The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy celebrated its finest in athletics, Thursday evening, at the 2003-2004 Varsity Athletics Awards Dinner, honoring Kings Point's most outstanding student-athletes, coaches, regiment, faculty, staff and members of the Academy Family.

The Admiral Stedman Trophy, presented each year to the Academy's most outstanding senior athlete (male or female) who exemplifies the highest in achievement, sportsmanship, and general excellence in athletics was awarded to Joel Meyer (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) of the swimming and diving team. The six-time All-American in the one- and three-meter springboard events ended his four-year career at the top --- winning the one-meter National Championship, placing second in the three-meter variety, and being named the National Diver of the Year.

The Julie A. Berke Trophy, presented to the Academy's most outstanding female athlete who represents the highest in achievement, sportsmanship, and general excellence in athletics was presented to senior Rebecca Segert (Merritt Island, Fla./Merritt Island) of the women's basketball team. Segert is the only player to have participated in all four seasons of KP women's basketball, and is one of the top-30 scorers in NCAA Division III history. Segert became the first female in the country this year to reach the 2,000 career-points milestone and finishes with 2,076 points, ranking only behind former men's player Bob McNamee on the Kings Point all-time scoring list.

The Dr. Stephen "Bill" Omeltchenko Coach of the Year Award, awarded to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's Varsity Coach of the Year who epitomizes the utmost in dedication, sportsmanship, enthusiasm, love, integrity and perseverance in their chosen profession of coaching, was presented to Heather Stone of the softball team. Stone led the Mariners as they ripped off an Academy-record, 28-16-1 season, winning the Skyline Conference Championship and advancing to its second-consecutive NCAA Championship Tournament in the process.

The Julie A. Berke Rookie of the Year Awards, presented to a male and female athlete who have exhibited the most exceptional performance during their rookie year with their respective teams, were awarded to Andrea Carey (Georgetown, Del./Cape Henlopen) of the softball and women's basketball teams, and Kyle Flynn (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington) of the soccer squad. Carey, at shortstop for the Skyline Conference Championship team, hit .400 on the season, while leading the team in triples (5), home runs (3), slugging percentage (.618) and on-base percentage (.477). On the hardwood, she was the team-leader in rebounds per game (7.2), was the team-high rebounder nine times, and garnered three double-doubles coming off the bench.

Forward Kyle Flynn led the Mariners offense as the top goal-scorer with 14 goals, while dishing out seven assists, good for a team-high 35 points. In three consecutive outings the freshman striker scored two goals in each match, giving the Mariners a 5-0 win over SUNY Old Westbury (Sept. 17), a 2-0 win at Springfield College (Sept. 20), and a 3-1 win at St. Joseph's College (Sept. 24). His stellar, three-game performance earned him Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week accolades, Sept. 30, while his season-long execution earned him a spot on the Skyline Conference First Team and Rookie of the Year honors.

In addition to the five major awards, the following accolades highlighted the remainder of the awards banquet:

Academic Dean's Award: Golf Team (3.05 GPA)

Thomas LeBlanc Award and Julie A. Berke Achievement Award:..Hugh Grandstaff and Rebecca Segert

George Zaharkow Award: Chris Springer

Captain James Liebertz Memorial Award:..Vice Admiral Joseph D. Stewart

Captain Dan Buckley Award: Josh Buck

Andrew Gibson Award: David McNeal

Charles Rackett Award: Jess Feldon and Dean Macris

Hanley Naegele Awards: Chris Springer/Ed DiPierro and Cole Patterson

Kenneth Graff Memorial Award: Benjamin Earnest and Joe Meagher

ECAC Merit Medals: Chris Springer and Audrey Meyers

ECAC Robbins Scholar-Athlete Awards: Hugh Grandstaff and Audrey Meyers

ECAC Certificate of Appreciation: Aaron Terranova

Mark J. Paradiso Award: Aaron Terranova

Steven Wickboldt Memorial Award: Lou Barbieri

Herman Berke Athletic Leadership Award: Todd Hoyt

Captain Perry Walter Award; CDR Don Farmer

Cross Country Captain's Awards: Josh Bibb, Bradford Eastman, Victoria Gigante, Andrew Williams MVP Awards: Andrew Williams and Marissa Basic Football Captain's Awards: Dan Circelli, Kyle Franklin, David McNeal MVP Award: Frank Dore Golf Captain's Award: Dan Dugan MVP Award: Dan Dugan Soccer Captain's Awards: Jimmy Kirk, Joe Meagher and Tim Shea MVP Award: Joe Meagher Volleyball Captain's Awards: Maggie O'Connor, Jena Jeffries and Jessica France MVP Award: Jessica France

Men's Basketball

Captain's Awards: Mark Medvetz, Gabe Whitney and Josh Buck

MVP Award: Josh Buck

Women's Basketball

Captain's Awards: Rebecca Segert and Samantha Skeens

MVP Award: Rebecca Segert

Pistol

Captain's Awards: Bo Feely

MVP Award: Bo Feely

Swimming & Diving

Captain's Awards: Joel Meyer, Joe Quirk, Jeff Kennedy, Jeff Boden, Audrey Meyers and Laura Jenkins

MVP Award: Joel Meyer and Laura Jenkins

Wrestling

Captain's Awards: Ed DiPierro and Chris Springer

MVP Award: Ed DiPierro

Spring Sports

Baseball

Captain's Awards: Al Giordano and Harlow Wood

MVP Award: Harlow Wood

Crew

Captain's Awards: Sean Kinley, Sean Rafferty and Lindsay Elgart

MVP Award: Sean Kinley and Laura Jones

Lacrosse

Captain's Awards: Joe Azzata and Phil Curran

MVP Award: David Shafer

Offshore Sailing

Captain's Awards: Jesse Waletich and Jeffrey Miller

MVP Award: Matthew Schubert

Intercollegiate Sailing

Captain's Awards: Jacob Mehl and Hugh Grandstaff

MVP Award: David Wright

Softball

Captain's Awards: Jena Jeffries, Jeanne Klaine and Alison Martins

MVP Award: Jena Jeffries

Tennis

Captain's Awards: JR Guernsey and Aaron Lewis

MVP Award: JR Guernsey

Track & Field

Captain's Awards: Todd Hoyt and Lou Barbieri

MVP Award: Todd Hoyt