JERSEY CITY, N.J. — On Tuesday evening, May 10, the New Jersey City University department of athletics hosted its first in-person banquet in over three years. The 2022 Gothics — the annual NJCU Athletics Awards Ceremony — was a smashing success. Over 300 members of the Jersey City student-athlete community, staff and faculty from all parts of the University and other important Gothic Family guests packed the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) for a night of recognition and celebration for the best of the best Gothic Knights.
 
See below (and click through the album above) to see all the award winners on the night.

Female and Male Thomas M. Gerrity Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Genesis Torres | Senior | Women's Soccer
Torres, who has started the majority of women's soccer's games over the past two seasons on the back line, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her time as a collegian. She was the female recipient of this year's Gerrity Scholar-Athlete award, which is given to a student-athlete who achieves success in the classroom, as well as athletically. A women's soccer player has now won this award eight times, giving the program the most female recipients in NJCU history, follwed by women's bowling with seven.
Theo Bourghelle (Lesquin, France/LaSalle Lille) | Senior | Men's Tennis
Boughelle, a two-time First Team All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) selection in both singles and doubles, becomes just the second-ever men's tennis player to win the award. Last year's NJCU Male Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year was also a 2021 CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American. The men's soccer program currently leads with 12 all-time Gerrity awards,

The Rising Knight Award
This award is given to the individual(s) that has/have exemplified the meaning of being a true Division III student-athlete in five distinct areas: Academics, Leadership, Career Planning, Personal Enrichment, and Community Service.
Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) | Sophomore | Women's Volleyball
Mike McGehee (Avondale, Ariz./Agua Fria) | Freshman | Men's Volleyball

President Academic Achievement Awards
These awards are given to the individuals that have displayed the most success in the classroom during their time at NJCU, as well as the team with the highest GPA for the season.
Team Recipient — Men's Tennis (3.762)
Male Recipient — Alex Platonov (Weehawken, N.J./Weehawken) | Senior | Men's Tennis | 3.839
Female Recipient — Meagan Raimondo (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) | Sophomore | Women's Bowling | 3.891

The Faculty Knights Award
Dr. Lauren Johnson | Assistant Professor | Sport Management
Dr. Johnson received this year's award for her commitment to NJCU's student-athletes, helping them kickstart their careers in the sports world, while also supporting our programs from the sidelines.

James J. Kearns Memorial Athletic Appreciation Award
This is awarded to a member of the University community for their commitment and contributions to athletics.
Gary Closs | Assistant Supervisor | Housekeeping

Robert J. Delaney Service Above Self Award
This award is presented to an individual who serves the greater good of the department of athletics and personifies the attributes Bob Delaney is know for. This year's winner is a key member of the NJCU community, always working hard behind the seasons and taking time out of his day to ensure he attends as many athletic competitions as possible.
Florencio "Chino" Rivera | Housekeeping

Male Newcomer of the Year
Evan Stoker (Clinton, N.J./Voorhees) | Freshman | Men's Golf
Stoker, a Second Team All-Atlantic East Conference selection, has put up arguably the best numbers in program history in his first season as a Gothic Knight, and his future will only be brighter.
Finalists:
Matt Kaliske (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) | Freshman | Baseball
Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay/The British Schools) | Sophomore | Men's Soccer

Female Newcomer of the Year
Laney Fox (Parkland, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) | Junior | Women's Basketball
Fox, a Second Team All-NJAC selection, made a huge impact on and off the court during her first season at NJCU. A team co-captain, she was second on the team in nearly every offensive category. She is also an active member of NJCU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), as well as the University's Student Government Association (SGA).
Finalists:
Eliza Clamor (Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto College) | Junior | Women's Tennis
Izabella Frezzo (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional) | Freshman | Women's Wrestling

Individual Performance of the Year
Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) | Sophomore | Women's Basketball
Rodriguez scored a game-high 28, including 14 in the fourth quarter alone, to help lead NJCU to an 11-point comeback win over Montclair State University in the NJAC Quarterfinal.
Finalists:
Jeff Johnson (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) | Junior | Men's Wrestling | Third-Place at NCAA Regional
Polina Agutina (Evaptoria, Ukraine/Number 6) | Junior | Women's Track & Field | NJAC Indoor Triple Jump Champion
Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) | Sophomore | Softball | Career-High 12 Strikeouts vs. Baruch College

True Grit Award
Polina Agutina (Evaptoria, Ukraine/Number 6) | Junior | Women's Track & Field
John Pudder (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) | Senior | Baseball
Presented to the Gothic Knight student-athlete(s) who endured personal adversity or hardship, but persevered.

Play of the Year
Women's Basketball | Buzzer-Beater vs. Montclair State (Feb. 22, 2022)
As mentioned, Rodriguez had a stellar performance against the Red Hawks in the NJAC Quarterfinal. However, her night was capped off as she sank a buzzer-beating baseline runner to send NJCU to the NJAC Semifinals.
Finalists:
Softball | Freshman Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) home run vs. Montclair State
Men's Basketball | Junior Derryen Whyte (Irvington, N.J./Union) put-back dunk vs. Rowan University
Men's Soccer | Freshman Jeff Sanchez (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) goal vs. Sarah Lawrence College

Game of the Year
Women's Basketball vs. Montclair State (Feb. 22, 2022)
Even we have not heard from this game enough, now you know why, as it was selected as NJCU's Game of the Year.
Finalists:
Men's Volleyball | Skyline Conference Semifinal win over Ramapo College
Softball | Win over Rutgers-Camden; First NJAC win since 2017
eSports | SSBU win over Bay State College in ECAC Championship

Team of the Year
Women's Basketball
This program won back-to-back NJAC titles for the first time ever and went to NCAAs for the first time in history. Overcoming multiple road blocks throughout the season, the Gothic Knights have continued their succesful ways since head coach Pat Devaney, Sr., took over the program in 2018-19.
Finalists:
Men's Volleyball | Skyline Runner-Up; 20-plus wins; NJAC/Skyline co-Coach of the Year
Men's Tennis | NJAC East Runner-Up; 6-2 in Division III play
eSports | SSBU won ECAC Championship; Rocket League won NECC Emergent Yellow Championship

Male Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year
Nico Teynie (Rouen, France/Lycée Val de Seine) | Sophomore | Men's Tennis
Teynie assumed the #1 spot in singles and doubles this season for NJCU, helping lead them back to the NJAC East Championship match. He posted a 3-1 singles record against Division I opponents. He is a two-time First Team All-NJAC selection in singles and doubles and was the 2021 NJCU Male Newcomer of the Year.
Finalists:
Ricky Voss (Eatontown, N.J./Monmouth Regional) | Senior | Baseball
Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) | Senior | Men's Volleyball
Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus) | Senior | Men's Basketball

Female Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year
Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) | Sophomore | Women's Basketball
Rodriguez is a two-time First Team All-NJAC selection, a two-time d3hoops.com First Team All-Region honoree and has received First Team All-Met accolades twice. This year, she was second in all of Division III in assists/game and seventh in the nation in scoring average, leading the NJAC and NJCU in both.
Finalists:
Sandy Guerrero (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) | Sophomore | Women's Wrestling
Giada Zorzan (Milan, Italy/Liceo dello Sport Marco Pantani) | Junior | Women's Tennis