VIDEO: Senior Tribute Video | Senior Speakers | Senior Award Winners
HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College athletic department celebrated the Class of 2016 at its annual Senior Award Ceremony on Tuesday night in Gooding Arena.
After Director of Athletics Wendy Smith '87 welcomed the attendees, seniors Jo Haller and Sam Yarosh represented the senior class as they gave a reflection of what it means to be a Haverford College student-athlete for four years. The night also included a video tribute to the senior athletes as well as the department's achievements in competition, the classroom and the community.
Smith closed out the night by announcing the winners of the senior awards determined by the athletic department. The A.W. "Pop" Haddleton Award is given for perseverance, dedication and loyalty, recognizing senior student-athletes for outstanding contribution to an athletic team but who may not have received recognition that, for example, a regular starting player does. Dhario DeSousa (men's tennis), Ben Krieger (men's lacrosse), Sara Rennert (volleyball), and Jamie Ulrich (baseball) earned the award for their commitment to their respective teams and positive attitudes over their four-year careers.
The Stephen G. Cary '37 Award, which is given to the senior who has made the greatest overall impact on the Haverford athletic program through a combination of athletic participation and achievement, leadership, sportsmanship and off-field athletic department involvement, went to men's soccer player Sam Yarosh. Yarosh led the Fords to the 2012 and 2015 Centennial Conference Championships. A two-time team captain, Yarosh helped the Fords make their deepest run in NCAA Tournament history as they advanced to the Elite Eight as the host of both the regional and sectional rounds. He is also heavily involved in Haverford's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was an instrumental part of the sports information staff.
The Gregory Kannerstein '63 Award, formerly the Alumni-Varsity Club Award, was presented to Nora Weathers. With the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships still to be contested, Weathers is a six-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American. She has also won two Centennial Conference Individual Championships. At this winter's NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Weathers anchored the distance medley relay team who placed third overall. She also placed sixth in the 1500 meters at last spring's outdoor track championship. She holds the school record in both of those events in which she has earned All-America status.
Charlie Marquardt and Sam Yarosh were the final award winners of the night as they received the Varsity Cup as the outstanding athletes of the senior class. On top of his team's success, Yarosh was a first-team D3Soccer.com All-American this season for the Fords. He was also named the Centennial Conference Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll. His academic success was highlighted by him being named a CoSIDA first-team All-American and the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the Year for men's soccer.
Marquardt is an 11-time NCAA qualifier and five-time All-American with his spring championship season still remaining. He finishes his career as a 12-time Centennial Conference Champion and a strong case to win his sixth Centennial Conference Performer of the Year over the course of the three running seasons. He was named the national athlete of the week on three occasions and the Centennial Conference Athlete of the Week a remarkable 15 times during his career. Perhaps most impressively, Marquardt has three different events in which his time ranks among the top 10 runners in Division III history.
Also recognized on Tuesday were those seniors who will graduate as owners of school records which included Lindsey Lopes (field hockey), Brady Seitz (men's soccer), Sam Yarosh (men's soccer), Jo Haller (women's soccer), Keri Godbe (volleyball), Meg O'Day (volleyball), Nick Ott (baseball), Zach Taylor (baseball), Kristin Tatum (softball), Sara Tauriello (softball), Emily Winesett (softball), Elyse Adler (women's lacrosse), Jeffrey Ainsley (men's track & field), Charlie Marquardt (men's track & field), and Nora Weathers (women's track & field).