Columbia Athletics Hosts 97th Annual Varsity C Celebration
5/1/2018 10:00:00 PM | General
NEW YORK – Four major Columbia Athletics awards along with a variety of other honors were presented to Columbia student-athletes and teams at the 97th edition of the Varsity C Celebration held Tuesday evening at Roone Arledge Auditorium.
Taking home the prestigious Connie S. Maniatty Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Awards, which are given annually to the top senior male and female student-athletes in recognition for their outstanding Columbia careers were squash player Osama Khalifa (Men's) along with co-winners basketball player Camille Zimmerman (Women's) and track and field runner Sarah Hardie (Women's).
In its third year of existence, the William V. Campbell Performer of the Year was presented to one male and one female student-athlete who demonstrates superior athletic ability during the 2017-18 academic year. This year, the recipients were soccer player Arthur Bosua (Men's) and fencer Iman Blow (Women's).
Two student-athletes were given Rookie of the Year Awards for top student-athletes in their first-year with Columbia Athletics: diver Jonathan Suckow (Men's) and fencer Sylvie Binder (Women's).
The women's soccer team earned the Paul E. Fernandes Community Service Award, which is presented to the varsity sports program which achieves the most significant contributions and notable service to the University and local communities during each academic year. The Lions Cup, which honors the most outstanding team on the basis of points in several categories including academic, athletic, personal and social responsibility was given to the women's track and field and cross country team. The Karen Blank Award, which honors the top senior female student-athlete enrolled at Barnard College who exemplifies the qualities of academic success, athletic achievement, strong sporting behavior & commitment to community, was given to fencer Katie Angen. Softball's Madison Gott was named Columbia Athletics' Leader of the Year.
The watch presentations for the Columbia senior student-athletes earning the highest cumulative grade point averages with at least two varsity letters. Abigail Sharkey (women's track & field) earned the Marion R. Philips Watch and Mitchell Tuckerman (men's track and field) earned the Dwight D. Eisenhower Watch.
Two alumni members were also featured at the event as Athletics Alumni Award recipients: former women's soccer player Kyra Tirana Barry '87CC, P'17CC and former men's basketball and track & field athlete John Vaske '88CC. See bios below.
Columbia University Athletics closes each academic year with its annual year-end Varsity C Celebration and awards ceremony. Modeled after the popular ESPYs awards show, the Varsity C Celebration serves as the final gathering of the academic year for all of 800-plus Columbia's student-athletes with the purpose of showcasing their achievements and milestones. In addition to the presentation of several major awards, the evening also featured videos and highlights celebrating major moments and achievements accomplished this year.
The hour-long event was hosted by ESPN analyst Tom Rinaldi. A reporter for both ESPN and ABC and based in New York City, Rinaldi has contributed to ESPN's golf coverage, SportsCenter, Outside the Lines, College GameDay and Sunday NFL Countdown. A three-time Regional Emmy Award winner, Rinaldi earned his Master's degree from Columbia University.
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS BIOS
CONNIE S. MANIATTY OUTSTANDING SENIOR STUDENT-ATHLETES
Osama Khalifa, Senior, Men's Squash
Won 2017 College Squash Individual National Championship … Four-time First Team All-American (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) … 2015 College Squash national runner-up … Earned 2018 Skillman Award, the highest honor in college squash for a senior … Three-time Ivy League Player of the Year (2016, 2017, 2018) … Four-time All-Ivy League First Team selection (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) … Named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2015 … Became the first-ever Columbia squash player to win an individual national title … Led Columbia to its first-ever team Ivy League title in 2018 while competing at the No. 1 position … Finished with a four-year 51-4 career regular season record while playing three years at the No. 1 position.
Camille Zimmerman, Senior, Women's Basketball
2018 Katrina McClain Award Top-10 finalist (nation's best power forward) … Three-time All-Met selection, including the 2016-17 All-Met Women's Basketball Player of the Year … Three-time All-Ivy League honoree including two First Team honors in 2016-17 and 2017-18 … Named the 2016-17 William V. Campbell Female Performer of the Year … USBWA National Player of the Week (Jan. 23-29, 2017) … 10-time Ivy League Player of the Week and shared the Columbia record with Judie Lomax … Six-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week … Columbia women's basketball all-time leader in points (1,973), rebounds (940), field goals (728), field goal attempts (1,707), free throw percentage (.826), games played (113) and games started (113) … No. 2 in program history in free throws made (443) and attempts (536) and top-5 all-time in blocked shots (100) and top-10 in assists (255) … Also holds school records for most season points (608, 2016-17), season scoring average (22.5, 2016-17), season field goal attempts (539, 2016-17), game field goal attempts (37 at Dartmouth, 2017) and game free throw percentage (10-10 at Penn, 2017) … Concluded career ranked among Ivy League career leaders in field goal attempts (No. 3), points (No. 4), field goals made (No. 8), scoring average (No. 9) and free throws made (No. 9) and season leaders in overall scoring (No. 6), Ivy League scoring (No. 4), overall scoring average (No. 8), Ivy League scoring average (No. 4), overall field goals (No. 6) and Ivy League field goals (No. 6) … Became second player in program history to sign a WNBA contract, second player in program history to earn two First Team All-Ivy League honors, the only player in the nation to lead her team in points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and steals in back-to-back years (2016-17 and 2017-18) … Led the Ivy League in both scoring and rebounding in back-to-back years (2016-17 and 2017-18) … Had a 43-game double-figure scoring streak, registered 39 career double-doubles, four career 30-point games, 47 20-point games and 96 double figure scoring games.
Sarah Hardie, Senior, Women's Track & Field (as of May 1, 2018)
2018 Second Team All-American in indoor mile …Nine-time Ivy League Champion (five time individual, three relays, cross country team)... Two-time NCAA East Prelims Qualifier (800-meters) … 10-time All-Ivy League performer … Set Ivy League records in the indoor 1,000-meters (2:44.85), outdoor DMR (11:02.3) and holds five of the top-10 Ivy League indoor meet performances in 1,000-meters … Set Columbia records in the indoor 1,000-meters (2:44.85), indoor one mile (4:39.11), outdoor 4x800-meter relay (8:34.23), outdoor DMR (11:02.32) and has won the second most Ivy League titles in program history (two off the record of 11, held by Sharay Hale) … Four-time Ivy League champion in the 1,000-meters, one of just 13 four-time champions in a single event in Ivy League history and the only individual to win the same distance event four times … Has only been beaten by one athlete while competing at seven Ivy League Track & Field Championships in individual events … 2016 USTFCCCA Academic All-American … Two-time NCAA East Prelims Qualifier in the 800-meters......Finished 12th at the 2017 Northeast Cross Country Regional Championships.
WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR (2017-18)
Arthur Bosua, Senior, Men's Soccer
Named to the 2017-18 All-America Second Team … Named a MAC-Hermann Trophy Semifinalist … Two-time All-Northeast Region First Team honoree … Two-time Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year in both 2016 and 2017 … Three-time First Team All-Ivy League selection (2015, 2016, 2017) … Led the Ivy League in points and goals in each of his final two seasons … Set Columbia records for most career goals (27) and career points (66) … As a senior in 2017, led the Ivy League in points (29) and goals (12), ranked No. 15 nationally in points per game and goals per game and scored a career-high four goals in 6-0 rout of Harvard … Led the Lions to the 2016 Ivy League team championship (first title since 1993) and the program's first NCAA Tournament win in 2017 for the first time since 1990 … Helped Columbia Class of 2018 to the most wins (42) in a four-year stretch since the class of 1985 … Became one of only four players in school history to earn multiple Ivy League Player of the Year honors.
Iman Blow, Junior, Women's Fencing
Won 2018 NCAA Individual women's foil title … Named a 2018 First Team All-American … Won 2018 NCAA Northeast Regional Championship … Named First Team All-Ivy League, compiling a 13-2 record at the 2018 Ivy League Championships … Became the first Columbia NCAA Champion since Jake Hoyle won the men's epee title in 2016 and the first woman since Nicole Ross captured the women's foil title in 2010 … Helped Columbia capture the 2018 Ivy League Women's Fencing Championship outright … Finished with a 20-3 record at the NCAA Championships as the No. 1 seed … Concluded 2017-18 with 44-7 regular season record … In addition to her NCAA success, represented Columbia at World Cups and North American Cups and is currently ranked the No. 6 foil fencer in the United States.
ATHLETICS ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS
Kyra Tirana Barry '87CC, P'17CC
Kyra Tirana Barry received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Columbia College and was a member of the Women's Soccer team. She currently serves as the board president of Beat the Streets, a no-profit that uses wrestling to promote youth development. In 2014, she was named team leader for the 2016 U.S. Women's Olympic Team by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport in the United States. Barry continues to advocate for the growth of women's wrestling at the high school and collegiate levels. Barry is also a member of the U.S. Soccer Foundation's NY Leadership Council and Vita Sports Partners. On a professional level, she has spent over a decade in public transportation policy and government relations with the New York City Mayor's office, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Barry has remained intimately involved at Columbia while serving in a number of roles including as the first female president of the board of the Columbia College Alumni Association, a member of the Columbia College Board of Visitors, a member of Columbia College Women, and a member of the Columbia College Fund Development Council. In 2010, Barry was honored with the Columbia Alumni Medal and in 2015, she was a recipient of Columbia College's John Jay Award for professional achievement. An avid member of Columbia Athletics' Women's Leadership Council, Kyra and husband David Barry '87CC are Benefactors of the University and the parents of Charley, Jake, and Olivia ('17CC).
John Vaske '88CC
John Vaske received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Columbia College and was a member of both the Men's Basketball and Men's Track and Field teams. Vaske is a loyal Men's Basketball season ticket holder and serves on the Men's Basketball Advisory Committee. Vaske recently became the Senior Managing Director and Joint Head North America for Temasek International. Prior to the move, Vaske had worked with Goldman Sachs since his graduation in 1988, most recently serving as the chairman of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Investment Banking Division. He was named a partner of the company in 2000. Outside of his professional work, John serves on the board of Bottom Line New York and was a 2014 Spring Reception Co-Chair. BLNY is a charitable foundation that helps disadvantaged youth get into college, graduate from college, and go far in life. Vaske is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for PeacePlayers International, an organization that promotes peace in areas of conflict through basketball both internationally and domestically. To honor his distinguished professional achievement, Vaske was a 2016 recipient of Columbia College's John Jay Award. He is a proud father to Riley, Abigail, Kathryn, and Jack.
VARSITY C CELEBRATION 2017-18 TEAM AWARDS
ARCHERY
Archery Award- Bianca Gotuaco '19SEAS (2017 winner)
BASEBALL (2017 WINNERS)
Lou Gehrig MVP Award – Randell Kanemaru '18CC
Joseph P. Allen Memorial Award – Ryan Marks '17CC
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Raymond J. Fullerton Memorial Award – Mike Smith '20CC
Sheldon B. Preschel Memorial Award – Lukas Meisner '19CC
Jason Wachob Award – Kyle Castlin '18CC
Feinberg Family Award – Jake Killingsworth '20CC Walter H. Bernson Memorial Award – Luke Bolster '21CC
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Most Valuable Player – Camille Zimmerman '18CC
CROSS COUNTRY
Women; Kathy Shiels Memorial Award: Nell Crosby '18CC
Men; Men's Cross Country Award: Ryan Thomas '18CC
FENCING
James Murray Memorial Trophy – Porter Hesslegrave '18CC
Kestler Award – Sam Moelis '20CC, Iman Blow '19CC
Women's Fencing Award – Lena Johnson and Katie Angen '18BC
FIELD HOCKEY
Field Hockey Award – Maeve Doherty '18CC
Lion Pride Award – Kelly McCarthy '20CC
FOOTBALL
Class of 1913 Memorial Cup – Chris Schroer '18CC Phil Fusco Memorial Award – Chris Schroer '18CC
David W. Smyth Memorial Cup – Lord Hyeamang '18CC
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GOLF
William Terminello Award (Men) – Arjun Puri '21CC
William Terminello Award (Women) – Amy Ding '19CC
LACROSSE
Adrian Walters Awards – Madeleine Stuzin '19CC
HEAVYWEIGHT ROWING (2017 WINNERS)
Stephen M. Abbey Memorial Prize – Alastair Clements '17CC
William B. Sanford Award – Tucker Klutey '17CC
Richard Goodridge Jackson Memorial Prize – Peter Kiernan '17GS
LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING (2017 WINNERS) Stephen M. Abbey Memorial Prize – Petros Krommidas '17CC Robert Harron Memorial Bowl – David Mottola '17CC
WOMEN'S ROWING Women's Rowing Award – Charlotte Buck '18CC
Edward Hewitt Award – Caroline Herriman '18CC & Oriana Marcial '18CC
MEN'S SOCCER
Rocco Commisso Award – Kynan Rocks '19CC
Soccer Alumni Award – Arthur Bosua '18CC
Vorkas Award – Zach Morant '18CC
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Ali Ahern Memorial Award – Natalie Ambrose '18CC
Class of 1994 Award – Natalie Neshat '18CC
SOFTBALL Softball Award – Taylor Troutt '18CC
Carol A. Dodge Award – Madison Gott '18CC
SQUASH
Men's Squash Award – Osama Khalifa '18CC Women's Squash Award – Tanvi Khanna '18CC
Kenneth W. Torrey Citizenship Award – Arhum Saleem '18CC
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Robert E. Vollmer Memorial Award – Jonathan Suckow '21CC
Jim Stallman Memorial Award – Michal Zyla '18CC
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Women's Swimming Award – Kate O'Rourke '18CC
Tina Steck Award – Mary Ashby '19CC
MEN'S TENNIS
Jeremiah Courtney Tennis Cup — Shawn Hadavi '17CC
WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARD
Women's Tennis Award – Adi Milstein '18CC
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD (2017)
Harrison K. Bird Memorial Award (Indoor) – Robert Napolitano '17CC
Edgar “Dick” Mason Trophy – Robert Napolitano '17CC
Steven N. Chait Award – Keenan Piper '17CC
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD (2017)
Women's Track and Field Award – Akua Obeng-Akrofi '18CC
Steven N. Chait Award – Anna Williams '17CC
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball Award – Anja Malesevic '18CC
WRESTLING
Gus Peterson Memorial Trophy – Garrett Ryan '18CC
Jonathan P. Gross Memorial Trophy – Andrew Psomas '18CC
