Penn State Brandywine honored its student athletes at the 25th Annual All-Sports Banquet at the Towne House Restaurant in Media, where 80 athletes and their families celebrated the 2012-2013 seasons.
The campus recognized students from its 10 sports: men's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, golf, tennis, men's and women's basketball, ice hockey and baseball. Recruitment is currently underway for the campus' new softball program, set to begin in spring 2014.
Players, coaches, staff and Penn State Brandywine athletic supporters came out to join the festivities and honor the students' amazing academic and athletic accomplishments. The guest speaker for the banquet was University Park Athletic Director Dave Joyner, who presented the athletes with more than 130 awards.
The students were recognized for their athletic prowess and academic acumen with national, University-wide and Brandywine specific awards. Awards included All-Conference Team, Academic All-American, Outstanding Contributions, Newcomer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) All-Conference and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) All-American.
Students who have played varsity sports at the campus for four years were recognized, as well as recent graduate Bobbi Caprice, of Broomall, and senior Learon Pray, of Chester, who both scored their 1000th career points this year in women's and men's basketball, respectively.
Sophomore tennis player Stephen James, of Garnet Valley, was named Player of the Year by the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC), which also honored four Brandywine coaches with the Coach of the Year Award, including Coach Melissa Algeo (volleyball), Coach Larry Johnson (women's basketball), Coach Stuart Ross (men's basketball) and Coach Billy Haines (baseball).
The Michael Menichini Award, the highest Brandywine award for service to athletics, was given to Director of Student Affairs Matthew Shupp.
The James King Award, presented annually to an outstanding student athlete at Penn State Brandywine, was given to volleyball and basketball standout sophomore Brandy Flowers, of Philadelphia.
