Southern Connecticut State University Department of Athletics is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of its Class of 2020. While the 2019-20 academic year ended on an unprecedented note, the Owls will look back on the success enjoyed by all of its athletic programs. 

In 2019-20, Southern Athletics featured a pair of Northeast 10 Conference Champions in women's swimming & diving and men's indoor track & field, and 19 individual NE10 Championships between men's and women's swimming & diving and men's and women's indoor track & field. In total, nine student-athletes qualified for individual NCAA competition, that was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Spring sports were also halted before hitting midseason, ending promising starts to the year for women's lacrosse, baseball and softball, as well as men's and women's indoor track & field. Collectively, Southern Connecticut featured four All-Americans, 10 conference award winners, 26 all-NE10 selections and 37 all-region honorees. 

Perhaps the most impressive figures are generated when discussing the Owls' academic accolades. This season, Southern Connecticut Athletics featured the highest percentage of student-athletes that qualified for the NE10 Conference Academic Honor Roll as well as an all-time high of 13 student-athletes selected to the NE10 Academic All-Conference teams. In addition, 19 student-athletes were recognized for their academic excellence by their respective sports' governing body. 

The Owls top academic awards to the year were also recognized. Women's volleyball senior Tea Carter was selected as the University Scholar-Athlete of the Year, given by Southern Connecticut State University to was the top student-athlete in their class. Carter was also selected by the SCSU Athletics Administration as the Female Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, along with women's soccer's Johanna Wahlen. The Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year was men's cross country and track & field senior Troy Stegman. 

While the year was filled with many great and memorable moments, the Southern Connecticut Athletics community was faced with great adversity over the course of the 2019-20 academic year. The Fall semester began under a blanket of heightened concern around EEE. SCSU Athletics addressed that issue and maneuvered through the Fall season without a scare, only for the unthinkable to happen. SCSU gymnastics sophomore Melanie Coleman tragically passed during training, sending the entire SCSU community, to say nothing of her teammates, into a tailspin. The Owls did what the Owls always do - they leaned on each other to be #SouthernStrong. While difficult, the team dedicated their season to their fallen teammate, aided by the return of longtime head coach Jerry Nelson. SCSU gymnastics saw improved success over the course of the season, and were prepared for the postseason only to have it canceled due to COVID-19. 

Following the cancellation of the 2019-20 Winter Championships and the 2020 Spring seasons, the Owls' student-athletes once-again showed their true colors and dug deep to help each other through a difficult time. Senior student-athletes who had worked tirelessly through their athletic careers to get to the pinnacle of collegiate athletic achievement - the NCAA Championships - saw it ripped away by COVID-19. Others were sent reeling after potentially losing their final year of eligibility. Forced to return home and continue their “virtual” education, training and college experience, they told their stories. While anger and disappointment were a common thread, every student-athlete also showcased a positivity that they were prepared to face the uncertain future, and implored their teammates, classmates and fellow student-athletes to #StaySafe and be…#SouthernStrong.

Please enjoy the following content which showcases all of Southern Connecticut's student-athletes' outstanding achievements in what has truly been a memorable 2019-20 academic season. Southern Connecticut students Jenna Dower ‘20 and Sydney Lee ’22 worked tirelessly to prepare a highlight reel showcasing the emotion of SCSU's athletic teams, with addition support from SCSU Athletic Communications university assistant Colleen Murphy and graduate assistant Michael Riccio. In addition, you'll hear from Director of Athletics Jay Moran, SCSU President Joe Bertolino and SCSU Vice President of Student Affairs Tracy Tyree as they celebrate all of the Owls' accomplishments. You will also hear from every program's head coach as they honor their senior student-athletes. 

NCAA Tournament Participants (9)
Fijero Onakpoma, Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Nigel Green, Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Justin Kelly, Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Milan Spisek, Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Trinity Collins, Men’s Indoor Track and Field 
Ruvens Exantus, Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Leo Laporte, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Andrew Buehler, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Avery Fornaciari, Women’s Swimming and Diving

Northeast 10 Conference Championships (21)
Women’s Swimming & Diving
Men’s Indoor Track and Field 
Evan Bombery, Men’s Swimming & Diving (500 Freestyle)
Chandler Tucker, Men’s Swimming & Diving (200 Individual Medley)
Andrew Buehler, Men’s Swimming & Diving (1 Meter and 3 Meter)
Leo Laporte, Men’s Swimming & Diving (100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly)
Men’s Swimming & Diving 200 Medley Relay (Chandler Tucker, Matthew Widlar, Colby Delia, Leo Laporte)
Men’s Swimming & Diving 400 Medley relay (Chandler Tucker, Matthew Widlar, Leo Laporte, Tyler Cusano)
Erin Leirey, Women’s Swimming & Diving (200 Individual Medley, 400 Individual Medley)
Avery Fornaciari, Women’s Swimming & Diving (500 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly)
Faith Littleton, Women’s Swimming & Diving (1650 Freestyle)
Women’s Swimming & Diving 400 Medley Relay (Avery Fornaciari, Erin Leirey, Morgan Fernald, Alina Tucker)
Women’s Swimming & diving 200 Medley Relay (Morgan Fernald, Erin Leirey, Avery Fornaciari, Megan Garner)
Milan Spisek, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Jaylynn Cundiff, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Long Jump)
Fijero Onakpoma, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Triple Jump)
Bernardo Mbaya, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Shot Put)
Philip Quaye, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Heptathlon)
Ruvens Exantus, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (60 Meter Hurdles)
Justin Kelly, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (400 Meter Dash)
Men’s Indoor Track & Field, 4x400 Relay (Sachin Manning, Aren Seeger, Ramsley Exantus, Jordan Lembo-Frey)

All-Americans (4)
Avery Fornaciari, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Leo Laporte, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Andrew Buehler, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Hannah Stahlbrodt, Gymnastics

Conference Award Winners & Championship Honorees (8)
Imani Wheeler, Women’s Basketball (NE10 Defensive Player of the Year)
Greta Brunella, Women’s Soccer (NE10 Elite 24 Award)
Leo Laporte, Men’s Swimming & Diving (NE10 Championship Most Outstanding Performer, NE10 Swimmer of the Year)
Andrew Buehler, Men’s Swimming & Diving (NE10 Championship Diving Most Outstanding performer, NE10 Diver of the Year)
Avery Fornaciari, Women’s Swimming & Diving (NE10 Swimmer of the Year)
Bianca Leone, Gymnastics (ECAC Rookie of the Year)
Jackie Kutcher, Gymnastics (USA Gymnastics Senior All-Star)
Gymnastics (USA Gymnastics The Mari-Rae Soper Award)

Coaches of the Year (3)
John Wallin, NE10 Men’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year
Men’s Indoor Track Coaching Staff (NE10 Coaching Staff of the Year)
Jerry Nelson, Gymnastics (ECAC Coach of the Year) 

NE10 Academic All-Conference Team selections (13)
Christopher LeBeau, Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Indoor Track & Field
Connor Shannahan, Men’s Cross Country
Josh Prouty, Men’s Indoor Track & Field
Brianna Craft, Field Hockey
Paula Nunez, Women’s Soccer
Nadine Hilkert, Women’s Soccer
Francisco Roldan, Men’s Soccer
Charles Ritchel, Football
Tea Carter, Volleyball
Jessica Fressle, Women’s Basketball
Erin Leirey, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Avery Fornaciari, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Bryce Castellone, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Elaina DiSalvo, Women’s Indoor Track & Field

Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-District selections (1)
Tea Carter, Volleyball 

Academic Awards (19)
Nadine Hillkert, Women’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-East Regional Team)
Avery Fornaciari, Women’s Soccer (Northeast 10 Sports Excellence Award)
Troy Stegman, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Elite 24 Award)
Chloe Knight, Jessica Maier, Jessica Steward, Karley Welles, Alyssa Haskins, Julia Schaff, Janelle Ward (Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad)
Field Hockey (Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division II National Academic Team Award)
Isabella Antonangeli, Emily Balasco, Keylea Brothers, Cassidy Girolamo, Alexandra Lesperance, Keara Loughlin, Noely Macias, Jordan Peloquin, Jenna Zakala (USA Gymnastics All-American Scholar-Athletes and ECAC All-Academic Honors)

All-Region (37)
Connor Shannahan, Men’s Cross Country (First Team)
Jake Mattei, Men’s Cross Country (Second Team)
Christopher Lebeau, Men’s Cross Country (Third Team)
Paula Nunez, Women’s Soccer (NEWISA All-New England First Team)
Nadine Hilkert, Women’s Soccer (NEWISA All-New England Second Team, United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II All-East Region Third Team)
Kaitlyn D’Amico, Women’s Soccer (NEWISA All-New England Second Team)
Daniel Brown, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Hepthalon)
Trinity Collins, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (400 Meters, 4x400 Relay)
Jaylynn Cundiff, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Long Jump)
Ruvens Exantus, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (60 Meter Hurdles)
Jordan Foster, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Weight Throw)
Nigel Green, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (60 Meters, 200 Meters, 400 Meters, 4x400 Relay)
Oliver Hayes, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Elijah Henry, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (200 Meters, 4x400 Relay)
Justin Kelly, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (400 Meters, 4x400 Relay)
Christopher Lebeau, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (3000 Meters)
Nathanial Llanos, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Jake Mattei, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (5000 Meters)
Bernardo Mbaya, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Shot Put, Weight Throw)
Jacob Meadows, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Shot Put)
Fejiro Onakpoma, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Triple Jump)
Joshua Prouty, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Heptathlon)
Philip Quaye, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Pole Vault, Heptathlon)
Hayden Rovelli, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Marcel Smith, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Weight Throw)
Darius Williams, Men’s Indoor Track & Field (Shot Put)
Nasharie Davis, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (60 Meter Hurdles)
Maria DeSouza, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Elaina DiSalvo, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Arreiyona Jones, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (4x400 Relay)
Toni Joseph, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (4x400 Relay)
Caylea Landrie, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (Triple Jump)
Begotty Laroche, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (200 Meters)
Emily Maffeo, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (800 Meters)
Cori Richardson, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (4x400 Relays)
Natalee Seipio, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (400 Meters, 4x400 Relay)
Shayna Smith, Women’s Indoor Track & Field (Triple Jump)

All-Northeast 10 (26)
Connor Shannahan, Men’s Cross Country (First Team)
Jake Mattei, Men’s Cross Country (Second Team)
Meghan Delaney, Women’s Cross Country (Second Team)
Emilie Noreika, Women’s Cross Country (Second Team)
Christopher Lebeau, Men’s Cross Country (Third Team)
Matthew Weiss, Football (First Team)
Brandon Swain-Price, Football (Second Team)
Bobby Valeri, Football (Third Team)
Rich Souffrant, Football (Third Team)
Mekhi Barnett, Football (Third Team)
Vance Upham, Football (Third Team)
Kyle Armour, Football (Third Team)
Anton Juncaj, Football (All-Rookie)
Jackson Ostrowsky, Football (All-Rookie)
Devante Teixeira, Men’s Soccer (Third Team)
Ty Hyde, Men’s Soccer (All-Rookie)
Tomas Terrugi, Men’s Soccer (All-Rookie)
Brianna Craft, Field Hockey (Second Team)
Nadine Hilkert, Women’s Soccer (Second Team)
Kaitlyn D’Amico, Women’s Soccer (Third Team)
Abigail Epstein, Volleyball (Second Team)
Tea Carter, Volleyball (Third Team)
Ella White, Volleyball (Third Team, All-Rookie)
Taurus Adams II, Men’s Basketball (Third Team)
Lyron Bennett, Men’s Basketball (All-Rookie)
Alexa Kellner, Women’s Basketball (All-Rookie)

ALL-ECAC (4)
Taurus Adams II, Men’s Basketball (First Team)
Imani Wheeler, Women’s Basketball (First Team)
Jessica Fressle, Women’s Basketball (First Team)
Nadine Hilkert, Women’s Soccer (First Team)