2023-24 SENIOR VIDEO

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation honored the accomplishments of its 60 individuals at its annual Senior Intercollegiate Athletics and Club Sports Awards Reception April 24 in the University Commons Ballrooms.
 
WP acknowledged 53 senior intercollegiate student-athletes, six club sports seniors, and one senior who participated as both an intercollegiate and club athlete.
 

In addition to celebrating each of the seniors, the Pioneers bestowed several individual awards during the event. Senior Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) was named the recipient of the Roland Watts Award, given to a student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and effort in his or her sport. Bigos has competed as a member of the WP softball program for five seasons (2019, 2021-24) and has started 118 of 133 appearances, posting 11 doubles, 10 triples, two home runs, 59 runs scored, 42 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Also a starter in 12 games for the 2022 WP field hockey team, contributing a goal and three assists, she has worked for WP Athletics throughout her career as a member of the equipment staff. Inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national student-athlete honor society, she was a member of the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, a 2019, 2022 and 2023 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar Athlete, and a Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Fall 2020 and Fall 2021 Dean's List student. Named to the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 Academic All-NJAC Honorable Mentions, Bigos graduated Cum Laude in 2022 with bachelor's degrees in integrated math and science and elementary education. She will complete a master's degree in curriculum and learning/STEAM this spring.
Women's swimming and tennis student-athlete Nicole Kahwaty (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Morris County Tech) received the Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA. A four-year swimmer (2020-24) and one-year tennis (2023) player, Kahwaty was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, earned a spot on the 2022-23 CSC Academic All-District Team, and was a Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 Dean's List student. Kahwaty was named to the 2022-23 Academic All-NJAC First Team and the 2021-22 Academic All-NJAC Honorable Mention, and she holds a perfect 4.0 GPA as an Honors College student double majoring in elementary education and psychology. She graduates this spring Summa Cum Laude.
 
Nicholas Bucci (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) of the ice hockey team was the club sports' recipient of the Senior Scholar-Athlete Award. Bucci, who also has competed the last two seasons as a member of the WP golf team (2022-24), is a Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 Dean's List student. A member of the 2022-23 Atlantic East All-Academic Team, he is graduating this spring Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
 
Baseball and golf student-athlete Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) was named the winner of the Pioneer Spirit Award, given to the senior student-athlete who exhibited unparalleled pride and enthusiasm for the Orange and Black. A transfer to WP, Lutz has played three seasons on the diamond for the Pioneers (2022-24) and has started all 116 games played while compiling a .306 batting average, .430 on-base percentage, 133 hits, 98 runs scored, 90 RBI, 28 doubles, five triples, eight home runs and 18 stolen bases. Named to the 2022 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Region 4 Third Team and D3baseball.com All-Region 4 Third Team, he earned 2022 second-team all-NJAC honors. Lutz also has played two fall seasons as a member of the WP golf team (2022-23), competing six times. Inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, he is a Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 Dean's List student, was named to the 2022-23 Academic All-NJAC Honorable Mention, and earned a spot on the 2023 CSC Academic All-District Team. He anticipates competing on the WP golf team next fall and graduating midyear with a bachelor's degree in physical education.
 

In addition, 31 senior student-athletes were acknowledged as recipients of the Academic Excellence Award for maintaining an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or better.
 
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.
 
* indicates Academic Excellence Award recipient
# indicates Chi Alpha Sigma inductee 

 
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
BASEBALL
Noah Cabassa (Pomona, N.Y./North Rockland)*
Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield)*#
Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional)*#
Elian Mendez (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack)
Ian Metzger (Verona, N.J./Verona)*
Nick Nielson (Avenel, N.J./Colonia)*
Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield)*
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Kevin McNicholas (Blairstown, N.J./Kittitany)*#
Patrick Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler)*
MJ Moncrieffe (Maplewood, N.J./Marist)
Tyreek Montgomery (Neptune, N.J./Admiral Farragut)
Shawn Summers, Jr.
 
FOOTBALL
Alajuwon Bell (Paterson, N.J./Garrett Morgan Academy)
Devyn Blount (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch)*#
Taz Burton (Millville, N.J./Bridgeton)
Matt Clarke (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch)
Ricky Colon (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken)
Pat Green (Rahway, N.J./Rahway)
Ariel Higuera (Union City, N.J./Union City)
Daquan Knight (Trenton, N.J./Trenton)
James Koegler (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills)*#
Ryan Marshall (Andover, N.J./Sussex Tech)*#
RJ Massey (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge)
Raul Rivera (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch)
Yubir Rojas-Herrera (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional)*
Mele' Stallings (Newark, Del./Newark)
Daniel Torchio (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville)
Will Valentine (Washington, D.C./Suitland)
Peyton Willey (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Technical)
 
GOLF
Nicholas Bucci (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway)*#
Thomas Hatch (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon)*#
Vincent Limone (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park)*#
Anthony Slekis (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex)*
 

MEN'S SOCCER
Roger Bermejo (Passaic, N.J./Passaic County Technical Institute)*
Thomas Hatch (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon)*#
Owen Stahl (Succasunna, N.J./Seton Hall Prep)*#
 
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Hailey Krajewski (Clifton, N.J./DePaul Catholic)*#
Gianna Labiento (Lynbrook, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy)*#
Elisa Zuta (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes)*#
 
SOFTBALL
Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South)*#
Grace Gaskill (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert)*#
Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.)
Michaela Raguseo (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic Valley)*#
Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton)*#
 
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Brandon Arias (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Tech)
Andrew Colligan (Andover, N.J./Sussex County Tech)*
Anthony Newman (Lake Hiawatha, N.J./Parsippany)*#
 
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Melody Espin (Colonia, N.J./Colonia)*
Nicole Kahwaty (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Morris County Tech)*#
Hailey Krajewski (Clifton, N.J./DePaul Catholic)*#
Skylar Mancini (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East)
Jillian Starace (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East)
Rose Vail (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney)
 
TENNIS
Adrian Dieckman (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands Regional)*
Nicole Kahwaty (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Morris County Tech)*#
Abigail Malandro (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional)*#
Jillian Starace (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East)
Jordan Sweet (Camden, N.J./Brimm Medical Arts)
Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton)*#
 
VOLLEYBALL
Rose Vail (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney)
 
CLUB SPORTS
BOWLING
Johann Gamo
Ethan Matthews
 
CHEERLEADING
Alyssa Rawashda
 
ICE HOCKEY
Nicholas Bucci (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway)
Hunter Koch
Owen McGilligan
Matt Smith