McNally named UMPI Female Athlete of the Year; Neureuther honored

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle held its annual athletic awards night  and featured was the presentation of the Male and Female Athletes of the Year, with Michael Warner and Olivia McNally picking up the prestigious awards.
Warner, who played men’s basketball, was named to the AD3 Independent All-Association First Team both his junior and seniors seasons.  This past winter, as the Owls’ leading scorer, he was named a USCAA second-team All-American.
In 2013-14, Warner ranked in the top-10 nationally in three-point field goal and free throw percentage, was in the USCAA top 25 in scoring, three-pointers per game and rebounding. Among Association of Independent Division III schools, he ranked as the second-leading three-point shooter, was fifth in scoring and eighth in both rebounds and field goal shooting percentage.
He saved his best performances for the biggest games, scoring a game-high 24 points and grabbing seven rebounds while beating USCAA No. 1-ranked Central Maine Community College in February. He also totaled 62 points and 18 rebounds in three games against northern rival Fort Kent.
Off the court, Warner is well-respected by his teammates, peers and the campus community. He has participated in multiple community service projects including Special Olympics, Team Impact and the UMPI Athletic Department Toy Drive.
McNally has been the best all-around basketball player in the women’s program the last two years. In 2012-13, she was first on the team in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio, was second on the team in scoring, rebounding, steals, overall shooting percentage and minutes played. She continued that well-rounded play this past year, leading the Owls or ending up second in every key statistical category.
A four-year member and three-year starter on the Owls, she made the 2013-14 GSAC All-Academic Team, made the 2012-13 Association of NCAA DIII Independents “All-Independent” Second Team, made the 2013-14 GSAC All-Conference First Team and was a 2013-14 First Team USCAA All-American.
Coach Doug Carter called McNally “a coach’s dream, a self-made player and gym rat,” as well as “a quiet but effective leader and role model.”  He called her “the Owls’ best defender and always the hardest worker on a team filled with focused and committed young ladies of outstanding character.”
Others recognized were Lucas Bartlett and Katie Patenaude, who claimed the Al Arman “Make A Difference” awards; Patenaude, who was named the winner of the Donald N. Zillman Character Award; Josh MacKinnon, the Stanley Small Coaches Award recipient; and Darby Toth, who received the Ruel Parks Basketball Award.
 Team Awards were presented as follows: men’s cross country — Rookie of the Year: Jessie Sandstrom; Most Inspirational Runner:  Corey Hebert; and Most Valuable Runner: Philip Boody.
 Women’s cross country — Rookie of the Year: Destinee Neureuther; Most Inspirational Runner: Ghazaleh Sailors; and Most Valuable Runner: Kayla Legassie.
 Men’s golf — Rookie of the Year: Eric Depner; Most Inspirational Golfer: DJ (Kenneth) Conley; and Most Valuable Golfer: Mike Balmer.
   Men’s soccer — Co-Rookies of the Year:    Erik Gumaer and Derek Healy; Most Inspirational Player: Seth Cote; and Most Valuable Player: Lucas Bartlett.
 Women’s soccer — Rookie of the Year: Taylor Gardner; Most Inspirational Player: Jasmine Cote; and Most Valuable Player: Jen Ouellette.
Women’s volleyball — Rookie of the Year: Abigail Jewett; Most Inspirational Player: Shaina Hood; and Most Valuable Player: Shannon Brown.
 Men’s basketball — Rookie of the Year: Thiago Conceicao; Most Inspirational Player:    Alex Jardine; and Most Valuable Player: Michael Warner.
Women’s basketball — Co-Rookies of the Year: Kristin Thompson and Sydney Churchill; Most Inspirational Player: Kathryn Patenaude; Most Valuable Player: Olivia McNally; and Captain’s Leadership Award: Brigitte Pratt.
Men’s Nordic skiing — Rookie of the Year: Zacharia Veayo; Most Inspirational Skier: Andrew Nesbitt; and Most Valuable Skier: Ethan Burke.
Women’s Nordic skiing — Rookie of the Year: Lydia Streinz; Most Inspirational Skier: Natasha Smith; and Most Valuable Skier: Lydia Streinz.
 Baseball — Rookie of the Year:    Adam Begos; Most Inspirational Player: Lucas Molloy; and Co-Most Valuable Players:     Josiah Brazier and Alex Csiernik
   Softball — Rookie of the Year: Shannon Brown; Co-Most Inspirational Players: Kathryn Patenaude and Taylor Cochran; and Most Valuable Player:    Krista Coffin.
Receiving the Royal Goheen Award for the highest team grade point average was the women’s cross country team. Earning the Sharon Roix Award for the most improved team GPA was the men’s soccer team.
Athletic training awards were also presented. Molly Lindsey earned the Rising Star Award, while Csiernik and Bartlett were named co-athletic training students of the year.