Providence College Athletics

College Honors Top Athletes At 39th Annual Athletic Awards Banquet

College Honors Top Athletes At 39th Annual Athletic Awards Banquet

More than 300 athletes from PC's 21 varsity sports attended the dinner.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence College honored its top athletes at the 39th annual Athletic Awards Banquet at the College's Peterson Recreation Center on Monday, May 1.

Cross country All-American Heather Cappello (So., Lockport, N.Y.) and two-time cross country All-American Keith Kelly (Sr., Drogheda, Ireland) were honored as the College's Female and Male Athletes of the Year for Individual Sports. Sara DeCosta (So., Warwick, R.I.), a two-time All-American in women's ice hockey, was selected as the school's Female Athlete of the Year for Team Sports for the second consecutive year. Kevin Jones (Sr., Westford, Mass.), a First Team All-New England honoree and a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection from the men's soccer team was named the recipient of the Male Athlete of the Year for Team Sports.

Along with Athlete of the Year Awards, four other major awards were presented at the banquet. Softball player Bonnie Skrenta (Sr., St. James, N.Y.) received the Paul Connolly Award as the female athlete who has distinguished herself among her peers through sportsmanship, courage and honor. Jason Ialongo (Sr., Cranston, R.I.), a standout defenseman on the men's hockey team, was honored as the Mal Brown Award winner given annually to the male athlete whose career of intercollegiate competition portrayed sportsmanship, courage and honor. The Sine Quo Non Awards, given annually to the male and female athletes who have distinguished themselves among their peers without receiving proper recognition, were presented to PC all-time lacrosse leading scorer Ken Leahy (Sr., Cohasset, Mass.) and the entire Providence College women's volleyball team.

Cappello placed 29th at the NCAA Cross Country Championship in November and earned her first All-America accolade. Also this year in cross country, she helped the Friars win the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship by capturing the individual title. At the BIG EAST Cross Country Championship, Cappello finished third and earned All-BIG EAST accolades. On the track, she competed in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championship.

Kelly placed eighth overall and earned his second All-America accolade at the 1999 NCAA Cross Country Championship. Kelly was the Friars' top cross country runner this year. Kelly won three of the six cross country races he ran in 1999, including the New England Championship and the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship. During the indoor track season, Kelly won the BIG EAST 3,000 and 5,000 meter titles, as well as the IC4A 5,000 meter championship. He also ran the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championship.

DeCosta was a finalist for the 2000 Patty Kazmaier Award, given annually to the nation's top women's college hockey player. Also this year, DeCosta captured First Team All-America honors, was named to the ECAC All-Decade team, earned All-New England accolades and was selected as an ECAC All-Star. A five-time ECAC goaltender of the week in 1999-00, DeCosta played in 30 games for the Friars, posting a 17-10-3 record. In addition, she led the nation with a .946 save percentage and was fifth in the country with a 1.50 goals against average.

Jones served as the team captain and led the men's soccer team in points (25), goals (eight) and assists (nine) this season. For his efforts he earned First Team All-New England honors and Second Team All-BIG EAST accolades. Jones missed the entire 1997 season with a knee injury, but still ranks fourth all-time at PC in goals (18), assists (15) and points (51) after three seasons of play. He helped the men's soccer team post an 8-8-1 mark and a 5-6 record in BIG EAST action in 1999.

Ialongo has been one of PC's top defenseman the last two seasons. In 1997, Ialongo was diagnosed with cancer. He began his comeback as a sophomore and worked his way back into the lineup. In 1998-99, he recorded a career best 11 goals and 18 assists. Also during his junior season, Ialongo was the leader on PC's power-play unit which finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation at 25.4 percent. As a senior, he led all Friar defenseman in scoring with 21 points (one goal, 20 assists). Following his senior season, Ialongo played seven games with the Providence Bruins of the AHL and notched one goal and one assist.

Skrenta, a senior co-captain, has been a key defensive player on the team. She was converted from an infielder to an outfielder to help the team and became a lefthanded "slap" hitter to get on base and make things happen. Through 43 games this season, Skrenta is hitting .182 with 10 runs, three RBIs and one stolen base. Off the field, she has been very community oriented as she has led food drives and participated in walks for cancer. Skrenta also headed up a team Christmas ornament party which donated gifts to sick kids at Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Leahy, a two-time captain for the Friars, became PC's all-time leading scorer this season. In 57 career games, he has registered 186 points. Leahy also ranks second all-time in goals (113) and sixth all-time in assists. This season, he leads the team in scoring with a career best 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists). It marks the second consecutive season that Leahy has led the team in scoring.

The PC volleyball team, picked for last place in the BIG EAST coaches' preseason poll turned in a 16-12 season and went 8-3 in the league to finish in third place and return to the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 1994. Led by All-BIG EAST standouts Colleen Lee (Sr. Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Sarah Katinger (So., Stratford, Conn.), the team started the year with a 2-7 record, but then went on to win 14 of its last 19 matches to cap the season. Lee, who also received Providence College's Helen Bert Award as the senior female athlete with the highest grade point average (3.97 in English) was also selected Second Team GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American. Coach Ken Nichols was selected as the BIG EAST Coach of the Year.

More than 300 athletes from PC's 21 varsity sports attended the dinner. Watches were presented to the graduating senior athletes.

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