DePaul University Athletics
Athletics Awards Banquet DePaul's Shining Moment
6/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | ATHLETICS
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The best and the brightest gathered at the Rosemont Convention Center Friday night to celebrate another memorable season in the annals of DePaul athletics.
Nearly 450 student-athletes, coaches, staff members and DePaul supporters attended the 2009-10 Athletics Awards Banquet commemorating eye-opening performances and accomplishments---both on the field and in the classroom.
The Blue Demons had quite a year. It was a sublime mixture of first-time achievements and adding the latest chapter to the ongoing saga of a winning tradition.
From the women's soccer team advancing to its first BIG EAST Conference Championship tournament in the fall to the women's tennis team competing in its first NCAA Championship in the spring, DePaul blazed new trails in the athletics landscape.
All-BIG EAST first-team men's soccer player Steffen Vroom became the first Blue Demon to ever be invited to the MLS (Major League Soccer) Player Combine.
Anna Redecsi and Selma Salkovic became the only tandem in school history to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Doubles Championship---and they won their opening match.
Women's soccer went into Columbia, Mo. on a hot, muggy Sunday in August and upset No. 11 Missouri 1-0 on a goal by Shannon Williams.
That was the first time in the program's 14-year history that the Blue Demons had knocked off a Top-25 opponent.
Just 24 hours later, DePaul was ranked No. 20 in the country---its first appearance in a national poll.
For the first time in the history of its program, track and field had eight athletes make NCAA postseason appearances.
Matthew Graham won every race during cross country's regular season and became DePaul's first All-BIG EAST Conference student-athlete in that sport.
When it comes to winning traditions, women's basketball and softball once again led the way.
Coach Doug Bruno led the women's team to a school-record eighth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance---15th overall. The Blue Demons' 21-12 record marked the 18th time they have won 20 or more games in a season.
Coach Eugene Lenti's softball team competed in the NCAA tournament for the 13th time in the last 14 years. Becca Heteniak & Co. also won their third regular-season BIG EAST title in the last four years.
Men 's soccer advanced to the BIG EAST tournament for the fourth year in a row, defeating Georgetown in the opening round before falling to No. 5 Louisville on penalty kicks.
In all, 14 of DePaul's 15 teams reached the BIG EAST Championship.
"I am really pleased with the kind of year we had," said DePaul Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto. "Look at all the distinctions our student-athletes brought to our programs.
"We really got off to a great start when our men's and women's soccer teams both qualified for the BIG EAST Championship---the first time that's happened.
"And nobody could have expected the amazing season of Matthew Graham winning race after race after race."
Ponsetto recalled fondly the furious stretch run that landed women's basketball back in the NCAA tournament, and the exhilaration of Mike Stovall's last-second shot that lifted the men's basketball team past Marquette.
She remembers celebrating the softball team's 5-3 upset of No. 1 Washington on March 19 at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
Heading the list of academic achievements, Heteniak, Felicia Chester of women's basketball, Terah Cheatham of women's cross country and Nathan Feltz of men's soccer all came away with prestigious scholar-athlete awards.
"No one will ever forget the women's tennis team making it to the NCAAs for the first time and writing a new chapter in DePaul athletics history," Ponsetto said. "Coach Bruno was named an assistant coach on the Women's National Team, and our softball coaches won BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
"This is a good time for all of us to celebrate what we have accomplished in the 2009-10 school year. At the same time, we say good-bye and thank-you to our seniors.
"Looking back, I can't help but be so proud of all these wonderful student-athletes."
2009-10 Athletics Awards Banquet
Strength & Conditioning Award
Women: Sam Quigley, Women's Basketball
Men: Jim Theologes, Men's Track
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Becca Heteniak, Softball
I-AAA Scholar Athlete Award
Felicia Chester, Women's Basketball
Rev. Edward F. Riley, C.M. Memorial Award
Greg Doherty, Men's Golf
Brad Millar, Track & Field
Mark Plotkin, Men's Soccer
Alex Mangan, Men's Soccer
Jean Nordberg Memorial Award
Selma Salkovic, Women's Tennis
Lauren Bales, Track & Field
Mary Cate Quiett, Track & Field
Felicia Chester, Women's Basketball
Rev. John Cortelyou, C.M. Awards
Terah Cheatham, Women's Cross Country
Jakub Kolacz, Men's Cross Country
Most Outstanding Performer
Michael Furci - Golf
Will Walker - Men's Basketball
Steffen Vroom - Men's Soccer
Becca Heteniak - Softball
Sam Quigley - Women's Basketball
Selma Salkovic & Anna Redesci - Women's Tennis
Dominique Locascio - Women's Soccer
Vanja Grgec - Men's Tennis
Sarah Cullen - Volleyball
Terah Cheatham - Women's Cross Country
Matthew Graham - Men's Cross Country
Mary Cate Quiett - Women's Indoor Track
Joe Strawder - Men's Indoor Track
Melissa Fraser - Women's Outdoor Track
Brad Millar - Men's Outdoor Track
