WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn College honored six student-athletes at the eighth annual CATS Awards on Monday evening in the ACC Auditorium.
Megan Kurian (Women's Soccer) and Elliot Dotson (Men's Lacrosse) were named Female and Male Newcomer of the Year award winners. The category also included Gig Parlante (Women's Basketball), Mackenzi Tice (Softball), Carter Davis (Wrestling), Scott Goldfeder (Men's Soccer) and Joe Savage (Men's Basketball).
Kurian burst onto the scene in her freshman campaign, setting the women's soccer single-season goals assists and points record while leading the Wildcats to an undefeated regular season (15-0-4) and a run to the United East semifinals. The Royersford, Pa., native scored 26 goals, 15 assist and 67 points while appearing in all 20 games for the Wildcats this season. Kurian was named United East Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year while also earning first team all-conference honors and was a United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team selection.
Dotson currently leads the Wildcats with 49 assists and 86 points and is second with 37 goals scored for the men's lacrosse team. The Wilmington, Del., native leads the United East with an average of 5.06 goals per game. Dotson has posted seven hat-tricks including a season-high five goals in three games against Guilford, Rosemont and Bryn Athyn to lead the Wildcats to the second seed in the United East playoffs.
Kurian and Livingston Cross (Men's Basketball) were selected as the Female and Male Athletes of the Year. The nominees also included Rachel Teats (Women's Basketball), Mackenzie Weaver (Softball), Tommy DeGeyter (Men's Soccer), Elliot Dotson (Men's Lacrosse), Noah Hunt (Wrestling), Peyton Mussina (Golf), Alec Rees (Cross Country), and Shawn Townsend (Baseball).
Cross led the country in double-doubles as the men's basketball star light up the scoreboard with 23 double-doubles. The Union, N.J., native averaged 22.3 points and 13.2 rebounds while starting in all 28 games for the Wildcats. Cross earned United East All-Conference First Team honors while leading the team on a Cinderella run to the conference semifinals as the 12-seed.
Kayleigh Miller (Women's Basketball & Cross Country) and Walt Heiser (Men's Lacrosse) earned the Female and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. The category included Hailey DeBrody (Volleyball), Madison Herriman (Softball), Morgan Solano (Women's Soccer), Tommy DeGeyter (Men's Soccer), Noah Hunt (Wrestling) and Alec Rees (Cross Country).
Miller, a two-sport athlete while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, helped the Wildcats score its highest finish at the United East Cross Country Championship race with a time of 31:50.2. On the bsketball court, Miller scored 71 points and dished out 31 assists in 25 games this season. Miller earned the United East Elite 20 Award in women's cross country and the Senior Scholar-Athlete award in women's basketball this season. The Sayre, Pa., native is also the Vice President of SAAC and enjoys helping both of her programs complete community service initiatives.
Heiser, is a key member of the men's lacrosse defensive unit that has posted its winningest season with a 13-4 record and a two-seed in the United East playoffs. Heiser finished the regular season leading the team among defenders with 37 ground ball pickups and seventh on the team with 11 caused turnovers.The Milford, N.J., native is the Wildcats' SAAC President and is an active member of the team when it comes to helping coordinate community service events.
Makenzie Weaver was honored with the One Shining Moment Award. The softball senior and career strikeout record holder recorded her 500th career strikeout against Notre Dame on March 29.
In the first annual SAAC Awards category, Seniors Tommy DeGeyter (Men's Soccer) and Emily Pardee (Women's Basketball) were named Mr. and Ms. Wildcat. Senior Noah Hunt (Wrestling) and freshman Megan Kurian (Women's Soccer) were selected as the Breakout Moment winners and Nathan Gustkey (Baseball) was selected as the Comeback Player of the Year.
Eric Hunt, the Wildcats' Athletic Communications Coordinator, was selected as the Wildcats' Staff Member of the Year and Men's Lacrosse earned the Community Service Award to wrap up the CATS Award winners.
