Student athletes, coaches, athletics staff and special guests gathered at Lisner Auditorium Tuesday night for the fifth annual Georgey Awards.
The ceremony, co-hosted by gymnastics junior Chelsea Ranieri, women’s basketball graduate student Lauren Chase and cross country/track senior Rob Craven, honored and celebrated the greatest achievements in GW sports of the 2015-2016 academic year.
Juniors Andrea Bolognesi and Tyler Cavanaugh shared the Georgey for Male Athlete of the Year, as swimming and diving’s first-ever All-American and men’s basketball’s leading scorer, respectively.
“I want to thank my family for the love and support they’ve given me all of these years,” Bolognesi said. “I’d also like to thank my second family, my team. This year everyone of you guys, by working and giving 100 percent in every single practice, motivated me to give my 100 percent. Without your motivation, passion and support everything I did this year could not have been possible.”
The Georgey for Female Athlete of the Year went to women’s basketball senior Jonquel Jones, recently acquired by the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.
“Being at GW has been a humbling experience, it’s been an experience I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life,” Jones said in a video acceptance speech. “I’ve given a lot to the University, but I’ve also gained so much in return.”
Men’s tennis took home the Team of the Year award after capturing its third consecutive Atlantic 10 title earlier this month, while men’s basketball’s NIT Championship victory won Best Colonials Moment.
The night also featured a musical tribute performed by junior Connor Barrett, a fellow teammate and friend of the late Nick Upton, a member of the men’s rowing team who drowned while studying abroad at Cape Town University last August.
Trustee and GW baseball alum Ave Tucker, who donated $2 million to the University in October 2014, half of which went to the athletics department, was also honored with the Raise High award.
“GW is a place that gives opportunities to people, and they gave a lot of opportunities to me and my family,” Tucker said. “I encourage all of you to do what you can when you leave here to stay close to the University, mentor athletes, give them advice, hire athletes and if you’re lucky enough to support it, help with continuing to make the University and the athletics department great and greater.”
Here’s a complete list of Tuesday night’s winners:
Rookie of the Year (Male): Logan Lowe, Golf
Rookie of the Year (Female): Sofia Pavon, Women’s soccer
Raise High Our Community award (Male): Ben Fitch, Swimming and Diving
Raise High Our Community award (Female): Emma Gaquin, Swimming and Diving
Raise High Our Community Team award: Gymnastics
Female Team MVPs: Brooke Stoller (Soccer), Maddy Doyle (Volleyball), Miranda DiBaisio (Cross Country and Track), Megan Linn (Softball), Scarlett Hallahan (Water Polo), Elyse Pengeroth (Rowing), Marie-Louise Decamps (Tennis), Breanne Flynn (Squash), Emily Zhang (Swimming and Diving), Lauren Chase (Basketball), Jillian Winstanley (Gymnastics)
Raise High award: Ave Tucker, Baseball alum
Best Athlete in a Supporting Role (Female): Brooke Bean, Women’s soccer
Best Athlete in a Supporting Role (Male): Matt Robért, Baseball
Colonials Fan of the Year (tie): Kate Bell and Jon Hering
Male Team MVPs: Pierce Deamer (Water Polo), Ryan Tucker (Cross Country and Track), Tyler Cavanaugh (Basketball), Garrett Heine (Soccer), Andrea Bolognesi (Swimming and Diving), Jordan Tewksbury-Volpe (Rowing), Logan Lowe (Golf), Chris Reynolds (Tennis), Moudy Abdel-Maksoud (Squash)
Dan Black award: Lauren Chase, Women’s basketball
Outstanding Academic Achievement: Colin Kennedy (Sailing), Jen Nichols (Women’s rowing), Maddie Brown (Volleyball) , Taylor Brimberg (Sailing), Christopher Shaffer (Cross Country and Track), Marie-Louise Decamps (Women’s tennis)
Distinguished Scholar: Lana Robins, Women’s tennis
All-Americans: Anna Porras (Women’s squash), Jonquel Jones (Women’s basketball), Andrea Bolognesi (Men’s swimming and diving), Breanne Flynn (Women’s squash)
Female Academic Team of the Year: Women’s tennis
Male Academic Team of the Year: Cross Country and Track
Red Auerbach award (Female): Maggie Skjelbred, Volleyball
Red Auerbach award (Male): Patricio Garino, Men’s basketball
Team of the Year: Men’s tennis
Male Athlete of the Year (tie): Andrea Bolognesi (Swimming and Diving) and Tyler Cavanaugh (Men’s basketball)
Elana Meyers Female Athlete of the Year: Jonquel Jones, Women’s basketball
Best Colonials Moment: Men’s basketball winning the NIT Championship
