Official Release
Somerset, NJ –In her pursuit of academic excellence, recently graduated women's tennis player
Avika Sagwal (New Delhi, India/Delhi Public High School [Southeastern Louisiana]) can add one of the Northeast Conference's (NEC) highest honors to her impressive list of off-the-court accomplishments with her selection as the 2016-17 NEC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Sagwal is joined by four other female student-athletes who compiled a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, as Nicole Dean from Central Connecticut (volleyball), Sarah Bonson from Mount St. Mary's (swimming & diving), Lea Lieb from Sacred Heart (volleyball) and Taylor Allison from Saint Francis U (women's basketball) share the honor this season. On the men's side, Joseph Paparelli from the Bryant University baseball team was tabbed the 2016-17 NEC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The New Delhi, India native is the first Seahawk to receive the NEC's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year since
women's golfer Ellen Huffman (Lima, OH / Lima Central Catholic) won the award for the 2013-14 season.
"Congratulations to this impressive group," said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. "It takes an incredible amount of commitment and ability to achieve or come close to a 4.0 GPA while also competing at a high level athletically. These six student-athletes have proven extremely worthy of this recognition. Speaking on behalf of the entire NEC, we are so proud of their accomplishments."
In its 11th year, the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, which is sponsored by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives, goes to the male and female student-athletes who have exhausted their athletic eligibility, graduated and compiled the highest grade point average in the Conference at the conclusion of the academic calendar.
On the tennis court, Sagwal compiled 24-15 overall record in her time on Grymes Hill. This past season, Sagwal was tied for the team lead in singles wins for the second straight season. This year, Sagwal represented the Seahawks at the 2017 ITA Regional Tournament, competing in Main Singles Draw and in doubles play with teammate,
Samantha Hodges.
After putting up a spirited contest against Columbia's pairing of Ali Pollack and Rima Asatrian (falling 8-2), Sagwal turned her attention to singles action, going 1-1 for the tournament. In the opening round, she defeated Atlantic 10 members, Rhode Island's Mihaela Cordreanu, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 before dropping a straight decision to Syracuse's Gabrielle Knutson, 6-2, 6-0 concluding her time at the ITA Regional Tournament.
In the classroom, Sagwal was a two-time NEC Spring Academic and Commissioner's Honor Roll selection. Back in 2016, she was the recipient of the Wagner College Undergraduate Award for Business Administration Award, given to the student in the Business Administration Department with the highest grade-point average.
"Avika epitomizes the highest ideals of a scholar-athlete we strive for at Wagner and within the conference," said
Walt Hameline, Director of Athletics. "She excelled in academics and athletics while representing our institution in a positive and professional manner. We at Wagner College are extremely proud of Avika's accomplishments and I am certain that she will go on to achieve great things in the coming years."
About The Northeast Conference
Now wrapping up its 36th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#23), Baltimore (#27), and Hartford/New Haven (#30). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 14 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary's, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league's official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Google , all @NECsports.
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