Sweet Briar, VA—Thursday night’s Athletic Awards Banquet marked the end of the 2004-2005 athletic year at Sweet Briar with a spirited, but bittersweet celebration featuring video tributes to the fourteen seniors who will graduate next week. Major award winners were announced, with senior Ginger Tripp receiving the Crysler Award for her four-year achievements in field hockey and lacrosse, and first year swimmer Nicole Snyder honored as Athlete of the Year.
The Crysler Four Year Achievement Award has been given since 1979, and was named after its first recipient, Cannie Crysler Shafer '79, a three sport, four-year varsity athlete at Sweet Briar. It honors an outstanding four-year varsity athlete who has demonstrated commitment, sportsmanship and achievement in sport.
The 2005 winner is senior Ginger Tripp (Richmond, VA/St. Catherine’s), captain of both the field hockey and lacrosse teams. Tripp was ranked first in the ODAC and #12 nationally in assists, first in the ODAC and #13 nationally in assists per game. She was selected to the All-State and ODAC 1st Teams, and will represent the US in Australia this summer. Tripp was named MVP in field hockey this fall.
An end-to-end player in lacrosse, Tripp anchored the wins against Roanoke (first since 1986) and Lynchburg (first since 1988, and led the 2005 team to their best overall record (10-6) and ODAC finish (semifinals) since 1988. She was named to the ODAC 2nd Team.
A liberal studies major with elementary licensure, Ginger has been a Dean’s List student, National Academic Squad in field hockey, and this spring, was selected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She will enter the Sweet Briar graduate program in education this summer.
Sweet Briar’s Athlete of the Year is first year swimmer Nicole Snyder (Manassas, VA/Osbourn HS). Snyder lost only one race the entire dual meet season, and was undefeated in freestyle events She wasConference Swimmer of the Week in October, Conference Champion in the 1650 Freestyle,
Conference Runner-up in the 500 Freestyle and the 200 Butterfly. Snyder was named Co-Rookie of the Year in the Conference, and to the All-conference Team in the 200 free, 500 free, 1650 free and 200 fly.
The Class of 1977 Sportsmanship Award is presented to a student athlete selected with regard to her sportsmanship, team spirit, and commitment to varsity sports. Senior tennis player Brentz Basten (Lynchburg, VA/Jefferson Forest HS) was honored for the second year.
Basten was one of two SBC students selected to attend the 2005 NCAA leadership conference, and this spring was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Basten played # 1 and # 2 singles and # 1 doubles this year, and completes a college career consistently ranked in either singles or doubles. She is a computer science major and a math minor.
The Whiteman Scholar Athlete Award is presented each year to a student-athlete with a high scholastic average, sportsmanship and outstanding achievement in sport. The 2005 winner is senior Sue Knouse (Washington, DC/Fort Worth CDS), a psychology major. Knouse played both field hockey and tennis, and has been on the National Field Hockey Academic Squad for four years. In tennis this spring, she ran off nine straight singles wins before losing in the semi’s of ODAC Championship singles at # 5. She came back to win her next match and take 3rd overall. A Dean’s List student, Knouse was elected to Who’s Who in Colleges and Universities.
The Pschirrer First Year Athlete Award honors dedication, motivation, sportsmanship and love of sport, and is presented this year to Ellie Donahue (Richmond, VA/Trinity Episcopal). Donahue started every game in field hockey and was among the top midfielders in the ODAC. In lacrosse, she has been a major force behind the turn around of this year’s team. In the regular season 15-8 loss to Lynchburg, Donahue scored once. In the ODAC first round 11-7 upset of Lynchburg, she scored seven, and had 2 of the 3 against Washington and Lee in the ODAC semifinal. Her 48 goals ranked her 3rd in ODAC scoring among all colleges, and she was also 3rd in game-winning goals. At the conclusion of the season, Donahue was named to the All-Conference 1st team, and was honored as ODAC Rookie of the Year.
The Sweet Briar Coaches Award is given to a graduating athlete who has demonstrated dedication, sportsmanship and excellence in sports at Sweet Briar.
Senior tennis player Laura Denson (Houston, TX/Episcopal HS) was the 2005 recipient. Highlights of Denson’s career include Consolation Champion at the 2003 Meredith Tournament, 3rd place at the 2003 ODAC Championship, and 5th place at the 2004 ODAC Championship in #2 singles.
Denson is a music major and Dean’s List student who transferred to Sweet Briar as a sophomore.
The Barlow Faculty Staff Award is given by the student athletes of Sweet Briar College to a member of the faculty or staff who has shown spirited support of Vixen Athletics throughout the year. This year the students honored Sarah Elkins, Assistant Director of Admissions. Elkins graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1999 with a major in English and creative writing. She returned to her alma mater in 2003, and has been a strong supporter of intercollegiate athletics.
Sweet Briar Pink and Green Awards, honoring the MVP of each varsity sport, were presented to Ginger Tripp ’05 (Richmond, VA/St. Catherine’s) Field Hockey; Emily Fitzpatrick ’07 (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Academy) Lacrosse; Vicky Gadikian ’07 (Hamburg, NY/Frontier HS) Soccer; Lindsey Nash ’05 (Amherst, VA/Amherst County HS) Softball; Leigh Darrell ’06 Chestertown, MD/Queen Anne’s County) Swimming; Sue Knouse ’05 (Washington, DC/Fort Worth CDS) Tennis; and Nicole Traylor ’06 (Charlotte, NC/ King William HS) Volleyball.
