ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lebanon Valley’s 72nd Annual All-Sports Award Presentation took place earlier this month when President MacLaren and Athletic Director Rick Beard ’90, M’92 spoke to the seniors inside Sorrentino Gymnasium. Similar to last year, each major award-winner was announced on LVC Athletics’ social media channels throughout this week. The list of winners, as well as speeches from each coach about their respective players, is below.

2021 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Team of the Year

After all of their hard work through the 2020-21 seasons, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Team of the Year was awarded to LVC’s athletic trainers in Chuck Yasinski, Megan Streisel, Zachary Kelly, and Shyann Wallace. LVC thanks them for the dedication to our student-athletes and helping the seasons run as smooth as possible.

Lou Sorrentino Outstanding Male Athlete Award – Owen Buhr (men’s track & field)

Owen Buhr was named USTFCCCA All-Region in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, as well as the 110-meter hurdles and 4x100 relay. Earlier this month at the MAC Outdoor Championships, Buhr earned three medals and was the second-highest scoring individual of the entire Championships. He won the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.64, breaking the previous school record from 2015. Then, in the 100-meter dash, Buhr won silver with his personal-best time of 10.83 and the fourth-best time in LVC history. Finally, he took home gold in the 110-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 14.96, now the fifth-best mark in Dutchmen history.

Watch head coach Melissa Byler talk about Owen

Outstanding Female Athlete Award – Lauren Wick (women’s cross country and track & field)

Lauren Wick earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors for the 10,000-meter run and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. At the MAC Outdoor Championships earlier this month, Wick struck gold in the 10K as the top-seeded runner. She crossed the line first out of 23 participants with a time of 37:48.49 to be crowned the champion. 

Back in March, Wick set the school record in the 10K at Widener. She shattered the previous record that was set back in 2016 with a time of 37:39.24 to crush the competition. Last week at Rowan’s Last Chance Meet, Wick set another school record, this time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, as she crossed the line in third place at 11:22.50, breaking an 11-year-old record.

Watch head coach James O'Brien ‘07, M’16 talk about Lauren

Honorable Judge John A. Walter Outstanding Male Scholar-Athlete - Brendan Ward (baseball)

Brendan Ward, who currently boasts a 3.94 cumulative GPA as a business administration major, is a three-time MAC Academic Honor Roll member after transferring to Lebanon Valley. In 2019, Ward made nine starts on the bump while posting a team-leading five wins. He tossed 46.1 innings and struck out 36 batters. This season, Ward went 4-1 with a 3.03 ERA. He struck out 13 batters and only walked one hitter in 29.2 innings.

Watch head coach Jonas Fester talk about Brendan

Honorable Judge John A. Walter Outstanding Female Scholar-Athlete - Rachel Kagarise (field hockey)

Rachel Kagarise, a physical therapy major, currently sits at a 3.97 cumulative GPA. She’s a four-time MAC Academic Honor Roll member, a four-time Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree, and has been named a Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Scholar of Distinction four times. A mainstay on LVC’s defense her entire career, Kagarise appeared in all 19 games for the Dutchmen in 2018 and she started every game in 2019 for LVC.

Watch head coach Amber Corcoran '09 talk about Rachel

Chuck Maston Memorial Award – Braydon Shuck (men’s soccer)

Off the field, Braydon Shuck is involved in numerous clubs and societies. He’s a Valley Ambassador, a tour guide, a team captain and a member of the leadership council, a part of FCLA, and President of the National Honor Society. Additionally, he’s a member of SAAC and volunteered in Kenya with Hope International. He’s also a part of LVC Operation Christmas Child, a Phi Alpha Epsilon and Delta Mu Delta, and has been on the Dean’s List. 

“He’s one of the best student-athlete leaders I’ve ever coached,” said head men’s soccer coach Charlie Grimes. “His willingness to serve others, along with his drive to be involved in that which benefits the campus, team, and community, make him a terrific young man.”

In 2019, Shuck appeared in nine games and made eight starts. He ranked second on the team with three goals, two of which were game-winning tallies. Shuck is also a four-time MAC Academic Honor Roll member.

Watch head coach Charlie Grimes talk about Braydon

Women’s Sportsmanship Award – Kaitlyn Welch (swimming, tennis)

As a member of LVC’s Swimming and women’s tennis teams, Kaitlyn Welch rarely missed a practice and encouraged others on a daily basis. At swim meets, she was a mainstay on LVC’s top relay team and always felt it important to cheer on her teammates when she wasn’t getting ready for a race. She attended every community service event that her teams put on, and was a life guard whenever she was needed. 

Watch head coach Mary Gardner talk about Kaitlyn

LVC Athletic Service Award – Daymond Zweizig (baseball)

A member of SAAC, Daymond Zweizig helped set up service projects for the baseball team. Every service opportunity that the program did over the last few years involved his leadership and passion. Through his work at LVC, he changed the direction of his career and decided to pursue a graduate degree in school counseling. One of the team captains this year, Zweizig threw eight innings for the Dutchmen out of the bullpen and struck out 13 batters and walked just two.

Watch head coach Jonas Fester talk about Daymond

2021 Team MVPs

Men’s Cross Country – Noah Griffin

Women’s Cross Country – Lauren Wick

Field Hockey – Taylor Pentz (Offensive), Kaylea Garman (Defensive)

Football – Kody Kegarise (Offensive), Brad Shear (Defensive), Jeremy Bours Jr. (Special Teams)

Men’s Soccer – David Alcock

Women’s Soccer – Maya Cohen, Rachael Barrick

Volleyball – Jayna Class, Kaitlyn Reed

Men’s Basketball – Collin Jones

Women’s Basketball – Emily Mealey

Men’s Ice Hockey – Alex Borowiec

Women’s Ice Hockey – Abby Radcliffe

Esports – Eli Jones, Brandon Kemmery, Andrew Kierce

Men’s Swimming – Dain Vallie

Women’s Swimming – Cayla Sydow, Courtney Betsock

Softball – Sarah Musselman

Baseball – Bryan Towers

Men’s Golf – Josh Abary

Women’s Golf – Emma Dissinger

Men’s Track & Field – Owen Buhr

Women’s Track & Field – Lauren Wick, McKenna Loughney

Men’s Tennis – Ben Hinkley

Women’s Tennis – Jacquelyn McBride

Men’s Lacrosse – Nick Serrano

Women’s Lacrosse – Brittany Hathaway

Distinguished Athletes

11 Dutchmen (Veronica Venezia, Jeff Campagna, Kaitlyn Welch, Logan Grauer, Daniel Sheffield, Owen Buhr, Alex Sabo, Kadan Smith, McKenna Loughney, Lauren Wick, Collin Jones) earned Distinguished Athlete accolades for earning eight varsity letters or for receiving regional and/or national honors.

LVC Scholar-Athletes

An astonishing 171 Dutchmen athletes were named LVC Scholar-Athletes for being a junior, senior, or graduate student with a 3.5 GPA or above.