University of New Hampshire Athletics
Photo by: Jess Speechley
2022 Senior Showcase Award Winners Announced: Night at the WESPYs
5/10/2022 2:44:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Ice Hockey, Men's Soccer, Men's Track & Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming and Diving, Skiing
DURHAM, N.H. – Senior Francesca Picicci (North Massapequa, N.Y.) of the women's soccer team and senior Brian Genet (Merrimack, N.H.) of the men's track & field team were named recipients of the 2022 Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award at the University of New Hampshire athletic department's fourth annual Senior Showcase, a Night at the WESPYs, on Tuesday night.
The event, emceed by Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communications Mike Murphy, was held at Lundholm Gym to celebrate UNH's outstanding athletic achievements of the 2021-22 season and honor student-athletes of the senior class.
The event, emceed by Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communications Mike Murphy, was held at Lundholm Gym to celebrate UNH's outstanding athletic achievements of the 2021-22 season and honor student-athletes of the senior class.
2022 UNH Senior Showcase, a Night at the WESPYs, Award Recipients
Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year: Francesca Picicci, Brian Genet
Cathy Coakley Student-Athlete Community Involvement Award: Faith Bonett, Julie Cane
Tina True Award: Francesca Picicci, Michael Monahan
Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence: Cate Wardinski, Drew Hickey
Coaches Award: Kylie Kratchwell, Kevin McGrath
Performer of the Year: Jasmine Lyons, Adam Savill
Rookie of the Year: Zoe Michael, Josiah Silver
Highlight of the Year: Bridger Hansen
Event of the Year: Women's soccer wins 8-7 penalty kick shootout in semifinal
CLICK HERE to watch the 2022 WESPYs
CLICK HERE to view Photo Gallery
CLICK HERE to view a list of 2022 finalists
CLICK HERE to view a list of past recipients
Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year: Francesca Picicci, Brian Genet
Cathy Coakley Student-Athlete Community Involvement Award: Faith Bonett, Julie Cane
Tina True Award: Francesca Picicci, Michael Monahan
Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence: Cate Wardinski, Drew Hickey
Coaches Award: Kylie Kratchwell, Kevin McGrath
Performer of the Year: Jasmine Lyons, Adam Savill
Rookie of the Year: Zoe Michael, Josiah Silver
Highlight of the Year: Bridger Hansen
Event of the Year: Women's soccer wins 8-7 penalty kick shootout in semifinal
CLICK HERE to watch the 2022 WESPYs
CLICK HERE to view Photo Gallery
CLICK HERE to view a list of 2022 finalists
CLICK HERE to view a list of past recipients
JIM URQUHART STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
This award, which has been the most prestigious student-athlete award at UNH since its inception in 1999, is given to both the most outstanding female and male senior student-athlete based on athletic success, community involvement and academic achievement through their Wildcat careers.
It is named in memory of longtime UNH coach Jim Urquhart, who coached the New Hampshire men's lacrosse team for 17 years and wrestling team for 11 seasons before taking the position of Associate Director of Event Management in 1997.
In five years with the women's soccer program, Francesca Picicci has been a team leader – two-time captain – who has received numerous accolades in recognition of her athletic and academic excellence. She is a two-time America East All-Academic Team selection and three-time America East Commissioner's Honor Roll member who has also been named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar East Region Second Team and inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society.
Picicci has also been named to the America East All-Conference First Team and Second Team and All-Rookie Team, and was selected to the NEWISA Senior Bowl.
As a senior in the 2021 season, Picicci led UNH in goals (six), game-winning goals (three), points (13) and shooting percentage (.214). On the conference leaderboard, she tied for fourth in both goals and game-winning goals, and also ranked ninth in points.
Picicci fueled UNH's late-season surge as the Wildcats went 4-1-0 in the last five regular-season games to set the stage for a run to the conference championship game. She recorded a career-high five points with two goals and an assist at Stony Brook University and followed that with two more goals vs. UMBC. Picicci continued that strong play into the postseason and was named to the America East All-Championship Team following the conclusion of the tournament.
The truncated Spring 2021 season was the catalyst to her outstanding 2021 season. In the Spring 2021, Picicci was atop UNH's points leaderboard by tying for the team lead in both goals and assists. She ranked fourth in the conference in points per game as well as tied for third in assists and tied for fourth in goals.
As a freshman in the 2017 season, Picicci ranked fourth on the team in both goals and points and scored the game-winning goal against both Army West Point and UAlbany; she played all 18 matches with 11 starts. Picicci had seven starts in 13 matches as a sophomore before that 2018 season ended prematurely for her with an injury. She returned to see action in all 18 games as a junior in 2019.
Picicci has a 3.76 cumulative grade-point average in pursuit of a degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science. She is a recipient of UNH's Robert Kertzer Scholarship, which is awarded to an exercise science student whose commitment to excellence is demonstrated in and out of the classroom and lab.
Picicci was a four-year member of UNH's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Her other extracurricular activities included: member of the Pre-Physician Assistant Student Organization; Convenient MD COVID-19 tester at UNH; President of Association of Exercise Science Students; volunteer on the medical and surgical floor at Portsmouth Regional Hospital; and emergency room volunteer at St. Joseph's Hospital (Bethpage, N.Y.).
Brian Genet is a multi-event specialist for the men's track & field teams. Translation: he is a decathlete. Ten events. Two days. At the 2022 America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Genet recorded a personal-best 5,709 points to finish in fourth place overall and garner All-Conference recognition. Earlier this season, he also established personal bests in both the 110-meter hurdles (16.08 seconds) and javelin throw (135 feet, 10 inches).
Genet also recorded a career high of 4,693 points in the heptathlon at the 2022 America East Indoor Track & Field Championships to earn third place and another All-Conference Team honor; he topped the field in the long jump with a mark of 22-7. Earlier in the indoor season, Genet crossed the finish line in 6.94 seconds for a personal best in the 55.
As a junior, Genet placed fifth in the decathlon at the 2021 conference outdoor championship meet with 5,585 points. He opened that outdoor season with a career-best 24.05 seconds in the 200-meter dash at the UNH Invitational. Genet capped the 2021 indoor season with a personal-best 3,019 points in the heptathlon in a dual meet against Maine and Southern Maine.
As a sophomore, he placed third in the heptathlon at the 2020 America East indoor championships with 4,529 points; that year, Genet was the top heptathlete in the long jump. The 2022 outdoor track season was canceled because of COVID-19.
As a freshman, Genet's collegiate debut was a third-place finish with 3,967 points in the heptathlon in a dual meet against Maine in November 2018. He increased that point total to 4,208 points for a sixth-place finish at the 2019 America East indoor championships.
Genet made his outdoor track & field debut in April 2019 at home; he won the long jump and placed third as part of the 4x100m relay team to highlight a total of four events that day. In his first ever decathlon, Genet tallied 5,208 points at the Catamount Combined Events Challenge. He increased that point total to 5,467 points at the 2019 outdoor conference championship meet to earn fifth place.
Genet has been named to the America East Academic Honor Roll twice and will graduate with a degree in environmental engineering.
He is a former walk-on who has made an impact on the UNH men's track & field team not just because he is a top athlete, but because he demonstrates leadership through words and actions.
This award, which has been the most prestigious student-athlete award at UNH since its inception in 1999, is given to both the most outstanding female and male senior student-athlete based on athletic success, community involvement and academic achievement through their Wildcat careers.
It is named in memory of longtime UNH coach Jim Urquhart, who coached the New Hampshire men's lacrosse team for 17 years and wrestling team for 11 seasons before taking the position of Associate Director of Event Management in 1997.
In five years with the women's soccer program, Francesca Picicci has been a team leader – two-time captain – who has received numerous accolades in recognition of her athletic and academic excellence. She is a two-time America East All-Academic Team selection and three-time America East Commissioner's Honor Roll member who has also been named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar East Region Second Team and inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society.
Picicci has also been named to the America East All-Conference First Team and Second Team and All-Rookie Team, and was selected to the NEWISA Senior Bowl.
As a senior in the 2021 season, Picicci led UNH in goals (six), game-winning goals (three), points (13) and shooting percentage (.214). On the conference leaderboard, she tied for fourth in both goals and game-winning goals, and also ranked ninth in points.
Picicci fueled UNH's late-season surge as the Wildcats went 4-1-0 in the last five regular-season games to set the stage for a run to the conference championship game. She recorded a career-high five points with two goals and an assist at Stony Brook University and followed that with two more goals vs. UMBC. Picicci continued that strong play into the postseason and was named to the America East All-Championship Team following the conclusion of the tournament.
The truncated Spring 2021 season was the catalyst to her outstanding 2021 season. In the Spring 2021, Picicci was atop UNH's points leaderboard by tying for the team lead in both goals and assists. She ranked fourth in the conference in points per game as well as tied for third in assists and tied for fourth in goals.
As a freshman in the 2017 season, Picicci ranked fourth on the team in both goals and points and scored the game-winning goal against both Army West Point and UAlbany; she played all 18 matches with 11 starts. Picicci had seven starts in 13 matches as a sophomore before that 2018 season ended prematurely for her with an injury. She returned to see action in all 18 games as a junior in 2019.
Picicci has a 3.76 cumulative grade-point average in pursuit of a degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science. She is a recipient of UNH's Robert Kertzer Scholarship, which is awarded to an exercise science student whose commitment to excellence is demonstrated in and out of the classroom and lab.
Picicci was a four-year member of UNH's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Her other extracurricular activities included: member of the Pre-Physician Assistant Student Organization; Convenient MD COVID-19 tester at UNH; President of Association of Exercise Science Students; volunteer on the medical and surgical floor at Portsmouth Regional Hospital; and emergency room volunteer at St. Joseph's Hospital (Bethpage, N.Y.).
Brian Genet is a multi-event specialist for the men's track & field teams. Translation: he is a decathlete. Ten events. Two days. At the 2022 America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Genet recorded a personal-best 5,709 points to finish in fourth place overall and garner All-Conference recognition. Earlier this season, he also established personal bests in both the 110-meter hurdles (16.08 seconds) and javelin throw (135 feet, 10 inches).
Genet also recorded a career high of 4,693 points in the heptathlon at the 2022 America East Indoor Track & Field Championships to earn third place and another All-Conference Team honor; he topped the field in the long jump with a mark of 22-7. Earlier in the indoor season, Genet crossed the finish line in 6.94 seconds for a personal best in the 55.
As a junior, Genet placed fifth in the decathlon at the 2021 conference outdoor championship meet with 5,585 points. He opened that outdoor season with a career-best 24.05 seconds in the 200-meter dash at the UNH Invitational. Genet capped the 2021 indoor season with a personal-best 3,019 points in the heptathlon in a dual meet against Maine and Southern Maine.
As a sophomore, he placed third in the heptathlon at the 2020 America East indoor championships with 4,529 points; that year, Genet was the top heptathlete in the long jump. The 2022 outdoor track season was canceled because of COVID-19.
As a freshman, Genet's collegiate debut was a third-place finish with 3,967 points in the heptathlon in a dual meet against Maine in November 2018. He increased that point total to 4,208 points for a sixth-place finish at the 2019 America East indoor championships.
Genet made his outdoor track & field debut in April 2019 at home; he won the long jump and placed third as part of the 4x100m relay team to highlight a total of four events that day. In his first ever decathlon, Genet tallied 5,208 points at the Catamount Combined Events Challenge. He increased that point total to 5,467 points at the 2019 outdoor conference championship meet to earn fifth place.
Genet has been named to the America East Academic Honor Roll twice and will graduate with a degree in environmental engineering.
He is a former walk-on who has made an impact on the UNH men's track & field team not just because he is a top athlete, but because he demonstrates leadership through words and actions.
CATHY COAKLEY STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AWARD
This award recognizes senior student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the University, UNH athletic department and the larger community with involvement in campus organizations, volunteer work, University or other athletic department committees, and other service-oriented activities.
It is named in memory of Cathy Coakley, a former student-athlete (Class of '72) and coach at UNH who served as coordinator of student-athlete development. She was a lifelong battler for and supporter of Wildcat student-athletes.
The 2022 recipients are Faith Bonett (Moorestown, N.J.) of the women's basketball team and Julie Cane (Titusville, N.J.) of the women's soccer team. Both student-athletes are members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board. SAAC promotes UNH athletics across campus, in Durham and the Seacoast area; builds community within the athletic department; and organizes community service projects that involve all teams.
Bonett, in addition to serving as SAAC co-President, is also a member of the UNH athletic department's Committee on Mutual Respect. COMR is an instrument to provide resources to student-athletes, coaches and staff for the purpose of acknowledging and embracing our collective differences and to create an inclusive culture.
Bonett has been honored as a member of the America East Helping Hands Team. In 2020, she created the "for the Kingdom" clothing store to raise awareness and funding in light of social injustice. And then in 2021, Bonett created a SAAC and COMR clothing charity fundraiser in which more than $2,000 was donated to a local food pantry and the NAACP.
She has also planned and executed educational events – COMR Unity Day and SAAC Bench Out the Stigma – focused on diversity and mental health awareness. Furthermore, Bonett is a youth leader by serving as a mentor for middle school kids at Durham Evangelical Church.
Cane is also currently President of the Association of Exercise Science Students and has fundraised for students to pay for fees associated with the New England American College of Sports Medicine. In AESS, she has also helped organize a powerlifting competition; organized professional development within the Exercise Science program; set up an underclassmen buddy and mentor program.
Cane is part of the Academic and Career Engagement Program in the College of Health and Human Service. ACE seminars help students learn about CHHS majors and explore career choices.
She has also served as the CHHS Dean's Ambassador and been a member of the Senate Athletic Committee. Cane has worked with UNH's COVID logistics lab, where she has helped set up and worked test kit packing and distribution. In the Hypertension and Endothelial function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) , she has volunteered time to participate in research looking at the implications of diet and exercise using telehealth on firefighters' overall health and specifically hearth health.
This award recognizes senior student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the University, UNH athletic department and the larger community with involvement in campus organizations, volunteer work, University or other athletic department committees, and other service-oriented activities.
It is named in memory of Cathy Coakley, a former student-athlete (Class of '72) and coach at UNH who served as coordinator of student-athlete development. She was a lifelong battler for and supporter of Wildcat student-athletes.
The 2022 recipients are Faith Bonett (Moorestown, N.J.) of the women's basketball team and Julie Cane (Titusville, N.J.) of the women's soccer team. Both student-athletes are members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board. SAAC promotes UNH athletics across campus, in Durham and the Seacoast area; builds community within the athletic department; and organizes community service projects that involve all teams.
Bonett, in addition to serving as SAAC co-President, is also a member of the UNH athletic department's Committee on Mutual Respect. COMR is an instrument to provide resources to student-athletes, coaches and staff for the purpose of acknowledging and embracing our collective differences and to create an inclusive culture.
Bonett has been honored as a member of the America East Helping Hands Team. In 2020, she created the "for the Kingdom" clothing store to raise awareness and funding in light of social injustice. And then in 2021, Bonett created a SAAC and COMR clothing charity fundraiser in which more than $2,000 was donated to a local food pantry and the NAACP.
She has also planned and executed educational events – COMR Unity Day and SAAC Bench Out the Stigma – focused on diversity and mental health awareness. Furthermore, Bonett is a youth leader by serving as a mentor for middle school kids at Durham Evangelical Church.
Cane is also currently President of the Association of Exercise Science Students and has fundraised for students to pay for fees associated with the New England American College of Sports Medicine. In AESS, she has also helped organize a powerlifting competition; organized professional development within the Exercise Science program; set up an underclassmen buddy and mentor program.
Cane is part of the Academic and Career Engagement Program in the College of Health and Human Service. ACE seminars help students learn about CHHS majors and explore career choices.
She has also served as the CHHS Dean's Ambassador and been a member of the Senate Athletic Committee. Cane has worked with UNH's COVID logistics lab, where she has helped set up and worked test kit packing and distribution. In the Hypertension and Endothelial function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) , she has volunteered time to participate in research looking at the implications of diet and exercise using telehealth on firefighters' overall health and specifically hearth health.
TINA TRUE AWARD
The Tina True Award started in 2007 and is presented to a pair of Wildcat seniors for commitment to strength and conditioning. The award is named in memory of Tina True, who was a co-captain and coxswain of the women's crew team from 2000-02; her commitment to training and her passion for her sport greatly contributed to the success of the team; in January 2002 (her junior year), Tina's life was tragically cut short in a car accident.
The 2022 recipients are Francesca Picicci of the women's soccer team and Michael Monahan (Tewksbury, Mass.) of the men's track & field team.
Picicci was lauded not only her weight room numbers, but for being coachable, competing with herself, and leading with her actions and words. When she had setbacks, she did the most important thing anyone could: she came back the next day and gave it her all. She relished being challenged and always appreciated time she spent with her team.
Her hard work in strength and conditioning laid the groundwork for winning this year's Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award.
Monahan was cited as always being a hard worker from Day 1 and never said no in the strength and conditioning room. He embraced everything that was taught and demanded in the weight room.
His commitment to strength and conditioning and buying into everything allowed him to flourish as a track athlete. Monahan won the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2022 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 8. One week earlier, he broke the UNH record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.44 seconds.
The Tina True Award started in 2007 and is presented to a pair of Wildcat seniors for commitment to strength and conditioning. The award is named in memory of Tina True, who was a co-captain and coxswain of the women's crew team from 2000-02; her commitment to training and her passion for her sport greatly contributed to the success of the team; in January 2002 (her junior year), Tina's life was tragically cut short in a car accident.
The 2022 recipients are Francesca Picicci of the women's soccer team and Michael Monahan (Tewksbury, Mass.) of the men's track & field team.
Picicci was lauded not only her weight room numbers, but for being coachable, competing with herself, and leading with her actions and words. When she had setbacks, she did the most important thing anyone could: she came back the next day and gave it her all. She relished being challenged and always appreciated time she spent with her team.
Her hard work in strength and conditioning laid the groundwork for winning this year's Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award.
Monahan was cited as always being a hard worker from Day 1 and never said no in the strength and conditioning room. He embraced everything that was taught and demanded in the weight room.
His commitment to strength and conditioning and buying into everything allowed him to flourish as a track athlete. Monahan won the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2022 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 8. One week earlier, he broke the UNH record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.44 seconds.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence was first presented in 2010 and is given to the female and male senior student-athlete with the highest cumulate grade point average.
The 2022 recipients are Cate Wardinski (Burke, Va.) of the swimming & diving team and Drew Hickey (New Canaan, Conn.) of the men's ice hockey team.
Both Wildcats are two-time inductees into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society – juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher with good moral character.
Wardinski will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology. She was voted to the America East All-Academic Team all three years of eligibility (2020, 2021, 2022) and made the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll every year. Wardinski received the Elite 18 Award at the 2022 America East championships for holding the highest cumulative GPA of 3.97.
Hickey will graduate with a dual degree in Political Science and Justice Studies. He has made the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year and was also named a 2020-21 Krampade All-American Scholar by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Hickey has also been inducted into Phi Betta Kappa – the oldest and very selective academic honor society in the U.S. – and Pi Sigma Alpha, which is a National Political Science Honor Society.
The Athletic Director's Award for Academic Excellence was first presented in 2010 and is given to the female and male senior student-athlete with the highest cumulate grade point average.
The 2022 recipients are Cate Wardinski (Burke, Va.) of the swimming & diving team and Drew Hickey (New Canaan, Conn.) of the men's ice hockey team.
Both Wildcats are two-time inductees into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society – juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher with good moral character.
Wardinski will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology. She was voted to the America East All-Academic Team all three years of eligibility (2020, 2021, 2022) and made the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll every year. Wardinski received the Elite 18 Award at the 2022 America East championships for holding the highest cumulative GPA of 3.97.
Hickey will graduate with a dual degree in Political Science and Justice Studies. He has made the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year and was also named a 2020-21 Krampade All-American Scholar by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Hickey has also been inducted into Phi Betta Kappa – the oldest and very selective academic honor society in the U.S. – and Pi Sigma Alpha, which is a National Political Science Honor Society.
COACHES AWARD
The Coaches Award, which started in 2019, is presented to a senior student-athlete who has either overcome adversity, or is an unsung hero, or is a team leader, or has gone above and beyond.
The 2022 recipients are grad student Kylie Kratchwell (Sewell, N.J.) of the gymnastics team and Kevin McGrath (Hopkinton, N.H.) of the men's track & field team.
Kratchwell's story is one of utmost determination to be a Wildcat and being a team leader. After committing to UNH, she tore an ACL as a high school senior, underwent surgery and worked extremely hard to make it back to competition. Then as a UNH freshman, it was discovered that her graft had failed and Kratchwell needed another ACL surgery, then started the rehab process all over again.
She returned to doing gymnastics as a sophomore, but soon thereafter doctor's discovered a torn meniscus that required yet another surgery. At this point, Kratchwell was determined to compete and never wavered in her quest to be a UNH gymnast.
In the fourth meet of her junior year (2020), Kratchwell was scheduled to compete an exhibition on uneven bars – more than three years since her last gymnastics meet. However, a late injury to a teammate suddenly put her in the rotation in the No. 5 spot, and her score of 9.750 tied for second best on the team and fifth place overall that day. Kratchwell went on to record a season high of 9.825 in a quad meet that included nationally-ranked Auburn.
As a senior in 2021, Kratchwell became an uneven bars specialist and earned a spot on the All-EAGL Second Team for bars. She returned to the team as a fifth-year walk-on and was a team captain. Kratchwell recorded a career-high 9.925 and had a 9.900 in her final home meet en route once again being named to the All-EAGL Second Team.
Kratchwell was a leader not only through her work ethic and determination, but also as someone who helped coach teammates to make everyone the best they could be and the UNH gymnastic program better than when she was a freshman.
McGrath's Wildcat career was also beset by a pair of season-ending injuries, but his perseverance paid dividends in the 2021-22 year with two individual titles at the America East conference championships and one school record.
He incurred the first injury as a freshman in the Spring 2019 semester. Following surgery and rehabilitation, McGrath returned to competing in the high jump that fall and placed third at the conference indoor championship. Then, as we all know too well, COVID-19 put a end to the 2020 outdoor season before it started.
McGrath trained on his own through the early months of the pandemic to maintain his strength. He returned to competition in a February 2021 dual meet and then in one outdoor meet that April before a hamstring injury ended what was already a truncated junior season.
Undeterred, McGrath trained with fervor and in his second meet back, tied the mark that earned third place at the 2020 America East indoor meet. He bested that by clearing 6-feet, 9.75 inches to win the 2022 New England high jump title and broke the UNH record by clearing 6-10.75 to win the America East title.
McGrath's comeback continued in the 2022 outdoor season, where he won the high jump at all three meets he competed: the George Davis Invitational, UMass Outdoor Invitational and America East Championships.
PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
The Performer of the Year, first presented in 2020, is given to both the most outstanding female and male student-athlete – regardless of class standing – for athletic achievement.
The 2022 recipients are sophomore Jasmine Lyons (Ottawa, Ontario) of the women's skiing team and grad student Adam Savill (Manchester, England) of the men's soccer team.
Lyons was a two-time All-American and named to the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team in 2022. The sophomore Nordic skier capped the season with third place in the 15K freestyle at the NCAA Championships to earn a spot on the All-America First Team. Two days earlier, Lyons raced to eighth place in the 5K classic to earn All-America Second Team recognition.
With those two All-American efforts, Lyons spearheaded the Wildcats to a sixth-place finish, which is the best in the 40-year UNH coaching career of Cory Schwartz.
Lyons is the first UNH skier to earn a pair of All-American finishes in at a single NCAA championship since 2019, and she is the first Nordic skier to accomplish that feat since 2017. Also of note, Lyons' third-place finish at the NCAA's was the best by any 'Cat since 2013.
Her performance at the NCAAs followed a highly-successful Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) carnival season, where Lyons recorded eight finishes in the Top 15, including a total of five in the Top 10 – four of which were in the Top 5. She won the 10K free at Dartmouth and was runner-up at Saint Michael's.
At the conclusion of the EISA season, Lyons was named to the EISA All-East First Team as the No. 4-ranked women's Nordic skier; she was No. 2 in free and No. 8 in classic.
Savill was named the 2021 America East Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He has a 3.76 GPA as an MBA student and was one of only three men's soccer players in the nation to earn All-America First Team and All-America First Team Scholar accolades.
He was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is presented annually to the top men's soccer player in Division I, and was named the America East Defender of the Year. Savill also earned All-Northeast Region First Team, All-ECAC Team, America East All-Conference First Team and America East All-Academic Team honors.
Savill played in 19 games with 19 starts as a leader of UNH's defense that led the nation with a 0.466 team goals-against average. He also recorded three assists for three points; he tallied a pair of assists vs. Stony Brook University and also had an assist in the Wildcats' 4-1 second round NCAA win vs. North Carolina.
New Hampshire concluded its historic 2021 season with a No. 9 national ranking in the final United Soccer Coaches national poll. The Wildcats advanced to the Round of 16, attained its highest national ranking – No. 4 – in program history and established program bests for wins (17) and winning percentage (.857), which ranked fifth in the country.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The Rookie of the Year, first presented in 2019, is given to both the most outstanding female and male rookie for athletic achievement.
The 2022 recipients are Zoe Michael (Sydney, Australia) of the women's skiing team and Josiah Silver (Hampton, Va.) of the football team.
Michael skied to 10th place in the women's slalom at the 2022 NCAA Skiing Championships to earn All-America Second Team recognition. She became the first UNH women's alpine skier to earn All-America status since 2019. In her NCAA debut, Michael placed 28th in the women's giant slalom.
Michael earned a spot on the 2022 National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team for posting a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher.
Michael was the eighth-ranked EISA women's alpine skier, and that included No. 6 in slalom. She was the top 'Cat and placed eighth overall in the slalom at the EISA Championships. Her top finish of the EISA carnival season was second place in the slalom at Dartmouth. She also turned in two other Top 10 efforts with a sixth-place finish in the slalom at Saint Michael's and ninth place in that discipline at Colby.
Silver was named to three All-America teams following his freshman season as a defensive end for the Wildcats. He was selected to the Associated Press FCS All-America Second Team as well as the All-America Third Team by both Stats Perform and Phil Steele.
He was also named one of 23 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award as the FCS national freshman of the year and was a NEFWA All-New England Team honoree.
Silver was voted the CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year in addition to being named to the All-Conference First Team. He was also named to the CAA Football Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll for attaining a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the Fall 2021 semester.
Silver amassed 80 tackles (42 solo), 20.5 tackles for loss (for 88 yards), 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 11 games. With those stats, Silver led UNH in solo tackles, assisted tackles, total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles.
Silver's 12.5 sacks led the CAA and ranked fourth among all FCS players. His six forced fumbles also led the CAA and tied for second in the FCS.
Silver finished the season strong by recording 9+ tackles each of the last five games. His totals down the stretch included 50 tackles (27 solo), 13.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR replayed by Xfinity
The Highlight of the Year, which started in 2020, is determined by fan voting on social media platforms. This year's winner is the Bridger Hansen (Cottonwood Heights, Utah) bicycle kick goal in a 4-1 NCAA second round against the University of North Carolina at Wildcat Stadium. The highlight-reel goal gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute.
CLICK HERE to watch
EVENT OF THE YEAR replayed by Xfinity
The Event of the Year, first presented in 2021, is also determined by fan voting on social media platforms. This year's winner is from Nov. 5, 2021, when the women's soccer team won an 8-7 penalty kick shootout at UMass Lowell to advance to the America East championship game. The Wildcats had tied the score, 1-1, in the 80th minute and converted seven consecutive penalty kicks (Rounds 4-10) to move on to the title game.
PHOTOS | RECAP
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
Multi Events
/ Men's Track & Field
Back
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
UB, BB
/ Women's Gymnastics
Nordic
/ Skiing
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Alpine
/ Skiing
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
M/B
/ Men's Soccer
DE
/ Football
Free
/ Women's Swimming and DivingUNH Women's Lacrosse vs Vermont Highlights 3-28-26
Saturday, March 28
UNH Athletics Introduces Sarah Mansfield‑Lahl as New Field Hockey Head Coach
Thursday, March 26
UNH Men's Hockey vs UMass Highlights 3-7-26
Sunday, March 08
UNH Men's Basketball vs Bryant Highlights 3 3 26
Wednesday, March 04