COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus athletics department held the third annual URSPYS Award Show at Helfferich Hall on Sunday night. The show continued to serve as the closing ceremony that honors the top student-athletes with the outstanding senior and rookie awards, while handing out special awards to the best and the brightest for the 2023-24 academic and athletic year.
Ursinus Women's Swimming's Melissa Leonard was named the Female Senior MVP behind completing a tremendous career at Ursinus that saw her win eight individual gold medals at the Centennial Championships while swimming at the 2023 NCAA Division III Swimming Championships. Daniel Tabor of Ursinus Men's Track & Field took home the Male Senior MVP after earning seven medals behind five golds between the Centennial Indoor and Outdoor Championships, racing at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships twice in the 4x400 relay, and being a member of back-to-back Centennial Outdoor title teams.
Ursinus Women's Track & Field senior Rainah Dunham garnered the Most Outstanding Female Athlete for 2023-24 behind earning All-American honors in both the triple and long jump at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships while setting school records for each event in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Dunham has already locked up an appearance in the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championship late in May. Ursinus Football's Ryan Bodolus was named the Most Outstanding Male Athlete for 2023-24 following a dominant season on the gridiron. Bodolus was named a first team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and second team All-American by the Associated Press and D3football.com, while also garnering College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-American Selection
Here are the rest of the special award winners:
Female Rookie of the Year – Erin Roe, Gymnastics
Awarded to the female first year student-athlete who has excelled in athletics during their first year as an Ursinus Bear.
Male Rookie of the Year – Max Borton, Men's Wrestling
Awarded to the male first year student-athlete who has excelled in athletics during their first year as an Ursinus Bear.
Male and Female Defensive Players of the Year – Ryan Bodolus, Football and Maeve Montgomery, Field Hockey
Ehret and Ronald C. Kichline Prizes –
Ehret: Ryan Bodolus, Football; Devon Greaves, Men's Track & Field; Melissa Leonard, Women's Swimming; Tucker McGrath, Men's Track & Field/XC
Ronald C.: Rainah Dunham, Women's Track & Field; Brett Gross, Football; Shawn Marchesano, Men's Wrestling; Collin Ney, Men's Track & Field, Payton Stanziani, Men's Track & Field.
Awarded to senior student-athletes who excelled in athletics during their time at Ursinus.
Linda McIntyre Award – Stephanie Donato, Women's Basketball
Awarded to a sophomore woman who, during her freshman and sophomore years, demonstrates initiative in financing her education, proficiency and perseverance in intercollegiate athletics and a cooperative and unselfish attitude in women's sports.
Olive Sergeant Hamm Award – Brooke Adams, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Awarded to a senior woman who exemplifies the best in college life; athletically, socially, and scholastically.
Best Bear Award – Jill Fazzini, Administrative Coordinator
Honors a staff member of Ursinus Athletics (Team Ursinus), who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, a willingness to provide exceptional service, and has gone above and beyond to support the Ursinus College Department of Athletics.
Team Community Service Award – Ursinus Women's Volleyball
Honors the varsity sports program that achieves the most significant contributions and notable community service to the college and local communities throughout the academic year.
Play of the Year Award – Joshua Coster – Game-Winning Goal against eventual Centennial Champion Johns Hopkins
URSPYS Social Media Tournament Champions - Women's Basketball
Awarded to the Ursinus student-athlete who made the most exciting individual play during an athletic competition this year.
Most Outstanding Athletic Performance Award – Aiden Tobin at the 2024 Centennial Indoor Track & Field Championships
Honors the student-athlete who had the best overall individual athletic performance in a single varsity competition this year.
Director of Athletics Award – Madison Vinovrski, Women's Volleyball and Evan Coffey, Men's Golf
Honors a student-athlete who exemplifies perseverance, loyalty, and spirit to their team and Ursinus College and is a positive influence on their teammates.
