Buffalo Bisons

Athletic And Academic Achievements Honored At Purple Eagle Awards Show

5/19/2021 3:30:00 PM

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara University Department of Athletics staff, coaches and student-athletes hosted the sixth installment of the Purple Eagle Awards Show on Wednesday at the legendary Taps Gallagher Center. The event combines the traditional student-athlete banquet with an ESPY-style format where student-athletes receive accolades for their performances during the season.

Additionally, all senior student-athletes were presented with Purple 'N' plaques to honor their careers at Niagara.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, as well as purpleeagles.com.

Our Director of Athletics, @NiagaraAD, has presented the Believe NU Award to the entire Niagara athletic department for persevering through an incredibly challenging year and bringing success to Monteagle Ridge!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/uc9az49k2R
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

The St. Vincent Award is awarded to those who best exemplify the Vincentian mission. This year's award is presented to the Athletic Communications and Sport Medicine departments for their hard work and dedication to Niagara athletics this season!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/Nb4p9DfBMl
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our female Scholar Athlete of the Year is Alexandra Leo of @NiagaraWLAX! She maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/8NL5797NdM
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our male Scholar Athlete of the Year award goes to Brian Wilson of @NiagaraMHKY with a GPA of 3.92!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/XUlOqKrExD
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our women's team with the highest GPA is @NiagaraWTN! The Purple Eagles had a team GPA of 3.64!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/KNESA3oGSh
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our men's team with the highest GPA is @NiagaraXCTF with a GPA of 3.7!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/u17RnKdAFn
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

The Purple Eagle Award is presented to a non-student-athlete who dedicates their time to the athletic department! This year's winner is Hayley Held, from the Athletic Communications office!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/fOg336iq9n
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our Comeback Athlete of the Year is Olivia Mason from @NiagaraWBB! After missing most of her freshman and sophomore seasons, Olivia bounced back for a strong junior campaign!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/gQOsBVWRyP
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

The Purple Heart Award is awarded to female and male student-athletes who embrace the Vincentian spirit and most exemplify what it means to be a Purple Eagle! Our recipients are Josh Tufino of @NiagaraMSOC and Kelsey Harrigan of @NiagaraSB!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/4Adtp0ke8I
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our Coach of the Year is @NiagaraMSOC's Bill Boyle! Boyle led the Purple Eagles to their highest win percentage since the 2012 season and the team earned the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/lOmUpRewms
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our Female Newcomer of the Year is Amanda Darling of @NiagaraVB! She earned both the MAAC Libero of the Year and MAAC Rookie of the Year awards this season!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/IaMfHcJLzQ
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our Male Newcomer of the Year is Kobi Nwandu of @NiagaraMBB! Kobi had a phenomenal season for the Purple Eagles and was an All-MAAC selection!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/0tRcupGgm0
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our Vincent O'Malley Female Student-Athlete of the Year is Michelle Messenger of @NiagaraWLAX! Michelle was the MAAC Goalie of the Year and was an All-MAAC First Team selection!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/NVZWqpnRa0
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

Our Vincent O'Malley Male Student-Athlete of the Year is Peter Battaglia of @NiagaraBASE! Pete broke the career homeruns record this season and helped the Purple Eagles to earn the No. 6 seed in the MAAC Championships!#EaglesTakeFlight pic.twitter.com/yWF81Km9Ju
— Niagara Purple Eagles (@NUPurpleEagles) May 19, 2021

The complete list of award winners is below:

St. Vincent Award – Athletic Communications and Sport Medicine
Believe NU Award - Purple Eagles Student-Athletes
Coach of the Year – Bill Boyle (Men's Soccer)
Purple Eagle Award – Hayley Held (Athletic Communications)
Female Scholar Athlete Award – Alexandra Leo (Women's Lacrosse)
Male Scholar Athlete Award – Brian Wilson (Hockey)
Female Team with Highest GPA – Women's Tennis
Male Team with Highest GPA – Men's Cross Country
Female Newcomer of the Year – Amanda Darling (Women's Volleyball)
Male Newcomer of the Year – KobiNwandu (Men's Basketball)
Purple Heart (Women) – Kelsey Harrigan (Softball)
Purple Heart (Men) – Josh Tufino (Men's Soccer)
Comeback Athlete of the Year – Oliva Mason (Women's Basketball)
Unsung Hero – Cole Tucker (baseball), Jordan Cintron (Men's Basketball), Angel Parker (Women's Basketball), Braden York (Men's Cross Country), Nora Klinowski (Women's Cross Country), Ian Wagner (Men's Golf), Daniella Hopper (Women's Golf), Chad Veltri (Hockey), Meghan Howe (Women's Lacrosse), Jordan Acevedo (Men's Soccer), Veda Hensel (Women's Soccer), Riley Crum (Softball), TyQuann Walker (Men's Simming), Lauren Hume (Women's Swimming), Jorge Sedeno (Men's Tennis), Emma Shea (Women's Tennis), Emma Bagnato (Women's Track), Mary Redl (Volleyball)
Taps Gallagher Award – Alex MacKinnon (Baseball), Steven Levnic (Men's Basketball), Maddy Yelle (Women's Basketball), Spencer Swoboda (Men's Cross Country, Elle Russell (Women's Cross Country), Tyler Edholm (Men's Golf), Eve Quinn (Women's Golf), Jon Hill (Hockey), Alina Del Toro (Women's Lacrosse), Josh Tufino (Men's Soccer), Alexis Horwedel (Women's Soccer), Heather Haberman (Softball), Gio Germano (Men's Swimming), Sydney Sarkis (Women's Swimming), Eduardo Villalpando (Men's Tennis), Megan Gamble (Women's Tennis), Haleigh Foster (Women's Track), Jessica Streuer (Volleyball)
Vincent O'Malley Female Student-Athlete of the Year – Michelle Messenger (Women's Lacrosse)
Vincent O'Malley Male Student-Athlete of the Year – Peter Battaglia (Baseball)

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