Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Doyle, Matautia, Spurrier Named PNC Student-Athletes of the Year at 12th Annual Breakfast of Champions
5.6.14 | General
Gallery | Video
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University changed its format for this year's Breakfast of Champions, having student-athletes as presenters to their peer recipients and for the first time awarded co-winners of the PNC Female Student-Athlete of the Year Tuesday morning at the Liacouras Center.
It was a celebration of the best in Temple athletics, both on and off the field of play, as over 300 Temple student-athletes were recognized for academic and athletic accomplishments. Another change was the winner of the SAAC talent show, senior women's tennis player Carly Bohman, performing two songs for the predominantly student-athlete audience.
Seniors Molly Doyle of the field hockey team and Gabriella Matautia of the women's volleyball team shared the top female honor while senior Vaughn Spurrier was named the top male student-athlete.
"It was a wonderful celebration of what makes Temple Athletics so special," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin Clark. "Having student-athletes recognize each other for their accomplishments, on the field, in the classroom and in the community, made this event more personable. Congratulations to all of the recipients. You make Temple proud."
Doyle, a native of Havertown, Pa. (Merion Mercy Academy), was instrumental in leading her team into the national spotlight and a spot in the Top 20. One of the top defenders in the nation, this two-year captain also was a prolific scorer for the Owls' field hockey team, scoring eight goals and dishing three assists to rank second on the team in points. She earned second team all-Region and all-Conference honors and was named to the NFHCA Senior All-Star game.
Off the field, this senior history major has compiled a 3.64 cumulative grade point average while earning Dean's List and President's Honor Roll status during her career. She has also been heavily involved in community service, while also being a two-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Matautia, a native of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, has been the face of her sport throughout her career. The two-year first team all-conference selection has been a consistent leader for Temple volleyball both on and off the court. In addition to her 1,248 career kills, she amassed 901 career digs. She played in 109 matches as an Owl, and started in 100 of those.
A kinesiology major with a 3.55 cumulative grade point average, she has been named to Temple's Director's Honor Roll in each year of her career. Proactive in the community, she has helped teach her sport to children in the community through several mini-clinics while also volunteering with the National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Spurrier, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has been a mainstay with the men's soccer team, starting all four years and capping his brilliant career with his finest season. As a senior, he earned a spot on the Soccer Six all-star team as well as being named the top offensive player on the Owls team. For his career, the talented forward scored 11 goals and dished 17 assists, which is tied for seventh all-time at Temple. His 10 assists he accumulated during his junior season tied for second in the school record books.
Off the field, this biophysics major, who has compiled a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, was named the overall American Athletic Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he has also volunteered his time for various charities and mentoring programs.
It was also announced at the Breakfast that 263 student-athletes were named to the Director's Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 cumulative grade point average) with an additional 94 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 – Alyssa Drachslin (volleyball), Ali Forcucci (women's gymnastics), Bobby Heitzman (baseball), Maros Januvka (men's tennis), Jaqi Kakalecik (women's lacrosse), Shauni Kerkhoff (women's soccer), Tricia Light (field hockey), Kristian Marquart (men's tennis), Chantal Montrose (fencing) and Devynne Nelons (softball).
The men's tennis team won The Owl Trophy for the top Team GPA Award with an aggregate grade point average of 3.56 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.
Senior Mandi Shearer (field hockey) and redshirt junior Jimmy McDonnell (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 Chris Coyer (football) and senior Megan Boyer (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.
Senior Gabe Pickett (men's track and field) and Anna Pavone (women's cross country/track) were selected the NovaCare Comeback Student-Athletes of the Year while senior Natasha Thames (women's basketball) 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.
Senior Ray Smeriglio, who is the Director of Communications for the Student Government, served as the emcee for this year's Breakfast of Champions, while PNC was the presenting sponsor.
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University changed its format for this year's Breakfast of Champions, having student-athletes as presenters to their peer recipients and for the first time awarded co-winners of the PNC Female Student-Athlete of the Year Tuesday morning at the Liacouras Center.
It was a celebration of the best in Temple athletics, both on and off the field of play, as over 300 Temple student-athletes were recognized for academic and athletic accomplishments. Another change was the winner of the SAAC talent show, senior women's tennis player Carly Bohman, performing two songs for the predominantly student-athlete audience.
Seniors Molly Doyle of the field hockey team and Gabriella Matautia of the women's volleyball team shared the top female honor while senior Vaughn Spurrier was named the top male student-athlete.
"It was a wonderful celebration of what makes Temple Athletics so special," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin Clark. "Having student-athletes recognize each other for their accomplishments, on the field, in the classroom and in the community, made this event more personable. Congratulations to all of the recipients. You make Temple proud."
Doyle, a native of Havertown, Pa. (Merion Mercy Academy), was instrumental in leading her team into the national spotlight and a spot in the Top 20. One of the top defenders in the nation, this two-year captain also was a prolific scorer for the Owls' field hockey team, scoring eight goals and dishing three assists to rank second on the team in points. She earned second team all-Region and all-Conference honors and was named to the NFHCA Senior All-Star game.
Off the field, this senior history major has compiled a 3.64 cumulative grade point average while earning Dean's List and President's Honor Roll status during her career. She has also been heavily involved in community service, while also being a two-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Matautia, a native of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, has been the face of her sport throughout her career. The two-year first team all-conference selection has been a consistent leader for Temple volleyball both on and off the court. In addition to her 1,248 career kills, she amassed 901 career digs. She played in 109 matches as an Owl, and started in 100 of those.
A kinesiology major with a 3.55 cumulative grade point average, she has been named to Temple's Director's Honor Roll in each year of her career. Proactive in the community, she has helped teach her sport to children in the community through several mini-clinics while also volunteering with the National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Spurrier, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has been a mainstay with the men's soccer team, starting all four years and capping his brilliant career with his finest season. As a senior, he earned a spot on the Soccer Six all-star team as well as being named the top offensive player on the Owls team. For his career, the talented forward scored 11 goals and dished 17 assists, which is tied for seventh all-time at Temple. His 10 assists he accumulated during his junior season tied for second in the school record books.
Off the field, this biophysics major, who has compiled a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, was named the overall American Athletic Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he has also volunteered his time for various charities and mentoring programs.
It was also announced at the Breakfast that 263 student-athletes were named to the Director's Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 cumulative grade point average) with an additional 94 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 – Alyssa Drachslin (volleyball), Ali Forcucci (women's gymnastics), Bobby Heitzman (baseball), Maros Januvka (men's tennis), Jaqi Kakalecik (women's lacrosse), Shauni Kerkhoff (women's soccer), Tricia Light (field hockey), Kristian Marquart (men's tennis), Chantal Montrose (fencing) and Devynne Nelons (softball).
The men's tennis team won The Owl Trophy for the top Team GPA Award with an aggregate grade point average of 3.56 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.
Senior Mandi Shearer (field hockey) and redshirt junior Jimmy McDonnell (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 Chris Coyer (football) and senior Megan Boyer (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.
Senior Gabe Pickett (men's track and field) and Anna Pavone (women's cross country/track) were selected the NovaCare Comeback Student-Athletes of the Year while senior Natasha Thames (women's basketball) 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.
Senior Ray Smeriglio, who is the Director of Communications for the Student Government, served as the emcee for this year's Breakfast of Champions, while PNC was the presenting sponsor.
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