WALTHAM, Mass. — On Wednesday, April 29, the Brandeis University Department of Athletics handed out its annual end-of-season awards. The following student-athletes were all recognized at the department's awards brunch.
Three Athletic Director's Awards were presented to student-athletes who have displayed general excellence in representing Brandeis Athletics. They went to:
Max Fabian of Keene, N.H., of the men’s swimming and diving team. One of the stalwart of Brandeis Swimming and Diving “2.0”, Fabian set school records in the 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyle, including the 1,000 in his first meet for the Judges as a sophomore. He reached the NCAA Division III Championship ‘B’ Standard each of his three years at Brandeis. Fabian was also active with the founding of BMen, the inaugural men’s group founded in order to foster community, leadership and equality throughout the University.
Liz Hood of Albuquerque, N.M., of the volleyball team. A four-year starter at outside hitter, Hood reached 1,000 career kills in her junior year and finished fourth on the all-time list despite playing through injuries for her last two seasons. She was an All-UAA and All-New England selection as a sophomore, when she led the UAA in kills. She was a three-time Academic All-UAA selection who will attend cross-town Bentley University next fall to receive her MBA;
And Rob Trenk of West Orange, N.J., of the baseball team. An infielder for the Judges who was a three-time Academic All-UAA selection, Trenk was one of the most dedicated, capable, and conscientious employees for the past 4 years. He served as an extension of the professional staff, leading programs and supervising others, always earning rave reviews from other departments on campus who worked with him. Trenk will continue his education next year at Brandeis’s International Business School.
The James McCully ‘86 Award, presented to seniors who best exemplify the character, dedication and good sportsmanship that depicted soccer All-American and inaugural Hall of Famer Jim McCully’s career at Brandeis, went to Joe Graffy of Concord, N.H., and Alec Spivack of Miami, Fla., of the men’s and women’s soccer team.
Graffy, a goalkeeper, was a two-year starter for the Judges. As a senior, he backstopped the team to a 19-3-1 record and the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Tournament. He was a first-team All-UAA and All-New England selection, earning a second-team All-America bid from D3soccer.com. Graffy set new school records with 15 shutouts, nine goals allowed and a 0.38 goals-against average, marks that had stood since 1984.
Spivack, an All-UAA and All-New England defender as a junior and two-time captain of the women’s soccer team, also served as a vice president and president of Brandeis’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She initiated SAAC’s involvement with Cradles To Crayons community service and organized and oversaw series of self-defense clinics for women on campus. After missing most of her senior season to injury this year, she took the spring semester off to complete an internship with the Boston Celtics, and will return next fall for a medical hardship season.
The Stephen Gendzier Award, presented to recognize a senior student-athlete who has overcome a hardship with perseverance, was awarded to Hannah Cain of Gloucester, Mass., and the women’s baskeball team. Cain, a two-time captain of the women’s basketball squad, was an All-UAA guard as a sophomore before tearing her ACL as a junior. She came back this year to earn another All-Association honor and lead the Judges to the ECAC Division III New England crown, earning MVP honors as the Judges knocked off the top three seeds to win the tournament.
The Sid Goldfader ‘54 Award of Valor, is presented in memory of the first Brandeis student-athlete to ever sign a professional contract after catching the attention of a scout from the Milwaukee Braves. Beyond the baseball diamond, Sid was a standout on the first Brandeis football team. Embracing the ideals of the Brandeis student-athlete, the Goldfader award is presented to a member of the Brandeis athletics community who has overcome great adversity by exhibiting strength, grace and determination. It was awarded to Nikki Cote of Shelton, Conn., of the softball team. Cote competed for the Judges despite being partially deaf. Elementary school educators told Cote’s parent she would probably never read beyond the fourth-grade level. Thanks to her hard work and the efforts of her parents, Cheryl and David, she was able to thrive on and off the field at Brandeis. This season, she earned UAA Athlete of the Week honors after throwing a one-hitter against Worcester State and went 6-1 with a 3.40 ERA for the 18-14 Judges. Cote plans to attend Physician’s Assistant School, while participating in the Floating Doctors program, which promotes the improvement in health care programs in developing countries throughout the world.
The Morris Sepinuck Award, presented to the varsity athlete who not only displays outstanding sportsmanship but also makes a significant contribution to the athletic program and to campus life at Brandeis, went to Kyle Brenner of Brookfield, Mass., a three-year captain of the baseball team. Brenner, a two-time All-UAA team member, also served on Brandeis’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee board for two years, as the philanthropy chair and as vice president. He was a work-study student for Brandeis Athletics and was involved in several on-campus awareness groups, including BMen, the inaugural men’s group founded in order to foster community, leadership and equality throughout the University, and the provost’s task force on sexual assault.
The Morry Stein Award of Valor, presented to a student-athlete who has demonstrated courage both on and off the playing fields and/or intervened to better the lives of others, went to freshman Andrew Baker of Wilmington, Mass., of the swimming and diving team. Baker competed for the Judges this season while battling muscular dystrophy. He held his own at every practice and lost nearly 30 pounds while swimming as he became a daily inspiration for the team. “Andrew never complained and gave in to his muscular limitations,” said head coach Mike Kotch. The swimming and diving team got involved with fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the school year, volunteering at former New England Patriot Matt Light’s gala this winter.
The Charlie Napoli '58 Scholar-Athlete Award, presented to an outstanding student athlete who has excelled in the classroom and on the athletic field, went to Adam Mandel of White Plains, N.Y., of the fencing team. Mandel, a sabre fencer, had the most wins in program history in that weapon – surpassing Olympian Tim Morehouse ’00 in the process. Mandel twice made it to the NCAA Championships for the Judges, earning All-America honors as a sophomore. He was a 15-time UAA Fencer of the Week and two-time New England champion. He owns a 3.42 grade-point average as a Health: Science Society and Policy major.
The Max I. Silber Award, presented to the outstanding female student-athlete, was given to Carley Cooke of San Diego, Calif., of the women’s tennis team. Cooke is one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history, earning four Division III All-America honors in her career. Playing first singles and first doubles for four years, she had 113 combined wins and earned three All-University Athletic Association honors in her career. She earned singles All-America honors in her freshman through junior years and added doubles honors as a sophomore. In 2014, Cooke became the first Brandeis women’s player to win a match at the NCAA Division III Individual Championship.
The Harry, Joseph and Ida Stein Award, presented to the outstanding male athlete, was given to Tyler Savonen of Orleans, Mass., captain of the men’s soccer teams. Savonen was a first-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the 2014 University Athletic Association and ECAC Division III New England Player of the Year. He was second in the UAA in goals (9) and points (21) this season and graduates in the top 10 on the Judges’ career goals (35, 7th place) and points (87, 8th place) list. He was also recognized as a CoSIDA Academic All-American. Savonen led the Brandeis men’s soccer team to a 19-3-1 record and top-10 rankings in the NSCAA and D3soccer.com national polls as they advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III tournament.
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