Baseball | April 18, 2017
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle University seniors
Christina Bascara and
Matt Robinson were named Scholar-Athletes of the Year at the Annual Athletics Banquet, held at Tom Gola Arena, on Tuesday evening.
Bascara and Robinson were joined as major award winners by senior
Amanda Ryan, who won the De La Salle Service Award, senior Tanawan Sukonthapanich, the winner of the Academic Excellence Award, and senior Jack DiMatteo, who was the recipient of the Joseph E. Crowley Award.
A standout on the diamond all four of her years at La Salle, Bascara was named to the Atlantic 10's All-Rookie Team as a freshman after leading the Explorers in hitting, something she also accomplished as a sophomore and a junior. In 2015, she earned Second Team All-A-10 accolades, leading La Salle to a berth into the Atlantic 10 Tournament. A biology major with a 3.68 GPA, she will graduate with her bachelor's degree in May and will conclude her career ranked in La Salle's Top 10 in home runs and runs scored.
Robinson was a Second Team All-Atlantic 10 pick this past fall after leading the men's soccer team in all major statistical categories, including goals, assists and points. A Soccer 6 All-Rookie Team selection as a true freshman, he has been named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll six times and through the fall semester, maintained a 3.88 GPA as an accounting major. He will graduate with his bachelor's degree in May, before returning to campus for his final season with the La Salle men's soccer team in August.
Ryan was named the De La Salle Service Award winner after being an active member of Project Teamwork this past year. She helped to recruit and promote initiatives within the student-athlete community, led donation efforts for the Bringing Hope Home initiative, took part in the Halloween Trick or Treating event with Logan Elementary School students and served as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee president this past year.
Through the fall semester, Sukonthapanich boasted an impressive 3.90 GPA - tops among all graduating student-athletes - and will graduate in a couple weeks with a bachelor's degree in marketing. A four-year member of the women's swimming and diving team, she was unable to accept her award in person as she is currently representing La Salle University and the School of Business at the International Business Ethics Case Competition in Santa Monica, Calif.
The Crowley Award, named for the first manager of basketball and football at La Salle, was given to a four-year team manager of the men's basketball team that followed in the footsteps of Mr. Crowley. DiMatteo was an invaluable member of the men's basketball program for the last four years and a direct extension of the coaching staff whose enthusiasm for the game of basketball and for La Salle University is second to none.
In addition, Explorer Excellence Awards were handed out to an individual from each sport program who, as voted on by their teammates, demonstrated leadership, character, sportsmanship, and best exemplified the values of their team. The award winners were:
