The University of Scranton Athletic Department in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted a successful Iggy Awards on Wednesday night at the McIlhenny Ballroom in the DeNaples Center.

Throughout the course of the evening, the Athletics Department presented the annual major awards, the winners of the Iggy Awards in various categories were announced and student-athletes had the opportunity to vote for superlative awards such as Best Game Face, Best Duo and Most Likely to Never Leave Scranton.

If you weren't able to tune in to last night's program, click here to watch the full Awards show including a highlight video that showcases some of the best and most unforgettable moments of the past year in Royal Athletics.

Juniors Maddie Hartnett (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) and Allie Lynch (Villanova, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame de Namur) of the women's basketball team and junior Patrick Walls Kelly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) of the men's soccer team served as the hosts for the evening. 

The winners of the Athletic Department's major award winners were as follows:

• The Joe Bochicchio Memorial Awards, which is annually awarded to the male and female teams with the highest cumulative grade-point average during the previous academic year, were given to the men's cross country (3.59) and women's cross country teams (3.75).
• The Ocorr Student-Athlete Service Award was given to content creator Bryson Eldridge who has transformed the RoyalAthletics' social media accounts with both his videography and photography skills. Eldridge has put together countless highlight reels and captured various thrilling plays since joining the department prior to the Fall 2021 semester.
• The Ron Willensky Award, which is presented to a member of the senior class who has overcome extreme hardship in his or her athletic career and personal life to excel in both athletics and in personal life, was presented to George Jenkins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) of the baseball team.
  • Jenkins battled kidney issues for the first six years of his life and continues to battle some health issues to this day. He also experienced personal loss along the way, but despite that, he has overcome the hardships and served as a team captain for the Royals in each of the last two seasons. The senior captain has played in 78 career games as a catcher and looks to lead the Royals to a Landmark Conference Championship this weekend at Volpe Field.
• The Father Fitzpatrick Award was presented to a student-athlete in the senior class who has shown outstanding leadership, extraordinary service, and special contributions to not only the University community but society in general. This year's recipient was Lauren McGuire (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) of the women's swimming & diving team.
  • McGuire has spent four years volunteering in numerous capacities for The University's Center for Service and Social Justice and also went on a domestic service trip during Spring Break 2022 as part of the Kentucky Christian Appalachian project. Additionally, the Pearl River, N.Y., native has volunteered locally at Quigley's Shelter in Dunmore and has served as both a lifeguard and a swim coach for multiple clubs near her hometown.
  • In the pool, McGuire competed in 31 meets for the Royals during her career.
• The Carlesimo Awards, given annually to the male and female members of the senior class who have demonstrated both academic and athletic excellence, were awarded to Teresa Hegarty (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) of the women's soccer team and Brendan King (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) of the men's soccer team.
  • A 2021 United Soccer Coaches' All-American, Hegarty is also a two-time USC All-Region and two-time All-Landmark Conference First Team selection. The Bryn Mawr, Pa. started 56 of 59 career games in the midfield for the Royals and tallied 33 points on 11 goals and 11 assists, while leading the program to consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2021, 2022) and three Landmark titles. A two-time team captain and a solo captain in 2022, Hegarty holds an impressive 3.91 GPA as an Accounting major.
  • King has served as an anchor on the Royals' backline over the past four seasons and started all 53 games he appeared in, which included 20 shutouts. He was selected twice as an All-Landmark Conference honoree and also earned USC All-East Region Third Team honors in 2022 after helping lead the Royals to the program's first Landmark Conference title since 2016. King was honored as the Landmark Men's Soccer Senior Scholar-Athlete this past fall and boasts a 3.93 GPA as a Biology major.
• The O'Hara Awards, awarded annually to the top male and female athlete in the senior class, were awarded to Bridget Monaghan (Florham Park, N.J./Morristown-Beard) of the women's basketball team and Christopher Crapazano (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) of the men's lacrosse team.
  • One of the most decorated Scranton student-athletes in recent memory, Monaghan is just the seventh three-time All-American in Athletic Department history and garnered Regional Player of the Year accolades in 2023 along with being a three-time All-Region selection and two-time Landmark Conference Player of the Year. The Florham Park, N.J., native was also named to the All-Landmark First Team in each of the last three seasons and ranks as the best free throw shooter in program history at 88.7% and also ranks among the all-time leaders in three-point percentage (38.9%, 2^nd), three-pointers made (172, 4^th), scoring average (14.0 ppg, 13^th), free throws made (211, 14^th) and total points (1,275, 17^th). During her career, the Lady Royals posted a staggering 86-9 record (.905) and captured four consecutive Landmark titles.
  • A 2022 USILA All-American Honorable Mention selection, Crapanzano broke the program's single-season goals record with 53 goals thus far in 2023 en route to earning Landmark Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Basking Ridge, N.J, native is also a three-time All-Conference honoree and ranks among the program's all-time leaders in goals (105, 4^th), points (135, 6^th), faceoff percentage (Min. 200 faceoffs, 51.3%, 7^th) and ground balls (198, 7^th). Crapanzano and the Royals captured the second Landmark title in program history last weekend and will battle Gettysburg in NCAA Tournament Second Round action on Friday night.

The Iggy Award winners for the evening as voted on by student-athletes were as follows:

• Rookie of the Year: Declan Allen (Garden City, N.Y./Millbrook) of men's lacrosse and Kaci Kranson (Scranton, Pa./Holy Cross) of women's basketball.
• Play of the Year: Danny Harding (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) of men's golf and Emily Tantala (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) of women's soccer.
• Unsung Hero: Brett Rudy (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) of men's soccer/men's track & field and Kate Pagano (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) of women's golf.
• Record-Breaking Performance: Corey Zientek (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) of baseball and Noelle Gonzalez (Harrington Park, N.J./Northern Valley-Old Tappan) of women's track & field.
• Breakthrough Athlete: Will McLoughlin (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) of men's basketball and Maddy Ryan (Malvern, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) of women's basketball.
• Royal Way Award: Colin Pierce (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) of men's lacrosse, Hunter Ralston (Duryea, Pa./Pittston Area) of baseball and Hegarty.
• Athlete of the Year: Harding and Monaghan.

--ROYALS--