Senior Tribute (Julia Blake '19, softball)
Senior Athlete Award Presentations
HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College athletic department celebrated the Class of 2019 at its annual Senior Award Ceremony on Tuesday night inside Gooding Arena.
After Haverford College President Kim Benston and Director of Athletics Wendy Smith '87 welcomed the attendees, softball player Julia Blake represented the senior class as she 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 the recognition that, for example, a regular starting player does. Austin Castellanos (baseball), Will Fox (men's lacrosse), and Kirsten Mullin (women's lacrosse) earned the award for their commitment to their respective teams and positive attitudes over their four-year careers at Haverford.
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 both Julia Blake (softball) and Katie Cook (women's basketball).
Blake was a four-year starter and two-year captain of the softball team which won the 2016 Centennial Conference Championship, advanced to the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional, and was just one victory away from the Women's College World Series. Blake capped her career as just the third four-time All-Centennial Conference selection in program history, earning first-team honors in 2017 and 2019. In addition to excelling on the field, Blake was a member of Haverford's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and serves as the Students' Council Senior Representative. She was also instrumental in organizing Plenary during her time as Co-President of Haverford's Student Council.
Katie Cook was a four-year starter and captain of the women's basketball team. With Cook running the point guard position, Haverford earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and captured the program's second Centennial Conference Championship this winter. She was twice named to the Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team and finished her career ranked second in school history in total assists. In addition to her prowess and vision on the court, Cook was instrumental in the organization and execution of Haverford's Joe Schwartz '83 3K Run/Walk which brings the athletic department and community together at the end of each school year.
The Gregory Kannerstein '63 Award, formerly the Alumni-Varsity Club Award, was presented to Macy Goldbach and Graham Peet. The Kannerstein Award is presented to individual(s) whose combination of outstanding athletic achievement and leadership has been a significant factor in a team's competitive success and whose level of performance has brought distinction not only to the individual, but also the entire athletic program.
The Tournament MVP of the Haverford College women's basketball team's 2019 championship season, Macy Goldbach capped her career as a three-time All-Centennial Conference performer. Earning first-team honors as a season, the Fords' team captain broke the school record for three-pointers in a season with 64 of them during her senior campaign. Her 179 career three-pointers rank second in school history as she was a four-year starter and team captain as a senior. Goldbach scored 1,045 points during her career and graduates with the seventh-highest point total in school history. Goldbach was also named an Ambler Scholar Athlete, which is an honor bestowed upon the senior student-athletes with the top 16 cumulative GPAs during their undergraduate career.
Graham Peet is currently a two-time All-American with the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championships to be contested later this month. Peet earned his first All-America certificate during the outdoor championships in his junior season with a third-place finish in the steeplechase. He also helped lead the men's cross country team back to the national podium with a fourth-place team finish this fall. Peet earned his second All-American recognition following a 16th place finish at the NCAA Championships. He is one of just 12 runners in the storied cross country team's history who has competed at four straight NCAA Championships. Peet was an All-Centennial Conference finisher during each of his four cross country seasons, all of which resulted in Haverford capturing the team championship. He also won the 2017 Mideast Regional for cross country, and caps his career as a 12-time All-Mideast Region and 15-time All-Centennial Conference performer. He was named the 2017 cross country scholar-athlete of the year in the Centennial Conference and was recently recognized as the Centennial Conference's Outstanding Outdoor Track Performer this spring.
Greg Morgan was the final award winner of the night as he received the Varsity Cup as the most outstanding athlete of the senior class.
A national champion at the 3,000 meter distance during the 2019 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships, Morgan is a four-time All-American as he earned that distinction at least once during each of his three running seasons with the Fords. Helping the team to a fourth-place finish at the cross country national championships, Morgan placed 18th at the national meet this fall and was three-time All-CC performer. In addition to his national championship, Morgan was also an All-American following a fifth-place finish in the mile at the 2018 indoor championships. Heading back in search of another national title this spring, Morgan also earned All-America status with a seventh-place finish in the 1,500 meters at the 2018 outdoor championships. He was named the Mideast Region and Centennial Conference Track Performer of the Year during the 2019 indoor season and will graduate as a six-time Centennial Conference Champion, 12-time All-Mideast Region, and 16-time All-Centennial Conference performer.
Also recognized on Tuesday were those current seniors who will graduate as owners of school records. The group includes: Michael Carr (men's soccer), Kahlil Garnes (men's basketball), Joe Scibelli (men's basketball), Katie Cook (women's basketball), Macy Goldbach (women's basketball), Yash Singh (men's squash), Ryan Dukarm (men's squash), Allie Gibbons (women's lacrosse), Julia Blake (softball), Grace Mathis (women's track & field), Ethan Lee-Tyson (baseball), and Jared Turner (baseball).