Iona’s Johannes Motschmann and Marist’s Hailey Wagner Named 2018-19 MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year
EDISON, N.J. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced that Johannes Motschmann of Iona College and Hailey Wagner of Marist College have been named the 2018-19 MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year.
Motschmann brings the male MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award back to Iona for the fourth consecutive year and 11
th time overall, with the previous three being claimed by Chartt Miller. Wagner is the fifth female student-athlete from Marist to win the honor and first since Katie Conard collected the award in 2013.
“Johannes has excelled both athletically and academically throughout his time at Iona College and as a student-athlete of the MAAC. His work ethic and determination epitomizes the true meaning of student-athlete which is illustrated by his achievements both in the classroom and while competing as a cross country and track and field athlete,” notes MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “Throughout Hailey’s time at Marist College and competing on the women’s lacrosse team, she has shown a dedication to achieving success both in the classroom with a focus in a difficult curriculum and on the playing field. Her many athletic accolades compounded with her academic success is a great representation of a student-athlete competing in the MAAC.”
Both student-athletes exemplified the MAAC’s mantra of “excellence in academics and athletics”, performing at a high level equally on and off of the field. Motschmann earned his Master’s in Psychology in May 2019, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while competing for Iona’s indoor and outdoor track teams. Wagner was given the Marist President’s Academic Achievement Award, an honor given to the institution’s female senior student-athlete with the highest GPA, after graduating with a 3.98 as a biomedical sciences major.
A native of Magdenburg, Germany, Motschmann was named the 2019 MAAC Outdoor Track Most Outstanding Performer after setting a new championship record with a time of 8:44.61 in the men’s 3k steeplechase, nearly 20 seconds faster than the next competitor. He would also go on to win the 5k at the MAAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship, helping the Iona men to a strong third place finish on the weekend. Motschmann would continue his season by placing sixth in the 3k steeplechase at the 2019 NCAA Division I East Region Preliminary Round, advancing to the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
“Iona is remarkably proud of Johannes Motschmann for all he accomplished in his Iona career,” said Matthew Glovaski, Director of Athletics. “Johannes was instrumental in sustaining the winning tradition of cross country and track & field programs while also excelling in the classroom. A true student-athlete in every way, Gael Nation is grateful for everything he has done for the Maroon & Gold.”
Motschmann followed up a 2018 indoor campaign, in which he was named the 2018 MAAC Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer, with a 2019 run that included a first-place finish in the mile (4:11.17) and a second-place finish in the 3k (8:20.38), finishing only behind teammate Jordan Brannan. Throughout his career, Motschmann competed in four NCAA Cross Country Championships and three NCAA Outdoor Track and Field 3k steeplechase events. The Iona graduate never finished behind a competitor from another school in three MAAC Cross Country Championships.
A four-year starter for Marist’s women’s lacrosse team, Wagner enjoyed an impressive senior campaign after leading the entire NCAA in draw controls for the second consecutive year. Her 224 controls in 2019 broke the NCAA Division I record of 217 previously held by Syracuse’s Kayla Treanor, set in 2016. Wagner started all 18 games for the Red Foxes in 2019, finding the back of the net 35 times and tallying 12 assists for 47 points.
Wagner finished her final year as a First Team All-MAAC and MAAC All-Tournament Team selection, as well as being named the Marist Female Sportsperson of the Year. Her senior season accolades also included being named to the CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-American Third Team, IWLCA Northeast Second Team, ECAC First Team, and an honorable mention selection to the Inside Lacrosse All-American teams as a draw specialist.
"We are thrilled that Hailey has earned this prestigious award from the MAAC. As a two-time NCAA Division I statistical leader in draw controls, an Academic All-American, and a President's Academic Achievement Award winner, Hailey is an outstanding role model for Marist student-athletes. She has achieved at the highest level, both in the classroom and on the lacrosse field," noted Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray.
The Brookhaven, New York native finished her career with 573 draw controls, the second most in NCAA Division I history. Wagner played in 71 games for the Red Foxes, tied for most in school history, recording 162 points (6
th) on 102 goals (8
th) and 60 assists (6
th). In addition to her 2019 accolades, Wagner was a member of the All-MAAC Second Team in 2017 and 2018.
To be eligible for the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at a full-time MAAC member institution, compete in a sport sponsored by the MAAC, and completed one full academic year at the institution. The student-athlete must also have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale and be a significant starter or reserve for his/her team(s).
Honorable mention recognition was awarded to the following nominees:
Canisius College: Andrew Sipowicz (Baseball), Siobhan Quinn (Cross Country/Track)
Fairfield University: Jack Gethings (Baseball), Megan Beach (Women’s Lacrosse)
Iona College: Claire Archibald (Volleyball)
Manhattan College: Ryan Addlesberger (Track and Field), Emma Kaishian (Women’s Lacrosse)
Marist College: Frankie Gregoire (Baseball)
Monmouth University: Nicola Pipoli (Men’s Tennis), Allie Wilson (Track and Field)
Niagara University: Matthew Brash (Baseball), Rachel MacCheyne (Women’s Lacrosse)
Quinnipiac University: Eamon Whelan (Men’s Soccer), Jen Fay (Women’s Basketball)
Rider University: Elliott Otmani (Men’s Soccer), Stella Johnson (Women’s Basketball)
Saint Peter’s University: Jordan Jowers (Men’s Soccer), Victoria Scarratt (Women’s Soccer)
Siena College: Tommy Miller (Baseball), Sarah Forman (Cross Country/Track)
| Male Student-Athletes of the Year |
| Year |
Student-Athlete |
School |
Sport |
| 2001-02 |
Matthew Spring |
Manhattan College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2002-03 |
David Bennett |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2003-04 |
Magnus Ahlen |
Manhattan College |
Track & Field |
| 2004-05 |
Richard Kiplagat |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2005-06 |
Richard Kiplagat |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2006-07 |
Timothy Bayley |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2007-08 |
Michael Mulieri |
Loyola University (MD)* |
Golf |
| 2008-09 |
Andrew Ledwith |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2009-10 |
Ryan Sheridan |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2010-11 |
Sean Jamieson |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2011-12 |
Mitch Goose |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2012-13 |
Mitch Goose |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2013-14 |
Connor Panas |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2014-15 |
Connor Panas |
Canisius College |
Baseball |
| 2015-16 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2016-17 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2017-18 |
Chartt Miller |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2018-19 |
Johannes Motschmann |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| *Former MAAC Member |
| Female Student-Athletes of the Year |
| Year |
Student-Athlete |
School |
Sport |
| 2001-02 |
Melissa Santos |
Fairfield University |
Softball |
| Valentina Zaharieva |
Saint Peter’s University |
Volleyball |
| 2002-03 |
Milena Matijevic |
Niagara University |
Tennis |
| 2003-04 |
Jenel Stevens |
Canisius College |
Basketball |
| Milena Matijevic |
Niagara University |
Tennis |
| 2004-05 |
Miriam Al-Shikarchy |
Niagara University |
Tennis |
| 2005-06 |
Ali Andrzejewski |
Loyola University (MD)* |
Soccer |
| Liz Hubbard |
Siena College |
Volleyball |
| 2006-07 |
Alisa Kresge |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2007-08 |
Katie Miranto |
Canisius College |
Softball |
| 2008-09 |
Ahna Johnson |
Fairfield University |
Soccer |
| 2009-10 |
Rachele Fitz |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2010-11 |
Teresa Healey |
Niagara University |
Softball |
| 2011-12 |
Corielle Yarde |
Marist College |
Basketball |
| 2012-13 |
Katie Conard |
Marist College |
Swimming |
| 2013-14 |
Kate Avery |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2014-15 |
Kate Avery |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2015-16 |
Tara Jameson |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| 2016-17 |
Erica Evans |
Canisius College |
Lacrosse |
| 2017-18 |
Megan Theiller |
Fairfield University |
Volleyball |
| 2018-19 |
Hailey Wagner |
Marist College |
Lacrosse |
| *Former MAAC Member |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 39
th year of competition during the 2019-20 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.