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MEN’S SOCCER
La Salle senior Ryan Richter (William Tennent) was named a recipient of the Atlantic 10 Sportsmanship Award. The award, voted on by the senior women administrators in each of the conference’s 14 member institutions, is presented annually to an A-10 male and female student-athlete or team that demonstrates sportsmanship.To be nominated for the award, the student-athlete or team must be a member of an intercollegiate athletic sport sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference, be in good academic standing and embody the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship.
Richter had been a team leader in a variety of ways, as a student, an athlete and in his service to La Salle and those in need. He set the tone for the team all year on and off the field, participating with his teammates in service activities including neighborhood cleanup as well as mentoring and participating in clinics at nearby elementary schools in depressed areas of Philadelphia.
Richter is recognized around the league for his hard but fair play, his ability to put competition in the proper perspective and maintaining his code of conduct while leaving his competitive nature on the field after the game. Richter goes out of his way following the conclusion of each game to recognize the efforts of his opponents especially those players who defend him during the course of a match making it difficult for him to provide an offense explosion.
“Ryan possesses a healthy understanding of the spirit of competition,” said La Salle men’s soccer coach Pat Farrell. “He understands that you compete as hard as you can, meaning you always compete to win and as a fair and honest player.”
Richter was named the 2010 Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, while earning a spot on the A-10 First Team in leading La Salle to a second place finish during the regular season and a spot in the A-10 men’s soccer championship final. The senior forward concluded his playing career with 69 points on 28 goals and 13 assists. His 28 goals and 69 points rank fifth all-time in the Explorer record books, while he is tied for 10th all-time in assists. Richter became the second Explorer to be drafted by the MLS signing with the Philadelphia Union this past year.
The William Tennent alum was also named the 2010 A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year. He garnered First Team Scholar All-America accolades by the NSCAA in 2010 and Second Team NSCAA Scholar East Region honors in 2009. Richter was also named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team (2010) and Second Team (2009). He was honored as the 2010-11 La Salle Male Student-Athlete of the Year and graduated this past spring with a degree in Accounting while maintaining a 3.22 GPA.
“It’s a lot easier when one of your senior leaders possess these qualities and characteristics, which everyone can see and then start to follow,” added Farrell. “We have a fair amount of guys on our team that do the same thing. They work extremely hard on and off the field. It’s about hard work, determination and being a fair and honest player, and always having respect for the game, for the opponent, for the referees, for the fans. When you have that kind of respect for the game and the people associated with the game, everybody can see it and start to follow it and start to understand what the spirit of competition is all about.”
Dayton’s women’s basketball team was the female recipient of the award.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Philadelphia Biblical University senior Justin Brubaker (Souderton) was named an AVCA First Team All-American. Co-headlining this year’s team alongside Cal Palumbo of Springfield College, Brubaker and Palumbo linked their names in the record books by becoming the first players in the history of the sport to garner First Team accolades all four years of their collegiate careers. Nationally ranked in kills, aces, blocks and hitting percentage throughout the current season, Brubaker became the all-time leader in career kills midway through his senior campaign, finishing his four-year career with 2,435 kills – over 400 kills more than the next closest challenger.Arguably the greatest player in D3 history, Brubaker led the country in kills per game during his sophomore, junior and senior years and placed second overall during his rookie campaign. Additionally, he became one of only a handful of D3 players to reach 1,000 career digs and currently is the only player ever to boast both 2,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Brubaker also was named the NECVA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, an award recognizing him as the top player in the 44-team conference. He was named to the NECVA All-Conference First Team for the fourth consecutive year and garnered both Player of the Year and First Team All-Metro Division honors for the fourth straight campaign.
In addition, Brubaker received the Clarence E. Mason Athletic Award, which is given to the senior student-athlete who has made the greatest contribution to the athletic program of PBU. The athlete must be willing to cooperate with team members, exhibit leadership in practice and in game situations and exhibit a high degree of sportsmanship.
Brubaker also received the Wayne C. Fink Award, which is presented annually to the student-athlete who by his/her outstanding athletic achievement has brought the highest level of national and regional attention to the athletic program of PBU. The recipient shall have completed a minimum of three seasons of competition at PBU in the qualifying sport, maintain a reputation for a high level of sportsmanship and Christian character, and be making satisfactory academic progress.
Stevenson freshman Austin Jacoby (Pennridge) added to his record-setting season when he was named the NECVA Rookie of the Year. He also was named to the All-Metro Division First Team. He is the first player in the program’s 10-year history to receive both honors. Jacoby led all NECVA freshmen with 358 kills and a .280 hitting percentage while ranking sixth in the conference in kills and seventh in the NCAA. He was a two-time Metro Division Rookie of the Week selection this season on Feb. 8 and Feb. 16 while also earning NECVA Rookie of the Week honors on Feb. 8. The MVP of the SUNYIT Invitational, Jacoby totaled 10 or more kills in 20 of 27 games this season, including 20 or more three times. He had a career-high 26 in his first collegiate match versus Lasell on Jan. 22.This spring Stevenson captured its first postseason championship in program history, winning the ECAC South championship after defeating NECVA Metro Division rival Ramapo 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12. Jacoby totaled a game-high 19 kills to lead the Mustangs. The Mustangs (26-7) set a school record for wins for the second time in the last three seasons.
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