BU Student-Athletes Touted at Annual Athletics Awards Ceremony

Photo of students dressed nicely, on stage, holding black, wooden plaques awards. Behind them on stage a large screen reads "Scarlet & White Honors"

Among those honored at BU Athletics annual student-athlete awards ceremony Monday: Michael Nejaime (ENG’22) (from left), Matt Garber (Questrom’22), Nancy Feldman, women’s soccer head coach, Kathryn Grabowski (CAS’22), Andrea Claeson (CAS’23), Kylie Graves (CAS’22), Marina Sylvestri (COM’21,’22), Nicole Amodio (Sargent’22), and Sukhmail Mathon (CAS’21, Wheelock’22).

Varsity Sports

BU Student-Athletes Touted at Annual Athletics Awards Ceremony

Scarlet & White Honors return to in-person gathering for first time since 2019

April 27, 2022
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With the 2021–2022 academic year nearing conclusion, Boston University Athletics held its annual awards ceremony Monday night. The celebratory event, in person for the first time since 2019, was held at the George Sherman Union. 

This year’s season marked a return to normalcy for BU’s 22 Terrier varsity programs after two years of pandemic-caused disruptions.

The ceremony honored both student-athletes and BU Athletics community members, as well as women’s soccer coach Nancy Feldman, who recently announced her retirement after 27 years helming the program. In addition to the major awards, Athlete Choice Awards, nominated and voted on by the student-athletes, were also handed out. 

The following were honored Monday night:

Major Awards

Joseph P. Mercurio Campus Community Recognition Award
Honoring an individual or group whose support has proven “invaluable and limitless.”

The Rastellini Family, owners of T. Anthony’s from 1976 to 2022

Carmela Rastellini and her family owned T. Anthony’s for 45 years, feeding and cheering on generations of Terriers at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Babcock Street.

Paul Lewis Student-Athlete Service Award
Given to a senior student-athlete who demonstrates a commitment to serving BU, the athletics department, and the larger Boston community over his or her time at BU.

Kylie Graves (CAS’22), women’s rowing

Photo of Kylie Graves, a young white woman with strawberry blonde hair, posing with her award and the family of Paul Lewis. At left, a young woman of color is seen, and at right, an older woman of color in a blue blouse.

A previous winner of ​​the BU Women’s Rowing Heart and Soul Award, neuroscience major Graves has interned with Boston Medical Center’s autism program and has been involved in the Disability Advocacy Community and the nonprofit Children’s Research Triangle. The award was presented to Graves by the family of Paul Lewis.

John B. Simpson Award                                                                       Given to male and female senior athletes who have demonstrated enthusiasm and leadership.

Michael Nejaime (ENG’22) men’s swimming & diving

Photo of Michael Nejaime, a young man who wears a suit, red tie, and smiles as he holds his award and poses with Bill Smyth, his coach, who wears a gray BU quarter zip. He is an older white man with glasses.

Described as “going from the truest of true walk-ons to one of the great leaders of our team” by Bill Smyth, swimming and diving head coach, Nejaime began diving as a sophomore and became a significant contributor to the program both in and outside of competition.

Marina Sylvestri (COM’21,’22), softball

Photo of Marina Sylvestri during a softball game. She wears a gray and red jersey, red visors, and swings her arm back and she goes to the throw the ball. She wears a glove in her left hand.

Hailed as “one of the fiercest competitors” by Ashley Waters, softball head coach, Sylvestri is one of two graduate students on the team, which has won three consecutive Patriot League titles. The other, fifth-year player Jen Horita (Questrom’21,’22), calls Sylvestri “the best captain we could ask for.”

E. Ray Speare Award                                                                              Given to the top male scholar-athlete.

Matt Garber (Questrom’22), men’s lacrosse

Photo of Matt Garber, a a young white man who wears a white jersey, number 41, and wears a lacrosse helmet. He holds a large lacrosse stick and is seen in front of the net.

Since taking over the cage last season, Garber has emerged as one of the premier goaltenders in the conference, backstopping the Terriers to their first-ever Patriot League regular season title this spring. He is also a two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member.

Gretchen Schuyler Award                                                                 Given to the top female scholar-athlete.

Nicole Amodio (Sargent’22), softball

In addition to being named to the Patriot League All-Conference First Team twice, Amodio, a two-time Patriot League champion, was a member of the conference’s All-Academic team in 2021 and has been on the league’s Academic Honor Roll three years in a row.

Team GPA Award
Given to the program with the top average GPA.

Women’s golf, 3.65

The 2022 Patriot League champion BU women’s golf team defended its BU Athletics academic title, holding the highest average GPA of any team for the third consecutive year.

Bruce Lehane Coaching Award
Given to a head or assistant coach who best embodies a holistic, values-based caring approach.

Nancy Feldman, women’s soccer

Feldman was honored after guiding her team to the Patriot League regular season trophy and a conference tournament finals appearance in her 27th and final season as head coach of BU women’s soccer. Drew Marrochello, BU athletics director, commended Feldman’s “perseverance, pursuit of excellence, and drive to get better” during Monday’s ceremony.

Mildred Barnes Award
Given to the top female athlete of the year.

Andrea Claeson (CAS’23), track & field and cross country

A standout track and field distance runner, Claeson dominated at the 2022 Patriot League Indoor Championships in February, winning the mile run and 3,000-meter run and contributing in multiple other events to earn the title of Female Track Athlete of the Meet.

Mickey Cochrane Award
Given to the top male athlete of the year.

Sukhmail Mathon (CAS’21, Wheelock’22), men’s basketball

Action photo of BU men's basketball player, Sukhmail Mathon. A young man with a short curly brown hair is shown taking a shot for the hoop. An opposing player in a blue and orange jersey jumps in front of him with arms raised as another opposing player in a similar uniform looks on behind them. Various coaches and player in white BU shirts, as well as the opposing team in blue jerseys can be seen sitting at the edge of the court in the distance.

Named 2022 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, Mathon, in his fifth season, turned in his best season as a Terrier, ranking among the top centers in the country in several categories. He was also named to the All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team.

Woman of the Year
Given to the female athlete who best exemplifies a commitment to service, leadership, athletics, and academics over her career.

Kathryn Grabowski (CAS’22), women’s lightweight rowing

A captain of the lightweight rowing team, Grabowski was an IRA national champion in the lightweight double skull in 2021 and has been president of BU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she has been involved since freshman year. Head coach Malcolm Doldron says she is “inspiring,” and often asks himself, “What would Kathryn do?”

Aldo “Buff” Donelli Award for Leadership

Ann Marie Jaworski (CAS’20, Wheelock’22), women’s soccer captain, and Logan Cockerill (SHA’22), men’s ice hockey captain, are this year’s winners and will receive their awards at the 2022 BU Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony in the fall.

Action photo of BU women's soccer player, Ann Marie Jaworski. She is caught poised ready to kick the ball and wears a white "Boston" jersey, shorts, shin guards, and cleats. She also wears a black knee brace.

Ann Marie Jaworski (CAS’20, Wheelock’22), women’s soccer captain.

Photo of men’s ice hockey captain Logan Cockerill. Cockerill is shown mid-game as he skates with the puck down the ice away from an opposing Harvard player. He wears a red and white BU ice hockey uniform and black skates. Opposing Harvard players wearing crimson hockey uniforms skate around him.

Logan Cockerill (SHA’22), men’s ice hockey captain.

Student-Athlete Choice Awards

Male Unsung Hero 

Jonas Harper (CAS’22), men’s basketball

Action photo of BU men's basketball player, Jonas Harper. A young black man with a short afro is shown arms out in a guarding stance on a basketball court. He wears a white Boston jersey and white shorts.

A leader on and off the court for men’s basketball, Harper has now been voted the department’s unsung hero in back-to-back years.

Female Unsung Hero 

Sophia Woodland (Questrom’23), women’s soccer

Photo of BU women's soccer player Sophia Woodland. She is caught mid-game as she runs with the ball down field. She wears a red Boston jersey, shorts, and shin guards as she moves away from another opposing player in white.

Seeing minutes in all 20 games this past fall, Woodland tied her career-best production totals and helped the team to a regular season title.

Male Breakout Athlete of the Year

Harrison Steck (Questrom’22), men’s rowing

Photo of BU men's rowing athlete Harrison Steck. Steck is shown wearing a light blue and white plaid collared shirt, navy blazer, and dark grey pants as he siles and poses with a small, clear trophy held with both hands in front of him. He stands in front of a red backdrop with the BU school logo, the Under Armour logo, and the words "@BUAthletics" in an intermittent pattern.

A former bronze medalist at the IRA National Championship Regatta in the varsity four boat, Steck has been a backbone of the men’s rowing team this year.

Female Breakout Athlete of the Year 

Abigail McNulty (CAS’24), women’s soccer

Photo of BU women's soccer player Abigail McNulty. A young woman with long, curly brown hair tied back is shown mid-run on a soccer field. She wears a white and red "Boston" soccer uniform. A Colgate athlete wearing a burgundy soccer uniform is shown running behind her in the blurry background.

After playing just three games as a freshman, McNulty was a major part of the BU women’s soccer attack this past fall and was named a Patriot League First Team honoree.

Male Rookie of the Year

Toby Makoyawo (CAS’25), men’s track & field

Photo of Toby Makoyawo, a young Black man wearing a red "Boston" track jersey and long red spandex shorts, is shown mid-stride next to a young Black man in a dark blue track uniform that reads "Southern", a young man with a dark blue and yellow track uniform that reads "Merrimack", and a young man with a blue and red track uniform; all are also mid-stride. They all are running towards the camera down the straightaway of the track of the green indoor track of the BU Track and Tennis Center. The starting blocks and various other athletes and coaches can be seen in the blurry background.

Wasting no time since his arrival at BU, Makoyawo has broken multiple program records for sprinters and finished 13th in the 200-meter race at the 2022 National Championship.

Female Rookie of the Year 

Emma Lawrence (CAS’25), women’s track & field

Photo of women's track & field athlete Emma Lawrence. She is shown holding a small, clear trophy in front of her as she wears a white dress with yellow and red florals. She stands in front of a red backdrop with the BU school logo, the Under Armour logo, and the words "@BUAthletics" in an intermittent pattern.

In her freshman year, Lawrence won gold with a personal-best performance in the triple jump at the 2022 Patriot League Indoor Championships.

Upset of the Year

Women’s basketball earns a home victory over Boston College.

Photo of a BU Women’s basketball taking a jump shot for the basket. She wears a white and red "Boston" jersey and is surrounded by three Boston College players trying to defend. One jumps in front of her with arms raised overhead, one is behind her defending against an unseen BU athlete, and one stands off to the left as she looks on. all three wear burgundy red basketball uniforms that read "Boston College".

Hosting archrival Boston College in an early nonconference test on November 17, the Terriers stunned the heavily favored Eagles with a 69-65 victory.

Play of the Year

Anthony Morales, men’s basketball, hits a three-point buzzer-beater to force overtime at Florida State.

Photo of Anthony Morales, a BU men’s basketball player. He stands with a small clear trophy held in front of him, next to his coach, Joe Jones, a middle-aged Black man wearing a black suit ensemble and velvet blue tie. They both stand in front of a red backdrop with the BU school logo, the Under Armour logo, and the words "@BUAthletics" in an intermittent pattern.

Facing Florida State in the Jacksonville Classic title game on November 24, Morales (CAS’24) sent the game to overtime with a miraculous three-pointer as time expired.

Moment of the Year

A late goal by Dylan Peterson lifts men’s ice hockey to Beanpot title. 

A 0-0 stalemate in the 69th Men’s Beanpot final was broken when Peterson (CAS’24) knocked one in to give the Terriers the 1-0 win and their 31st Beanpot title in program history.

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  • Brady Gardner (COM’22)

    Brady Gardner (COM’22) is pursuing a double major, in journalism and public relations. He has worked with the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, BU Athletics, and Agganis Arena. He is from Foxborough, Mass., and takes pride in being left-handed. He can be reached at bradyg@bu.edu. Profile

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