AURORA, N.Y. – Student-athletes representing all 15 of Wells College’s NCAA Division III varsity sports were honored at the 39th-annual Athletics Awards Ceremony Monday evening. The proceedings in the Wells College Dining Hall recognized not only the achievements of the department as a whole, but also the accomplishments of several individuals in the form of major awards, including the Kathryn S. Maloney Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, the John D. Wilson–Ralph H. Poole, Jr. Award and the Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year awards.

ATHLETIC AWARDS CEREMONY PHOTO GALLERY

The Kathryn S. Maloney Senior Scholar-Athlete Award is awarded to the member of the senior class who has participated on a varsity team for a minimum of three seasons and has exemplified academic excellence throughout his or her career at Wells College. In recognition of her strong academic performance coupled with her four years as a member of the women’s basketball team, Kristen Ryan (Syracuse, N.Y.) is the recipient of the Maloney Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

A Henry Wells Scholarship recipient, Ryan sports a cumulative grade-point average of 4.13. Having earned Dean’s List honors across seven semesters during her tenure in Aurora, Ryan picked up North Eastern Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete across each of the prior three seasons. Additionally, Ryan was the recipient of the 2011 Koch Prize for her freshman essay. Serving the team as a captain for three years, Ryan earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2011.

One of the first recruits brought to campus by Head Coach Mike O’Brien, Ryan was a member of the first year women’s basketball team at Wells. Appearing in 94 games for the Express, ranking second all-time, Ryan has racked up 689 points to place second amongst all women’s basketball players in school history. In addition, Ryan ranks second in cumulative career rebounding (413), assists (183), minutes played (2,401) and starts (67). Averaging 7.3 points per game across her career, Ryan shot 42.5% from the floor during her career to rank third all-time upon her graduation.

In 2013-14, Ryan and the Express won their first-ever NEAC North Division Title after jumping out to a 12-2 conference record during the regular season. In the league's postseason, the Express posted a 54-51 victory over the Bison of Gallaudet University in the conference semifinal game before cutting down the nets following a 67-60 win against Lancaster Bible College in the league's title game. Wells, who handed Lancaster Bible only their first conference loss in 26 league games, made their team’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance and the College’s second-ever appearance at the national tournament level.

The John D. Wilson–Ralph H. Poole, Jr. Award is issued to a member of the senior class who, in the spirit of a liberal arts education, has made a distinguished contribution during his or her four years to the Wells College Department of Athletics. For her overwhelming service to the Department of Athletics and her peers, Lindsey Bush (Averill Park, N.Y.) was tabbed as the recipient of the Wilson-Poole award. In addition to her athletic achievements at Wells, Bush has been an active participant in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, most recently serving as the vice-chairperson in 2013-14.

A captain of the women’s soccer team in 2013, Bush has made 53 career appearances for the team dating back to the 2010 season. After suffering an injury prior to her sophomore season, Bush volunteered to serve her teammates as the manager before her return to the playing surface as a junior. In 2013, Bush scored her first collegiate goal en route to a career-best season, scoring four total points (2-0=4) while tallying two game-winning goals for her team.

Seniors Patrick O’Callaghan (Selden, N.Y.) and Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) were tabbed as the 2013-14 Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year for their performances across the prior season of play. Nominations were submitted and voted on by the Athletics staff.

For his performance on the field for the men’s soccer team at Wells, O’Callaghan was tabbed as a 2013 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men's Third Team All-East Region player, capping off a banner year for the team captain. In only his second season as a full-time defender, O'Callaghan became only the second student-athlete in team history to earn such recognition from the NSCAA.

O'Callaghan also received North Eastern Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference honors for the first time in his career. Appearing in all 16 games for Wells, the team captain scored a game-winning goal and two assists for four points (1-2=4) in 2013. As a junior, O'Callaghan earned Second Team All-Conference honors from the league. Defensively, he led all Express players in minutes played while piloting a backfield that limited opponents to only 18 goals all season. Against league opponents, O'Callaghan and the Express allowed only six goals on the year. Overall, the Express completed their best season in program history, recording an 8-4-4 overall record alongside a league mark of 3-1-4.

He concluded a four-year career with the Express in late October, playing in 66 career games for Wells, tying him for eighth place in program history in that category. His 14 career points, via five goals and four assists (5-4=14), also rank him eighth in the seven year history of the men's soccer team.

Roser becomes the first female student-athlete in Wells history to win Female Student Athlete of the Year in back-to-back years. Earning her second consecutive North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Player of the Year award in 2013-14, Roser led the Express in virtually every offensive and defensive category en route to her team's first-ever appearance at the NCAA Tournament. She also hauled in numerous accolades, including Women's DIII News Fourth Team All-American, D3Hoops.com All-East Region First Team honors and All-American Honorable Mention recognition from the website.

In 2013-14, Roser and the Express won their first-ever NEAC North Division Title after jumping out to a 12-2 conference during the regular season. In the league's postseason, the Express posted a 54-51 victory over the Bison of Gallaudet University in the conference semifinal game before cutting down the nets following a 67-60 win against Lancaster Bible College in the league's title game. Wells, who handed Lancaster Bible only their first conference loss in 26 league games, posted a loss to the undefeated Devils of No. 5-ranked FDU-Florham in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

During her senior season, Roser set career-high marks in points per game (22.2), field goal percentage (.480), steals (65) and minutes played (894). She also hauled in 12.7 rebounds per game and tied her career high for single season assists (69). Defensively, Roser posted 65 total blocks as the Express ranked 14th across all NCAA Division III schools in blocks per game (5.6) as a team.

Within the East Region, Roser ranked first in double-doubles (21), third in points per game (22.2), third in rebounds per game (12.7) and seventh in blocks per game (2.04). On a national scale, Roser ranked fourth in the nation with 21 double-doubles, 11th in rebounds per game and 12th in points per game.

Within the conference, Roser ended her senior season as the league's leader in point scoring (622), tallying 135 more points than the second place finisher. Additionally, Roser led the NEAC in rebounding (355) and placed fifth overall in the conference with 57 blocks and a .480 field goal percentage. Against conference opponents, Roser led all players in NEAC scoring (352).

Roser finished her career with 81 double-doubles from 2010 to 2014, falling only one short of tying the all-time NCAA Division III record set by Kathryn Stockbower of Swarthmore College. This season, Roser was able to rack up a double-double streak spanning 23 games dating back to last season. She fell only three games short of tying the NCAA Division III record for consecutive double-doubles after snapping the streak against Keystone on Jan. 7 of this year. Against NEAC opponents alone, Roser ends her career with 61 double-doubles.

In 2014, Roser recorded her 2,000th career point against Morrisville St. on Feb. 19 and, in the process, became only the third player in Division III history to have reached 2,000 career points and 1,350 rebounds in a career. After concluding her season in the NCAA Tournament, Roser concluded her career with the second-highest amount of rebounds amongst 2,000 point scorers in D3 history (1,418 career rebounds).

In 99 career games, Roser recorded 15.5 rebounds per game while recording a double-double and strung together 10 different double-double streaks spanning three or more games. In addition, she sports only three career games scoring fewer than nine points and pulled down five or fewer rebounds in only two career contests.

Roser concludes her four year career having played in 99 career games and posting 2,093 career points during that span. Ranking first in team history in both categories, Roser also graduates as the all-time program leader in field goals made (745), field goals attempted (1,651), field goal percentage (.451), free throws made (584), free throws attempted (818), rebounds (1,418), assists (237), blocked shots (256), steals (201), steals average (2.0), games started (93), minutes played (3,325) and minutes average (33.6).

In single-season history, Roser will graduate as the record holder in point scoring (622, 2013-14), field goals made (237, 2013-14), field goals attempted (494, 2013-14), free throws made (162, 2010-11), free throws attempted (225, 2010-11), rebounds (433, 2012-13), blocked shots average (3.4, 2010-11), steals (65, 2013-14), steals average (2.5, 2011-12), minutes average (35.5, 2010-11) and games played and started (28, 2013-14).

She will also graduate with the single-game program records in points scored (39, 2/10/13 vs. SUNYIT), field goals made (15, 12/2/13 vs. Hilbert), field goals attempted (29, 2x, most recently on 12/1/10 at Cazenovia), free throws made (17, 1/22/11 vs. Cazenovia), free throws attempted (19, 1/22/11 vs. Cazenovia), free throw percentage (1.000, 5x, most recently on 2/10/13 at SUNYIT, 13-for-13), most rebounds (31, 2/13/11 vs. Penn St.-Berks) and most blocked shots (10, 1/30/13 vs. Cazenovia).

One of the most decorated student-athletes in school history, Roser has earned four straight Most Valuable Player awards on her team and was selected as the College's Female Student-Athlete of the Year award following her junior season. Additionally, she has drawn four-straight NEAC First-Team All-Conference selections dating back to her freshman campaign with Wells.

The Team Achievement Award was presented by Faculty Athletics Representative Jaclyn Schnurr to the women’s tennis team. This award is presented annually to the intercollegiate team that achieved the highest grade-point average across both the spring and fall semesters of 2013.

Provost Dr. Cindy Speaker and Acting Athletic Director Dan Kane concluded the first half of the ceremony by presenting gifts of appreciation to the graduating senior student-athletes for their contributions to the various athletic programs at Wells during their tenure.

Prior to the major award winners being recognized and celebrated, each team’s Most Valuable Players, Rookie of the Year and Lesley Wead Zabriskie Express Award winners were hailed during speeches by the department’s head coaching staff.

To be selected as a team’s Most Valuable Player, the player must exhibit exceptional athletic ability while making an outstanding contribution to the team at large. The Rookie of the Year award recipient must demonstrate the skill and personal characteristics that are reflected in the philosophy of intercollegiate athletics while the Express Award is issued by the coach to the player who embodies the true ideals of team commitment – leadership, discipline, dedication and sportsmanship.

A full list of athletic award recipients reads as follows.