Panas and Avery Repeat as MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year in 2014-15
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ - Canisius College baseball notable Connor Panas and Iona College standout women’s cross country/track runner Kate Avery have been named the 2014-15 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Student-Athletes of the Year by a vote of the league's sports information directors, announced today. Panas and Avery become the first duo in league history to win the awards in consecutive years after both received the honors in 2013-14.
The MAAC Committee on Athletic Administration created the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award in October 2001 to recognize overall excellence in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community. Each MAAC member nominated one male and one female for the honor. The conference sports information directors vote to determine one overall winner for men and women. The conference awards honorable mention accolades to each nominee. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 overall grade point average, be in their second year of residence at the institution, and be a starter or important reserve on their team.
“It is an unprecedented event to have the same two MAAC student-athletes selected for this prestigious honor,” notes MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “However their level of excellence in the classroom and in their sports warrants such recognition. 2015 MAAC Baseball Championship All-Tournament MVP Connor Panas had an excellent career in the league and lead his team to the NCAA bid when he finished the MAAC tournament hitting .500 (13-for-26), with ten runs scored and 12 RBI to go with three extra base hits. Kate Avery is the first MAAC runner to win the individual championship at the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Championship and her dominance within the MAAC has remained unchallenged. Both Connor and Kate are examples of the MAAC member school’s commitment for student-athletes to have opportunities to excel in their sports and become leaders in their future careers.”
Panas, a senior third/first baseman from Toronto, Ontario, became a two-time ABCA All-American after being named to the third team for the second-straight year. The 2013-14 MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year became the first player in program and second in MAAC history to earn NCBWA District II Player of the Year honors. Panas finished his final campaign leading the conference with a .372 batting average. As a senior, he led the MAAC in slugging percentage (.632), runs scored (67), hits (92), RBI (68), triples (7), and total bases (156). He also finished the year with 19 stolen bases and concluded the season with 11 home runs, good for second in the league, en route to his second consecutive selection on the All-MAAC First-Team. At the 2015 MAAC Championship, tournament MVP Panas, led all players with a .500 batting average, 12 runs batted in, and eight runs scored. Additionally, he became the first Canisius player to hit a home run in the NCAA Tournament with his leadoff home run against Missouri State. For his career, Panas set a school career-record with his 14 triples. He earned All-American honors twice in 2014 by being named a Louisville Slugger Second-Team All-American and ABCA Third-Team All-American. Panas was an ECAC Division I First-Team All-Stars and ABCA Northeast All-Region First Team member in 2014 and was named the 2014 MAAC Player of the Year. In the classroom, he earned his degree in physical education and health and owned a 3.80 grade point average which earned him a spot on the MAAC All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season and a selection to the CoSIDA Academic All-American First-Team, becoming the only player in program history to earn academic All-American honors twice in a career. A ninth round selection to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, Panas became the highest drafted Griff since 1994. Panas becomes the third male student-athlete to earn the honor in consecutive years, joining the Iona College cross country/track duo of Richard Kiplagat (2004-05 and 2005-06) and Mitch Goose (2011-12 and 2012-13).
“Being named MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year is truly an outstanding accomplishment for Connor, and the Canisius College community is exceptionally proud to have him as a Golden Griffin Alumnus,” said Canisius Director of Athletics Bill Maher. “Knowing the effort that Connor put into his academic and athletic career at Canisius, this recognition has defined a new level of achievement that all of our student-athletes can now strive to achieve. I cannot think of a finer representative for all that Canisius College stands for than Connor Panas.”
"This award is a tremendous honor bestowed upon Connor,” Canisius College head baseball coach Mike McRae said. “It clearly reflects his dedication both on and off the field. We are extremely proud of Connor's accomplishments during his storied career here at Canisius. He is truly worthy of this prestigious award."
Avery, a junior distance runner from Newton Aycliffe, England, was the 2014 NCAA Cross Country champion, becoming the first female in Iona history to win a national championship. As a result of the win, Avery earned the prestigious Honda Sports Award last fall, presented annually by the Collegiate Women Sports Association to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.
Avery's 2014-15 season accolades included: two All-American honors (cross country, outdoor track 5k), the MAAC Cross Country Championship Most Outstanding Performer, NCAA Northeast Regional Athlete of the Year (cross country), two MAAC championships (cross country, indoor track mile), and being named the 2014 USTFCCA Division I Scholar Athlete of the Year. She also set three Iona track records during the season (indoor 3k, outdoor 5k, and outdoor 10k) and led the Gaels as a team to a MAAC Cross Country title, an NCAA Northeast Regional title, and a ninth place finish at the NCAA Championship. Internationally, she finished second at the 2014 European Cross Country Championship in Samokov, Bulgaria, 13th at the European Indoor Championships in the 3,000-meter event in Prague, Czech Republic, and her outdoor track 10k time of 31:41.44 made her the first Iona female to finish the event in under 32 minutes and qualified her for the 2015 World Championships in China and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janerio, Brazil.
For her career, Avery is a five-time All-American (cross country in 2013 and 2014, indoor track 3k in 2014, and outdoor track 5k in 2014 and 2015), three-time MAAC Championship Most Outstanding Performer (cross country in 2013 and 2014, and indoor track in 2014), and a five-time MAAC champion (cross country in 2013 and 2014, indoor track mile in 2014 and 2015, and indoor track 3k in 2014). Academically, Avery holds a 3.50 grade point average while majoring in marketing. She is a six-time MAAC All-Academic selection, a two-time member of the USTFCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, and a two-time All-Academic Track and Field individual honor recipient.
Avery becomes only the second female to be named student-athlete of the year in back-to-back years, joining Niagara University women’s tennis player Milena Matijevic (2002-03 and 2003-04).
"It is a fantastic accomplishment for Kate to be a two-time winner of the MAAC Female Student Athlete of the Year Award," said Iona College Cross Country / Track & Field head coach Ricardo Santos. "She has worked extremely hard and made a lot of sacrifices and it is a well-deserved honor for her and for Iona College."
"Kate remains an inspiration to the Gael Nation," said Iona College Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. "Becoming the first Iona female student-athlete to win a national championship is a remarkable accomplishment and this award is a great honor for a tremendous student-athlete."
Honorable mention recognition was awarded to the following nominees: Canisius College – Tori Quinn (women's lacrosse); Fairfield University – Matt Turner (men’s soccer), Katherine Pitz (women’s rowing); Iona College – Ignacio Maganto (men’s soccer); Manhattan College – Love Litzell (men's track & field), Elena Bowman (softball); Marist College – Joseph Dube (men's tennis), Michelle Gaye (women’s cross country/track); Monmouth University – Taylor Bernstein (men’s track & field), Trish O’Dwyer (field hockey); Niagara University – Michael Fuhrman (baseball), Meghan McGuinness (women’s basketball); Quinnipiac University – Carmen French (men’s lacrosse), Jenny Mears (women’s track & field); Rider University – Christian Flath (men’s soccer), Tara Ballay (women's soccer); Saint Peter's College – Carlos Carerra (men’s tennis), Devon Williams (women's soccer); Siena College – Justin Esquerra (baseball), Tehresa Coles (women’s basketball).