Temple University Athletics
Briglia, Tighe Named PNC Student-Athletes of The Year at 11th Annual Breakfast of Champions
4.24.13 | Field Hockey, General, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Tennis, Softball
Video | Gallery
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University honored its best in athletics, both on and off the field of play, at its 11th annual Breakfast of Champions Wednesday morning. In all, over 300 Temple student-athletes were recognized for academic and athletic accomplishments with seniors Alex Tighe of the men's gymnastics team and Katie Briglia of the field hockey team being named the PNC Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year.
"The Breakfast of Champions is the highlight of the year for Temple University athletics," said Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw, who instituted the event in 2003, his first full year at the school. "It is where we annually recognize the `best of the best' for athletic performance, academic achievement and service to the community. Alex and Katie truly epitomize all that is good about intercollegiate athletics."
Tighe, a native of Brookfield, Wisc. (Swiss Turners HS), was named the 2013 ECAC Senior Athlete of the Year and helped the Owls capture the conference title and advance to the NCAA Championship. A standout in his sport, he has won ECAC titles on both the horizontal bars and parallel bars during his stellar career. In the classroom, the Applied Mathematics & Spanish double major owns a 3.92 cumulative grade point average and is a three-year member of Temple's Trustee Ten.
Briglia, a three-time first team all-conference honoree, saved her best season for her last, scoring five goals and dishing a team-high 11 assists while captaining the Owls as a senior. The Temple standout has also been selected to the All-Region team and the A10 Championship team twice and earned a spot in the NFCHA Senior All-Star game. In the classroom, the Phoenixville, Pa. native (Villa Maria Academy) posted a 3.71 cumulative grade point average while earning a place on the NFCHA Academic Squad the last three years.
It was also announced at the Breakfast that 202 student-athletes were named to the Director's Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 cumulative grade point average) with an additional 81 student-athletes to the President's Honor Roll (3.50 or above). Temple also honored its Trustee Ten, its top student-athletes in terms of grade point average – Lea Britton (women's lacrosse), Kelly Broadbent (women's cross country/track), Colleen Guinan (women's lacrosse), Devynne Nelons (softball), Kacper Rams (men's tennis), Daniele Raneri (softball), Brett Statman (men's gymnastics), Alexander Tighe (men's gymnastics), Allison Watkins (women's rowing) and Assaf Zoor (men's gymnastics).
The men's gymnastics team won The Owl Trophy for the top Team GPA Award with an aggregate grade point average of 3.49 while the women's rowing team captured the Owl Cup, given to the team that has best exemplified the initiatives set forth by the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program: student-athletes supporting other student-athletes, excelling in and out of the classroom, attending CHAMPS/Life Skill workshops, volunteerism, and the promotion of a healthy and competitive campus environment.
The baseball team was the recipient of the T.E.A.M Award, an acronym standing for Temple Exceptional Acts for Mankind, for its outstanding efforts in raising money and awareness for children's cancer and volunteering to assist Toms River, N.J. residents affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Senior Jennifer Abercrumbie (women's cross country/track) and senior Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (men's basketball) were named as the recipients of the Enterprise Spirit and Sportsmanship Award, given annually to student-athletes who have demonstrated a devotion to the essence of sport through their acts of sportsmanship.
Senior Wyatt Benson (football) and senior Paige O'Sullivan (women's rowing) were named the male and female recipients of the Temple Teammates Community Service Award, given to student-athletes who have demonstrated leadership qualities in the area of community service, inspiring others to engage in similar selfless civic endeavors for the purpose of improving the quality of life for those in the local community.
Junior Fergal Barry (men's crew) was selected the NovaCare Comeback Student-Athlete of the Year while senior Alex Jackson (football) was named the recipient of the Diamond in the Rough award, given to recognize a student-athlete who has made substantial grade improvements throughout his or her academic career.
Philadelphia media icon Don Tollefson served as the emcee for this year's Breakfast of Champions while Bill Mills, President of PNC, was the presenting sponsor.
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PHILADELPHIA – Temple University honored its best in athletics, both on and off the field of play, at its 11th annual Breakfast of Champions Wednesday morning. In all, over 300 Temple student-athletes were recognized for academic and athletic accomplishments with seniors Alex Tighe of the men's gymnastics team and Katie Briglia of the field hockey team being named the PNC Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year.
"The Breakfast of Champions is the highlight of the year for Temple University athletics," said Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw, who instituted the event in 2003, his first full year at the school. "It is where we annually recognize the `best of the best' for athletic performance, academic achievement and service to the community. Alex and Katie truly epitomize all that is good about intercollegiate athletics."
Tighe, a native of Brookfield, Wisc. (Swiss Turners HS), was named the 2013 ECAC Senior Athlete of the Year and helped the Owls capture the conference title and advance to the NCAA Championship. A standout in his sport, he has won ECAC titles on both the horizontal bars and parallel bars during his stellar career. In the classroom, the Applied Mathematics & Spanish double major owns a 3.92 cumulative grade point average and is a three-year member of Temple's Trustee Ten.
Briglia, a three-time first team all-conference honoree, saved her best season for her last, scoring five goals and dishing a team-high 11 assists while captaining the Owls as a senior. The Temple standout has also been selected to the All-Region team and the A10 Championship team twice and earned a spot in the NFCHA Senior All-Star game. In the classroom, the Phoenixville, Pa. native (Villa Maria Academy) posted a 3.71 cumulative grade point average while earning a place on the NFCHA Academic Squad the last three years.
It was also announced at the Breakfast that 202 student-athletes were named to the Director's Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 cumulative grade point average) with an additional 81 student-athletes to the President's Honor Roll (3.50 or above). Temple also honored its Trustee Ten, its top student-athletes in terms of grade point average – Lea Britton (women's lacrosse), Kelly Broadbent (women's cross country/track), Colleen Guinan (women's lacrosse), Devynne Nelons (softball), Kacper Rams (men's tennis), Daniele Raneri (softball), Brett Statman (men's gymnastics), Alexander Tighe (men's gymnastics), Allison Watkins (women's rowing) and Assaf Zoor (men's gymnastics).
The men's gymnastics team won The Owl Trophy for the top Team GPA Award with an aggregate grade point average of 3.49 while the women's rowing team captured the Owl Cup, given to the team that has best exemplified the initiatives set forth by the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program: student-athletes supporting other student-athletes, excelling in and out of the classroom, attending CHAMPS/Life Skill workshops, volunteerism, and the promotion of a healthy and competitive campus environment.
The baseball team was the recipient of the T.E.A.M Award, an acronym standing for Temple Exceptional Acts for Mankind, for its outstanding efforts in raising money and awareness for children's cancer and volunteering to assist Toms River, N.J. residents affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Senior Jennifer Abercrumbie (women's cross country/track) and senior Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (men's basketball) were named as the recipients of the Enterprise Spirit and Sportsmanship Award, given annually to student-athletes who have demonstrated a devotion to the essence of sport through their acts of sportsmanship.
Senior Wyatt Benson (football) and senior Paige O'Sullivan (women's rowing) were named the male and female recipients of the Temple Teammates Community Service Award, given to student-athletes who have demonstrated leadership qualities in the area of community service, inspiring others to engage in similar selfless civic endeavors for the purpose of improving the quality of life for those in the local community.
Junior Fergal Barry (men's crew) was selected the NovaCare Comeback Student-Athlete of the Year while senior Alex Jackson (football) was named the recipient of the Diamond in the Rough award, given to recognize a student-athlete who has made substantial grade improvements throughout his or her academic career.
Philadelphia media icon Don Tollefson served as the emcee for this year's Breakfast of Champions while Bill Mills, President of PNC, was the presenting sponsor.
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