Brown Athletics Honors Athletes at Second Annual Senior Celebration and Awards Banquet
Providence, R.I. – On Wednesday evening, May 5, Brown Athletics celebrated the 2009-10 athletics season at the second annual Senior Celebration and Awards Banquet. Over 170 student-athletes representing Brown's 37 intercollegiate varsity teams came together along with more than 150 coaches and distinguished guests to celebrate another exceptional year and honor some outstanding performances on and off the field.
Senior wide receiver and kick returner Mark “Buddy” Farnham (Andover, MA) is this year's recipient of the Fritz Pollard '19 Trophy, given to the outstanding male varsity athlete of the year. Farnham turned in a remarkable season in 2009, as he became one of the most decorated players in program history. The senior caught 74 passes for 1,007, both of which ranked in the top-10 nationally, and was named the Ivy League Player of the Year. Farnham was also named to the First Team All-Ivy for the third time in his career, and received the Gold Helmet of the Year Award and the Bulger Lowe Award as the New England Player of the Year. He finishes his career ranked in the top-10 all-time in the Ivy League in career receptions, receiving yards, and all-purpose yards, and is the Brown record holder for career punt return yards.
The 2010 recipient of the Marjorie Brown Smith Award, given annually to Brown's outstanding female varsity athlete of the year, is senior Bridget Ballard (Los Angeles, CA), a member of both the women's soccer and swim teams. Ballard began her terrific year by playing in every minute of every game on the soccer field for the Bears, and received All-Ivy recognition for the third time in her career, earning first team honors. She was also a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District pick, and made her second appearance on the Academic All-Ivy list. Ballard then jumped directly into the pool, where she continued turning in impressive performances. She was the co-recipient of the Martha Joukowsky Scholar - Athlete Award, and finishes her career ranked 11th all-time in the 100 backstroke, and 18th all-time in the 50 freestyle.
Joe Paterno '50 Award
Recognized as the outstanding first-year male athlete, Svetozar Stefanovic (Belgrade, Serbia) is the 2010 winner of the Joe Paterno '50 Award. In his first season with the men's water polo team, Stefanovic helped to lead the Bears to their first North Championship since 1993. The third-leading scorer in the nation, Stefanovic was also named an All-American at the conclusion of the year, while earning First Team All-Eastern, First Team All-Northern, and Northern Division MVP. As the Bears leading scorer with 113 points, his 81 goals broke Brown's single-season scoring record, a mark that had stood for 26 years.
Kate Silver '86 Award
Women's tennis freshman Misia Krasowski (Deerfield, Ill.) is the winner of the Kate Silver '86 Award, given to the outstanding freshman female varsity athlete. After arriving as the 26th-ranked junior player in the nation last fall, Krasowski has only continued to improve, posting an impressive 23-13 singles record and a 16-18 mark in doubles during her rookie season. In large part because of her contributions, the women's tennis team posted a 16-8 record on the season, while playing one of Brown's most challenging schedules ever. Krasowski put together a seven-match winning streak, the longest on the team this year, while her 23 singles wins was second overall on the team. A strong contender for Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Krasowski posted a 4-3 Ivy record at #3 singles.
Bessie H. Rudd Award
This year's recipient of the Bessie H. Rudd Award, presented to the female varsity athlete who has done the most to promote women's sports at Brown, is gymnastics sophomore Katie Goddard (Kings Park, NY). Goddard, who set career highs in both the vault and floor routines this season at 9.65 and 9.75 respectively, has quickly established a tremendous track record of service and academics. This season, she was named to the ECAC All-Academic Team, and earned NACGC/W Academic All-American status. Additionally, she worked with the American Cancer Society, Jump for Jubilee, and Operation Happy Birthday, and was recently voted Community Service Chair for SAAC for the upcoming year.
Men's lacrosse senior Thomas Muldoon (Oakton, VA) is the 2010 recipient of the Cliff Stevenson Award, presented annually to the male varsity athlete who best exemplifies Cliff's boundless enthusiasm, indomitable spirit, and devotion to the quality of life at Brown and the community. Muldoon, who scored an overtime game-winning goal against Dartmouth to give the Bears a share of the Ivy League title, was recently named to the First Team All-Ivy for the third time in his career. He is also on the watch list for the 2010 Tewaaraton Award, and is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Muldoon has also been a star off the field, organizing a coat drive in Pawtucket, and volunteering his time with the Innocence Project, Room to Read, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
This year's Arlene Gorton '52 Cup, presented to the female varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play, was given to senior track & field standout Thelma Breezeatl (Manassas, Va.). One of the most influential people in the track & field program, Breezeatl overcame reconstructive surgery, and was back on campus within two weeks with an immovable brace to she could return to her work as a Teacher's Assistant and mentor to students at Hope High School. A Derek Canfield Barker Prize recipient for leadership, triumph over adversity, and bringing the community together through service, Breezeatl is a two-year captain of the track & field team and has served on the Brown Athletic Council since 2007. An Ivy League record holder in both the 100 and 60 meter dash, Breezeatl is also an individual NCAA Academic All-American.
Dave Zucconi '55 Award
The winner of the Dave Zucconi '55 Award, given annually to the male varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play, is football senior Paul Jasinowski (Washington, D.C.). A two-time recipient of his team's community service award, Jasinowski has been a stalwart of the bench press for Cancer and a team organizer for Relay for Life. A three-time All-Ivy honoree and 2009 team captain, Jasinowski also earned All-New England and All-ECAC honors as a senior. A CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American, Jasinowski received a prestigious National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award after posting a 3.76 GPA as a dual concentrator in Urban Studies and Economics.
