ALFRED, NY – Saxon Nation, the fundraising organization that supports Alfred University's near-500 student-athletes and Alfred University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted their first ever athletics awards night, The Alfy's on Monday evening from Holmes Auditorium in Harder Hall.
 
The event was the first end-of-season event that offered an opportunity for all Saxon student-athletes to attend as 30 student-athletes and one staff member were celebrated. 75 Saxon seniors were also recognized for their careers spent here at Alfred University, each of them receiving an AU Saxons fleece throw blanket. "This was a fantastic night of celebrating our student-athletes and expressing our gratitude for those who support us," Interim Assistant Vice President for Athletics & Recreation, Deb Steward said. "I am proud of the teamwork in planning this inaugural Alfy's celebration."
 
The event began with the doors to Harder Hall opening at 6:00pm for a purple carpet event as student-athletes crowded the Saxons media backdrop, adorned with purple and gold balloons for photo ops. Everyone was then ushered into Holmes Auditorium as action photos from 2022-23 looped on the display above the decorated stage. "A big thank you to our SAAC representatives for helping come up with the idea and working with our coaches to select the SAAC Award recipients for each team," Head Women's Basketball Coach and SAAC Advisor, Mike Moskowitz said. "And then a massive shout-out to Deb [Steward], Chris Boswell, Cassandra Norman and Dan Clark and for being the masterminds behind the execution of the event and making sure everything and everyone was organized and well prepared. They were able to take some ideas we had down on paper and put together an awesome event for our student-athletes that we look forward to hosting for years to come."
 
Award presentations began at 7:00pm with the most prestigious Alfred University athletics award presented last, the Nicholas F. Clark '11 Ideal Saxon Award.
 
The Ideal Saxon Award was established in 2013 and is an annual honor that recognizes the achievements of a male senior and a female senior student-athlete at Alfred University who "displays excellence in both academics and athletics while providing service and leadership of distinction to the AU Community." After five years of annual presentation, the Ideal Saxon Award was properly renamed the Nicholas F. Clark '11 Ideal Saxon Award, following the tragic passing of Nick Clark, a 2011 graduate of Alfred University and Saxon football program, who lost his life while serving in the line of duty as a New York State Police Trooper in the summer of 2018. Clark was 29 years old.
 
The 11^th and 12^th recipients of the award were Brewster Marshall (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) of the Saxon men's basketball and men's lacrosse teams and Amber O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) of the Alfred University equestrian and women's basketball teams. The award was presented by Theresa Gunn, Faculty Athletic Representative and Clark's mother, and Victoria Cramp '22 who was one of last year's recipients.
 
Marshall has been not only a key element to the Saxons' men's basketball team since he first stepped foot on the court, but has been heavily involved with game day management, SAAC and the Athletics Department. Marshall is second all-time in Alfred University history for most Empire 8 Weekly Awards, earning three Rookie of the Week awards, three Player of the Week awards and three Co-Player of the Week awards. He was part of the 2018-19 Empire 8 Championship team and closed out his career with being on the ECAC Division III Championship team. Brewster also totaled 11 Saxon of the Week awards and was the Saxon-for-Saxon Chair for SAAC during the 2021-22 season. Upon finishing up his basketball career, Marshall joined the Saxon men's lacrosse team, having played the sport in high school, just down Route 86 in Horseheads, NY. The proximity of his hometown also plays into how much extra he does for Alfred University. He has come back to campus on multiple occasions during breaks to help out with home sporting events because of this. Having worked for Adam DuPree, Brewster has helped set up every single home sporting event, including basketball. The extra commitment to the behind-the-scenes work, has made such a positive impact on the department. The strong commitment to his academics and athletics has made him a worthy recipient of the Nicholas F. Clark '11 Ideal Saxon Award.
 
"I feel honored and thankful to have been able to be named a Nicholas Clark Ideal Saxon," Marshall said. "It wraps up years of hard work and sacrifice, both in and out of athletics very nicely. I am very happy that while here, I could positively impact so many people and I'm so proud to be a Saxon! I greatly appreciate everyone who has helped me to get to where I am at today!"
 
Amber was never recruited to go to Alfred University. One of her triplet sisters, Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley), was being recruited to play softball and basketball here at AU. When Allison and her mom came to visit, they texted Amber and let her know that there was equestrian here. Without ever visiting the campus, she decided to come here and has absolutely bought in to all that is Alfred University. She competed for both western and hunt seat equestrian teams and established herself as a leader of the western team while maintaining a strong athletic performance throughout her four years. While still on the equestrian team, Amber became the SAAC President and was also a member of the Athletic Director Advisory Group. A graduate with a degree in business administration and who is working towards her MBA, Amber is also an intern for the school of performing arts working on their social media and marketing. In order to remain in SAAC, Amber sacrificed her time and efforts to join the AU women's basketball team and was voted to remain as the SAAC President for a second year. Through SAAC, Amber has helped create themed sporting events, helped with organizing Saxon-for-Saxon events and has helped with fundraisers and the now annual SAAC Community Cleanup that is held the day after Hot Dog Day.
 
"I am so honored that I was named a Nicholas F. Clark Ideal Saxon," Amber said. "My experience at Alfred University through athletics, SAAC and my academics has been a life-changing experience and I am thoroughly humbled to receive such a meaningful decoration. Thank you AU for everything and go Saxons!"
 
The next four awards were already announced during Alfred University's Honors Convocation but with them being athletics awards, they were also presented at The Alfy's.
 
Muriel Strong Morley Award – Most Outstanding Female Athlete
Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) – Softball
 
Wells is a two-time All-Empire 8 honoree, looking for her third following the conclusion of her junior season at AU. In her inaugural season, Wells was tabbed as the Empire 8 Softball Rookie of the Year and was selected to the Empire 8 All-Tournament Team during her sophomore season after helping AU become back-to-back Empire 8 Champions. Wells has also been named an Empire 8 Softball Co-Player of the Week and is a two-time Saxon of the Week.
 
Wells has a career hitting average of .380 with 137 hits, 30 of them being doubles, 14 home runs and three triples. She has scored 98 runs and driven in 107.
 
Franklin Morley Award – Most Outstanding Male Athlete
Brewster Marshall – Men's Basketball/Men's Lacrosse
 
Marshall only joined the men's lacrosse team after his final season on the basketball court. Marshall played four complete seasons for the Saxons plus six games during the COVID, 2021 season. He was listed on the All-Empire 8 selections four times, earning Second Team three times and First Team in his final season. Marshall was named to the All-ECAC Second Team in 2023, following his ECAC Championship All-Tournament Team, Tournament MVP and championship-hoisting performance in March.
 
Marshall is the second-most decorated Saxon in school history for Empire 8 Weekly Awards with nine. He has three Rookie of the Week selections, three Player of the Week and three Co-Player of the Week honors. Marshall is also an 11-time Saxon of the Week. He has played in 106 games averaging 13.7 points per game, totaling 1,452 points. He also averaged 7.3 rebounds a game with 773 rebounds, 541 of them being defensive grabs. Marshall totaled 153 blocks, 82 steals and 133 assists.
 
He finished his career at No. 8 all-time scoring, No. 3 in points in a single season, No. 5 in career rebounds, No. 4 and No. 5 in season rebounds and No. 9 in steals in a career at Alfred University.
 
ECAC Merit Medal – Senior Academic/Athletic Excellence (Female)
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) – Softball
 
Alfred University's first ever biochemistry major, Hatch has not missed a semester of academic accolades, earning Empire 8 President's List three times, Dean's List five times and Saxon Scholar six times, since transferring to AU in the Spring of 2020. A member of Chi Alpha Sigma Honors Society, Hatch has been a selection on the 2021 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete list as well as the 2022 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors.
 
As an athlete, Hatch earned spots on each of the 2022 Empire 8 All-Tournament Team and the NCAA Division III Softball Union Regional All-Tournament Team. She has earned Empire 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week twice and has been a three-time Saxon of the Week.
 
Hatch has appeared in 66 career games, pitching 293.2 innings with 303 strikeouts, one of only four Saxons in AU history to get over 300. She holds a career ERA of 2.93 with a record of 29-15 with one save. In the batters' box, Hatch has 25 hits with five doubles and a triple with 12 RBI and nine runs.
 
ECAC Merit Medal – Senior Academic/Athletic Excellence (co-Male)
Tim Dahl (Cobleskill, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) – Football
 
Dahl is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma Honors Society. He has been on the Empire 8 President's List four times, Dean's List and Saxon Scholar Athlete seven times. Dahl graduated in December with his degree in mechanical engineering.
 
He has 135 total tackles on his collegiate career with 50 solo stops. Out of his tackles, 20 of them have been for a loss, totaling 68 yards. 10 of those have been sacks for a loss of 55 yards in his five years of playing. Dahl rounds out his career with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception for 22 yards.
 
ECAC Merit Medal – Senior Academic/Athletic Excellence (co-Male)
Matthew Wedzik (North East, PA/North East) – Men's Soccer
 
Wedzik graduated a semester early with his undergraduate degree in business administration and is currently working towards his MBA while working in the Alfred University Athletic Communications Office. In his senior season, Wedzik earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.

He never missed a semester's listing on the Empire 8 President's List, Dean's List and Saxon Scholar Athlete.
 
Wedzik was a force on the back line for the Saxons, starting in 21 of his 49 appearances with four assists and one goal. He played nearly one thousand minutes his senior season.
 
Unsung Hero Award
Sean Laukaitis (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) – Men's Lacrosse
 
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes a senior student-athlete who doesn't break school records but each and every day makes a difference in our athletic department, their particular program and most importantly, to our University. They are the people their teammates can rely on and our staff comes to call on repeatedly because of their selfless nature and unending quest to make AU a better place. They are difference-makers in the same way that first-team all-conference players are for our programs.
 
The first recipient on Monday evening of the Unsung Hero Award was Laukaitis. As a student-worker, Laukaits has been a great addition for the Athletic Communications Office. He has been willing to work various home events for Alfred University, using his own camera equipment at times, and has captured many of the action shots that are featured on the GoSaxons.com website.
 
Unsung Hero Award
Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) – Softball
 
'Izzy' Carrillo has immersed herself completely within the department. Although she is a starter for the softball team, she is typically one of the players who would play one of the two games during a double-header. She has given it her all during every at-bat, but is tough to get athletic recognition. Off the diamond, Izzy has worked hard to cover home sporting events, she is an athletic training major who has helped our student-athletes, as well as the student-athletes at Alfred State College.

While working as an APEX intern for the Athletic Communications Office, she created a video series, "Dear Sport" in order to celebrate the careers of our senior student-athletes. Even after her internship, she voluntarily comes in and continues to work on the video series and is very passionate about it.
 
Exceptional Saxon Award
Dr. Garrett McGowan
 
The Exceptional Saxon Award is given out yearly to a member of our AU community who goes "above and beyond" in their support of our athletic department. The recipient of the 2023 Exceptional Saxon Award was Dr. McGowan. McGowan is a great supporter of Alfred University athletics. He attended all of the women's basketball home games and when they were on the road, he would tune in on the live stream. Not only does he watch the games, but he takes the time to personally reach out to the student-athletes he has in his classes to tell them how they had a good game or wish them luck in their event. McGowan, a Faculty Liaison for women's basketball, can also be spotted (due to his 'Exceptional' tie-dye shirts) can be seen supporting all of our athletes around campus.
 
Each of the 23 varsity Saxon teams honored a member with a SAAC Alfy. The Alfy Award is meant to signify a student-athlete who best represents the team. The recipients of each SAAC Alfy was:
 
-Kevin Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) – Men's' Cross Country
-Sarah Lutkins (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs) – Women's Cross Country
-Emily Hart (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) – Dressage Equestrian
-Joe Copp (Minoa, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) – Football
-Evan Sherwood (Le Roy, NY/Le Roy) – Men's Soccer
-Olivia Gilbert (Ontario, NY/Wayne Central) – Women's Soccer
-Alexis Giordano (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) – Women's Tennis
-Kristin Finley (Kenyon, MN/Kenyon-Wanamingo) – Women's Volleyball
-Everett Chandler (Sweet Springs, WV/Community (VA)) – Alpine Skiing
-Zoey Keagle (Newfield, NY/Newfield) – Hunt Seat Equestrian
-Karly Welty (Portville, NY/Portville Central) – Women's Basketball
-Elliot Bowen (Salamanca, NY/Ellicotville) – Men's Basketball
-Brandy Owens (Rochester, NY/Bishop Kearney) – Cheerleading
-Ivy Vallely (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) – Women's Swimming & Diving
-Colin Schultz (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) – Men's Swimming & Diving
-Bianca Durso (Utica, NY/New Hartford Senior) – Women's Track & Field
-Steven Jackson (Culpeper, VA/Eastern View) – Men's Track & Field
-Emily Swendsen (Lockport, NY/Lockport) – Western Equestrian
-Drew Cartwright (Elmira, NY/Elmira) – Men's Lacrosse
-Brenna Turner (Bentonville, AR/Bentonville) – Women's Lacrosse
-Raygan Ashmore (Taft, CA/Taft Union) – Softball
-Mike Roberts (Alfred Station, NY/Alfred-Almond) – Men's Tennis
 
42 Saxons were also inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma Honors Society on Monday evening. Chi Alpha Sigma is the first national scholar-athlete society to honor collegiate student-athletes who have excelled in both the classroom and in athletic competition. Chi Alpha Sigma recognizes college students who receive a varsity letter in their sport while earning a 3.4 or higher cumulative grade point average.
 
 
The Saxons inducted were:
-Raygan Ashmore (Taft, CA/Taft Union) – Softball
-Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) – Softball
-Kenneth Berlin (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek) – Men's Track & Field
-Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) – Softball
-Nathaniel Castellanos (Largo, FL/Pinellas Park) – Football
-Jamie Chun (Hilo, HI/Hilo) – Women's Volleyball
-Casey Curran (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) – Men's Basketball
-Bianca Durso (Utica, NY/New Hartford Senior) – Women's Track & Field
-Connor Englert (Dansville, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) – Football
-Chloe Fox (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) – Cheerleading
-Olivia Gilbert (Ontario, NY/Wayne Central) – Women's Soccer/Women's Track & Field
-Alexis Giordano (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) – Women's Tennis
-Anna Gwozdz (South Wales, NY/Iroquois) – Women's Tennis
-Leah Harkenrider (Hornell, NY/Hornell) – Women's Basketball
-Abbie Hudspath (Wyantskill, NY/Tamarac) – Women's Soccer
-Ana Ion (Bucharest, Romania/Episcopal School of Jacksonville) – Women's Track & Field
-Mari Jablonski (Monticello, GA/Jasper County) – Women's Cross Country/Women's Track & Field
-Rebecca Jewett (Nyack, NY/Nyack) – Women's Basketball
-Wyatt Kiff (Sidney, NY/Sidney Central) – Football
-Alessandro Lagos Canales (Tegucigalpa, Honduras/Escuela e Instituo Lincoln) – Men's Swimming & Diving
-Sean Laukaitis (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) – Men's Lacrosse
-Sarah Lutkins (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs) – Women's Cross Country/Women's Track & Field
-Margaret Macaluso (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) – Equestrian
-Lily Mazur (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) – Equestrian
-Ben Middlemiss (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) – Men's Soccer
-JJ Mundo (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) – Football
-Jon Nadolne (Port Washington, NY/Schreiber) – Men's Soccer
-Colin Page (Avon, NY/Avon) – Football
-Jacey Palmgreen (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) – Women's Soccer
-Alyssa Piechota (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) – Women's Lacrosse
-Erika Purdy (Syracuse, NY/Cicero North) – Women's Swimming & Diving
-Max Sereno (Victor, NY/Victor) – Men's Swimming & Diving
-Ceci Sherwood (Indiana, PA/Indiana) – Women's Lacrosse
-Jonathan Staniszewski (South Wales, NY/Holland) – Football
-Clayton Teeter (Brighton, NY/Brighton) – Football
-Emiliano Terrazas (La Paz, Bolivia/Saint Andrew's) – Men's Swimming & Diving
-Matt Wagner (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) – Football
-Karly Welty (Portville, NY/Portville Central) – Women's Basketball
-John Wendt (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) – Men's Track & Field
-Hannah Wiatrowski (Bolivar, NY/Bolivar-Richburg) – Cheerleading
-Macy Youngberg (Falconer, NY/Falconer Central) – Women's Tennis
-R.J. Zellner (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) – Men's Swimming & Diving