Army West Point Athletics
Army Athletic Association Holds 2010 Black Knight Awards
May 17, 2010 | General
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army Athletic Association held the 2010 Black Knight Awards ceremony on Sunday night at Robinson Hall Auditorium. The department’s premiere year-end event honored teams and individuals for an outstanding 2008-09 season. Both Patriot League Champions and NCAA Tournament participants, Lacrosse and Volleyball took home men's and Women's Team of the Year, respectively. Volleyball senior Maureen Bannon was named Ms. Black Knight, while wrestling senior Matt Kyler garnered the title of Mr. Black Knight.
In its third year of existence, the Black Knight Awards honor the best that Army’s 25 athletic teams had to offer in 2009-10 in an award-show format similar to the ESPY Awards. Rich DeMarco, assistant athletic director for marketing, multimedia and broadcasting, emceed the event and guided an audience of more than 400 people through the hour-long affair.
Director of Athletics, Kevin Anderson, opened the night by handing out commemorative athletic director’s coins to a large group of league major award winners, scholar-athletes, academic all-Americans and conference champions. Assistant Athletic Director for Development and Revenue Generation Doug Fillis followed with the presentation of the Army "A" Club Award, which went to Jerry and Susan Elliott.
A pair of seniors were then honored for their work both in and out of the realm of athletics, as track and field's Annie Taft was recognized with the Community Service Award after heading up the Hudson Valley Region Special Olympic for the last two years. She was also the Cadet-In-Charge for this year's Toys For Tots drive. Next on the docket was the Maggie Dixon Inspiration Award, which was given in member of the late Army women’s basketball coach. Senior wrestler Richard Starks garnered the award after battling back from mid-season heart surgery to become one of two Army grapplers to earn a berth in the NCAA Championships.
The Army Athletic Association established the Gene Uchacz Memorial Award on Sunday night with the first winner going to track and field senior Andrew Ferrara. Uchacz spent more than 20 years working in the Army athletic department and lost a 10-month battle with cancer last month. Members of the Uchacz family were on hand to present the first award to Ferrara.
Each nominee was highlighted through a video presentation leading into each award and each performance award included a men’s and women’s category. The evening followed with awards for Rookie of the Year, Yearling of the Year, Cow of the Year, Performance of the Year and Play of the Year. All of the winners were presented with a commemorative Black Knight Award for their accomplishments.
The evening closed with a special presentation to Superintendent Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck as he nears the end of his final athletic season before retirement. Senior softball player Jennae Tomlinson and a plethora of other team captains in attendance made their way to the stage and presented general Hagenbeck with a commemmorative Army football jersey, featuring the Corps of Cadets patch. A video presentation earlier in the night also honored departing Brig. Gen. Patrick Finnegan as he leaves his post as Dean of Academic Board to take on the role of president at Longwood University.
2010 Black Knight Award Winners
Army A Club Award
Jerry & Susan Elliott
Community Service Award
Annie Taft (Track & Field)
Maggie Dixon Inspiration Award
Richard Starks (Wrestling)
Gene Uchacz Memorial Award
Andrew Ferrara (Track & Field)
Play of the Year
Drew Pierson (Hockey) - Game-winning goal vs. Air Force - Jan. 29, 2010
Men’s Performance of the Year
Men's Basketball Team - "Star" game win over Navy - Feb. 20, 2010
Women’s Performance of the Year
Jurelle Mendoza (Tennis) - Patriot League Championship - April 18, 2010
Men’s Rookie of the Year
Garrett Thul (Lacrosse)
Women’s Rookie of the Year
Ariana Mankus (Volleyball)
Men’s Yearling of the Year
Andrew Rodriguez (Football)
Women’s Yearling of the Year
Shawna Bleyl (Softball)
Men’s Cow of the Year
Jeremy Boltus (Lacrosse)
Women’s Cow of the Year
Erin Anthony (Basketball)
Mr. Black Knight
Matt Kyler (Wrestling)
Ms. Black Knight
Maureen Bannon (Volleyball)
Men’s Team of the Year
Lacrosse
Women’s Team of the Year
Volleyball
In its third year of existence, the Black Knight Awards honor the best that Army’s 25 athletic teams had to offer in 2009-10 in an award-show format similar to the ESPY Awards. Rich DeMarco, assistant athletic director for marketing, multimedia and broadcasting, emceed the event and guided an audience of more than 400 people through the hour-long affair.
Director of Athletics, Kevin Anderson, opened the night by handing out commemorative athletic director’s coins to a large group of league major award winners, scholar-athletes, academic all-Americans and conference champions. Assistant Athletic Director for Development and Revenue Generation Doug Fillis followed with the presentation of the Army "A" Club Award, which went to Jerry and Susan Elliott.
A pair of seniors were then honored for their work both in and out of the realm of athletics, as track and field's Annie Taft was recognized with the Community Service Award after heading up the Hudson Valley Region Special Olympic for the last two years. She was also the Cadet-In-Charge for this year's Toys For Tots drive. Next on the docket was the Maggie Dixon Inspiration Award, which was given in member of the late Army women’s basketball coach. Senior wrestler Richard Starks garnered the award after battling back from mid-season heart surgery to become one of two Army grapplers to earn a berth in the NCAA Championships.
The Army Athletic Association established the Gene Uchacz Memorial Award on Sunday night with the first winner going to track and field senior Andrew Ferrara. Uchacz spent more than 20 years working in the Army athletic department and lost a 10-month battle with cancer last month. Members of the Uchacz family were on hand to present the first award to Ferrara.
Each nominee was highlighted through a video presentation leading into each award and each performance award included a men’s and women’s category. The evening followed with awards for Rookie of the Year, Yearling of the Year, Cow of the Year, Performance of the Year and Play of the Year. All of the winners were presented with a commemorative Black Knight Award for their accomplishments.
The evening closed with a special presentation to Superintendent Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck as he nears the end of his final athletic season before retirement. Senior softball player Jennae Tomlinson and a plethora of other team captains in attendance made their way to the stage and presented general Hagenbeck with a commemmorative Army football jersey, featuring the Corps of Cadets patch. A video presentation earlier in the night also honored departing Brig. Gen. Patrick Finnegan as he leaves his post as Dean of Academic Board to take on the role of president at Longwood University.
2010 Black Knight Award Winners
Army A Club Award
Jerry & Susan Elliott
Community Service Award
Annie Taft (Track & Field)
Maggie Dixon Inspiration Award
Richard Starks (Wrestling)
Gene Uchacz Memorial Award
Andrew Ferrara (Track & Field)
Play of the Year
Drew Pierson (Hockey) - Game-winning goal vs. Air Force - Jan. 29, 2010
Men’s Performance of the Year
Men's Basketball Team - "Star" game win over Navy - Feb. 20, 2010
Women’s Performance of the Year
Jurelle Mendoza (Tennis) - Patriot League Championship - April 18, 2010
Men’s Rookie of the Year
Garrett Thul (Lacrosse)
Women’s Rookie of the Year
Ariana Mankus (Volleyball)
Men’s Yearling of the Year
Andrew Rodriguez (Football)
Women’s Yearling of the Year
Shawna Bleyl (Softball)
Men’s Cow of the Year
Jeremy Boltus (Lacrosse)
Women’s Cow of the Year
Erin Anthony (Basketball)
Mr. Black Knight
Matt Kyler (Wrestling)
Ms. Black Knight
Maureen Bannon (Volleyball)
Men’s Team of the Year
Lacrosse
Women’s Team of the Year
Volleyball
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