DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Celebrate Successful 2015-16 Season
6/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
CHICAGO ââ'¬" As Blue Demons from every athletic program gathered last Friday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena to celebrate the 2015-16 season, you couldn't help but marvel at the number of history-making accomplishments.
In women's basketball, DePaul won back-to-back-to-back BIG EAST Conference titles for the first time along with a record-setting, 11-game winning streak and a program-best four road victories over Top 25 opponents.
Never before had women's tennis qualified in both singles and doubles for the NCAA tournament in the same season as Yuliya Shupenia earned a spot in the solo competition and Shupenia and Rebeca Mitrea in doubles. Mitrea also set a program record for career singles wins and overall wins (singles and doubles).
DePaul golfer Freddy Thomas became the first Blue Demon to card top-five BIG EAST tournament finishes in consecutive seasons.
Sarah Gorden became the first DePaul women's soccer player to ever be selected in the National Women's Soccer League College Draft and plays with the Chicago Red Stars. Her classmate Elise Wyatt set a career record for goals while fellow senior Alex Godinez set a career record for goals-against average.
Women's track had its best finish ever at the conference indoor meet. Women's volleyball chalked up 13 more wins than the 2014 season---the biggest improvement in program history. Men's soccer advanced to the BIG EAST Championship for the first time since 2011.
One after another, these Blue Demons piled up impressive accolades.
Chanise Jenkins was an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American and the BIG EAST Player of the Year in women's basketball. Pitcher Morgan Maize was honored as the BIG EAST Softball Player of the Year. Franny Cerny was BIG EAST Freshman of the Year in women's soccer.
Trevor Kintyhtt doubled up as the Most Outstanding Field Performer at both the BIG EAST indoor and outdoor track meets. Jessica January became only the second women's basketball player to record a triple-double. Golfer James Lelliott earned a spot in the U.S. Open sectional qualifier June 6 at Summit, N.J.
Wyatt, January and Megan Podkowa earned nationwide recognition as Academic All-Americans while Podkowa was also honored as the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year and January the I-AAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Softball's Gena Lenti and golf's Adrian Halimi were named BIG EAST Institutional Scholar-Athlete.
Six programs---women's basketball, men's cross country, golf, softball, women's tennis and volleyball---had perfect scores in the NCAA Academic Progress Rate report.
Doug Bruno was honored as the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Coach of the Year while softball head coach Eugene Lenti, associate head coach Lindsay Platt and assistant coaches Jackie Spina and Allie Braden were named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
"I'm really proud of all the academic accomplishments," said athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto. "It has been an extraordinary year, and I am impressed by the level of intensity and commitment to academic success. Our kids really get it and understand what the process is all about.
"They place a really high priority on winning in the class room which translates into winning on the playing field, court, track or golf course. The result is a lot of dedicated student-athletes performing at a very high level.
"We had teams win conference titles and a lot of others with top-four finishes in the BIG EAST. That is a real testament to their dedication, skill and commitment to excellence in our athletic program.
"When I reflect back on this season, I am proud of all the accomplishments of our senior class with the number of academic accolades and conference titles---both team and individual. The class of 2016 has written a really robust chapter in DePaul athletics history."
Here is a rundown of the 2015-16 athletics banquet award winners:
Rev. John R. Cortelyou, C.M. Award
Adrian Halimi - Golf
Gena Lenti - Softball
Rev. Edward F. Riley, C.M. Memorial Award
Kevin Beyer - Men's Soccer
Adrian Halimi - Golf
Jean Nordberg Memorial Award
Elizabeth Endy - Women's Soccer
Brooke Schulte - Women's Basketball
Lauren Sharp - Women's Track & Field and Cross Country
Michael Hie Award
Samantha Carzoli
Hannah Enstrom
Patrick Graff
Tim Hall
Norie Kaufmann
Emily Valdez
Abbie Witczak
Scott Zwierzchowski
Father John T. Richardson Award
Ed Fellin
Sports Performance Award
Sten Leusink - Men's Tennis
Morgan Maize ââ'¬" Softball
Captains' Council Spirit Award
Sebastian Feyersinger - Men's Track and Field
Peter Ryckbosch - Men's Basketball
Most Outstanding Performer
Men's Soccer - Simon Megally
Golf - Freddy Thomas
Women's Soccer - Sarah Gorden
Volleyball - Tyler Graham
Women's Basketball - Chanise Jenkins, Megan Podkowa, Jessica January
Men's Basketball - Billy Garrett Jr.
Men's Cross Country - Chris Korabik
Women's Cross Country - Courtney Tedeschi
Men's Indoor Track - Sebastian Feyersinger
Men's Outdoor Track - Trevor Kintyhtt
Women's Indoor Track - Tayler Whittler
Women's Outdoor Track - Tayler Whittler
Women's Tennis - Yuliya Shupenia
Men's Tennis - Sten Leusink
Softball - Morgan Maize
Players Mentioned
