Foster (York, Pennsylvania)
· M Basketball: Jayden Battle (Alpha, New Jersey)
· Golf: John ‘Dylan’ Heiber (York, Pennsylvania)
PSUAC Specialty Awards
PSUAC Coach of the Year: Keith Hartman (W Volleyball)
East Division Player of the Year: Desi Garcia-Hernandez (W Basketball/Tenerife, Spain); Deriq Brown (M Basketball/New Oxford, Pennsylvania); Jessica Dunbar (W Volleyball/Hanover, Pennsylvania).
East Division Volleyball Specialist of the Year: Jayda Simmons (Hanover, Pennsylvania)
USCAA Specialty Awards
DII All American First Team: Jessica Dunbar (W Volleyball/Hanover, Pennsylvania); Deriq Brown (M Basketball/ New Oxford, Pennsylvania).
DII All American Second Team: Jayla Brown (W Basketball/Hanover, Pennsylvania); Marquise McClean (M Basketball/York, Pennsylvania); Anthony Benkovic (Golf/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
DII Honorable Mention: Desiree Garcia-Hernandez (W Basketball/Tenerife, Spain); Jason Williams (Baseball/Stewartstown, Pennsylvania).
Penn State York Athletics Specialty Awards
Character Counts Women’s Basketball: This award instituted in the 2019-20 season by Head Coach Tory Harvey, is selected annually by members of the team. It is awarded to the
player who, in the eyes of their peers, displays impeccable character, both on and off the court. The 2023-24 recipient of the Penn State York Women’s Basketball Character Counts Award is: Jayla Brown (Hanover, Pennsylvania).
Trimmer Award Men’s Basketball: This award is given to the Men’s Basketball player, chosen by the coaching staff, for his overall improvement. Given in honor of the late Ron Trimmer, who coached the men’s basketball team at Penn State York for eight seasons. The recipient of the Trimmer Award for 2023-24 is: Quentin Wells (Baltimore, Maryland).
Broadbent Award: This award is given to the soccer player who has, in the eyes of the coach, made the most improvement. It is given in honor of Bruce Broadbent, Ph.D., former faculty member, and for his contributions to the soccer program, which he directed for eleven years. The recipient of the Broadbent Award for 2023 is: Sean Brown (York, Pennsylvania).
Christopher C. Miller Sportsmanship Award: This award is given in memory of Christohper C. Miller, the son of former Penn State York Coach, George Miller. Christopher passed away at the age of 16 on July 9, 2001. During his soccer career, he played almost 400 games and never received a yellow or red card. His love of the game and outstanding sportsmanship will always be remembered through this award. The recipient of the Christopher C. Miller Sportsmanship Award for 2023 is: Sumit Ghimire (Lancaster, Pennsylvania).
Athletic Director’s Core Value Award: This award is given to one female, and one male athlete each year who has, in the opinion of the Athletic Staff, most demonstrated upholding the five CORE Values of Penn State York Athletics: The recipients of this year’s award are: Shane Hulbert (Baseball/Bowie, Maryland) and Desi Garcia-Hernandez (W Basketball/Tenerife, Spain).
The Chancellor’s Award for Academic Character: This award is given to the student-athlete with a 3.5 GPA or higher, who, in addition to an outstanding GPA, upholds the five CORE Values of Penn State York Athletics (Accountability, Courage, Diligence, Integrity, and Respect). The recipient of the 2023-24 Chancellor’s Award is: Sadie Schantz (W Volleyball/York, Pennsylvania).