May 11, 2012

Fitchburg State Hosts Annual Athletic Awards Banquet

Falcons wrap up 2011-12 season by honoring 57 senior athletes

FITCHBURG, Mass. (May 11, 2012) – The Fitchburg State athletic department hosted its annual Senior Athletic Awards Banquet Thursday evening as guest gathered at the Wallace Civic Center at Fitchburg State University for a night that portrayed the best of Falcon Athletics.

Fifty-seven senior athletes were honored in the festivities, while eight Fitchburg State athletes were recognized with specialty awards, including the Paul K. Waring ’38 Athlete of the Year Award, the Senior Scholar Athlete Award, the Leadership Award, the Kruczek Award and the Rookie of the Year Award.

Seniors Matt Muolo (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) led all male recipients, taking home the Paul K. Waring ’38 Male Athlete of the Year honor, while sophomore Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) highlighted the Fitchburg State women, being named the Paul K. Waring Female Athlete of the Year.

Muolo, a five-time recipient of the MASCAC Field Athlete of the Week honor, earns his third Athlete of the Year award after leading the Fitchburg State men’s indoor track and field team to a strong 2011-12 season. He has qualified for four post-season honors this year (DIII NE, ECAC, All-NE), while also becoming the program’s first All-American in 17 years with an eighth place finish at the NCAA Championships.

Fahey, this year’s female recipient of the Paul K. Waring Athlete of the Year Award, witnessed a breakout year, averaging a near double-double with 23.6 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Her 23.6 points ranked third in the nation among all Division III players, while her 9.6 rebounds ranked first in the MASCAC. For her efforts, she was named the MASCAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, while also collecting a DIII Hoops All-Region nomination and six Player of the Week honors.

Seniors Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selects) and Emily Lane (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School) were also honored with the Male/Female Senior Scholar Athlete Award, giving annually to an outstanding senior athlete with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Threlkeld, a four-year member of the MASCAC All-Academic team, collected a 3.81 GPA in Criminal Justice while serving as captain of the Fitchburg State ice hockey team. Lane, a three-sport athlete at Fitchburg State, posted a 3.86 GPA while majoring in Communications Media.

A pair of athletes received recognition for their leadership qualities as senior Chris Kibler (Bath, Maine/Morse) took home the Male Athletic Leadership Award and classmate Kelly Finamore (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) was awarded the Female Athletic Leadership Award. Threlkeld was the lone double-winner of the evening, receiving the 2012 Kruczek Award for his demonstration of courage and spirit through adversity, while sophomore Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, Mass./Bedford) and freshman Lindsey White (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) wrapped up the award honorees, being named the Male/Female Rookies of the Year.

For more information regarding the Fitchburg State Athletic Awards Banquet, please contact Sports Information Director Keith Brouillard via email at kbrouil3@fitchburgstate.edu. All photos of the event were provided from Vanessa Parker Photography.