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ZENIA GEORGE, KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Community College Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
by Gregg Cohen

 

 

Focus. Sometimes the lens has to look at the big picture before the primary image comes into focus. Zenia George, the 2012 Michael Steuerman Community College Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year has been focused on academia, sporting a 3.65 grade point average in Community Health & Gerontology at Kingsborough Community College; even though that was not her major from the beginning.

“I am grateful that Kingsborough Community College was affordable and offered me a chance to have a college education,” said George, a native of the small Caribbean island of St. Lucia. “I wouldn’t have gotten the combination of affordability and the level of education elsewhere. At first I was not sure what I wanted to major in. I selected the major I’m about to graduate in when I was working in the recreation department and Professor [Karen] Goldman described to me about the benefits of being community health major. This caught my interest, and now I am about to graduate with honors.”

The big picture the first semester also included volleyball. In 2009, George played volleyball for the Wave and was an instant success; winning CUNYAC’s Athlete of the Week award twice and yielding a sportsmanship honor from the NJCAA Region XV coaches at the conclusion of the season.

But one person noticed her athleticism and determination and immediately went in for the kill. “I saw her focus,” said Cross Country/Track & Field Head Coach Dave Loobie, who was named the NJCAA Division III Women’s Track Coach of the Year in 2011. “The effort she gave playing every point. I knew she was a winner.”

So she switched from passing the volleyball to passing the baton, and made an indelible impact as a middle distance runner. At her first CUNYAC Championship, the 2010 Outdoors, George placed 5th, in what would become her signature event, the 800 Meters.

George made her mark at the 2010 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships, finishing fifth in the 800 Meters, and sixth in the Javelin Throw, making her introduction to the National stage a rousing success. 

The following Fall, George went all in on her collegiate running career and immediately became KCC’s best cross country runner, winning a medal in her first CUNYAC Championship event, placing 15th overall. This past season, she made major improvements on her top five kilometer (3.1 miles) and six kilometer (3.8 miles) at grueling Van Cortlandt Park and took fourth overall in the CUNYAC Championship, topping 74 others from Community College and Four-Year Colleges, alike. 

She did better the following week, at the 2011 NJCAA Region XV Championships, taking second overall and solidifying her chance at a top-8 finish at the National Championship the next week. She placed fourth at Nationals, against 108 elite runners from around the country, George slotted second among CUNYAC runners, and fourth overall, garnering her All-American status in Cross Country.

“Zenia doesn’t just walk around campus, she is constantly jogging,” said KCC Athletic Director Damani Thomas, a former All-American runner at Hunter College. “She is a student-athlete you can always count on heading to the library after practice. Whatever she puts her mind into, Zenia succeeds at it. This year she wanted to finish in the top ten at Nationals and she is well on her way to that goal.”

George earned two more All-American awards at the 2011 NJCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming a National Champion for the first time in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay with teammates Tia Gardner, Charlene Jackson and Deandra Nelson. The quartet raced home in 10:08.59, just over 11 seconds in front of second place. Also, George captured her own individual silver medal for second place in the Javelin Throw, for her second honor. Loobie’s team took home the National Runner-Up trophy from the event.

George finished her athletic career at KCC with the 2012 NJCAA Indoors, a meet against Division I, II and III Junior College runners and her star was shining brilliantly. George captured the silver medal with a sensational 2:20.09 performance in the 800 Meters and she even earned a seventh place finish in the 1000 Meters putting the Wave in 18th place all by herself.

“Zenia is the absolute definition of a student-athlete,” claimed KCC head Cross Country coach Dave Loobie. “She always puts her studies first. She is a leader by example and the younger runners definitely take her cue.”

“What’s fun to me during the semester is when my teammates and fellow classmates tells me how well they are doing in class with the resources I gave them,” said George. “Communication is very important to my relationship with my teammates, and I also consider it as my contribution to the team chemistry. Teamwork helps with building the team chemistry and come together away from our athletic life. Motivation to attend practice and doing the right things as an athlete helps with team work.”

As one should hope, George has had a number of full athletic scholarship offers over the last couple of months and unlike everything on the track, she is taking her time weighing the next step in her academic career. One thing we know is that the next school that is privileged to have Zenia George, a four-time All-American, on campus is inheriting a student-athlete who is determined in her academics, her personal beliefs and her ability to… focus.
 

MALLORY GRUBLER, HUNTER COLLEGE
Four-Year College Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
by Gregg Cohen 

 

 

Many people say that going to college in Manhattan is like being on a rollercoaster. Mallory Grubler can attest to going up in four directions in two minutes as she goes through a single day as student at Hunter College on the Upper East Side - while juggling classes, volleyball, tutoring, working and trying to enjoy life at the same time.

Grubler also holds a 3.67 grade point average with a double major of sociology and creative writing, and is set to graduate with honors, even though she almost did not attend Hunter in the first place. In the end, she “jumped at the chance of being able to live in the heart of the greatest city in the world and laughing and cheering together on the court.”

“I selected Hunter because I was recruited to play volleyball there,” said Grubler, a lifelong resident of Bayside in Queens. “Originally I had decided on attending SUNY Binghamton, however when my best friend told me that she was going to go through with volleyball at Hunter, I could not resist the opportunity of having another four years next to her on the court.”

Along with her friend and teammate at Benjamin Cardozo High School, Christine Luebcke, the duo helped lead the Hunter Women’s Volleyball program from the last decade into this one. Moreover, Luebcke was selected as one of 29 honorable mention scholar athletes of the year in 2011-12. Of all the CUNYAC Championship sports, none has been dominated throughout its’ history like Hunter and women’s volleyball, as the Hawks have won two thirds of the Tournament titles in the event’s 30 year history. 

“I feel so privileged to have been able to play with my best friend after high school,“ continued Grubler. “It has been an amazing experience-- one that I will never forget or regret. Sometimes we would laugh in one another’s faces after silly mistakes. Other times during games we would push one another to perform to our potential. Often she would turn to me in the front row and say, ‘Listen Mallory, if you don’t get a block right now I won’t talk to you for the next week.’ 

Grubler and the Hawks won the CUNYAC Championship as freshman , as role players on a veteran team. Grubler earned all-star recognition as a sophomore, but now as the leader on the team with Luebcke, the Hawks inexperience showed in the tournament and Ray Bello’s squad was unable to defend the title.

A 5’10” middle blocker, Grubler was tall and raw coming out of high school, but determined. “Nobody works harder than Mallory,” Bello, who has taken the Hawks to the NCAA Championship three times. “Her work ethic has paid off throughout the years and she deserves everything she gets. Mallory is the backbone of this team and is a huge part of the success we have enjoyed.”

A majority of that success was during her junior season, as Grubler was named to the All-CUNYAC First team, notching career highs in hitting percentage, kills, blocks, aces and kills. The Hawks were undefeated during the CUNYAC Regular Season (9-0) and swept through the Conference Championship and earned a berth to the NCAA’s. She was also named CUNYAC/HSS Scholar-Athlete of the Month in October 2010. 

“Being part of such a rich and deep volleyball program is an honor,” she claimed. “In practices and in games, I give it my best not just to keep the winning tradition alive, but to also set an example for the rest of the team so they can continue it when I’m gone.”

In her season, this past fall, the rollercoaster came careening down the slope - all the way down to the bottom. Halfway through the season, the Hawks beat national power NYU for the first time in her career, but Grubler played the entire match in pain. Her injury would sideline her for the rest of the season. She returned to the court briefly for the CUNYAC final, but Hunter fell to rival Baruch College in her final CUNY match. 

“Mallory was going to take this team to the next level,” exclaimed Bello. “If she didn’t get hurt this team would of went a long way. We beat NYU, and she played the whole match with a broken foot, because she never told me it hurt, because she didn’t want to be taken out of the game. If that doesn‘t demonstrate her determination, I don‘t know what does.”

Next, Grubler plans on applying to the Nutrition Graduate program at Hunter and various other schools, but she will be taking three more classes to finish up the requirements for the program and then applying. The rollercoaster goes up once again… 

GTENI MBEOU, QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Community College Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
by Gregg Cohen

 

 

A top defender for the Tigers’ men’s soccer team, Gteni Mbeou has always been amongst the strongest and swiftest guys on the field. A native of Togo, Mbeou is enrolled in an accelerated study program and is set to graduate from Queensborough Community College this month with honors - and a 3.6 grade point average in Engineering Science.

Besides his two seasons spent on the soccer pitch, Mbeou has been named academic All-Region (NJCAA Region XV) and by the CUNY Athletic Conference, in addition to being named to the Dean’s List following each of his four semesters in Bayside.

“Off the field, Gteni is soft spoken; always carries a smile and enjoys life,” said QCC Head Coach Zef Kabashi. “On the field, he’s very tenacious. He has an excellent work ethic combined with physical power and speed. He’s a great team player and great student of the game, always asking questions and applying what he learns with each training session.”

“As the oldest and one of the the more experienced players I tried to encourage my friends and give good examples like showing up to practice and being on time,” said Mbeou. “From taking practice stuff out to supporting each other on the field, teamwork always brings the players and even the coach closer. We are more open to each other and willing to learn from one another.”

As a defenseman, he doesn’t have gaudy statistics to prove his worth, the only thing that matters to a stopper are keeping the best offensive player on the opponent always from the goal. The Tigers  had a 2-8-2 record in Mbeou’s freshman season for the blue and white . But this season, Kabashi’s team finished 9-5-2 overall and won both the CUNYAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship titles, before being upset in the regional playoffs. Moreover, the Tigers yielded only 20 goals in 16 games this past season.

Also playing on the defensive side of the field, Mbeou doesn‘t get many opportunites to be an offensive player, so when he was confronted about his most memorable moment for the blue & white, he said his most unforgettable athletic moment was his first and only goal scored against Kingsborough during his freshman year. It was the only goal the Tigers would score, and the game ended as a 1-1 tie.
 
His coach did say something very unique about his academic star: “The guys love Gteni. So much so that when he makes mistakes, they can’t get mad at him for it. They love him too much to be upset with him.”

A proud native son of the Togolese Republic in West Africa, Mbeou is an active member of the African Student Union at the College and member of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). During spring semesters, when he’s not playing soccer, he also finds time to volunteer in the math department as a math tutor. 

In the fall, Mbeou plans to continue to bring his studies to the next level. He will be transferring next semester to City College to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. “My decision was based on two criteria: my interest in fixing and designing stuff and also my solid base in my math which is going to be helpful for this major,” he said.

“His character and demeanor tell me he’s relentless in his pursuit of success,“ concluded Kabashi. “Our program has always been about character and attitude, on and off the field and Gteni exemplifies it. Whatever his endeavor; whatever his drive; whatever his goal might be. He has the character and tools to make it happen.”

 

 

In sports, some topics are debatable. This one is not. Vladislav Romanov, a swimmer for the College of Staten Island is the best backstroker in the history of the CUNY Athletic Conference. Period. Romanov never lost a backstroke race against CUNY competition in four years. Never. 

A business finance major, Romanov also boasts a 3.67 grade point average, and is a two-time CUNYAC/Hospital For Special Surgery Scholar-Athlete of the Month.

Romanov came to  New York for college four years ago, having grown up in Moscow, Russia. The College of Staten Island had a Russian born coach and two National caliber Russian swimmers in Pavel Buyanov and Nikolay Shevchenko, who graduated last year as All-Americans. It was a perfect fit.

“Pavel and Nikolay both influenced me in my sports career and helped me develop my personality,” said Romanov. “We are very good friends and coworkers, I actually used to room with Pavel and we lived together for about a year or so. Once Pavel got to know me we became friends and he was  my role model, given that I was 16 when I came to America and he was 24 (and already a National champion and a record holder), I always looked up to him. I got a lot out of our relationship with him. I think I got more from Pasha over the last 4 years than I did anyone else here.”

On the pool deck, Romanov has been named Most Valuable Performer at the CUNYAC Championships three times and has earned nine All-American and Honorable Mention All-American awards at the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. In CUNYAC, his talent in the pool has been unmatched, winning an astounding 23 gold medals and setting and breaking the three individual backstroke event records each and every year.

“As an International Student, I can’t tell you the overwhelming lengths Vlad has had to go through to adjust to not only living in the United States and in the metropolitan area, but to study and navigate its educational system,” said David Pizzuto, CSI’s Associate Athletic Director, who first remembers Romanov as a shy, humble freshman in 2008. “Vlad is just special; he is one who serves as an example for others.“ 

He has made a good life for himself here in New York, living in Staten Island and life guarding at the CSI Sports and Recreation Center and when he isn’t studying or helping his peers. 

Romanov leaned on his teammates at his first NCAA Championship event in 2009, finishing 14th in both the 100 Meter and 200 Meter Backstroke events. As a sophomore, he improved in his only event, earning his first All-American honor, placing eighth in the 200 Backstroke. 

As a junior at the NCAA Championships, he had a defining moment in his four years at CSI. “Going into the championship I had quite some expectations being a finalist a year before and so I practiced extra hard and had lowered my time in qualifications to the NCAA. Unfortunately, just about a month before nationals I caught a virus and had to take antibiotics, which I never fully recovered from. When I went to the NCAA’s, I felt awful. On the second day, we swam the 400 Medley Relay for the first time at Nationals. Regardless of my sickness I knew I could not disappoint my teammates. That morning we made it 8th,  to the final only to improve in the evening and get 6th overall. That night it was about how everyone had faith in me and how it all worked out at the end.”

In his final season, the senior, Romanov, led an extremely talented group of two sophomores and two freshmen to NCAA’s. The Dolphins came home in 10th place overall at the conclusion, their highest team faring ever. Meanwhile, Romanov really saved the best for last, winning the first NCAA medal of his illustrious career, claiming silver in the 200-yard Backstroke in the his final race for CSI. 

“I always thought I could use my brain to get what I want,” said Romanov, “So I take my dreams and set goals and I do what I have to do to achieve them.”

As for his future plans, his most recent NCAA performance has reignited his passion for competitive swimming, when he significantly lowered his personal best times throughout the season and again at Nationals. “I can choose to stick around the swimming world for some and relocate to either Florida or California to swim and go for the Olympic Games in 2016. That is one path I may choose.”

The other is his original path. Romanov may also pursue a Master’s at Baruch with hopes of becoming an entrepreneur where he will create and run his own business, even if he has to get some field experience first. “I will be doing internships and maybe some part-time, business related work, if there will be an opportunity for it.”

We’re sure whichever path Romanov chooses, we’ll be praising his endeavors in 2016.

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Mickey Abbatiello, Baruch • Men’s Basketball

A team captain, Mickey Abbatiello, owns a stellar 3.788 GPA with a major in Finance and a minor in Communications. As a member of the Men’s Basketball team, he won the ECAC Metro Region Championship in 2010 and played in the NCAA Tournament during 2009. Off the court, he traveled during the summer of 2011 with the CUNYAC Goodwill Tour to New Orleans to help build homes ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Abbatiello has also begun a career as an entrepreneur, as he and three Baruch alums have created a mobile application called “OneBasketball,” which is sold at the Apple App store.

Basilisa Alonso, Lehman • Women’s Swimming

A three-time CUNY Athletic Conference All-Star swimmer for the Lehman Lightning, Basilisa Alonso majors in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Anthropology and maintains a 3.3 overall GPA. A member of the Lehman Scholars Program and recipient of the Murray Kempton CUNY Journalism Award and the Charles Greenberg Scholarship Award, Alonso also spends her time outside of swim practice writing for the Bronx Journal newspaper. In her senior campaign, Alonso earned 13 first place finishes throughout the year and earned three medals at the 2012 CUNYAC Championship.

Wendell Appleton, Hostos • Men’s Basketball

A committed forward for the Hostos basketball team, Appleton has always been a model sportsman and teammate, despite only averaging three points per game for the season. A Liberal Arts major from Brooklyn, Appleton holds a 3.365 GPA, is a member of the Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP) and plans to attend a four-year college to pursue a career in physical therapy and sports medicine.

Stephanie Arguello, Hostos • Women’s Basketball

An intense competitor and leader for the Caimans, Arguello brings the same drive and initiative to her community and college work. With a 3.25 GPA, Arguello was named to the NJCAA Region XV All-Academic Team in 2010-11. Each semester she spends over thirty hours at homeless shelters or at Christmas gift giveaways for the less fortunate. Described by her coach as a “sparkplug,” who inspires others with her intensity, Arguello translates that leadership into the Hostos Athletics Leaders Organization.

Ryan Baxter, Hunter • Wrestling

Ryan Baxter had the difficult task of managing the work of a Macaulay Honors College student and the hours needed to wrestle for the Hunter team, the only grappling team in the City University system. Even after a crushing season-ending injury, Baxter devoted his newfound time to doing community work, connecting with the alumni base, and cheering on his teammates. Baxter works with the Chinese Immigrants Service and the Motivating Action through Community Health Outreach (MACHO) program, and will graduate with a degree in Urban Studies with a 3.65 GPA.

Mark Courtien, Hunter • Men’s Basketball

A Psychology major, Mark Courtien maintains a stellar 3.61 GPA in the competitive Macaulay Honors College. A natural leader, Courtien, the Hawks’ Captain, reached 1,000 points in his senior year, becoming only the 15th player in Hunter history to do so. Known for his class and maturity on the court, he was named the CUNYAC All-Tournament Team as a sophomore and earned the Burt Beagle Sportsmanship Award from CUNYAC in 2011-12.

Catherine Chan, Brooklyn • Women’s Swimming & Diving

Catherine Chan played an instrumental role in helping to resurrect the Brooklyn Swimming & Diving program in 2010-2011. In both seasons, Chan swam primarily in the Breaststroke, Medley Relay and Freestyle Relay events. She sports a 3.918 GPA as Biology major with minors in Anthropology and Archaeology. Chan is a member of the Macaulay Honors College and Brooklyn’s BA-MD program with SUNY-Downstate, where she will enter medical school in the fall.

Kristi Dillon, Staten Island • Softball

Wearing #1 and batting leadoff the last three seasons for the Dolphins, Kristi Dillon has helped CSI win two CUNYAC Championships (2009, 2011) and the Regular Season title once again in 2012. A sparkplug and fan favorite, Dillon holds the top CSI single season record for stolen bases in a season, with 24 in 2011 and ranks second in career stolen bases with 56 (three behind as of this printing).  A Liberal Arts major, Dillon maintains a 3.225 GPA and plans to continue her studies and become a dental hygienist. In her spare time, she volunteers with various youth softball groups, including St. Joseph’s by the Sea, her high school alma mater.

Shirley Falconi, Queensborough CC • Women’s Swimming  & Diving

Two-time CUNYAC Champion Shirley Falconi, the winner and record holder of both the 50 Yard and 100 Yard Freestyle events at the Conference Championship, was the first Division III student-athlete to cross the finish line at the NJCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championship in the 50 Yard Freestyle and earned QCC’s first-ever All-American honor in the sport. In the 50 Free, Falconi placed 5th with a strong 24.74, her highest placing to date in two years of swimming at the NJCAA Championships. An Education/Physical Education major, Falconi maintains a 3.3 GPA and serves as a team captain. She is also a member of the Lupus Research Institute and the Alliance for Lupus Research.

Frankie Galang, John Jay • Men’s Volleyball

A rookie and a senior all in one year, Frankie Galang joined John Jay’s newly added Men’s Volleyball squad and played in 18 out of 21 games for the Bloodhounds, earning a starting position in 15 games. Galang maintains a stellar 3.98 GPA over his four years at John Jay, planning to graduate this spring with a Criminal Justice degree and a minor in Law. In addition to volleyball, Galang is a member of JJC’s Veterans Association. 

Keiran Halton, Brooklyn • Men’s Basketball/Volleyball

Keiran Halton, a two-year member of both the Brooklyn Men’s Basketball and Men’s Volleyball teams, sports a 3.85 GPA as an Exercise Science major. This season,
Halton averaging 6.9 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game, helped lead Brooklyn to the final of the 2012 ECAC Men’s Basketball Tournament, then he moved to the volleyball court to provide depth, leadership and experience to the young BC squad. Halton has received a Presidential Scholarship at Brooklyn College every semester since 2010, and had a perfect 4.0 GPA last semester

Kevin Hernandez, BMCC • Baseball

Sophomore Kevin Hernandez has been a tremendous leader on and off the diamond for the BMCC Panthers.  This season, Hernandez has raised his batting average over one hunderd points from last year to .261, as the season is in full swing.. His on field play is only shadowed by his prowess in the classroom.  Hernandez has been an academic leader for his team as well, striving to emphasize the importance of academics to his teammates.  Earning a cumulative 3.54 GPA while majoring in Accounting, Hernandez has been selected for the Dean’s List every semester at BMCC.

Kaili Insalaco, John Jay • Women’s Swimming & Diving

Kaili Insalaco, an International Criminal Justice major at John Jay, is known for doing it all. Holding a 3.3 GPA, Insalaco has been a team captain on the Women’s Swimming team for three years straight, and two-time school MVP in her sport. She also participated in the CUNY Goodwill Tour this past summer for a service learning trip to New Orleans. Even though she works close to full-time outside of swim season, Insalaco still finds the time to do volunteer work with the John Jay Environmental Club, CUNY SAAC, and homeless shelters in Harlem.

Christine Luebcke, Hunter • Women’s Volleyball

A relentless and determined volleyball all-star, Christine Luebcke’s nickname fittingly was “the Rock.” Consistently exceptional in the classroom and in her community, Luebcke maintained her 3.5 GPA while working with Project Sunshine, a nonprofit organization that provides educational, recreational and social services to children with medical problems. For her 2010 volleyball campaign she was stellar, being named a CUNYAC All-Star and the CUNYAC Tournament MVP, as the Hawks won their second consecutive title, making their second subsequent NCAA Championship appearance. In  2011, she garnered honors as a  CUNYAC first team All-Star and All-Tournament Selection.

Dwight Nangle, Lehman • Men’s Basketball

Dwight Nangle has been a mainstay for the Lehman Basketball squad, making his biggest impact in his senior season with 3.7 rebounds per game and averaging .308 shooting from beyond the arc. Majoring in Computer Information Systems, Nangle holds a 3.3 GPA while also participating on SAAC and other community service activities, such as the AIDS walk, Relay for Life, and volunteering in a soup kitchen.

Lauren Neglia, Staten Island • Women’s Soccer

A two-time CUNYAC Champion and two time CUNYAC All Star, Lauren Neglia holds seven CSI records in her four year soccer career as a dominant midfielder and forward. An English major with a concentration in Dramatic Literature, this Dean’s List scholar maintains a 3.77 GPA. Neglia has served on numerous organizations at the College of Staten Island, including the Contribution to the Mission for CSI, the Leadership Committee, SAAC, and the campus clean-up project.

Marthies Nunoo, Bronx CC • Men’s Soccer/Track & Field

Marthies Nunoo has provided a steady presence for the Bronx Broncos as a two-sport student-athlete on the Men’s Soccer and Track & Field teams. Maintaining a 3.33 overall GPA, majoring in Accounting with a minor in Finance, Nunoo is a member of the school’s Business Club and serves as a tennis instructor at Harlem Junior Tennis. His leadership and character helped the soccer team reach the NJCAA Region XV semifinals for the first time in school history.

Mario Palma, Queensborough CC • Baseball

Mario Palma is the kind of student-athlete every coach hopes to recruit. A Criminal Justice major at Queensborough Community College, Palma maintains a 3.45 GPA and spends his free time tutoring his peers and teammates. As a pitcher and first baseman for the Tigers, Palma is averaging .333 at the plate with a perfect fielding percentage this season. He also commits his time to community service, teaching kids baseball in the HBQVB (Queens Little League) Baseball program.

Brenda Pitts, John Jay • Women’s Soccer

The consummate student-athlete, Brenda Pitts maintains an outstanding 3.92 GPA while participating on the Women’s Soccer squad for the John Jay Bloodhounds. A student in the prestigious BA/MA program, she will receive her bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and finish a Master’s in Public Administration and International Inspection and Oversight next year. With her solid work ethic, Pitts uses her leadership skills as a mentor for her teammates and a member of several community organizations, including the Young Life Leader mentorship program, P.S. 57 NYC public school, and the Mission to the World organization, which allowed her to travel to Kenya in 2010 and again in 2012.

Lauren Plagainos, Brooklyn • Women’s Basketball

A two-year member of the Brooklyn College Women’s Basketball team, Lauren Plagainos was named to the 2011-2012 CUNYAC All-Star First Team. Plagainos
averaged a team-high 12.3 ppg, leading the team to a 22-8 overall mark, as the Bulldogs recorded the first 20-win season in school history, including a perfect 11-0 CUNYAC record to claim the top seed in the 2012 Tournament. The team also made its fourth straight appearance in the ECAC Postseason Tournament. Plagainos is a Children and Youth Studies major with a 3.5 GPA and was named the February CUNYAC/HSS Scholar-Athlete of the Month.

Daniel Rabinovich, Kingsborough CC • Men’s Tennis

Daniel Rabinovich has shown the consistency of athleticism and academics that marks the quintessential scholar-athlete. Playing first singles for the Wave, Rabinovich matches up against the opponent’s top player - every match. Rabinovich will be representing Kingsborough and CUNYAC at the NJCAA National Tournament in Texas this month. For his efforts in the classroom, Rabinovich has been recognized on the Dean’s List for three straight semesters and boasts an outstanding 3.96 GPA as a Liberal Arts major.

Donika Rexhepi, City College • Women’s Basketball

A member of City College’s 1,000 point club and two-time CUNYAC three-point shootout winner, Donika Rexhepi became the mainstay of the Beavers program over the past four seasons. In 2011-12, her versatility saw her lead the team in four major statistical categories, including points (14.2), rebounds (8.2), assists and steals. An Advertising and Public Relations major at City College, Rexhepi currently holds a GPA of 3.422. She is involved with a number of groups on campus and also handles Public Relations duties for two busy New York City restaurants.

Vanessa Rivera, York • Women’s Basketball/Soccer/Softball

Vanessa Rivera has been a three-sport athlete at York, competing in basketball, soccer and softball, all while maintaining a 3.33 overall GPA as a Physical Education major.  A starter for both the soccer and basketball teams, Rivera was the winner of the 2011-12 Burt Beagle Sportsmanship Award, which is given to the women’s basketball player who best exemplifies sportsmanship in the CUNY Athletic Conference. Rivera spends her time outside of athletics student-teaching at the Scholars Academy, a New York City public school in Queens.

Duong Thai, Brooklyn • Men’s Volleyball

Duong Thai, a two-year member of the Brooklyn College Men’s Volleyball team, sports a 3.54 GPA as a Physical Education major. He transferred to Brooklyn College from CUNY’s New York City College of Technology and has been a mainstay in the Bulldogs lineup since he arrived. This season, Thai averaged 2.29 kills per set, placing him 11th in the CUNYAC. In 2011, Thai was named to the NECVA All-Academic Team for his efforts.

Nicholas Todaro, John Jay • Men’s Volleyball

Nicholas Todaro began his sports career at John Jay as a member of the Men’s Soccer program, and added a starting spot on the new Men’s Volleyball program in his senior campaign. A Criminal Justice major with a minor in Law, Todaro holds a 3.41 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List for two straight years. He is also a soccer referee and a member of the Director of Referees and Director of Field Management for the Dix Hills Soccer Club.

Jane Walsh, Queensborough • Women’s Basketball

The 5-8 sophomore forward excels both on and off the court. As she showed promise as a freshman with five points, 3.5 rebounds and over a steal per game, Jane was also maintaining her 3.5 GPA and getting on the Deans list both 2010 semesters. And while it was crushing to miss most of the 2011-12 season to injury, Jane stayed focused in the classroom, earning Academic All-Region accolades.

Jessica Wang, City College • Women’s Fencing

An ambitious Civil Engineering major from Brooklyn, Jessica Wang transformed the City College Fencing program when she arrived, creating an atmosphere of success with her skill and dedication to the sport. Finishing with a minimum of 70 wins and an EWFC Foil All-Conference selection in each of her first three seasons, Wang helped the team to a 4th place finish at the prestigious NIWFA championships, one of the highest finishes in CUNY history. Wang maintains a 3.3 GPA and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineering and the National Civil Engineering Honors Society. She was awarded the Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellowship, the Theodore Wittes, and the Andrew S. Grove scholarships in 2011.

Posey Wilson, Baruch • Women’s Volleyball

A three-time CUNYAC Libero of the Year, Posey Wilson, a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas is the first player in Baruch Women’s Volleyball history to total over 2,000 career digs. She was also named ECAC Metro Defensive Player of the Year last season. Owner of a 3.381 GPA with a major in advertising and marketing, along with a minor in sociology, Wilson led the Bearcats to the CUNYAC Championship and the team’s second-ever NCAA Volleyball Championship in 2011. Off the court, she was a member of SAAC and completed 20 hours of community service at Legal Aide in her home state.

Jeffrey Wong, Baruch • Men’s Swimming & Diving

A member of three CUNYAC Championships (2010-2012) and a two-time CUNYAC All-Star, Wong will graduate from Baruch as one of the most successful swimmers in team history, as the team‘s top breaststroker during his years. He holds a 3.485 GPA with a major in Finance and minor in Interdisciplinary New York City Studies. The team captain and Macaulay Honors College student was also very active in community service as he fundraised for “Relay for Life” cancer research advocacy events at Baruch College and swam around the island of Manhattan to raise money for “Swim Free” last summer.