HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College athletic department celebrated the Class of 2015 at its annual Senior Award Ceremony on Tuesday night in Gooding Arena.
After Director of Athletics Wendy Smith '87 welcomed the attendees, senior Jacquelyne Pizzuto of the women’s basketball team started the night with 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. Zachary Gabor (men’s cross country, track & field) and Maggie Perkoff (women’s lacrosse) earend 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 softball player Dayle Comerford. Comerford has been a four-year starter for the Fords, helping lead the team to the 2014 Centennial Conference Championship, earning Tournament MVP honors that weekend. She is also heavily involved in Haverford’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, served as volleyball team manager, and was an instrumental part of the sports information staff.
The Gregory Kannerstein '63 Award, formerly the Alumni-Varsity Club Award, was presented to both Jacquelyne Pizzuto and Diana Perry. Pizzuto guided the women’s basketball program to unprecedented heights during her career. During her tenure, the program made its first four appearances in the Centennial Conference Tournament, winning the conference title in 2014. The Fords went on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament during her junior campaign. The point guard was selected to the All-Centennial Conference team three times in her career, earning first-team All-CC accolades this past year.
Perry became just the second player in women’s lacrosse history at Haverford to be selected as a first-team All-Centennial Conference three times during her career. She earned first-team all-conference honors during the 2013-15 seasons and added first-team All-Metro Region honors during her junior and senior years. She finished her career with 179 goals, a program-record 48 of which came on free position shots. Perry also gathered 167 draw controls, picked up 104 ground balls and caused 50 turnovers during her four seasons. The Fords’ captain led her team to the Centennial Conference semifinals this season.
Tommy Bergjans was the final award winner of the night as the already two-time All-American pitcher received the Varsity Cup as the outstanding athlete of the senior class. Bergjans goes down in program history as the greatest pitcher to ever put on a Haverford baseball jersey. He earned first-team All-American honors during his sophomore and junior seasons and is expected to earn similar accolades during the upcoming postseason award announcements. Bergjans is also a three-time Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Also recognized on Tuesday were those seniors who will graduate as owners of school records which included Jen DiMaria (field hockey), Robin Chernow (women’s soccer), Elizabeth Lynch (women’s basketball), Jacquelyne Pizzuto (women’s basketball), Casey Fox (baseball), Tommy Bergjans (baseball), Jill Schnall (softball), Diana Perry (women’s lacrosse), Gibby Graves (men’s track & field), and Kelley Riffenburgh (women’s track & field).