VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics honored the accomplishments of its 60 senior student-athletes, as well as 10 senior student athletic trainers, during its annual Senior Athletic Awards Banquet held April 24 in the University Commons Ballroom.

In addition to celebrating each of the individuals, the Pioneers bestowed three individual awards during the event. Men's soccer midfielder Wes Ostrzycki (Edison, N.J./Edison) was named the winner of the Ralph E. Smith Award, given to the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. Ostrzycki has a 3.879 cumulative GPA as an athletic training major while starting in 36 of 37 career contests a two-year Pioneer, collecting two goals and an assist.

Football bandit German Decena (Union City, N.J./Emerson) was named the recipient of the Albert Barone Memorial Award, given to a student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and effort in his or her sport. Named one of 10 male national finalists for the Diverse: Issues In Higher Education 2013 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award, he was previously honored as a 2010-11 and 2011-12 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar.  A member of the 2012 Capital One/College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Football Academic All-District 2 Team, he graduated magna cum laude from William Paterson in January of 2013 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. A six-time Dean's List student, Decena was selected to the 2010-11 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Academic First Team and the 2011-12 NJAC All-Academic Honorable Mention. His community service activities during his time as a Pioneer included participating in Toys for Tots and the NJAC Cans Across the Conference food drive, Habitat for Humanity, and William Paterson's Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.

A former walk-on, Decena started the last three seasons on the defensive side of the ball for the Pioneers, moving to bandit this fall after two years at free safety. A member of the 2012 All-NJAC First Team Defense, he led WP with 78 tackles (38 solo, 2.0 for loss), adding three pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He also returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown during a 21-14 victory Sept. 29 at Maritime. Ninth in the league in tackles/game (7.8) this past season, in 39 career contests and 33 starts he collected 196 tackles (84 solo, 4.0 TFL), five interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a fumble forced.

Allan Simon, sports director at William Paterson's WPSC 88.7 FM Brave New Radio since the spring of 2011, was the recipient of the Director's Award, presented to a non-athlete for outstanding support of the intercollegiate athletics program at William Paterson.  Through his efforts, there was a resurgence of coverage by the University's student station of Pioneer Athletics, rebounding from almost non-existent to a sizeable slate of games.  Simon secured underwriters in order to meet the travel costs associated with broadcasting the entire 10-game football schedule each fall, as well as postseason basketball.  Thanks to his leadership and diligence, he expanded the station's sports staff and the majority of home basketball, baseball and softball games were added to the broadcast schedule.

Thanks, in part, to Simon's contributions as the sports director, WPSC 88.7 FM Brave New Radio was named the 2012 and 2013 Best College/University Station in the Nation (more than 10,000 enrollment) by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.  Simon's Sports Drive weekly show was a 2013 national finalist for Best Sports Talk Program, and he was cited for his work with The Morning Blend, this spring's winner for Best Specialty Show.

Also active with the Pioneer Times during his time at WP, Simon has worked as a student assistant in the WP Sports Information Office since the fall of 2011.  He is graduating from William Paterson next month with a bachelor's degree in communication and has been accepted to the graduate program at DePaul University for the Fall 2013 semester.

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2012-13 William Paterson Senior Honorees
Athletic Trainers
Xavier Alzate
Shekenah Campbell
Jacqueline Cividanes
Nick Hodgman
Lauren Kravitz
Christopher Libiran
Tsr Jamaal Martin
Shawn McNally
Daniel Rogers
Lauren Tribley

Field Hockey
Jaclyn Bertos
Ally Hartman
Kelsey Rella
Shannon Thomas

Football
Stephen Bovo, Jr.
Joseph Cordato
Adam Curry
German Decena
Dawys German
Clifton Glaze
James Grande
Mike Gregory
Javon Hodges
John Matthews
Kyle McCourt
Mike Morano
Alex Price
Vinny Proscia
Eric Yuneman

Men's Soccer
Teddy Benedict
Naeem Boucher
David Chase
Michael Encarnacion
Wes Ostrzycki
Dan Patton
Marcus Rouse
Andrew Tauriello

Women's Soccer
Carlye Bianco
Laela Brock
Erika Juricic
Nicole Kufel
Michelle Marabondo
Casey McGuigan

Tennis
Samantha Miller
Sonja Pedersen
Christina Puleo

Volleyball
Elizabeth Dykhouse
Alyssa Koukos

Men's Basketball
Lance Brown
Rick DeStefano
Thomas Goubadia
Julio Rosario

Women's Basketball
Lindsey Callander

Men's Swimming & Diving
Alex Carpenter
Joseph Pannullo
Sebastian Schrils

Women's Swimming & Diving
Kerry Doris
Taylor McKay

Baseball
Steve Coral
Vin Fondacaro
Ryan Gibbons
Matt Goitz
JJ Moran
Tim O'Shea
James Young

Golf
Matt Scozzari

Softball
Kelsey Hand
Samantha Mulderig
Mandy Muraca
Nicole Walls