Iona’s O’Leary, Marist’s Duffell, and Monmouth’s Ceraso Named 2020-21 MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year
EDISON, NJ (July 14, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today that Jack O’Leary of Iona College has been named the 2020-21 Male MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year, and Nicole Ceraso of Monmouth University, and Willow Duffell of Marist College have been named the 2020-21 Female Co-MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year.
Ceraso claims the first MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award in Monmouth’s history. Duffell becomes Marist’s sixth Female MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award winner and seventh overall. O’Leary earned Iona their conference-leading 15
th Student-Athlete of the Year award.
“Congratulations to Jack, Nicole, and Willow for being named the MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year,” Said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “These three student-athletes exemplify the MAAC principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics. The MAAC wishes them the best in their future endeavors.”
Duffell, an applied Mathematics major at Marist, had a 3.95 GPA. Ceraso graduated with an accounting degree from Monmouth with a 3.94 GPA and is currently perusing her MBA. O’Leary, a business analytics major at Iona, finished with a 3.50 GPA.
“I am so thrilled for Willow, as she is more than deserving of this award,” said Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray. “She has been the epitome of a Marist student-athlete in her time in Poughkeepsie, setting a great example of producing consistently high grades in the classroom while excelling in her athletic endeavors and leading her team to a MAAC championship in 2021. I wish her great success as she takes the next step in her journey at Harvard University.”
A Harriman, NY native Duffell helped lead the Marist Women’s Basketball program to both a MAAC Regular Season Title and a MAAC Tournament Championship. After the MAAC Championship, Duffell was named to the All-Championship Team and named tournament MVP to go along with her All-MAAC First Team and All-Academic Team selections this season. Duffell set career-highs in the 2020-21 season as she averaged 12.2 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game, which ranks ninth-best by a Red Fox in a single season. Her performance this season also led her to being named to the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association’s All-Met First Team. The senior finished her career at Marist seventh all-time in program history in rebounds with 730 and 10th all-time with a .472 field goal percentage shooting.
“I could not think of a greater honor for one of the best leaders our program has ever had. From the moment she stepped onto campus, Willow held herself to a high standard of excellence as a student and an athlete. She excelled in balancing her responsibilities, and her work ethic was inspiring to all of her teammates and our staff,” said Marist Women’s Basketball Head Coach Brian Giorgis. “While she always impressed me since she joined our Red Fox family, I was especially proud of her leadership during this past year. She and fellow captain Allie Best rallied our team during a pandemic and helped us persevere through many obstacles that came with it to guide us to a MAAC championship. This award further cements Willow’s legacy as a true all-time great, both in our program and among her MAAC peers.”
Ceraso, a native of Massapequa, NY helped Monmouth to the number three seed and a semifinal appearance in the 2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Tournament. Her performance in the regular season and postseason brought numerous accolades, as she was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, for the second time in her career, a unanimous All-MAAC First Team selection, a MAAC Tournament All-Championship Team selection, an All Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team selection, an IWLCA All-Region Second Team honoree, and a selection to the MAAC All-Academic Team.
“Nicole has been an unparalleled member of the Monmouth Women’s Lacrosse program,” remarked Monmouth’s Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Jordan Trautman. “She is an outstanding leader, excellent student, and a wonderful teammate and person. She has held herself to the highest standard for the last five years and we are so proud of her for the accomplishments she has garnered over her career as a Hawk. The impact she has made on this program will continue on for many years to come.”
Ceraso also sits as the program’s all-time leader in assists (178) and points (309), this year she finished with a MAAC-leading 5.31 points per game and tallied 69 points (27g, 42a). Her 75 career games are tied for fifth-most in Monmouth history, and her 75 career starts are tied for third-most.
“I’m very happy for Nicole for the tremendous achievement of winning the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award,” said Monmouth Director of Athletics Jeff Stapleton. “She embodies what we want a Monmouth student-athlete to be, dedicated both on and off the field, a leader to her peers, and an asset to the overall Monmouth University community. Nicole loves the game of women’s lacrosse so much she came back for a fifth-year, earned a master’s degree, and has already started her career. We wish her the best of luck.”
A native of Killucan, Ireland, O’Leary had another dominant year in both Cross Country and Outdoor Track & Field for Iona. The graduate student was named an NCAA Cross Country All-American, NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Second Team All-American, was the 2020-21 MAAC Cross Country Most Outstanding Performer, the 2021 USTFCCA Fred Tootell Award winner, won the 8K at the 2021 MAAC Cross Country Championship, placed first in the five-mile race at the Spider Patriot Classic and concluded his season when he placed 16
th in the 10,000-meter race at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. O’Leary was also named to both the MAAC Cross Country and Outdoor Track & Field All-Academic Teams.
"Jack has had an exceptional career here at Iona, but his performances this year tell the story of a student-athlete driven to keep being better. Jack has always been a hungry and driven athlete, but after COVID put a premature halt to his breakout track campaign in 2019, he has focused that hunger and drive on becoming an All-American, twice-over," Iona’s Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Joe Pienta said. "If Jack were a racehorse, he’s certainly made the jump from being relegated to the glue factory to a thoroughbred. Let’s hope he can bring home a triple-crown of All-America honors next year."
Iona also named him the Joseph E. O’Connell Award Winner, the award is given to an Iona senior student-athlete who had a fantastic athletic career while leaving a profound impact on their program and institution.
"All of us here at Iona are incredibly proud of Jack and all he has accomplished while donning the Maroon & Gold,” said Iona’s Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski. “We are proud of Jack and all of our student-athletes for navigating such a difficult year and competing admirably through every twist and turn. Jack's hard work, both in and out of competition, perfectly encapsulates the meaning of student-athlete."
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) & Kara Paradowski (Softball)
Fairfield University: Kaya Gore (Tennis) & Rachel Hakes (Basketball)
Iona College: Gemma Nuttall (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Manhattan College: Matt Padre (Baseball) & Annie Moore (Softball)
Marist College: Hunter Embury (Lacrosse)
Monmouth University: Hammond Deion (Basketball)
Niagara University: Peter Battaglia (Baseball) & Michelle Messenger (Lacrosse)
Quinnipiac University: Evan Vulgamore (Baseball) & Mackenzie DeWees (Basketball)
Saint Peter’s University: Dominic Laws (Soccer) & Taiah Thornton (Basketball)
Siena College: Tomas del Olmo (Tennis) & Kerry Gerety (Lacrosse)
|
MAAC 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 |
| 2020-21 |
Jack O’Leary |
Iona College |
Cross Country/Track |
| *Former MAAC Member |
|
MAAC 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 |
| 2020-21 |
Nicole Ceraso |
Monmouth University |
Lacrosse |
| Willow Duffell |
Marist College |
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) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 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.