(Canton, N.Y.)-Senior Dustin Deleel (Massena, N.Y.) received the 3rd Annual Alden C. Chadwick Memorial Leadership Award, highlighting the 2006-07 SUNY Canton men's recognition and awards banquet held on May 9 at the Best Western University Inn..

The award is given in honor of Al Chadwick who worked for 30 years at SUNY Canton, his last 15 as athletic director. Al passed away in December of 2001 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The award is given to a two-year male student-athlete that has demonstrated outstanding leadership, character and dedication to academics.

Deleel was a two-year goalie for the men's ice hockey team. After his freshman campaign, he was named to the NJCAA All-America Second Team and also to the All-Region III Second Team and the Region III All-Rookie Team. This past season, the co-captain was an iron man between the pipes as he led the nation in minutes played with a remarkable 1,457 and saves made with 651. He finished with a 3.42 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage with four shutouts.
Deleel has served on the Intercollegiate Athletic Board and has maintained a 3.87 grade-point average. That accomplishment earned him an Athletic Academic Recognition Award from SUNY Canton and being named an NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American.

"This is award is not one that is given out lightly," said athletic director Diane Para, who presented Deleel with the award. "It is an award that the recipient truly has to be deserving of and Dustin is just that. Maturity, responsibility, politeness, character, dedication to academics and his team. You wrap these all up and you have Dustin. A leader in so many respects, just like Al. He is really a very nice young man."

"Dustin is one of the finest student-athletes I have had the privilege to work with," said Coordinator of Recruitment and former head coach Pat Martin. "Dustin's attitude and work ethic are a perfect combination to ensure his success in the classroom, on the ice or in the workplace."

The 2007 Men's Banquet Award Winners and their coaches

Each men's team presented individual awards at the banquet.

Head soccer coach Al Benda, who completed his 10th year by being named the 2006 Mid-State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, handed out three awards. The Most Valuable Player was freshman forward Prince Sabatto (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) who led the team with 11 goals and three assists. Sabatto was named to the All-Region III Second Team and to the All-Mid-State Athletic Conference Team along with teammate Alexis Rivas (Bronx, N.Y.). Benda handed out two Coaches Awards to freshmen Steven Bullock (Edwards, N.Y.) and Rashid Reid (Bronx, N.Y.). Both players came to SUNY Canton as midfielders but volunteered to play in goal after the team lost their starting goalies early in the season. Bullock played in 12 games and had a 1.89 goals-against average and a .722 save percentage and Reid had a 2.63 goals-against average and a .709 save percentage in seven games.

First-year head basketball coach Craig Woods gave out two awards. The Most Valuable Player was senior guard/forward Che Terrazas (Rosenberg, Texas) who led the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game. He also averaged 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals and shot 40 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free throw line while playing 31 minutes a game. The Most Improved Player was second-year center DeAunte Bethune (Schenectady, N.Y.). Bethune averaged 7.5 points and a team-leading 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting a team-best 52.5 percent from the floor. Bethune had six double-doubles in the second semester and 12 double-digit rebounding games overall.

Following Woods was men's ice hockey and Martin, who passed out four awards. The Most Valuable Offensive Player went to freshman forward Steve Donnelly (Mississauga, Ontario) who led the team with 17 goals and 48 points. Donnelly was the Region III Rookie of the Year and was also selected to the NJCAA All-America Second Team, the All-Region III First Team and the Region III All-Rookie Team. The Most Valuable Defensive Player went to Deleel. The Most Improved Player went to freshman forward Mitch Bye (Burlington, Ontario), who netted five goals and 22 assists for 27 points. The Coaches Award went to freshman goaltender Brian Gruenauer (Depew, N.Y.) who played in three games this year and recorded 17 saves.

Next up was men's lacrosse and second-year head coach Mike Sergi who handed out three awards. Coaches Awards went to senior defenseman Austin Chase (Newport Beach, Calif.) and senior midfielder Korey Francis (Lisbon, N.Y.). Chase started every game at long pole this spring and had 19 ground balls and one assist. Francis was second on the team in scoring with eight goals and four assists for 12 points and he scooped up 22 ground balls. Francis was also one of the Roos top face-off men as he won 22 draws. The Most Improved Player was Terrazas who had never played lacrosse before this spring. Terrazas rotated between long-stick midfielder and defense and finished the year with one goal and one assist and 19 ground balls.

The final team to present was baseball and third-year head coach Tim Mickle, who gave out three awards. The Most Valuable Offensive Player went to infielder Pat Semeraro (Cortland, N.Y.) who batted .348 with 10 RBIs, eight runs and a double. The Most Valuable Defensive Player was infielder and pitcher Adam Levy (Penfield, N.Y.). Levy rotated between the mound, third base, shortstop and also played several innings in the outfield and recorded a .952 fielding percentage. He also had 12 hits and eight runs at the plate. The Coaches Award went to freshman Richard Rutland (Newfane, N.Y.) who started the year in the outfield but switched to first base midway through the season. Rutland batted .224 with 13 hits, eight RBIs, three runs and three doubles and in the field he posted a .990 fielding percentage.

Along with Deleel, freshman midfielder Trey Theobald (Victor, N.Y.) received an Academic Recognition Award.

Return to Athletics