South Hadley, Mass. - May 5, 2022 - On Sunday evening, the Mount Holyoke College Department of Athletics hosted its annual Athletic Awards Ceremony in Chapin Auditorium. This ceremony was a great way to reflect on the 2021-22 academic year, including all of the accomplishments of the Lyons' student-athletes.
Scholar-Athletes
Leading off the evening, this year's scholar-athletes were recognized with their pins. During this portion of the ceremony, student-athletes heard from Kennedy-Schelkunoff Professor of Astronomy, Darby Dyar, and elected scholar-athlete speaker from the rowing team, Jaya Nagarajan-Swenson.
Honorees are those senior students who have achieved a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA through the end of their senior year fall term (or second to last semester) and who have completed at least three seasons in a single sport including their senior year. Transfer students must meet the same GPA requirements, and they must have competed for their entire MHC career. December 2022 graduates who qualify will be honored next year when we are able to determine their qualification. These student-athletes will receive a pin for their dedication and excellence in academics as well as athletics.
- Tennis, Physics and Biology, Annissa Aamoum
- Field Hockey Psychology, Abby Baldwin
- Field Hockey, Politics Emma Bowler
- Lacrosse, Politics, Allie Brown
- Riding, Computer Science, Hannah Brown
- Tennis, Statistics, Nikki Cheng
- Swimming and Diving, Economics, Adrienne Corr
- Rowing, Biochemistry, Katherine Dailey
- Volleyball, Biochemistry and Film Media Theater, Gabrielle Davis
- Riding, Mathematics and Physics, Sierra Dunn
- Rowing, Environmental Studies, Claire Gabel
- Track & Field, Environmental Studies, Sophia Gronbeck
- Riding, Economics, Yixuan He
- Riding, Psychology, Sara Hearn
- Riding, International Relations, Kristina Honour
- Track & Field, Sociology and French, Sarah Hyde
- Cross Country and Track & Field, Biology, Simone Jacob
- Squash, Psychology, Mihiliya Kalahe
- Rowing, Economics, Simran Kaur
- Field Hockey, Sociology Julia Klein
- Field Hockey, Economics, Kass Lawrence
- Lacrosse, Biochemistry, Emma Legacki
- Riding, Politics, Kristina Lester
- Tennis, Psychology and Statistics, Hannah Middleton
- Swimming and Diving, Biology and Politics, Kathryn Murphy
- Rowing, Astronomy and Biology, Jaya Nagarajan-Swenson
- Cross Country and Track & Field, Psychology, Sydney Nash
- Cross Country and Track & Field, Environmental Studies, Leah Pendl-Robinson
- Cross Country, Environmental Studies, Hannah Rieders
- Cross Country, Environmental Studies, Madeline Rieders
- Field Hockey, Neuroscience and Behavior, Margaret Robb
- Track & Field, Economics and Environmental Studies, Natalie Rodman
- Field Hockey, Anthropology, Madison Stover
- Swimming and Diving, Studio Art and Sociology, Zofia Topor
- Rowing, Biochemistry and Computer Science Amy Wang
Athletic Director's Award
Each year, the Director of Athletics at Mount Holyoke College is given the chance to recognize someone within the Mount Holyoke College community that exceeded expectations and went above and beyond for the College, the Athletics Department, and everyone around them. This year, interim Director of Athletics chose Sophia Anderson '22 as the recipient of this award.
Anderson currently serves as a manager of the cross country and track and field programs and is a student assistant in the Athletic Communications department. Anderson's work during the 2021-22 academic year was truly beneficial to the student-athlete experience at Mount Holyoke College.
Senior Awards
At Mount Holyoke College, student-athletes that participate in three traditional seasons on any varsity team including their senior year will receive a stole. Student-athletes that compete in three traditional seasons in the same sport, including the traditional season in their senior year receive an afghan and multi-sport athletes who qualify twice will receive a rose in recognition of their second sport. All other senior student-athletes receive a cord.
- Basketball program: Annika Brooks, Mikayla McEwen
- Cross country and track and field: Sophia Gronbeck, Sarah Hyde, Simone Jacob, Amanda Kearney, Katie Milligan, Sydney Nash, Leah Pendl-Robinson, Michaela Phelan, Hannah Rieders, Madeline Rieders, Natalie Rodman
- Golf: Cortney Qiu
- Field hockey: Phoebe Aaronson, Abby Baldwin, Emma Bowler, Julia Klein, Kass Lawrence, Margaret Robb, Madi Stover
- Lacrosse: Allie Brown, Emma Legacki, Sandra Prendergast
- Riding: Hannah Brown, Hope Coss, Heidy Duan, Sierra Dunn, Tori Fletcher, Yixuan He, Sara Hearn, Kristina Honour, Kristina Lester
- Rowing: Katherine Dailey, Claire Gabel, Simran Kaur, Jaya Nagarajan-Swenson, Amy Wang
- Squash: Giselle Cabrera, Elena Frogameni, Mihiliya Kalahe , Melissa Marquez
- Swimming and Diving: Adirenne Corr, Jessica Mohr, Kathryn Murphy, Gigi Picard, Caitlyn Richmond, Zofia Topor
- Tennis: Annissa Aamoum, Nikki Cheng, Hannah Middleton
- Volleyball: Iyana Alleyne, Sarah Bishop, Gabrielle Davis, Chelsea Galicia, Brayden Walden
All Lyons-Team
These student-athletes, who are nominated by their coach, best exemplify the missions of their respective teams and are impact team members. These student-athletes uphold the values of both the Department of Athletics and the College and we could not be more proud of them.
- Basketball: Annika Brooks
- Cross Country: Bridget Hall
- Field Hockey: Kass Lawrence
- Lacrosse: Emma Legacki
- Riding: Yixuan He
- Rowing: Simran Kaur
- Soccer: Sarah Forster
- Squash: Xaria Durocher
- Swimming and Diving: Kathryn Murphy
- Tennis: Annika Chai
- Indoor Track and Field: Lucy Sternberg
- Outdoor Track and Field: Leah Pendl-Robinson
- Volleyball: Marion Abeja
Department Lyon of the Year
Each year, the Department of Athletics at Mount Holyoke College nominates and votes upon an individual that went above and beyond for the department and it's student-athletes and coaches. This year's recipient of the 2021-22 Mount Holyoke College Athletics Department Lyon of the Year recipient was interim Director of Athletics, Erica Lemm.
Coach of the Year
After this academic year, the athletics faculty and staff nominated and voted on a head coach that went above and beyond for the student-athletes, department and College.
The Mount Holyoke College cross country team continued to improve as the Lyons had a program-best finish at the NCAA Division III MidEast Regional Championship and the program's first-ever national qualifier in 2021. After a track and field season that saw many record-breaking and all-time performances, Chris Kibler was recognized as the 2021-22 Mount Holyoke College Athletics Coach of the Year.
Student-Athlete of the Year
From the cross country and track & field team, Tessa Lancaster was named the Mount Holyoke Athletics Rookie of the Year. Lancaster has been impressive in the early stages of her career here at Mount Holyoke College. This individual was a top-five runner on our cross country team, which recorded their highest-ever team finish at the MidEast Regional Championships in November. From there, Lancaster has produced all-time performances in the 5k, 3k, Steeplechase and one mile events, and has also picked up a pair of individual victories at Smith and Wesleyan.
From the riding team, Emmie Mirarchi was named the Mount Holyoke Athletics Sophomore of the Year. Mirarchi has been an outstanding performer all year long and has earned a spot at Nationals after consistently placing in the top three of her classes. Mirarchi helped her team win 11 competitions during the regular season, which has not been done at Mount Holyoke College in over 20 years, and has won several of the top classes at the Tournament of Champions in Virginia, Ohio and Georgia.
From the cross country and track & field teams, Lauren Selkin was named the Mount Holyoke Athletics Junior of the Year. Selkin became the first-ever national qualifier from the Mount Holyoke College cross country program after helping the Lyons to a fifth-place finish at the Regional Championships this past November. After earning NEWMAC All-Conference and All MidEast Region accolades, this year's award winner has also broken track and field program records in the 3k, 5k and 10k.
From the swimming and diving program, Kathryn Murphy was named the Mount Holyoke Athletics Senior of the Year. Murphy was more than impressive throughout the 2021-22 season, and will graduate from Mount Holyoke College as a record holder, a NEWMAC Champion and an All-American. Murphy set and reset the College and Pool records on the 1-meter board, while also establishing a new program record on the three-meter. Finishing eighth overall on the three-meter at nationals, Murphy became the first-ever diving All-American at Mount Holyoke College.
Laurie Priest Scholar-Athlete Award
This award is annually given to an exceptional athlete who displays great character and leadership, exemplary scholarship and is an outstanding representative of our school and athletic department. Senior Associate Director of Marketing and Communications for Alumnae Communications and former rowing student-athlete Jennifer Grow '94 was present to honor the individual that was selected for the department's most prestigious student-athlete honor.
A psychology major, this year's recipient was none other than Mihiliya Kalahe of the squash program.
Kalahe was one of the most accomplished student-athletes to graduate from Mount Holyoke College, excelling in her sport both nationally, and internationally. With a program-record 66 individual victories, this individual also represented Mount Holyoke College in the 2019 South Asian Games, where she helped her home country of Sri Lanka to a Bronze Medal. On top of her tremendous athletic ability, Kalahe was also named a Scholar-Athlete for her work in the classroom, and was also recently named a finalist for the Betty Richey Award, the most prestigious award in women's collegiate squash.
Video
View the video below to reflect on some of the top moments for the Mount Holyoke College Department of Athletics during the 2021-22 academic year.
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