UD names Elliott top male athlete

Jamin Elliott, a two-sport standout who excelled on the football field as a spread end and in track and field as a triple jumper, was named the University of Delaware's 2002 Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year at the annual UD Men's Intercollegiate Athletics Award luncheon Tuesday at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Elliott was among 20 Blue Hen student-athletes honored for their performances on the playing field and in the classroom over the past season. The Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award is selected from a vote of the head coaches of Delaware's 11 men's intercollegiate sports.

The University of Delaware Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year will be honored on Wednesday night, May 15, at the annual UD Women's Awards Banquet.

A native of Portsmouth, Va., Elliott enjoyed an outstanding four-year football career as a big-play receiver and capped the season by being selected in the sixth round of the National Football League draft in April by the Chicago Bears. He became the first UD football player selected in the draft since 1987.

A two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection, Elliott finished third all-time at Delaware with 158 receptions, 3,068 yards, and 19 touchdowns, and averaged 19.4 yard per catch. The owner of 11 career 100-yard receiving games, his 3,068 career receiving yards ranks ninth all-time in Atlantic 10 Conference history. He caught at least one pass in each of the final 22 games of his career.

He earned second team All-Atlantic 10 laurels in 2001 when he caught 30 passes for 514 yards and three touchdowns as a senior. As a junior in 2000, he earned first team All-Atlantic 10 honors when he caught 58 passes for 1,337 yards and eight touchdowns while leading Delaware to the NCAA I-AA semifinals. As a sophomore in 1999, he caught 47 passes for 850 yards and four touchdowns.

Also an accomplished performer in track and field, Elliott led Delaware track teams to America East titles in 1999 (indoors) and 2000 (outdoors) and holds the University of Delaware indoor triple jump record at 48-11.

He earned All-East honors at the 1999 IC4A regional indoor meet (fifth in triple jump) and at the 2001 IC4A indoor meet (seventh) as well as winning the America East outdoor triple jump title in 2000 (49-3 3/4). He was league runner-up in the triple jump three other times during his career.

A business major, Elliott will earn his degree later this month and will report to the Bears pre-season camp in July. In addition to the Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award, Elliott was also named the winner of the UD Student Services for Athletes Dr. Janice Jordan Award for contributions to that office.

The following student-athletes were honored as the team's Outstanding Performer for each sport as voted by team members.

BASEBALL: Junior outfielder Reid Gorecki of East Rockaway, N.Y., was the winner of the Papp Lukk Award. A third-year standout who led the team to league titles and NCAA Tournament appearances each of the last two seasons, Gorecki has led the Blue Hens to a current record of 33-20 and a berth in next week's six-team Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in Manteo, N.C. He has ranked among the top hitters in the CAA all season long this spring and currently leads the team with a .402 batting average. He has banged out to 31 extra base hits, including 11 doubles, 9 triples, and 11 home runs, and knocked in 46 runs. He also ranks second on the team with 27 stolen bases and had a 22-game hitting streak earlier this season. He hit .361 with 34 RBI and 20 stolen bases as a freshman in 1999 and hit .340 with 27 RBI and 22 stolen bases last season.

BASKETBALL: Junior guard Ryan Iversen of Eden Prairie, Minn., was the winner of the Col. C.B. Shaffer Award. A two-year standout coming off the bench, Iversen led the Blue Hens to a record of 14-16 and a berth in the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals in the team's first year in the league this winter. He played in all 30 games with five starts and despite standing at just 6-3, led the team in rebounding with 6.1 rebounds per game. He also averaged 7.7 points per game to go with 72 assists, 45 steals, and 20 three-point field goals. He led the team with an 84.5 percent free throwing shooting mark. He had one of best performances in the CAA Tournament, scoring 29 points and pulling 12 rebounds in two games. He averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2000-2001.

CROSS COUNTRY: Sophomore Pat Riley of Newark won the UD Alumni Association Most Valuable Player Award. A second-year team member, Riley was the Blue Hens' top finisher in all eight races during the season, including a fourth place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association championships in October at William & Mary as UD placed third as a team. He had five top 10 finishes and was the individual meet winner three times. He placed sixth at the America East Conference championships in 2000. In track and field, Riley is the Blue Hens' top distance runner, having captured the CAA outdoor 10,000 meter title in April. He also won four other races in distances ranging from 3,000 meters to 10,000 meters this spring. He will compete at the IC4A regional 10,000 meters this weekend at Princeton.

FOOTBALL: Senior Darrell Edmonds of Egg Harbor, N.J., earned the Baker-Taylor Award as MVP. A four-year standout at linebacker, he was a three-year starter and earned All-Atlantic 10 honors twice. He was a second team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 2001 when he ranked second on the team with 83 tackles, including five tackles for loss. He served as team captain this past fall.

GOLF: Senior Jason Phinney of Milton, Mass., was the winner of the John J. DeLuca/Scotty Duncan Alumni Association MVP Award. A four-year letterwinner, Phinney served as co-captain under first year head coach Mike Keogh during the 2001-02 season. He ranked third on the team in stroke average this season with an average of 78.13 in a team-high 15 rounds, including a season-low 71 at the Lafayette Tournament this spring. He placed 22nd at the Lafayette Invitational and was 37th at the Colonial Athletic Association championships in April. For his career, he posted an 80.23 stroke average.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD: Senior Butch Patrick of Newark earned the Alumni Association MVP Award. A standout member of the football and track and field teams, Patrick excelled as a sprinter throughout his career. The first UD athlete to be named America East Indoor Track Championships Meet Outstanding Performer twice, he captured four league indoor titles during his career. This past indoor season, he set school records in the 60 meter and 200 meter dash events and earned All-East honors by placing seventh in the 60 meters at the IC4A regional meet in March. He placed in the top 10 in five events at 2002 CAA Outdoor Championships, including a second place finish in the 4x100m relay and third place in the long jump. He rushed for 357 yards and three touchdowns for the Blue Hen football team this past fall.

LACROSSE: Junior Jeff Wasson of Media, Pa., earned the Alumni Association MVP Award. A bright spot in a difficult season (3-11) for the Blue Hens, he played in 14 games with 13 starts from the defensive midfield position. He led the team with 56 groundballs and played a big part in Delaware's 75 percent successful clear rate. He also scored a goal in Delaware's early-season win over Mt. St. Mary's. An honor student as a business major, he is a CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee and received the team's Gary Celeste Award this spring for outstanding determination, dedication, and morale.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD: Senior Brandon Jones of Newtown, Pa., was the winner of the Fred J. Harmer MVP Award. A three-year letterwinner and a 2001-2002 team co-captain, Jones placed second in the 4x100 meter relay and sixth in the 100 meters at the CAA championships in April. In addition this season, he won the 100 and 200 meter events at the William & Mary Invitational, won the 100 meters at the Delaware Invitational, and competed at the Penn Relays. A CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee, he carries a 3.597 gpa as a business major.

SOCCER: Senior Dan Keane of Newark was the Alumni Association MVP. Often cited by veteran UD head coach Marc Samonisky as one of the finest players in Blue Hen history, Keane capped a solid career in 2001. A four-year letterwinner at forward, he served as team co-captain in 2001 as the Blue Hens barely missed a post-season bid. He ranked second on the team in scoring in 2001 with five goals and six assists and finished his career with 37 points on 12 goals and 13 assists. A CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee as an economics major, he earned second team All-America East honors this past fallwhen he also was named to the Kappa Classic All-Tournament team at Mt. St. Mary's.

SWIMMING & DIVING: Junior Kevin Weisser of Murrysville, Pa., earned the Jack and Hugh Dougherty Alumni Association Team MVP Award. A three-year letterwinner and a member of Delaware's America East championship teams in 2000 and 2001, Weisser led the Blue Hens to a 14th place finish at the ECAC regionals this season. At the ECAC meet, Weisser became only the second UD male swimmer to earn All-East honors when he placed fourth in the 1,650 freestyle and eighth in the 200 freestyle. He also placed ninth in the 500 freestyle and placed in the top 20 in three other relay events. He posted the team's best times in the 200 freestyle (1:43.13), 500 freestyle (4:37.11), and 1,650 freestyle (16:25.20) events this season. Last season he was the runner-up in three events at the America East championships.

TENNIS: Sophomore Sanjay Khindri (Emmaus/Macungie, PA) won the Alexander J. Taylor Alumni Association MVP Award. After playing at the No. 5 singles spot during the 2000-2001 season, he moved up to the team's No. 1 spot this year. He led Delaware to a dual record of 10-7 and posted a singles record of 9-13. In doubles play, he posted a record of 9-10. He was 10-9 in singles play as a freshman in 2000-2001.

Also honored at the luncheon were the following student-athletes.

• Senior swimmer Bryan Kahner of Jericho, N.Y., earned the UD Student Services for Athletes Outstanding Contributor Award. Kahner was the Hens' top distance swimmer this past season and placed in the top 20 in five relays at the ECAC regional championships in March.

• Junior Ben Thuma of Harrisburg, Pa., was awarded the D. Kenneth Steers Track Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement. He placed fifth in the discus throw at the CAA outdoor track and field championships in April. He has a 3.479 grade point index as a biochemistry major.

• Junior Greg Barker of Cherry Hill, N.J., earned the track and field team's David A. Sharp Academic Award. He placed seventh in the discus at the 2002 CAA outdoor track and field championships. He owns a 3.739 gpa as a chemical engineering major.

• Freshman Bob Frey of West Chester, Pa., won the swimming and diving team's Chuck Ganci Award for contributions to the team. He placed 12th in the 400 individual medley and 14th in the 400 medley relay at the ECAC championships in March.

• Junior Lavar Larks of Wilmington earned the swimming team's Thomas Baranello Award as the team's most improved athlete. Larks placed fourth in the one-meter dive and sixth in the three-meter dive at the CAA championships and was sixth in the one-meter and eighth in the three-meter at the ECAC regional championships.

• Junior Patrick Seitz of York, Pa., earned the Lee J. Hyncik Memorial Award as the junior member of the UD tennis team with the highest grade point index. A CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee, he is 7-10 in two seasons in singles play. He owns a 3.618 gpa as a business major at Delaware.

• Sophomore pitcher Mike Mihalik of Allentown, Pa., earned the baseball team's Richard Roberts Scholarship for high academic performance. He is a CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee with a 3.437 gpa as an arts and sciences major. He 5-5 with 6.96 earned run average as one of the team's top starting pitchers. Delaware heads into the CAA Tournament next week.

• Senior track and field standout Mike Goodhart of Lititz, Pa., was awarded the ECAC Medal of Merit as the UD senior male student-athlete letterwinner with the highest grade point index. A four-year letterwinner, Goodhart placed third in the hammer and 14th in the discus at the 2002 CAA outdoor track and field championships in April and has qualified in the hammer at the IC4A regional meet at Princeton this weekend. A CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee, he carries 3.958 gpa as a business major.

May 15, 2002