Completed Event: Men's Cross Country versus Friar Invitational on September 5, 2025 ,
Men's Cross Country
vs Friar Invitational
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Providence College Athletics
Three Friar Student-Athletes Named BIG EAST Sports Excellence Award Winners
7/26/2022 10:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Track and Field
Marcelo Rocha, Alex O'Neill and Matt Grillo each were recognized for their respective sports.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -Â The BIG EAST Conference announced the winners of the 2021-22 Sports Excellence Awards today [July 26], which recognize academic and athletic achievement as well as community service. Of the 22 overall award winners, three of the honorees represent Providence College. Marcelo Rocha (Peabody, Mass.) earned award for men's cross country, Alex O'Neill (Ennis, Ireland) claimed the recognition for women's outdoor track and Matt Grillo (Setauket, N.Y.) represented men's lacrosse.
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The Sport Excellence Awards are given to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The winners are chosen by the BIG EAST Faculty Athletics Representative Council.
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Rocha is a two-time recipient of the BIG EAST Sport Excellence Award. He is a five-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and graduated Summa Cum Laude. In 2021 Rocha was awarded the Providence College Male Athlete of the Year for individual sports. His athletic accomplishments include finishing fourth at the 2021 BIG EAST Cross Country Championships, earning him ALL-BIG EAST honors and was twice named BIG EAST Athlete of the Week during the 2021 season. Rocha also finished ninth at the NCAA Northeast Regional in 2021 and finished 61st at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, after earning an individual at-large selection. Rocha became the first Friar on the men's team at Providence to earn an individual qualification to the NCAA's since 2016.Â
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O'Neill is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection at Providence College. During the 2022 outdoor track season, O'Neill was a member of the 4 x 800-meter relay team that won the BIG EAST Championship, while also setting a facility record in the event (8:35.25) and earning All-BIG EAST honors. O'Neill won the 800-meter event at the Friar Invitational and also was a member of the 4 x 800 relay team that set a school record at Penn Relays. Additionally, she was a finalist in the 800 meters at the BIG EAST Championship and qualified for the First Round of the NCAA's in that event.
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Grillo had an impressive season for the men's lacrosse program. During his senior season in 2022, Grillo recorded career highs in goals (36) and points (45) to go along with nine assists. He ranks 14th all-time at Providence College in career scoring with 135 points on 109 goals and 26 assists. Grillo is one of just five players in program history to score 100-or-more goals during his career and ranks third all-time at Providence in goals scored (109). Grillo was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection in 2022 and has been featured on the BIG EAST All-Tournament team, twice, during his career (2019, 2021). Grillo also excels in the classroom, earning Athletic Director's Honor Roll during each of his eight semesters in addition to three appearances on the Dean's List. His was inducted in the Chi Alpha Sigma and graduated from Providence, Cum Laude, in May.
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Below is a complete list of 2021-22 winners:
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The Sport Excellence Awards are given to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The winners are chosen by the BIG EAST Faculty Athletics Representative Council.
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Rocha is a two-time recipient of the BIG EAST Sport Excellence Award. He is a five-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and graduated Summa Cum Laude. In 2021 Rocha was awarded the Providence College Male Athlete of the Year for individual sports. His athletic accomplishments include finishing fourth at the 2021 BIG EAST Cross Country Championships, earning him ALL-BIG EAST honors and was twice named BIG EAST Athlete of the Week during the 2021 season. Rocha also finished ninth at the NCAA Northeast Regional in 2021 and finished 61st at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, after earning an individual at-large selection. Rocha became the first Friar on the men's team at Providence to earn an individual qualification to the NCAA's since 2016.Â
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O'Neill is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection at Providence College. During the 2022 outdoor track season, O'Neill was a member of the 4 x 800-meter relay team that won the BIG EAST Championship, while also setting a facility record in the event (8:35.25) and earning All-BIG EAST honors. O'Neill won the 800-meter event at the Friar Invitational and also was a member of the 4 x 800 relay team that set a school record at Penn Relays. Additionally, she was a finalist in the 800 meters at the BIG EAST Championship and qualified for the First Round of the NCAA's in that event.
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Grillo had an impressive season for the men's lacrosse program. During his senior season in 2022, Grillo recorded career highs in goals (36) and points (45) to go along with nine assists. He ranks 14th all-time at Providence College in career scoring with 135 points on 109 goals and 26 assists. Grillo is one of just five players in program history to score 100-or-more goals during his career and ranks third all-time at Providence in goals scored (109). Grillo was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection in 2022 and has been featured on the BIG EAST All-Tournament team, twice, during his career (2019, 2021). Grillo also excels in the classroom, earning Athletic Director's Honor Roll during each of his eight semesters in addition to three appearances on the Dean's List. His was inducted in the Chi Alpha Sigma and graduated from Providence, Cum Laude, in May.
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Below is a complete list of 2021-22 winners:
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| Sport | Student-Athlete | Institution |
| Baseball | Luke Franzoni | Xavier |
| Men's Basketball | Collin Gillespie | Villanova |
| Women's Basketball | Maddy Siegrist | Villanova |
| Men's Cross Country | Marcelo Rocha | Providence |
| Women's Cross Country | Lauren Ginefra | Seton Hall |
| Men's Indoor Track & Field | Sean Dolan | Villanova |
| Women's Indoor Track  & Field | Sade Meeks | Villanova |
| Men's Outdoor Track & Field | Barry Keane | Butler |
| Women's Outdoor Track & Field | Alex O'Neill | Providence |
| Field Hockey | Ciara Weets | Georgetown |
| Men's Golf | Hunter Eichorn | Marquette |
| Women's Golf | Jessie Kweon | St. John's |
| Men's Lacrosse | Matt Grillo | Providence |
| Women's Lacrosse | Landyn White | UCONN |
| Men's Soccer | Dante Polvara | Georgetown |
| Women's Soccer | Morgan Turner | DePaul |
| Softball | Maranda Gutierrez | DePaul |
| Men's Swimming & Diving | Michael Ackert | Villanova |
| Women's Swimming & Diving | Kelly Montesi | Villanova |
| Men's Tennis | Vito Tonejc | DePaul |
| Women's Tennis | Marija Jovicic | DePaul |
| Volleyball | Hope Werch | Marquette |
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Players Mentioned
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Men's Cross Country
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