Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Temple Honors Student-Athlete Success at the 2019 Stellas: A Celebration of Champions
4.28.19 | General
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University held its 17th annual student-athlete Celebration of Champions on Sunday night, honoring the excellent team and individual performances of the 2018-19 academic year. The 2019 Stellas honored over 300 student-athletes at the event, held at the Aramark STAR Complex.
"The Celebration of Champions continues to be one of the best nights of the year for Temple University Athletics," said Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "We are able to showcase and recognize the dedication of our student-athletes in competition, in the classroom or in the community. We all should be very proud of their hard work this year."
The keynote speaker at the Celebration of Champions was decorated former men's basketball coach Fran Dunphy, who recently led the Owls to the 2019 NCAA Tournament in his 13th and final season.
One male and one female were selected for each of the top three awards given out; the Athletic Performer of the Year, the Scholar Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Earning Athletic Performer of the Year Awards were Men's Basketball's Shizz Alston, Jr. and Fencing's Kerry Plunkett. The Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards went to Football's Jovahn Fair and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field's Ashton Dunkley (for a second year in a row), while the Newcomer of the Year honors were given to Ariana Castrence (Gymnastics) and Jalen Campbell (Men's Soccer).
Alston, the Male Performer of the Year, had a record-setting senior campaign. He was an American Athletic Conference and Philadelphia Big 5 First Team selection and led the Owls to the NCAA Tournament. Alston led both conferences in scoring at 19.7 points per game, while setting program records in free throw percentage (.908) and consecutive games with a three-pointer made (44 games in a row). He finished his career with 1,597 points to rank 13th all-time in program history.
Female Athletic Performer of the Year, Plunkett, capped her outstanding junior campaign with All-America Honorable Mention honors by finishing ninth overall in sabre at the 2019 NCAA Championships. She won gold at the NIWFA Championships and was fourth at the NCAA Regional. Plunkett's dual meet record of 53-14 led the entire team, and her 175 career dual meet wins already tie for the sabre program record after just three seasons.
Fair, the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, is a redshirt junior offensive lineman on the football team. He is a human development and community engagement major with a 3.13 GPA. Dunkley, the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive year, is a senior on the cross country and track and field teams. She is an anthropology major who carries a 3.93 GPA.
Castrence, the Female Newcomer of the Year, vaulted into the record books with an outstanding season that saw her earn ECAC Rookie of the Year honors and represent Temple at the NCAA Regionals. She won the All-Around title at her first ECAC Championships in leading the Owls to a team title, and earned all-conference honors on every event.
Campbell, the Male Newcomer of the Year, shined in his freshman campaign with the men's soccer team. The American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team selection made 13 starts and played in all 19 games. He scored two goals and added three assists to tie for second on the team with seven total points, and was named the AAC's Rookie of the Week in early September.
It was also announced at the Celebration of Champions that 223 student-athletes were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 GPA), with an additional 125 student-athletes named 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 – Maryn Lowell (Lacrosse), Allie Nussbaum (Women's Rowing), Malia Hee (Fencing), Quinn Duwelius (Fencing), Megan Ross (Fencing), Millie Howard (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Ashton Dunkley (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Robin Goetz (Men's Soccer), Averi Salvador (Volleyball) and McKenzie Gelvin (Women's Track & Field).
For a second year in a row, the women's cross country team won the Owl Trophy for the top Team GPA Award with an outstanding aggregate GPA of 3.71.
Temple fencing took home the annual Owl Cup title. The Owl Cup is 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.
Redshirt freshman Keion Greenhow (women's track and field) and sophomore J.P. Moorman II (men's basketball) were honored as the male and female recipients of the 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.
Redshirt junior Chapelle Russell (football) and senior Alliyah Butts (women's basketball) were selected the NovaCare Comeback Student-Athletes of the Year, given to a male and female student-athlete who have suffered a recent serious injury or illness and have made a tremendous impact on his/her team upon return for the current academic year.
The Temple Owl Club presented its annual academic award winners at the event. The honorees include: De'Vondre Perry (men's basketball), Emani Mayo (women's basketball), T. Andrew Stewart (men's crew), Donovan Mears (men's cross country), Michelle Joyce (women's cross country), Matthew Hennessey (football), Quinn Duwelius (fencing), Dani Batze (field hockey), John Barone (golf), Daisy Todd (gymnastics), Olivia Martin (lacrosse), Allie Nussbaum (women's rowing), Leandros Lillis (men's soccer), Emily Keitel (women's soccer), Cecilia Castelli (women's tennis), Mark Wallner (men's tennis), McKenzie Gelvin (women's track & field) and Averi Salvador (volleyball), Erica Hall (Diamond Gems), Kayla Myers (cheerleading).
For the second year in a row, student-athletes voted on the Parliament Spirit Awards for their respective teams. The award is given to student-athletes who have demonstrated a devotion to the essence of sport through their acts of sportsmanship. This year's award winners included: Shizz Alston, Jr. (men's basketball), Mia Davis (women's basketball), Alex Pacios (men's crew), Kristian Holm Jensen (men's cross country), Michelle Joyce (women's cross country), Caroline Richey (cheerleading), Megan Ross (fencing), Kathryn Edgar (field hockey), Gary McCabe (golf), India Anderson (gymnastics), Kara Nakrasius (lacrosse), Ciara O'Sullivan (women's rowing), Nicholas Sarver (men's soccer), Juliet Esposito (women's soccer), Ruoyu Chen (women's tennis), Crystal Jones (women's track & field) and Averi Salvador (volleyball).
"The Celebration of Champions continues to be one of the best nights of the year for Temple University Athletics," said Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "We are able to showcase and recognize the dedication of our student-athletes in competition, in the classroom or in the community. We all should be very proud of their hard work this year."
The keynote speaker at the Celebration of Champions was decorated former men's basketball coach Fran Dunphy, who recently led the Owls to the 2019 NCAA Tournament in his 13th and final season.
One male and one female were selected for each of the top three awards given out; the Athletic Performer of the Year, the Scholar Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Earning Athletic Performer of the Year Awards were Men's Basketball's Shizz Alston, Jr. and Fencing's Kerry Plunkett. The Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards went to Football's Jovahn Fair and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field's Ashton Dunkley (for a second year in a row), while the Newcomer of the Year honors were given to Ariana Castrence (Gymnastics) and Jalen Campbell (Men's Soccer).
Alston, the Male Performer of the Year, had a record-setting senior campaign. He was an American Athletic Conference and Philadelphia Big 5 First Team selection and led the Owls to the NCAA Tournament. Alston led both conferences in scoring at 19.7 points per game, while setting program records in free throw percentage (.908) and consecutive games with a three-pointer made (44 games in a row). He finished his career with 1,597 points to rank 13th all-time in program history.
Female Athletic Performer of the Year, Plunkett, capped her outstanding junior campaign with All-America Honorable Mention honors by finishing ninth overall in sabre at the 2019 NCAA Championships. She won gold at the NIWFA Championships and was fourth at the NCAA Regional. Plunkett's dual meet record of 53-14 led the entire team, and her 175 career dual meet wins already tie for the sabre program record after just three seasons.
Fair, the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, is a redshirt junior offensive lineman on the football team. He is a human development and community engagement major with a 3.13 GPA. Dunkley, the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive year, is a senior on the cross country and track and field teams. She is an anthropology major who carries a 3.93 GPA.
Castrence, the Female Newcomer of the Year, vaulted into the record books with an outstanding season that saw her earn ECAC Rookie of the Year honors and represent Temple at the NCAA Regionals. She won the All-Around title at her first ECAC Championships in leading the Owls to a team title, and earned all-conference honors on every event.
Campbell, the Male Newcomer of the Year, shined in his freshman campaign with the men's soccer team. The American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team selection made 13 starts and played in all 19 games. He scored two goals and added three assists to tie for second on the team with seven total points, and was named the AAC's Rookie of the Week in early September.
It was also announced at the Celebration of Champions that 223 student-athletes were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 GPA), with an additional 125 student-athletes named 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 – Maryn Lowell (Lacrosse), Allie Nussbaum (Women's Rowing), Malia Hee (Fencing), Quinn Duwelius (Fencing), Megan Ross (Fencing), Millie Howard (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Ashton Dunkley (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Robin Goetz (Men's Soccer), Averi Salvador (Volleyball) and McKenzie Gelvin (Women's Track & Field).
For a second year in a row, the women's cross country team won the Owl Trophy for the top Team GPA Award with an outstanding aggregate GPA of 3.71.
Temple fencing took home the annual Owl Cup title. The Owl Cup is 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.
Redshirt freshman Keion Greenhow (women's track and field) and sophomore J.P. Moorman II (men's basketball) were honored as the male and female recipients of the 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.
Redshirt junior Chapelle Russell (football) and senior Alliyah Butts (women's basketball) were selected the NovaCare Comeback Student-Athletes of the Year, given to a male and female student-athlete who have suffered a recent serious injury or illness and have made a tremendous impact on his/her team upon return for the current academic year.
The Temple Owl Club presented its annual academic award winners at the event. The honorees include: De'Vondre Perry (men's basketball), Emani Mayo (women's basketball), T. Andrew Stewart (men's crew), Donovan Mears (men's cross country), Michelle Joyce (women's cross country), Matthew Hennessey (football), Quinn Duwelius (fencing), Dani Batze (field hockey), John Barone (golf), Daisy Todd (gymnastics), Olivia Martin (lacrosse), Allie Nussbaum (women's rowing), Leandros Lillis (men's soccer), Emily Keitel (women's soccer), Cecilia Castelli (women's tennis), Mark Wallner (men's tennis), McKenzie Gelvin (women's track & field) and Averi Salvador (volleyball), Erica Hall (Diamond Gems), Kayla Myers (cheerleading).
For the second year in a row, student-athletes voted on the Parliament Spirit Awards for their respective teams. The award is given to student-athletes who have demonstrated a devotion to the essence of sport through their acts of sportsmanship. This year's award winners included: Shizz Alston, Jr. (men's basketball), Mia Davis (women's basketball), Alex Pacios (men's crew), Kristian Holm Jensen (men's cross country), Michelle Joyce (women's cross country), Caroline Richey (cheerleading), Megan Ross (fencing), Kathryn Edgar (field hockey), Gary McCabe (golf), India Anderson (gymnastics), Kara Nakrasius (lacrosse), Ciara O'Sullivan (women's rowing), Nicholas Sarver (men's soccer), Juliet Esposito (women's soccer), Ruoyu Chen (women's tennis), Crystal Jones (women's track & field) and Averi Salvador (volleyball).
Ep. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
Tuesday, September 23
Temple Men's Basketball | Mic'd Up at Temple Women's Volleyball Game
Friday, September 19
Ep. 5: Head Men's Golf Coach Brian Quinn
Friday, September 19
Ep. 4: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Men's Soccer Captain Lukas Egarter
Tuesday, September 16
