TOWSON, Md. --- The unprecedented cancellation of spring sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic was especially painful for the senior class of 2020. The Landmark Conference is honoring this class of student-athletes as the conference Spring All-Sportsmanship Team, to celebrate them for their years of contributions to their respective programs at each of the conference's eight member schools.
The Greyhounds have 43 student-athletes named to the Landmark Conference Spring All-Sportsmanship Team from the Hounds' nine spring sports.
The All-Sportsmanship Team recognizes student-athletes who epitomize the ideals of sportsmanship. The student-athletes selected demonstrate fair play, graciousness in victory and respectfulness in defeat. They are ambassadors for the team, both on and off the field, and galvanize their teammates toward their goals. These student-athletes exhibit respect for themselves, teammates, coaches, opponents, officials, spectators, and the greater campus community.
The All-Sportsmanship Team was created by the Landmark Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in 2013 as a way to highlight student-athletes who are making an impact. The Landmark previously awarded a Sportsmanship Cup before the All-Sportsmanship Team replaced the Cup for the 2013-14 academic year.
View the full 2020 Landmark Conference Spring All-Sportsmanship Team at https://landmark.prestosports.com/general/2019-20/releases/05122020-spring-sportsmanship-team.
BASEBALL
Moravian's senior class of baseball players includes Ian Csencsits, Ian Luberti, Connor Morro, Carmine Palummo and Kole Rodrigues. The group registered 60 wins over their four seasons and helped the Hounds to a pair of Landmark Conference Tournament appearances including a berth in the championship round in 2019.
"Our senior class is very deserving to be honored as a group for the Sportsmanship award," noted Head Coach Paul Engelhardt. "It would have been difficult to select one of these players for this award anyway. Each of them demonstrates the qualities this award recognizes, however their collective handling of the team, related to the virus and season shutdown, is simply fantastic. Being a 'good sport' is one thing during a game or season, but to be able to put aside the negative feelings associated with how their senior season culminated in a shutdown, and to be able to interact with and guide the underclassmen during this is nothing short of remarkable. In our weekly zoom team meetings, this group of seniors still leads by example, and pushes their team to do the right things. With a long-term goal in mind, these seniors offer solutions, advice, friendship, and leadership. The weekly short-term goals are designed to have the team prepared for our eventual return, and the need to stay focused on being college athletes. Without knowing their very own futures related to playing again or not, this group still pushes for excellence in the classroom and beyond. I'm nothing but impressed by this group of seniors. Learning how to deal with this as an individual is tremendous...trying to lead and teach their team members a best path through this is simply remarkable."
GOLF
Senior Nick Kuhn helped the golf squad to a pair of third place finishes in the first two Landmark Conference Championships since the sport began being honored by the conference in 2017-18. Kuhn and the Greyhounds competed in the Empire 8 Conference his freshman year.
"Nick has handled this tough situation extremely well and with great maturity," said Head Coach Kevin Edwards. "Right after the season was canceled, he told his teammates not to take playing college golf for granted and to appreciate the opportunity they have. I couldn't have said it any better."
MEN'S LACROSSE
The men's lacrosse program has nine seniors and one graduate student this season including Austin Adams, Brian Anthony, Will Dadouris, Brian Darling, Kevin Darling, Peter Degnan, MacLean Lincoln, Jimmy Schicke, Cade Siddron and Brandon Sisk. The group helped the Greyhounds to 23 wins in their four seasons.
"It's so difficult to see such a great group of seniors have to miss the most important season of their careers," stated Head Coach Dave Carty. "Every athlete looks forward to their senior year and leaving a mark on the program. This group of Seniors was hard working, tough and deserved to be successful one last time."
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
The women's lacrosse team has two seniors in Liz Bill and Allie Brembt. The duo helped the Greyhounds to a 34-22 record over the last four seasons, including a 4-2 mark this spring, two Landmark Conference Semifinals and the 2017 ECAC Division III Tournament First Round. The pair was honored on the field prior to the Hounds' final game on March 12 in a last-minute ceremony.
"Liz and Allie have been fantastic leaders for our program since their freshmen year," noted Head Coach Kristen Nicholson. "They hold themselves with poise, confidence and respect for others. We're proud to have them represent our program through their sportsmanship and love of the game."
SOFTBALL
Moravian's senior group of softball student-athletes includes Lauren Goetz, Paige Lesher, Samantha O'Keefe and Emily Stanilious. The quartet helped the Greyhounds to a 113-22 record in their career and three trips to the postseason including the Landmark Conference Championship, the NCAA Division III Ewing, New Jersey Regional Championship and an NCAA Division III Super Regional appearance in 2018.
"All four seniors have demonstrated the highest amount of character, integrity and spirit as members of our softball team throughout their careers here at Moravian," said Head Coach John Byrne.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS
The men's and women's tennis program has three seniors in Christopher Csencsits, Eiman Nazif and Lauren Steinert. Nazif and Steinert helped the women's squad to a 46-13 record including three Landmark Conference Tournament appearances and one championship, the first NCAA Division III Tournament win in program history and a school-record 20 victories in 2018-19.
"I want to thank Chris, Lauren, and Eiman for all of their contributions to the Moravian tennis program over the last several years," commented Director of Tennis Aaron Wilf. "This was a very challenging year for us as we weren't able to play any tennis matches this spring though we'd still like to thank our seniors for the roles they played in their time here at Moravian and we wish them all the best as they move forward in their lives."
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The men's track and field team has eight seniors and one graduate student while the women's program has nine seniors that have helped the Greyhounds win seven Landmark Conference Indoor Championships and six Landmark Conference Outdoor titles in their careers. The men's group includes Justin Beasley-Turner, Nicholas Cephas, Devon Fogel, Ryan Harper, Scott Goodwin, Greg Jaindl, Gavin Kemery, Evan Lutz and Alex Tursi. The women's seniors are Vanessa Blose, Carly Danoski, Marlee Hornbaker, Katie Mayer, Shayne McNally, Rachel Mikols, Ashley Rohrer, Alyssa Ullmann and Hailee Yoder.
"Our seniors have been exceptional at communicating, supporting each other, and being understanding of the changes and rolling with the punches so-to-speak," noted Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jesse Baumann. "A few participated in an initiative to circulate positive comments about their teammates. Obviously, this was an unprecedented and challenging set of circumstances but they've handled it extremely well and even been proactive to help each other out which highlights their strong character traits that represented Moravian so well the past four years."
