Fitchburg State Hosts Annual Athletics Awards Banquet
Sixty-two senior athletes recognized at Senior Athletics Awards Banquet
FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State Athletics Department hosted its annual Senior Athletic Awards Banquet Monday evening as guests gathered at the Wallace Civic Center on the campus of Fitchburg State University for a night that showcased the best of Falcons' Athletics.
Sixty-two senior athletes were honored in the festivities, while nine Fitchburg State athletes were recognized with special awards, including the Paul K. Waring '38 Athlete of the Year Award, the Senior Scholar Athlete Award, the Leadership Award, the Rookie of the Year Award and the Kruczek Award:
Paul K. Waring '38 Male Athlete of the Year – Nick DiNicola, Ice Hockey
Junior Nick DiNicola (Wolcott, Conn.) helped lead the Fitchburg State ice hockey team to a Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament title as well as the first NCAA Division III Ice Hockey Tournament bid in the school's history
He concluded the 2017-18 season with a conference-leading 47 points on 11 goals and 36 assists as well as two game winning markers, while also being selected to the 2017-18 MASCAC All-Conference First Team as well as being named a finalist for the Joe Concannon Award.
In addition to these honors, DiNicola was also crowned an NCAA DIII Statistical Champion in assist per game, averaging 1.33 helpers per contest for the Green and Gold.
Paul K. Waring '38 Female Athlete of the Year – Annie Woolley, Women's Indoor & Outdoor Track/Volleyball
Senior Annie Woolley (Malden, Mass.) has etched her name into the Falcons indoor and outdoor women's track records book. Currently holding the Fitchburg State record in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.68 seconds, while also running the second fastest time in school history in the 100 meter hurdles at 14.03 seconds.
During the indoor season, Annie entered the 2017-18 NCAA DIII Indoor Track & Field National Championships, ranked first in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.68 seconds, while also recently moving into the top slot in the 100 meter hurdles for outdoor track with a time of 14.03 seconds.
Male Senior Scholar Athlete – Jake Hastings, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Senior Jake Hastings (Philipston, Mass.) was a four-year member of the men's cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams who has succeeded both on the field and in the classroom.
On the track, Jake has qualified for numerous post-season meets, including the MASCAC/New England Alliance Championships, the DIII New England Championships and the Open New England Championships as well as being named the MASCAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year during his junior season.
Hastings will graduate with Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems and a 3.35 GPA, while also a member of the Dean's List as well as a member of the MASCAC All-Academic Team. Jake was also named to the 2017 MASCAC Fall Sportsmanship Team.
Female Senior Scholar Athlete – Sadie Zbikowski Women's Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field
Senior Sadie Zbikowksi (Ashburnham, Mass.) is a member of the Fitchburg State Women's Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Teams who has demonstrated extraordinary effort and achievement in her academic, athletic and extracurricular activities.
A four-year member of the Fitchburg State women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field teams, Sadie has notched numerous post-season qualifying marks in the pole vault throughout her four-year career, including the MASCAC/Alliance Championships, the DIII New England Championships and the Open New England Championships.
Zbikowksi is a Business Mangement major who will be graduating with a 3.93 GPA. She is a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society and was named to the MASCAC All-Academic Team as well as a member of the both the Dean's List and President's List.
Male Leadership Award – Devin Summiel, Football
Senior Devin Summiel (Tewksbury, Mass.) is truly a leader in every sense of the word. A four-year member of the Fitchburg State football team, he exemplifies the meaning of leadership with his actions while bringing out the very best in each member of the team.
This season, Devin ranked first on the team in receptions with 55, receiving yards (588) and receiving touchdowns (7). Throughout his four-year career, Summiel rewrote the Falcons all-time record book, concluding his career as Fitchburg State's all-time career leader in receptions (188), receiving yards (2,719) and touchdown receptions (28)
Female Leadership Award – Lia Crutchfield, Women's Lacrosse
Senior Lia Crutchfield (East Longmeadow, Mass.) was a four-year member of the Fitchburg State University women's lacrosse team.
Through her hard work and outstanding leadership, she led by example both on and off the field. Crutchfield anchored a Falcon defense that held opponents to 8.85 goals per contest throughout her four-year career. Serving as a captain this season, she ranked fourth on the squad with 31 ground balls, while finishing third on the team in draw controls with 31 as well as adding seven caused turnovers in 17 games for the Green and Gold.
Male Rookie of the Year – Sascha Figi, Ice Hockey
Freshman Sascha Figi (Kloten, Switzerland) is in his first-year as a member of the Fitchburg State Ice Hockey team, helping to lead the team to its second MASCASC post-season tournament title as well as the Green and Gold's first ever trip into the NCAA DIII Ice Hockey post-season tournament.
In his rookie campaign, Figi ranked first on the team with 21 goals, while ranking second in points (40) and tied for second in assists with 19. For his efforts, Sascha was also selected the 2017-18 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Rookie of the Year.
Female Rookie of the Year – Mikaela Mitchell, Women's Basketball
Freshman Mikaela Mitchell (Millbury, Mass.) is a Nursing major. As a member of the Fitchburg State women's basketball team, she ranked third on the team in scoring with 267 points on 100-of-234 shooting from the field.
In addition, Mitchell also finished third on the squad in rebounds with 148, while adding 60 assists, 36 steals and nine blocks in 25 contests for the Green and Gold.
For her efforts, Mikaela was named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Rookie of the Year as well as Worcester Area Basketball Coaches Association (WACBA) Rookie of the Year.
Kruczek Award – Tommy Parsons Baseball
Junior Tommy Parsons (Peabody, Mass.) received this award that honors a student-athlete who demonstrates courage and spirit while participating as a student-athlete. Tommy faced personal challenges head-on and has continued to succeed academically and athletically. The leadership he provided the baseball team throughout those challenges has had a significant impact on the squad.
During the 2016 baseball season, Parsons suffered an Ulnar Collateral Ligament tear in his elbow that required Tommy John Surgery to repair, caused the junior hurler to miss the 2017 season.
Overcoming this obstacle, he worked hard to rehab, returning to the mound for the Green and Gold for the start of the 2018 campaign. This season, Tommy started eight games for the Falcons, ranking second on the team with 43 strikeouts, while also ranking third in innings pitched (32.0) and first in K's per nine innings (12.09).
For more information regarding the Fitchburg State Athletic Awards Banquet, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director Jamie Rogers via email at jrogers@fitchburgstate.edu.