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2019-2020 AMCAT AWARDS WEEK WINTER SPORTS

In these unprecedented times, where everyone is participating in online learning due to COVID-19, Anna Maria athletics is unable to hold the athletic department awards night scheduled for May 1, 2020. In response, Anna Maria Athletics will be dedicating this week to announcing the department awards for the 2019-2020 season. There are some annual awards that the department chose not to award this year due to the suspension of the spring season in response to COVID-19.

"I am looking forward to our 2019-2020 AMCAT Awards Week and honoring our student-athletes. We have a special group of athletes, and although we can't honor them in person on campus, we are excited to recognize them all week through our web site and social media," commented Joe Brady '96, Director of Athletics.

On Wednesday, April 29, the winter team's most valuable player awards, team leadership awards, and four-year commitment awards were announced throughout the day on social media. The team's most valuable player is given annually to an individual who has had an outstanding overall performance for their team for the 2019-2020 winter season. The team leadership award is given annually to an individual who displays exceptional leadership and embodies the values, spirit, and tradition of being a model student-athlete during the season. The individual is an outstanding representative of the school and the department in the classroom, the community, and in their sport, they play. These qualities exhibit what it means to be a student-athlete. The four-year commitment award is awarded to fall athletes that have participated in their sport for four years. The second day of AMCAT Awards week also included an action-packed winter highlight video.

The spring awards will be released on Thursday. They will be announced on social media throughout the day, and a final recap will be available on the athletic web site each day at the conclusion of the announcements. The fall awards were announced on Tuesday. The AMCAT Academic Excellence awards will be announced on Friday, and a 2019-2020 highlight video of all the Anna Maria teams will conclude the week.

WINTER HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

WINTER SPORTS AWARDS

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MEN'S BASKETBALL LEADERSHIP AWARD GOES TO SENIOR

JOSEPH HOLMES

"Joey appeared in 32 games over his three-year career here at Anna Maria. Joey transferred in from Mt Wachusett CC to complete his studies in Fire Science. A commuter from Shirley MA, Joey has made the 45-minute trek to school and practice every day in all kinds of wintry weather conditions, never missing a day. He is often the first to arrive and last to leave, spending countless hours working alone and with his teammates on improving his skills before and after practice. I would use the words persistence and loyalty to describe Joey. Not only did he never miss a day, he never gave anything less than his very best. His mere presence made us better every day. An invaluable teammate, Joey’s quiet personality and appearances have been a fixture here for three years. Joey will graduate in May with a degree in Fire Science and a minor in Forensic Studies. He currently holds a GPA of 3.78. We will miss his daily presence in the gym." - Coach Conrad

MEN'S BASKETBALL LEADERSHIP AWARD GOES TO SENIOR

BOBBY PERETTE

"Bobby came here five years ago, and in the first drill of the first practice of his career, he went down with a torn ACL and missed the entire season. After a year of arduous rehab, Bob became a mainstay in our lineup over the next four seasons. He played in 95 games over his career, with 69 of them being starts. This season Bobby became the 25th men’s basketball player to score 1,000 pts in his career, fulfilling a lifelong dream and promise that Bob made when he came up for his recruiting visit. He finished his career with 1,157 pts, good for 13th all-time. He had a fantastic senior season, compiling 505 of those points this season alone while averaging 18.7 pts per game. He is also the all-time 3-point field goals made leader in school history with 226, 86 of those coming this season. More significantly, Bob came in as a shooter and leaves as a player, working relentlessly to become more than just a shooter. His inner drive to succeed was second to none. His ability to put it on the floor and his commitment to becoming a better defender and rebounder has made Bob the all-around player we constantly challenged him to become. Bobby saw his efforts get rewarded this year when he was named to the GNAC All-Conference Third Team. Bob will graduate in May with a degree in Sports Management and currently holds a GPA of 3.13. We will miss him dearly." - Coach Conrad

MEN'S BASKETBALL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER GOES TO GRADUATE STUDENT

MIKE RAPOZA

"Mike Rapoza played in 102 games during his career here, 101 of them as a starter, including 26 this season. Mike will go down as one of the greatest players of all time in Anna Maria College basketball history. This year he is receiving his fourth consecutive team MVP award. He also received GNAC All-Conference First Team honors for the second time in his four year career, making the second team the other two seasons. Furthermore, Mike also made the D3hoops.com Northeast Region all-star team this year for the second time. In his four-year career, Mike has ascended to the top of multiple season and all-time statistical leaderboards. Both at Anna Maria and nationally in the NCAA. He is second all-time in career points at Anna Maria with 1,862 and is first all-time in rebounds with 1,385. He is also second in blocked shots with 156. This year he was first across all divisions of the NCAA (Div 1, Div 2, and Div 3) in minutes played, rebounds, and double/doubles. He had 24 double/doubles this season alone and averaged 19.6 pts, and 15.5 rebounds a game. In his sophomore season, he set an all-time NCAA Division 3 record for consecutive field goals made with 26 makes over a three-game span. Statistics only tell part of the story about who Mike is. Rarely did a game go by without an opposing coach or referee coming over and mentioning what a friendly kid he is. It’s like he was born with a smile on his face. Mike graduated in just three years last May with a degree in Education and a GPA of 3.94. He is currently enrolled in the Master’s Education program. Mike has undoubtedly left his mark here at AMC, and this future Hall of Famer has created quite a legacy for those that follow. It’s an understatement to say that he will be significantly missed, statistics aside. Mike is an extraordinary human being who we are all blessed to call one of our own." - Coach Conrad

men's hockey

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY LEADERSHIP AWARD GOES TO SOPHOMORE

SAM CYR-LEDOUX

"We have a great leadership group overall, as you can see from our success this season. Our inaugural class has done a great job of developing a culture and a winning attitude. One player in particular who has matured over the previous year is Sam Cyr-Ledoux. Sam is the recipient of our 2020 Leadership Award. This past season Sam led our team in points with 40, consisting of 13 goals, 27 assists, which was good for 7th in the country in points per game at 1.6. Sam earned himself a spot on the AHCA All-American ballot and was selected to the New England Hockey Writers Association All-Star team. Sam is a sophomore studying Business Administration, maintaining a 3.7 GPA.." - Coach McCauley

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY MOST VALUABLE PLAYER GOES TO SOPHOMORE

JULIUS HUSET

"There were a couple of players to choose from, but without a doubt, this years Men's Hockey MVP is goaltender Julius Huset. This past season Julius went 10-7-4 with a 2.06 goals-against average and a 93.6 save percentage, which was good for 9th in all of NCAA DII/III hockey, earning him a spot on the AHCA All-American ballot. Julius is a sophomore Business Administration major and holds a 3.63 GPA." -Coach McCauley

women's basketball

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LEADERSHIP AWARD GOES TO SOPHOMORE

GABBY CUEVAS

"I was so impressed with Gabby in her first year at Anna Maria. She lived up to everything that her previous coaches had told me and provided our team with a much-needed toughness, both physically and mentally. Even at her small stature, she was a force every minute on the court. She has a nose for the ball and a will that outlasts most. Gabby is precisely the type of individual we look for to be a part of our women’s basketball program. A tough, high character young woman who “gets it.” In under a year, Gibbs has earned a lifetime of respect." - Coach Bigelow

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER GOES TO JUNIOR

AMBER WILSON

"Amber’s impact on the stat sheet is undeniable. She led our team in scoring, rebounds, steals, and blocks, while also second in assists and field goal percentage. When it came to the conference, Amber finished first in blocks, second in points, seventh in steals, and ninth in rebounds. Amber set a single-season block record for our program with 69, and her 3.14 blocks per game placed her top ten in the country. Amber placed fourth for points in a season with 447. She scored over 30 points four times, with her season-high coming against Worcester State with 36 points. In just a season and a half with the Anna Maria Women’s Basketball program, Amber has scored 678 points. Amber can do great things on and off the basketball court as part of the Anna Maria community. If she decides to take advantage, she can go down as one of the most impactful individuals that this program has seen." - Coach Bigelow

women's Hockey

WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY LEADERSHIP AWARD GOES TO SOPHOMORE

NIAMH COTE

"For the second year in a row, Niamh Cote has earned the Anna Maria College's women's ice hockey's Leadership Award. The sophomore from Tewksbury, MA, has spent her time away from the rink organizing team get well cards for young hospitalized hockey players and ill staff members at Anna Maria College. As an assistant captain for the AMCATS, she has demonstrated tremendous on-ice leadership with her hard work and dedication to the program. Off the ice, she has ensured that all newcomers to the team feel welcomed and supported and been an integral part of building the AMC women's hockey culture." - Coach Cox

WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY MOST VALUABLE PLAYER GOES TO FRESHMEN

JULIA SMITH

"Julia Smith started 14 games for the AMCATS and posted an impressive .912 save percentage. The freshman from Chilliwack, British Columbia, earned her first career victory making 29 saves on Nov. 22 in a 1-0 shutout win over Kings College. She made 45 saves in a 1-1 tie against Salem State and posted a career-best 62 saves in a 1-1 tie with Salve Regina. In total, the freshman made 602 saves in a spectacular first season." - Coach Cox

winter four year commitment awards

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Bobby Perette
Mike Rapoza

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Deyarna Achille

"On behalf of all the coaches and staff, I would like to congratulate all the winter sport award winners and the student-athletes recognized for their commitment to their sport for four years. These honors are well deserved, and we are proud of all your accomplishments throughout the 2019-2020 winter season and your four years as a student-athlete at Anna Maria College. Congratulations!" – Joseph Brady ’96, Director of Athletics