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BOSTON - An accomplished group of eight seniors and one sophomore were honored Tuesday evening at Boston University's annual student-athlete awards reception, held at the Francis D. Burke Club Room in Agganis Arena. Highlights of the ceremony included Hockey East Scoring Champion Jenn Wakefield and USTFCCCA First Team All-American Rich Peters receiving the Mildred Barnes and Mickey Cochrane Awards, which are given to the top female and male athletes, respectively.
The E. Ray Speare and Gretchen Schyler awards, given yearly to the top male and female scholar-athletes, were awarded to R.J. Page of the men's track & field team and Jessica Luscinski of the women' soccer team. Soccer standout Lina Cords was named the 2012 BU Woman of the Year, while Matt Griffin (men's basketball) and Caroline Stewart (women's basketball) were the recipients of the John B. Simpson Award, given both to a male and female senior who has demonstrated enthusiasm and leadership. Erica Casacci of the women's softball team garnered the Student-Athlete Service Award and Bailey O'Brien was the recipient of the Terrier Pride Award.
Nancy Lyons, Boston University's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Services, was honored with the Joseph P. Mercurio Campus Community Recognition Award. The first ever Terrier Staff Award was presented to Mike Delgado, an assistant coach of the track & field program.
Senior Jenn Wakefield only wore a Terrier uniform for two seasons, but in that short time she left an indelible mark on the program. The Terriers' captain led Hockey East with 31 points (14g, 17a) in 19 league games this season and also led in overall points (57) and goals (29) en route to leading BU to its second Hockey East Championship in program history and its third straight NCAA tournament appearance. She was a Hockey East First Team All-Star, a New England Women's Division I All-Star and was nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which is given to the best player in Division I women's hockey. Wakefield became the most prolific goal-scorer in Hockey East history this past season, as she became the first league skater to score 100 career goals. She amassed 120 goals during her four-year career and also became the second skater in league history to score over 200 career points, finishing with 206 points.
Sophomore Rich Peters turned in one of the finest indoor seasons in program history, including a second-place finish in the mile run at the 2012 NCAA Championships. He was the national runner-up by just .12 seconds, finishing with a time of 4:01.78. For his efforts, he was named a USTFCCCA First Team All-American. The Bristol, England, native came from behind at the Valentine Invitational to take first with a time of 3:57.83 to eclipsed his previous school record of 3:58.26. He added to his win total with a victory at the America East Championships, as he broke his own America East record with a time of 3:59.24 in the mile run. Peters began his sensational year with a great cross country campaign. He won the first two events of the season, claiming both the Bryant Invitational and the Codfish Bowl. He went on to finish fourth at the New England Championships and fourth at the America East Championships.
Senior R.J. Page has maintained a 3.44 GPA while studying in both the School of Management and the College of Arts and Sciences, managing to excel both in the classroom and on the track. Page has dominated the past two America East Track & Field Championships, earning the Most Outstanding Performer and the Coaches' Award (most points) at both the 2011 outdoor and 2012 indoor meets. This past winter, he set a new America East record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.29 seconds. He also won the 60-meter dash with a personal-best time of 6.84 seconds. In addition to his success on the track, he was tabbed an America East Scholar-Athlete last July and was named to the America East All-Academic Team in March.
Senior Jessica Luscinski concluded her collegiate career ranked second in career points at BU with 82. As a senior, she led the America East in points (26), assists (8) and was second in goals (9). After leading the Terriers to a school-record 19 wins and their fifth consecutive America East crown, Luscinski earned her second straight America East Striker of the Year award in 2011 while being named to the All-Conference First Team for the third consecutive season. She also earned NSCAA All-America Third Team honors and NSCAA Scholar All-America First Team accolades. In January 2012, Luscinski became the highest-ever Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft selection in program history when she was taken by the Boston Breakers in the fourth round (20th overall). Luscinski owns a 3.64 GPA in health sciences and has earned America East All-Academic honors from the America East each of the last two years.
Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2007, Lina Cords has helped the Terriers capture the America East crown and an NCAA tournament bid every season that she has been on the field. Cords capped off her successful career by being named the top America East Scholar-Athlete in women's soccer and earned NSCAA Third-Team All-America honors. The 2011 America East Defender of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the America East Championship, Cords led a backline that allowed just 13 goals in 23 games and had 14 shutouts this past season. A repeat CoSIDA All-District Second Team selection, Cords was also honored as a First Team Scholar All-American by the NSCAA. The economics and biochemistry & molecular biology major currently holds a 3.56 GPA.
A team captain since her sophomore season, Caroline Stewart played in 122 games during her four-year career with the Terriers as she helped establish BU as one of the America East's top programs. Under her leadership, the Terriers captured two America East regular season titles and made three trips to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). Stewart finished her career with 737 points and ranks fourth all-time in school history with 791 rebounds. During her senior campaign, Stewart established career highs in points per game (7.8) and rebounds per game (8.4) while playing 31.3 minutes per game.
Griffin transferred to BU from Rider after serving as a captain there his sophomore. He immediately made his presence felt on the court and in the locker room with the Terriers as a tireless worker with bounds of energy. Griffin's passion and energy helped the Terriers claim the America East title in 2011, the program's first since 2002. This past season, after a difficult non-conference schedule, BU entered America East play with just four wins. Feeding off Griffin's leadership, the Terriers went on to post a 12-4 record in league play. The two-year co-captain averaged 6.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 25.0 minutes per game as a senior.
Erica Casacci embodies the term "student-athlete" as she has left her mark at BU on and off the field. The four-year starter on the softball team helped the team achieve back-to-back America East Championships and subsequent NCAA tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010, as well as the conference's regular season title in 2011. Her off-field contributions are even more impressive, as she has been involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) since her sophomore year, volunteering her time to numerous events. Casacci was voted by her peers to serve as the SAAC President this year and has embraced the responsibility. She volunteers her time to numerous events including the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, the Special Olympics of Massachusetts and College for Every Student, a non-profit organization geared to help underprivileged youth gain access to College.
Bailey O'Brien, who overcame advanced-stage melanoma to return to the diving board this past season, was named the winner of the Terrier Pride Award, which acknowledges the accomplishments attained by a special Boston University student-athlete throughout his or her collegiate athletic career. Her courageous battle inspired not just her teammates, but the entire BU athletic community, and the Terriers swept the women's and men's America East swimming & diving titles this season for the first time since 1994. O'Brien becomes just the second recipient of the award, joining Sarah Dalton '09.
Covering two stints, Nancy Lyons has spent 17 years as a member of the athletic department. In her current role, she oversees compliance, student-athlete support services, sports medicine and strength & conditioning in addition to serving as the sport administrator for 12 of BU's varsity teams. Lyons has showed incredible pride and commitment to not only the sports she oversees, but to all of the Terrier programs. Over the past decade, BU has had numerous successes on the national level in its women's programs thanks largely to Lyons' efforts. This weekend, BU will hold a celebration of its outstanding accomplishments in women's sports. Spearheaded by Lyons, "Pass It On - A Celebration" will feature the return of several prominent alumnae as BU honors the 40th anniversary of Title IX and the 30th anniversary of NCAA Championships for women. A 1976 graduate of Bridgewater State College, she received her Ed.M. in policy, planning, and administration from BU in 1989.
Mike Delgado was the first-ever recipient of the Terrier Staff Award, given out to a Terrier staff member who goes above and beyond his or her duties. Delgado coaches throwers, pole-vaulters, jumpers and multi-event athletes, while also working with hurdlers. He is responsible for coaching nearly 20 athletes in over 10 different events, including junior Allison Barwise, a First Team All-American in the high jump. During meets, Delgado manages to see every one of his athletes perform, even if the events are located at opposite ends of the site. Delgado's ability to provide one-on-one coaching for a multitude of athletes in a myriad of events is a true testament to the dedication and patience he has before, during and after competition. Delgado and the rest of the Terriers' coaching staff won Coaching Staff of the Year honors at the 2012 America East Championships, as the women's track & field team captured its 12th indoor crown and second during Delgado's tenure on the staff.
