Sage Announces 2009-2010 Women's Basketball Award Winners

Rexford, NY--- The Sage Colleges athletic department gathered on April 26 at the Mohawk River Country Club and Chateau to bestow the program’s top awards for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Sage, which now boasts 10 varsity athletic teams that compete as an NCAA Division III member and a full-member of the Skyline Athletic Conference, handed out a Gator of the Year award as the team’s Most Valuable Player Award in each sport as well as other honors at the banquet as athletic department staff, the college’s dignitaries, families and friends gathered to salute the excellence that occurred in 2009-2010 at Sage. By next fall, Sage will field 12 varsity teams with the addition of men’s cross country and men’s soccer to the fold.

2009-2010 Sage Athletic Honor Society:

 (The Sage College’s Intercollegiate Athletic Honor Society recognizes junior, senior, or graduate level student-athletes, who have maintained a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.2 or better and have participated as a member of a varsity team for at least two seasons.)

*Amanda Crans   (Sr., Watkins Glen, NY/Watkins Glen), Women’s Basketball

Carlin DeMarinis (Sr., Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs), Women’s Basketball

Amber Muir (Sr., Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons), Women’s Basketball

*Indicates Previous Inductee

2009-2010 Aggie Stillman Perseverance Award:

(In her nearly forty-year career at Sage, Aggie was a friend, mentor, professor, class advisor, coach, and the Gators’ biggest fan. She radiated pride and enthusiasm in everything she did, while embodying the Sage spirit of patience and perseverance against any odds. Aggie waged a personal battle with cancer for over 20 years and finally succumbing to the disease on May, 13, 2008. She is missed every day.  In her honor, we will bestow the Aggie Stillman Perseverance Award to the person affiliated with Sage Athletics that best exemplifies those traits, which made Aggie so special.

Jessica Byerwalters (Jr., Coeymans Hollow, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) Women’s Basketball

(The women’s basketball team’s leading scorer this year, Jessica overcame both personal crisis and physical ailments to lead the Gators with her efforts as the top scorer and a leader and exemplified the traits of the award’s namesake.)

2009-2010 Sage Sport-by-Sport Awards and honorees 
(Gator of the Year is the team’s Most Valuable Player Award)

Women’s Basketball:

Gator of the Year:      Jessica Byerwalters (Jr., G/F, Coeymans Hollow, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk)             

(In her first season with the team, this talented player made her impact with the Gators as she was the team’s high scorer with 299 points and a 12.5 ppg average. She ranked 10th in the league in scoring and ninth in FG%, having shot 42.5% from the floor (105-246). She scored in double digits 16 times on the season was the team’s high scorer on nine different occasions. She added 6.4 rpg as well with 50 assists and 47 steals. She added her name to the single-season record book at Sage as she ranks second with 125 free throw attempts and fourth in free throws made with 82.

Leadership Award:    Amanda Crans (Sr., G, Watkins Glen, NY/Watkins Glen)

(A team captain for the Gators in 2009-2010, Amanda was a leader for Sage on and off the court. She  averaged 4.3 ppg with 21.3 minutes played per game after starting 23 of 24 games played on the campaign. She wraps her stellar career having played in 81 games, which ranks eighth on the Sage career list, while her  63 career three-point baskets to rank sixth all-time at Sage. She also added 284 points and 99 rebounds in her four years on the team.)

Coaches’ Award:        Ashleigh Nelson (Fr., G, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy)

(A newcomer to the team, this past year, Ashleigh brought an incredible attitude to the team and was a positive force on and off the court with her positive nature. She played in all 24 games in her first season and became a valuable asset for the Gators during her first season.)