The YESPYS 2023-24 Department Award Winners

General

@yorkcardinals celebrate 2023-24 at The YESPYS Awards Show

York College held its annual athletics awards banquet to recognize the achievements from the 2023-24 academic year

JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College department of athletics held its year-end awards banquet Thursday evening, celebrating the 2023-24 year in Cardinal athletics with the The YESPYS, the 48th annual Athletic Awards Banquet, held inside York College Gymnasium. 

Junior Madison Plaza (women's basketball, softball, volleyball) and senior Jeremy Sapeg (men's swimming) welcomed the crowd and recognized the outstanding athletic achievements as student-athlete emcees for the night.

Interim Director of Athletics Chris Monasch opened with welcoming remarks prior to the 2023-24 awards portion of the program.



The department of athletics handed out appreciation awards by recognizing a select group of campus personnel for their contributions to further enhance the student-athlete experience:
  • Tiffany Atkinson (Business Office)
  • Lesley Bataille (Office of Public Safety)
  • Michelle Brown (Business Office)
  • Tawasi Clarke (Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications)
  • Carlos Cobo (Department of Buildings and Grounds) 
  • Grace-Ann Prescod (Office of Admissions)
  • Dana Trimboli (Chief of Staff)
  • Nicole Utley (Business Office)
  • Carlos Villasis (Department of Buildings and Grounds) 
CUNYAC Scholar-Athletes, CSC Academic All-District Team® members, CUNYAC All-Stars and CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team recipients from the 2023-24 academic year were also recognized.

Coaches and emcees then announced the 2023-24 Team Awards.
Men's Basketball Women's Basketball Men's Cross Country Women's Cross Country Men's Soccer Women's Soccer Softball Men's Swimming Women's Swimming Men's Tennis Women's Tennis Men's Track & Field (Indoor) Women's Track & Field (Indoor) Men's Track & Field (Outdoor) Women's Track & Field (Outdoor) Men's Volleyball Women's Volleyball

The 2023-24 senior class of 23 (listed below) were presented with Senior Awards and a tribute video for their dedication to York College Athletics. In addition to the team awards, the following department awards were presented:
Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award 
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards recognizes a student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average.  The honoree must have competed in a minimum of one season of competition and successfully completed two academic semesters of full-time enrollment with a minimum of 24 credits at York.

Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Stanley Sanchez (Men's Soccer/Volleyball)
  • Stanley Sanchez is an occupational therapy major with a 3.891 cumulative grade point average. During his York career, Sanchez has made the Dean's List and is a three-time member of the CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. With this laurel, Sanchez is now a two-time winner of the York College Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Team GPA Award
The Team GPA recognizes a team with the highest cumulative grade-point average based on our academic report prior to the start of the Spring semester.  The Team GPA Award encompasses all student-athletes rostered and/or who triggered a season of eligibility based on the average of individual cumulative GPA.  

Team Academic Award: Women's Tennis
  • Women's Tennis earned the 2023-24 Team Academic Award as they combined for a 3.150 cumulative grade point average.
Newcomer of the Year Award (Female/Male)
Newcomer of the Year awards are presented to our top female and male student-athlete newcomer who had the most successful first season as a Cardinal.

Female Newcomer of the Year: Katryna Francois (Women's Outdoor Track & Field)
  • Katryna Francois excelled in her inaugural outdoor track & field season. Running in seven meets, Francois regularly paced the CUNYAC charts in the 100, 200, and 400-meter events, earning the conference Rookie of the Week for her performances at the All-American Meet and the Jack Maloney Meet in April. Excelling at the CUNYAC Outdoor Championships, the rookie claimed gold medals in the 200 and 400-meter races, finished in third place in the 100-meter sprint, and spearheaded bronze medal runs in the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. For her consistency and success, Francois won CUNYAC Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, the program's first since Kadisha Wickham in 2010. 
Male Newcomer of the Year: Aidony Nivar (Men's Basketball)
  • A key figure to York College's on-court success, Aidony Nivar played in all 25 games, averaging 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals, while shooting a team-high 37.6 percent from downtown on 6.9 attempts per game. Nivar not only contributed offensively with his outside shooting but also took tough defensive assignments. Scoring 10+ points in 18 games and making over three triples on 10 occasions, Nivar's consistency helped him win a program record seven CUNYAC Rookie of the Week Awards and the 2023-24 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year honor. Alongside his CUNYAC laurels, Nivar is tied for fourth in program history with 65 three-pointers this season and his 173 attempts rank eight amongst all former York players. 
Career Award (Female/Male)
Career Awards are given to a female and male student-athlete who were deemed to have the most impactful career with a minimum of three years played at York.  The honoree must have exhausted eligibility in their primary sport, if applicable, or be a graduating student-athlete. 

Female Career Award: Shamonie Miller (Women's Softball, Volleyball)
  • As a four-year starter, Shamonie Miller played in 71 matches and 219 career sets as a mainstay of the women's volleyball program since 2018.  Miller spiked down 197 kills, served 54 aces, contributed 59 assists, swept up 420 digs, and totaled 255.5 career points patrolling the outside hitter position. In 2023, Miller was tabbed as a CUNYAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Player to Watch.  Over the last two campaigns, Miller led York with 112 kills, 28 service aces, 143 points, and 252 digs. A four-year contributor for the softball program, Miller broke the single-season stolen base record in 2023 by swiping 27 bags.  With her time as a Cardinal, the speedster totaled 36 stolen bases and sported .382 on-base percentage in 69 contests.
Male Career Award: Olawale Kila (Men's Basketball)
  • A four-year member of the men's basketball program, Kila took a major leap the final two years of his career as a full-time starter. In 51 games, he averaged 32.2 minutes per game and consistently tallied double-figures in points and rebounds. Kila was rewarded with consecutive CUNYAC All-Star distinction.  Since 2022, the Nigerian forward scored 15+ points 27 times and recorded 23 double-doubles. That weekly dominance led him to garner a pair of  Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Divisions II-III Honorable Mention selections, one CUNYAC weekly Player of the Week-Honorable Mention choice, and a D3hoops All-Region Team laurel. In 92 career games, Kila scored 870 points on a solid 45.9 percent shooting from the field and grabbed 655 rebounds. That rebound total ranks fifth in program history, 12 rebounds behind Ryan Smart's total of 667. 
'I Am Cardinal' Award
The "I am a Cardinal" Award is given to a student-athlete who most embodies the team-first principles of sportsmanship, mutual respect, commitment and discipline. In 2023-24, York recognizes a female and male student-athlete who demonstrated these values. These student-athletes stepped up to display the leadership that each team needed. 

"I Am A Cardinal" Award (Female): Tyler Dazey
  • A member of the of the women's basketball, softball, and volleyball programs, senior Tyler Dazey is always found cheering for her teammates and attending sporting events of other York teams. A vital part of women's basketball's quest to complete another season, Dazey played all 19 games and averaged 28 minutes a contest in her first year with the squad.  On the volleyball court, Dazey saw action in all 17 matches, while she started in seven of her nine games as a member of the softball team in 2024.  Dazey has also excelled in the classroom. Majoring in communications technology major paired with a minor in studio art, Dazey is a three-time CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete Honor selection, a six-time Dean's List Honoree, and made the 2023-24 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Women's Basketball Academic All-District Team®.
"I Am A Cardinal" Award (Male): Glenver Stuart
  • Representing the Cardinals as a member of four teams, Stuart is a three-year mainstay of the men's cross country, indoor & outdoor track & field programs, while playing 36 matches in two seasons as contributor to the volleyball team. Always supporting his teammates and other athletes at meets, the senior has been award five-career CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team selections between cross country (2022, 2023), Indoor Track & Field (2023-24) and Outdoor Track & Field (2023, 2024). Academically, Stuart is graduating with a marketing degree and leads in the role of secretary on the 2023-24 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Executive Board.
Coach of the Year Award
The Coach of the Year award honors a coach who has demonstrated an exemplary ability to develop and improve individual and team performance on and off the court.   

Coach of the Year: Clarence Emengo (Men's Basketball)
Hired months before the season, Clarence Emengo Established a strong roster that was competitive in a competitive non-conference schedule and in CUNYAC play. In addition to wins against United States Merchant Marine Academy and Notre Dame of Maryland University, Emengo coached masterclasses against Manhattanville College and Amherst College, holding late second half advantages in both contests. This battle-tested non-conference slate helped the Cardinals play Lehman College in the first-round of the CUNYAC Conference Tournament, becoming the third-consecutive York headman to guide the squad into postseason play. Along with advancing York into postseason play, Emengo oversaw the historic freshman season by Aidony Nivar, Tyres Desinor's renaissance in the second-half of the campaign, and the continued improvement of Olawale Kila while blending in Cardinal newcomers Bryce Haynes, Tafari Jerome, Abdul Seck, and Rohan Singh. 

Team of the Year Award
The Team of the Year award recognizes a team that was deemed to have had the best overall season and with not only success on the field of play, but also consistently representing the school with character and integrity.

Team of the Year: Men's Basketball
  • The York College men's basketball team put together a competitive non-conference schedule, claiming a road victory at United States Merchant Marine Academy and a neutral court triumph against Notre Dame of Maryland University. The Cardinals team also held late leads versus tough competitors Manhattanville College and Amherst College. Those two non-conference victories were level with 13-win 2021-22 squad total. The tough out of conference slate coupled with a sweep of Medgar Evers College and a critical 74-68 win versus John Jay College (Jan. 23) was key in returning to CUNYAC Championship play for the third-straight season. Playing as the No. 6 seed, Clarence Emengo's squad took Lehman College down to the wire in a four-point season-ending loss. Comparing York to other CUNYAC squads, the Cardinals led the league in 3-point shooting (35.2%) and FT percentage (70.2), and Finished fourth in scoring offense (72.3 ppg), assists per game (16.56) and field goal percentage (41.4). Per the final NCAA Division III Statistical Rankings Summary, York placed 38th in assists per game and 80th in long range shooting. The program produced recognized with CUNYAC Rookie of the Year (Aidony Nivar), All-Star First-Team (Olawale Kila), and Sportsmanship Team (Elie Mondelus) distinctions as well as a pair of conference Player of the Week-Honorable Mention awards, and acknowledgment from the Met Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) and D3hoops.com.   
Student-Athlete of the Year Award (Female/Male)
The Student-Athlete of the Year awards recognize our top male and female student-athletes who had the most successful season of competition in 2023-24.

Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Alicia Gumbs (Women's Basketball)
  • As primary creator on offense, Alicia Gumbs averaged 23.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on a nation-high 39.8 minutes per game to earn a CUNYAC All-Star Second-Team Distinction. On a conference level, Gumbs was third in points, eighth in rebounds, and ninth in assists per game. In the NCAA Division III Statistical Rankings Summary, Gumbs' scoring output was good enough for 10th in the nation. Buoyed by a quartet of 30+ point games and 10 contests of over 25 points, Gumbs' scoring average was the highest in program history. The junior also ranked second all-time in free-throws made (132) and third all-time in points (438) for a single season. Along with her place on the CUNYAC All-Star Second-Team selection, the guard was also a two-time CUNYAC Player of the Week Honorable Mention selection, and claimed four Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Divisions II-III Honorable Mention selections for her weekly heroics.
Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Olawale Kila (Men's Basketball)
  • In 25 contests, Kila averaged a career-high 16.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.4 dimes, 1.3 steals per game on a tough 34.2 minutes per game. That 10.8 rebounds per game number is 10th all-time in program history. A main scoring threat and a big presence on the glass, Kila scored in double-digits 21 times and grabbed 10+ rebounds on 17 occasions, including 13 of the 14 CUNYAC games. Among CUNYAC competitors, the forward placed first in rebounding, fourth in scoring, third in free throw percentage, and ninth in field goal percentage. Per the final NCAA Division III Statistical Rankings Summary, Kila ranked 18th in rebounds per game, 30th in total rebounds (270), 33rd in defensive rebounds per game (7.32), and 34th in offensive rebounds per game (3.48). Along with his CUNYAC All-Star first-team selection, the Nigerian was voted to a D3hoops.com All-Region squad, to go along with receiving a MBWA Divisions II-III Honorable Mention and CUNYAC Player of the Week Honorable Mention honors. 
 
Gallery: (5-23-2024) The YESPYS 2023-24 Awards

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Players Mentioned

Shamonie Miller

#21 Shamonie Miller

3B
5' 2"
Senior
R/R
Shavar Rowe

Shavar Rowe

6' 1"
Freshman
Shemar Green

#8 Shemar Green

D
5' 9"
Senior
Kamil Kuzminski

#14 Kamil Kuzminski

F
5' 10"
Sophomore
Jafet Gomez

#18 Jafet Gomez

M
5' 5"
Sophomore
Naomi Alejandra Rodriguez

#4 Naomi Alejandra Rodriguez

F
5' 0"
Freshman
Cherub Autar

#3 Cherub Autar

S
5' 6"
Sophomore
Jamelia Jordan

Jamelia Jordan

5' 4"
Junior
Tyres Desinor

#23 Tyres Desinor

F
6' 4"
Senior
Micaiah Goosby

#11 Micaiah Goosby

F
6' 4"
Senior
Olawale Kila

#24 Olawale Kila

F
6' 4"
Senior
Tafari Jerome

#00 Tafari Jerome

G
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Shamonie Miller

#21 Shamonie Miller

5' 2"
Senior
R/R
3B
Shavar Rowe

Shavar Rowe

6' 1"
Freshman
Shemar Green

#8 Shemar Green

5' 9"
Senior
D
Kamil Kuzminski

#14 Kamil Kuzminski

5' 10"
Sophomore
F
Jafet Gomez

#18 Jafet Gomez

5' 5"
Sophomore
M
Naomi Alejandra Rodriguez

#4 Naomi Alejandra Rodriguez

5' 0"
Freshman
F
Cherub Autar

#3 Cherub Autar

5' 6"
Sophomore
S
Jamelia Jordan

Jamelia Jordan

5' 4"
Junior
Tyres Desinor

#23 Tyres Desinor

6' 4"
Senior
F
Micaiah Goosby

#11 Micaiah Goosby

6' 4"
Senior
F
Olawale Kila

#24 Olawale Kila

6' 4"
Senior
F
Tafari Jerome

#00 Tafari Jerome

6' 0"
Freshman
G