BOSTON – The America East Conference presented Elite 18 Awards to seven standout student-athletes at the conclusion of its seven spring championships, honoring student-athletes who exemplify excellence both in their sport and in the classroom.
The Elite 18 Award Program was established by the conference in June 2013 for implementation in the 2014-15 academic year to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each America East sponsored sport.
Two of the spring honorees, both from Stony Brook, won America East championships. Johnny Caputo, a junior on the Seawolves' baseball team with 3.66 GPA in business management, helped his team capture both the America East regular-season and tournament titles. Cassandra Dix, a senior, contributed to Stony Brook women's tennis team winning its third-consecutive conference title. She graduated with a perfect 4.00 GPA.
A pair of other Seawolves also earned Elite 18 Awards in the spring. Allison Cukrov, a senior, earned the softball honor after helping her team win the conference's regular-season title. A sustainable studies major who graduated with a 3.89 GPA, Cukrov was a first-team all-conference selection. The Seawolves' Bradley Garcia, a sophomore with a 3.84 GPA in health science/pre med, took home the men's lacrosse Elite 18 award.
The other three winners came from three different schools. Albany's Rachel Heidenreich, who has a 3.98 GPA in biology, garnered Elite 18 distinction in women's lacrosse while UMBC's Daryian Miles earned the men's outdoor track & field honor. He has a 3.50 GPA in health admin & policy. UNH's Anne Twombly, a senior with a 3.82 GPA while majoring in fine arts, earned her second Elite 18 honor of year, earning recognition in women's outdoor track & field. She also received the women's cross country award in the fall.
Modeled after the NCAA Elite 89 Academic Recognition Award Program, the America East Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the America East’s 18 team championships.
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the Elite 18 program, All-Academic teams comprised of student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically are chosen in each of the conference’s 18 sports. Additionally, a Scholar-Athlete, someone who distinguishes himself/herself as the top student-athlete in his/her sport, is awarded. From that group, one male and one female is selected the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The conference also recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll, with those achieving a 3.50 average or better receiving Commissioner’s Honor Roll status. The Presidential Scholar-Athlete award recognizes graduating student-athletes who compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher as an undergraduate student. Finally, the Academic Cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year.
Spring Elite 18 Award Recipients
Johnny Caputo, Stony Brook (baseball)
Allison Cukrov, Stony Brook (softball)
Cassandra Dix, Stony Brook (women's tennis)
Bradley Garcia, Stony Brook (men's lacrosse)
Rachel Heidenreich, Albany (women's lacrosse)
Daryian Miles, UMBC (men's outdoor track & field)
Anne Twombly, New Hampshire (women's outdoor track & field)
Winter Elite 18 Award Recipients
Laura Rose Donegan, New Hampshire (women's indoor track & field)
Cassandra Edwards, Albany (women's basketball)
Martin Kallur, Vermont (men's indoor track & field)
Katie Mann, New Hampshire (swimming & diving)
Mike Rowley, Albany (men's basketball)
Fall Elite 18 Award Recipients
Katie Connolly, Hartford (women’s soccer)
Billy Heavner, UMBC (men’s soccer)
Mikala McCauley, Albany (volleyball)
Taylor Schwoyer, Albany (field hockey)
Eric Speakman, Stony Brook (men’s cross country)
Anne Twombly, New Hampshire (women’s cross country)