SALEM — Taylor Orlando, a three-sport superstar from Danvers, and junior men's basketball standout Brian Clark of Deerfield, were honored with the prestigious Female and Male Presidents Cup Awards, respectively, from Salem State University as it held its annual Student-Athletes Award Banquet last night at the George Ellison Center on campus.
Orlando, a nursing major who carries a 3.50 grade-point average, was a two-year captain for the Salem State softball team, a three-year captain of the women's club ice hockey team and played soccer for three years. An All-MASCAC First Team selection as an outfielder, Orlando led the Lady Vikings to the MASCAC postseason softball championship and their first NCAA Division 3 tournament berth last spring. She is the MASCAC's leading hitter this season, leading the circuit in runs scored, home runs and RBI. A four-time MASCAC All-Academic Team member, Orlando is a candidate for MASCAC Player of the Year honors in softball.
Clark, a three-year starter for the Vikings' men's basketball team, was named MASCAC Player of the Year for 2010-11 after leading the league in scoring at 19.3 points per game and led his team to their second regular season league crown in three years. He was named an All-New England First Team selection by D3hoops.com and reached 1,000 career points this past season, finishing the year ranked 22nd on Salem State's all-time scoring list with one year still remaining. This quiet leader, a Sport Movement Science major with a 3.0 GPA, has grown into one of the top Division 3 basketball players in New England.
In addition, seniors Katy Lyn Verrette of Saugus and David Miller from Lancaster, Penn. were awarded the John D. Galaris Female and Male Student-Athlete Awards, respectively.
Verrette, a former Bishop Fenwick High School star, was a four-year starter for the Salem State women's soccer team and a two-time captain (her junior and senior years). Having played virtually every position on the pitch, she is a three-time All-MASCAC selection and an All-MASCAC All-Academic Team member for all four years. Verrette, a Nursing major with a 3.60 GPA, was the National Student-Athlete Award winner for the past four years for her commitment and dedication to serving as a mentor with Girls Inc. of Lynn., and is a player who will be remembered for her integrity, sportsmanship, and character.
Miller, who transferred into Salem State two years ago, was a standout soccer forward who was named captain last fall as a senior. The Vikings' leading scorer last season, he was a member of back-to-back MASCAC postseason championship teams and powered his club to the NCAA tournament in both 2009 and '10. A two-time All-Conference First Team selection who placed in the top five in the conference in scoring, was also named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Performance Subaru All-New England Second Team. Miller was a member of the All-MASCAC All-Academic team as a junior and senior, maintaining a 3.67 GPA as a History major.
Bobby Hummel (Hamden, Conn.), a long-time supporter of Salem State Athletics, was presented the Richard B. "Mike" O'Keefe Award for outstanding service to the athletic program. Salem State University ice hockey player James LaCour (Silver Spring, Md.) was honored with the Viking Award, presented to a Salem State student for their support of the athletic program, and field hockey player Megan Closson (Boothbay Harbor, Maine) was recognized with the CHAMPS/Life Skills Award for her outstanding contributions to the community and her fellow students.
A total of 50 seniors were honored for their collegiate athletic careers at Salem State, in addition to the team most valuable players in each sport during the 2010-11 academic year.
The team MVPs by sport were:
Men's Soccer: David Miller
Field Hockey: Erin Wilson
Men's Cross Country: Alex Gomes
Women's Cross Country: Jennifer Fuller
Women's Basketball: Tara Driscoll
Men's Basketball: Brian Clark
Women's Soccer: Katy Lyn Verrette
Women's Tennis: Alicia Poore
Men's Hockey: Michael Genovese
Volleyball: Katie McKenna
Men's Lacrosse: Brendan Gill
Women's Lacrosse: Kristin Cahoon
Golf: Nick Zolotas
Baseball: Ryan Kane
Softball: Taylor Orlando
Men's Tennis: Alex Eisath
The Salem State athletic program's senior class were:
Athletic Training Students: Fallon Diplatzi, Tim Harrold, Doug Moss, David Poland, Sam Souza, Cherilyn Trongson; Men's Cross Country: Alexander DeRosa, Justin DeRosa; Women's Cross Country: Theresa Cote, Taylor Krajewski; Men's Soccer: Joao Goncalves, Luis Marques, David Miller; Women's Soccer: Cathy Greenough, Adele Pasquariello, Katy Lyn Verrette; Field Hockey: Megan Closson, Jessica McKenna, Lauren Philbrick, April Rossetti, Sarah Quimby; Women's Tennis: Alica Poore; Men's Tennis: Shawn R. Dowen, Alexander Eisath; Volleyball: Katie McKenna; Men's Basketball: Brennan Bennett, Nick Linear; Men's Ice Hockey: Samuel Cannata, Alexander Eisath, Michael Genovese, James LaCour, Alexander Molnar; Baseball: Jeff Borges, Ryan Kane, Evan Valcourt, David Waldron; Softball: Jenna Lentine, Taylor Orlando; Men's Lacrosse: Brandon Cali, Dan Cox, James Cross, Brendan Gill, Daniel Kelly, Robert Mulroy, Matt Pardee; Women's Lacrosse: Deana Manfra, Barbara Moore, Felicia Moore, Kate Warren, Jackie Robichaud.
