NEW YORK, NY - The City College of New York Athletics Department honored its student-athletes at the 77th Annual Sports Nite Awards Show "The Benny's" on campus on Friday, May 22, in the historic Great Hall. The evening event celebrated the hard work and achievements of the student-athletes during the 2021-2022 athletic year.
During the annual awards ceremony, CCNY's 16 athletic teams honored their student-athletes with team awards, including Most Outstanding Performer, Most Improved Performer, and Coaches Award.
Along with the team awards, the department also presented Departmental awards for service, pride, spirit, and academic achievement throughout the year and the highly anticipated "Benny's" award presentation to honor the department's top student-athletes, coaches, and teams in their respective categories.
The recipients of the awards are listed below:
Departmental Awards
Lionel Malamed Award:
The Lionel Malamed Award is given to two male and female senior student-athletes who have attained the highest grade-point average throughout their time at CCNY.
- Nicolas Karkut, Men's Soccer
- Katherine Scardino, Women's Fencing
- Sardar Khanbilvardi, Baseball
- Claudia Serna, Women's Track & Field
The Austin Ahmed Lifetime Service Award:
Named in honor of Austin Ahmed, a longtime CCNY administrative assistant and equipment manager, this award is presented to an individual for their dedication, support, and service to the City College Athletic Program.
- Karina Jorge, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator
The Gary Smith Memorial Spirit Award:
The Gary Smith Memorial Spirit Award is awarded annually in appreciation to an individual that exemplifies passion, selflessness, and dedication to the City College athletic program.
The Denise Whitaker-Hill Spirit Award:
The Denise Whitaker-Hill Spirit Award is awarded annually in appreciation to an individual that exemplifies passion, selflessness, and dedication to the City College athletic program.
- Anna Plotnick, Women's Volleyball
The Professor Roberta Cassese-Cohen Memorial Award
The Professor Roberta Cassese-Cohen Memorial Award is presented annually to a female student-athlete who has produced the highest academic and athlete performance.
- Zara McPartland, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
Eastern College Athletic Conference Merit Award:
The Eastern College Athletic Conference Merit Award
is presented annually to a male student-athlete who has produced the highest academic and athlete performance.
- James Dean Johnstone, Baseball
Berman Recreation and Intramural Award
The Berman Recreation & Intramural is given in appreciation to a student who has provided outstanding service to the Department of Campus Fitness and Recreation.
Alvin J. Paullay Memorial Track and Field Service Award:
Presented to an individual who has proved outstanding service to the men's and women's track & field program.
- Joey Benson, Assistant Coach - Cross Country and Track & Field
- Greg Page, Assistant Coach - Cross Country and Track & Field
The John Araouzos Operations Management Award:
The John Araouzos Operations Management Award is presented annually in appreciation to the student who has provided outstanding service to the City College of New York Athletic Department of facilities and operations department
- Zach Boccio, Basebal
- John Creegan, Baseball
- Austin Ortiz, Baseball
The Benny's
Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Student-Athlete
- Charlotte Foberg, Women's Soccer
Most Outstanding Performance by a Male Student-Athlete
- Jules Day, Men's Track & Field
Most Outstanding Coach of the Year
Most Outstanding Performance by a Team
Female Rookie of the Year
- Zara McPartland, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
Male Rookie of the Year
Female Ben Wallack Memorial Award
- Cassidy Canberg, Women's Soccer
Male Ben Wallack Memorial Award
- Xhulio Myftari, Men's Volleyball
Individual Team Awards
| 2021 Fall Sports |
Most Outstanding Performer |
Coaches Award |
Most Improved |
| Men's Soccer |
Nicholas Karkut |
Andrey Goyuck |
Adonijah Brooks |
| Women's Soccer |
Cassidy Canberg |
Nicole Magretta |
Laura Villatoro |
| Women's Volleyball |
Viviana Alatorre |
Nadia Campoverde |
Bianka Catral |
| Women's Cross Country |
Zara McPartland |
April Kurtz |
Nabila Jahan |
| Men's Cross Country |
Muhammed Qadri |
Amilcar Alfaro-Martell |
Jules Day |
| 2021-22 Winter Sports |
Most Outstanding Performer |
Coaches Award |
Most Improved |
| Men's Basketball |
Yassine Sakhi |
Amir Assani |
Daniel Piszczatowski |
| Women Basketball |
Monae Laing |
Shanyah Lander |
Leondra Craig |
| Women's Fencing |
Izel Rueda-Sierra |
Karina Torres |
Seerat Kamal |
| Women's Indoor TF |
Zara McPartland |
Nabila Jahan |
Israt Jahan |
| Men's Indoor TF |
Habibu Gado |
Andry Guzman |
Temitope Adegbenro |
| 2022 Spring Sports |
Most Outstanding Performer |
Coaches Award |
Most Improved |
| Baseball |
James Dean Johnstone |
Austin Ortiz |
John Creegan |
| Men's Volleyball |
Xhulio Myftari |
Utpal Chand |
Mohamed Elashry |
| Men's Lacrosse |
Carlos Cruz-Perez |
Maximus Czernisz |
Giles-Christ Annanbiousso |
| Women's Lacrosse |
Duyen Bui |
Lia Mercedes |
Samantha Colon |
| Women's Outdoor TF |
Serena Warner |
Zara McPartland |
Eki Igbineweka |
| Men's Outdoor TF |
Habibu Gado |
Tyler Gaston |
Adam Tarsia |
