Providence College Athletics
Athletics Department Hosts 54th Annual All-Sports Gala
5/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
Photo Gallery May 4, 2015 PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College honored its top student-athletes at the 54th Annual All-Sports Gala on Monday, May 4. The ceremony was held at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium on the campus of Providence College in Providence, R.I. A social hour preceded the event in `64 Hall. The gathering of more than 300 student-athletes, coaches and staff members celebrated one of the most successful athletic campaigns in Friar history. Junior All-American and 2015 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Jon Gillies (South Portland, Maine), who led the men's ice hockey team to its first NCAA National Championship, was named Male Athlete of the Year for Team Sports. Senior Shane Quinn (Waterford, Ireland), of the cross country/track team, was named Male Athlete of the Year for Individual Sports. On the women's side, field hockey player Caitlin Malone (Ossining, N.Y.), who garnered All-America and All-BIG EAST First-Team honors, was recognized as Female Athlete of the Year for Team Sports for a second-consecutive year. All-American and 2015 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter Champion Emily Sisson (Chesterfield, Mo.) also claimed Female Athlete of the Year for Individual Sports for a second-consecutive year.
Along with the Athlete of the Year Awards, six other major awards were presented at the banquet. Senior Daniella Bernasconi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) of the field hockey team was the winner of the Paul Connolly Award as the female athlete who has distinguished herself among her peers through sportsmanship, courage and honor. Red-shirt senior Keasel Broome (Claymont, Del.) was the recipient of the Mal Brown Award. The Mal Brown Award is given annually to the male athlete whose career of intercollegiate competition portrayed sportsmanship, courage and honor.
The Sine Qua Non Awards, given annually to the male and female athletes who have distinguished themselves among their peers without receiving proper recognition, were presented to senior men's ice hockey player Ross Mauermann (Janesville, Wis.), senior John Fatigati (Mahwah, N.J.) of the men's swimming team and senior women's soccer player Allie Walton (Brunswick, Maine). Senior Lauren Paiva (Middletown, R.I.), who is a member of the softball program, was the recipient of the Jane Thompson Award, which is presented to the male or female senior student-athlete who personifies all that is good about being a student-athlete at Providence College and exhibits selflessness, dedication, loyalty, courage and perseverance.
Senior men's basketball player LaDontae Henton (Lansing, Mich.) became the first recipient of the Rev. Robert A. Morris, O.P. '46 Memorial Award, which will be given annually to a student-athlete who has had a profound impact on Providence College during their career, as selected by the Athletic Director and the senior administrative staff.
Gillies, who recently signed an entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames, was named the Frozen Four's Most Outstanding Player after posting a career-high 49 saves in Providence's 4-3 NCAA championship game win over Boston University. He is the ninth men's hockey player to be named Providence College's Male Athlete of the Year and the first since fellow goaltender Tyler Sims in 2006. Gillies went 24-13-2 during the 2014-15 season and posted the second-best single season goals-against average in program history (2.01). He finished the season with the nation's seventh-best save percentage (.930), while his goals-against average ranked 12th in the country. In 39 starts, he allowed two or fewer goals 29 times. He was named a Second Team (East) CCM All-American and an USCHO.com First Team All-American. Gillies was also named to the Hockey East First Team, earning that honor for a second time in his career (also earned the honor in 2012-13) to become just the fifth goaltender in Hockey East history to earn multiple First Team honors. During the 2014-15 regular-season conference schedule, Gillies posted the sixth-best goals-against average (1.74) and the fifth-best save percentage (.939) in Hockey East history. Gillies finished his Friar career with the program record for shutouts (13) and goals against average (2.08). He totaled 60-career wins (second most in program history) and posted three of the top-four single-season goals against averages.
Quinn has continued his success in both cross country and track this year. During the cross country season, Quinn earned his first All-America honor after finishing 26th and first on the team at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championship. With the finish, he also helped the team finish 13th, the highest finish the men's team has had since 2006. During the cross country season, Quinn earned BIG EAST Athlete of the Week twice for his performances (9/23 and 10/21). Quinn carried over his form into the indoor track season with a second-place performance in the 5,000 meters at the BIG EAST Championships. At the IC4A Indoor Championships one week later, Quinn finished second in the 3,000 meters.
Malone earns Providence College Female Athlete of the Year honors for the second-consecutive year. In her final season with the field hockey team, she became the 10th player in the program's 39-year history to earn All-America honors as a member of the NFHCA Division I All-America Third Team, and the first All-American for the program since 2009 (Nellie Poulin `10). Malone joined the field hockey team as a walk-on and steadily developed into one of the premier players in the BIG EAST Conference and the country. During her career, she was a three-time All-BIG EAST selection (First Team - 2013, 2014; Second Team - 2012). She also was a three-time NFHCA Division I All-Northeast Region selection (First Team - 2014; Second Team 2012, 2013). In 2014, Malone played 20 games and recorded nine points on three goals and three assists. She finished her career at Providence with 42 points on 13 goals and 16 assists. Malone concluded her career tied for 17th all-time in career assists. At the completion of the 2014 season, Malone was invited to play in the NFHCA Division I Senior Game.
Sisson had one of the best indoor seasons of any track runner at Providence College. At the 2015 BIG EAST Indoor Track Championship, she broke the NCAA women's indoor 5,000 meter record, previously held by former Friar Kim Smith '05. Sisson crossed the line in a time of 15:12.22 to break the record by two seconds and claim the BIG EAST title. Following her record breaking performance, she captured her first NCAA Championship title in the 5,000 meters and the first individual title for the Friars since Danette Doetzel `09. Additionally, Sisson finished third the following day in the 3,000 meters to capture two First-Team All-America honors in one weekend, as well as an 11th-place finish for the Providence College women's track team at the Championship. For her accomplishments, Sisson earned a spot on the Bowerman Trophy Watch List, as well as being named the Northeast Region Female Track Athlete of the Year.
Bernasconi, a forward on the field hockey team, finished the season tied for first on the team in points (36) and goals (15), and tied for second in assists (six). Her 36 points and six assists marked single-season career highs, while her 15 goals matched her previous career-best, established in 2013. Bernasconi was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team at the conclusion of the 2014 season, marking the second-consecutive season she earned league recognition (Second Team - 2013). She also was a two-time NFHCA Division I All-Northeast Second-Team selection (2013, 2014). Bernasconi finished her career ranked eighth all-time at Providence in goals scored (39) and 10th all-time in scoring (86 points).
Broome has made huge contributions as a goalkeeper for the men's soccer team the past five years and co-captained the team to their first ever BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship this year. Broome also helped the team to their first NCAA College Cup appearance in program history. He played in 59 games and captured 31 career wins and 14 shutouts, eight of which were in the 2014 season. He also recorded a 1.20 goals-against average with 170 career saves, and was named to the 2014 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Mauermann played in all of Providence's 41 games this past season, posting 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. In 22 Hockey East games, he scored 10 goals and added eight assists for 18 points. With a goal against Connecticut on Feb. 7, Mauermann reached the 100-point mark for his career and ranks 36th on Providence's all-time scoring list (52-60-112). He was the first Friar to hit the 100-point plateau since 2008 and he became the 35th Friar to score at least 50 goals in his career. He was named an Honorable Mention Hockey East Al-Star for the second consecutive season and was also a Senior Class Award nominee. Mauermann set the Providence College record for games played and consecutive games played, appearing in all 156 games of his Friar career. He scored at least 24 points in each of his four seasons, becoming the first Friar to notch at least 24 points in four seasons since Peter Fregoe `03 and Jon DiSalvatore `03 (1999-03). He served as a co-captain as a senior, leading the Friars to their first NCAA Championship.
Fatigati earned 272.50 points and led the team with 15 first-place finishes during his final season with the Providence College men's swimming & diving program. Fatigati was honored with the Horace Bowden Most Valuable Student-Athlete Award during each of his four seasons with the program. He holds eight individual records and three relay records. Fatigati finishes his career with 1,244.75 total points, ranking first all-time in the program. He also was honored by the Mal Brown Club, receiving the Joseph V. MacAndrew Award. The Award is presented annually to a male senior varsity athlete who has achieved an outstanding level of performance in academics and athletics during his undergraduate career at PC.
Walton started 17 of the 18 games she played and recorded two goals and one assist for five points, including the game-winning goal against Fordham. In her career at Providence, she recorded 20 points on seven goals and six assists. Earlier this year (Dec. 16), Walton earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Academic All-East Honorable Mention honors. Walton is a double major in marketing and finance and holds a 3.94 GPA. Last year, she was inducted to the Chi Alpha Sigma for her excellence in the classroom as a student-athlete. Additionally, Walton was the recipient of the Helen Bert Award which was presented by the Mal Brown Club to a female senior varsity athlete who has achieved an outstanding level of performance in academics and athletics during her undergraduate career at PC.
Paiva played 121 games during her career, including 70 appearances in the starting line-up. This season, Paiva recorded her first career home runs in back-to-back at bats against in-state rival Rhode Island on April 23. At the plate, she recorded 26 hits and scored 29 runs. In the outfield, she put together a .958 fielding percentage. Paiva is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma and serves as the SAAC Vice President. Academically, she has been named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team three times and has been a NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete twice in her career, while majoring in marketing.
Henton had an impressive career with the Friars. In 2015, he became just the second Friar ever to record more than 2,000+ points and 1,000+ rebounds in a career. He ranks second all-time in scoring (2,059 points) and fifth all-time in rebounding (1,054 rebounds). This season, Henton established Providence career records for games played (135), starts (134) and minutes played (4,909). In 2011, he was the first recruit under newly hired Head Coach Ed Cooley. Three years later as a junior, he earned BIG EAST All-Tournament Team honors while helping the Friars capture their first BIG EAST title since 1994 and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004. In 2015, Henton had another strong season for the Friars. The senior captain's stellar play helped propel the Friars to an at-large berth in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. It marked the first time since the 1989 and 1990 seasons that the team made consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. He was named United States Basketball Writers Association District 1 Player of The Year and earned USBWA All-District 1 Team honors. He also was named First Team All-BIG EAST and he was named one of five finalists for the 2015 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Henton led the league in scoring in overall action (19.7 ppg) and he led in conference play (20.1 ppg.). He is the sixth Friar all-time to lead the league in scoring and the third Friar in the last five years to accomplish the feat. The senior forward also led the league in minutes played (37.0 mpg) and ranked tied for seventh in rebounding (6.5 rpg). Henton scored 21 or more points in 18 of the 34 games this season. His two highest point totals this season were 38 points versus Notre Dame on November 23 and 35 points against Creighton on December 31. Henton's 669 points scored in 2014-15 ranks 10th-best all-time at Providence College.
Players Mentioned
