Rider’s Stella Johnson and Justin Carey Named 2019-20 MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year
Edison, N.J. (July 6, 2020) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today that Rider University’s Stella Johnson and Justin Carey have been named the 2019-20 MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year.
Johnson and Carey claim the first MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year awards in Rider history. The last school to sweep both awards in the same year was Iona College in 2015-16 with Chartt Miller and Tara Jameson.
“Congratulations to Stella Johnson and Justin Carey of Rider University, two very deserving student-athletes,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “I’d also like to congratulate Rider for not only sweeping the Student-Athlete of the Year awards, but for bringing home the distinction for the first time in school history. It’s clear that Stella and Justin showed dedication to achieving success both in the classroom and in athletics, receiving many accolades this season and in seasons past. The MAAC wishes them nothing but good fortune as Justin sets out on his professional career and Stella begins her journey in the WNBA. Their athletic and academic achievements are a great representation of student-athletes competing in the MAAC.”
Both Johnson and Carey exemplified the MAAC’s mantra of excellence in academics and athletics. Johnson finished her tenure in Lawrenceville with a 3.56 GPA, majoring in sports media. Carey finished with a 3.53 GPA, majoring in marketing and sports management.
"The MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year awards for Stella and Justin are so well-deserved and I know I speak for everyone in the Rider community in saying I'm incredibly proud of them” said Rider Senior Associate AD/External Operations and Development/SWA Karin Torchia. “Each embodies what it means to be a true student-athlete and have excelled in their sport and in the classroom during their entire careers at Rider. To get our first-ever award winners on both sides in the same year as well as winning our first overall MAAC Commissioner's Cup shows what a special year it was for Rider Athletics."
A New Jersey Native from Denville, Johnson was named the MAAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for the second-straight year in 2020. She led the Broncs to a share of the MAAC Regular Season Championship, the first in Rider history. The phenom guard did so behind a season in which she led the entire NCAA in scoring, averaging 24.8 points per game. In the shortened 2020 Hercules Tires MAAC Basketball Championships, Johnson broke the MAAC postseason single-game scoring record with a 37-point performance in a 79-74 win over Niagara. Johnson was a MAAC All-Academic recipient, earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Associated Press, was named a finalist for both the Nancy Liberman Award and Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award, and was named the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year.
“What a great honor for Stella and Rider Women's Basketball,” said Rider Women’s Basketball Head Coach Lynn Milligan. “Being the MAAC Student Athlete of the Year just once again solidifies the versatility and success Stella has had both on the court and in the classroom over these last four years. Her contribution to our program on the court has been well documented. Her academic success and involvement in the community show how her true character and work ethic are at another level. We are very proud of Stella and how she continues to represent Rider Women's Basketball and our University every day.”
Johnson was selected by the Phoenix Mercury with the 29
th overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft. After being waived by the Mercury in an effort to get under the 12-player cap at the June 1 deadline, Johnson signed with the Chicago Sky on June 29. The first-ever WNBA draft selection from Rider, Johnson will look to take part in her first season at the game’s top level.
Carey, a native of Landenberg, Pennsylvania, helped guide the Broncs to their ninth-straight MAAC Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship this past February, where he took home four gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal. For his efforts at the championship, he was named the 2020 MAAC Most Outstanding Swimmer. The senior swimmer set a MAAC record in the 100m backstroke and was part of two record setting free relay teams in the 400m and 800m. In addition to MAAC records, Carey set new records in Rider’s Coppola Pool in the 50m back, the 100m back, 100m free, the 100m fly, and as part of the 200m medley relay this season. Carey finished his senior season with seven MAAC Swimmer of the Week awards, totaling 13 for his career. He was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team for 2019-20, the third time he has achieved that honor. He is the first swimming and diving student-athlete to be named the Men’s MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year in MAAC history.
“Justin was an exceptional swimmer, partially because he had a relentless attention to detail,” said Rider Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Head Coach Steve Fletcher. “Every stroke he took in workouts, every transition at every wall and every start was done deliberately and with intention. It takes an incredible amount of mental energy to manage yourself in workouts this way with as much time as Justin and his team mates spend in the pool. He is a technically gifted swimmer and maxed out that strength. With Justin's graduation, he leaves his teammates with difficult standards to chase through multiple record setting performances over his career.”
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: Jake Burlingame (Baseball) & Leah Simmons (Volleyball)
Fairfield University: Evan Fair (Swim & Dive) & Manuela Nicolini (Volleyball)
Iona College: Jack O’Leary (XC/Track & Field) & Egle Morenaite (XC/Track & Field)
Manhattan College: Luke Hanson (Lacrosse) & Courtney Warley (Basketball)
Marist College: Peyton Smith (Lacrosse) & Rebekah Hand (Basketball)
Monmouth University: Kyle Mueller (XC/Track & Field) & Amanda Knaub (Soccer)
Niagara University: Peter Battaglia (Baseball) & Hannah Charlton (Swim & Dive)
Quinnipiac University: Eamon Whelan (Soccer) & Alejandra Rodriguez (Volleyball)
Saint Peter’s University: Dominic Laws (Soccer) & Taiah Thornton (Basketball)
Siena College: Elijah Burns (Basketball) & Sydney Johnson (XC/Track & Field)
| 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 |
| 2019-20 |
Justin Carey |
Rider University |
Swimming & Diving |
| *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 |
| 2019-20 |
Stella Johnson |
Rider University |
Basketball |
| *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) celebrates its 40
th year of competition during the 2020-21 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.