And the Best BU Athletes of the Year Are…
Annual Rhettys ceremony celebrates Terriers’ achievements
Each year at a spring ceremony, BU awards the Rhettys, celebrating the achievements of BU athletes. From the major awards given by BU Athletics to the Athlete Choice Awards, nominated and voted on by fellow student-athletes, the Rhettys celebrate all things BU Athletics. Read about this year’s winners.
Major Awards
John B. Simpson Award
Given to male and female senior athletes who demonstrate enthusiasm and leadership
Grant Eberst (Sargent), Men’s Rowing
After three relatively quiet years, Eberst has sparked as a senior, helping the Terriers, currently ranked eighth in the country, as part of its first varsity eight boat. Most recently, he helped BU defeat 10th-ranked Dartmouth to reclaim the Bill Cup for the first time since 2016.
Reagan Rust (CAS), Women’s Ice Hockey
Since transferring from RIT after her sophomore season, Rust has been a key member of the women’s ice hockey team, most recently as a tri-captain. The Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star scored 31 points during her two seasons with the Terriers.
E. Ray Speare Award
Given to the top male scholar-athlete
Trevor Winans (CAS), Men’s Swimming & Diving
Senior Winans has found great success both in the pool and out of the pool. The two-time All-Patriot League First Team member has been named to the Patriot League Academic All-League and the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll three times. He also holds two program records, for 200-meter free (1:37.47) and 500-meter free (4:22.74).
Gretchen Schuyler Award
Given to the top female scholar-athlete
Remi Ramos (Questrom), Women’s Tennis
A three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete, senior Ramos has been a leader of the women’s team that’s claimed back-to-back Team GPA Awards. The 2017 Patriot League Player of the Year also found great success on the court, twice receiving All-Conference honors.
Mildred Barnes Award
Given to the top female athlete of the year, regardless of class
Ally Hammel (CGS, Sargent), Field Hockey
The first two-time First-Team All-American in program history, senior Hammel became just the fourth student-athlete to win the Mildred Barnes Award twice. She amassed 56 career points and helped guide the Terriers to three conference championships.
Mickey Cochrane Award
Given to the top male athlete of the year, regardless of class
Chris Gray (CGS) Men’s Lacrosse
After being named an Inside Lacrosse preseason All-American, Gray has surpassed expectations with the nation’s third-ranked 6.46 points per game. The sophomore sensation is the first lacrosse player to win the award.
Woman of the Year Award
Given to a female athlete who best exemplifies a commitment to service, leadership, athletics, and academics over her career
Pietra Sweeney (Sargent), Women’s Soccer
A team tri-captain as a senior, Sweeney helped ensure that her team was consistently among the best defensive teams in the conference. The two-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll also boasts a variety of volunteer experiences, including with Soccer Without Borders and Special Olympics.
Paul Lewis Student-Athlete Service Award
Given to a senior student-athlete who demonstrates a commitment to serving BU, the department of athletics, and the larger Boston community over his or her time at BU
Johnny Kemps (Questrom), Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Senior Kemps transferred from Boston College after his freshman season and has represented the Terriers very well since. He’s been named to the All-Conference First Team in 2018 and the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll four times, once for cross country and three times for track and field.
Bruce Lehane Coaching Award
Given to a head or assistant coach who best embodies a holistic, values-based caring approach
Brian Durocher (Wheelock’78), Women’s Ice Hockey
The one and only coach the program has ever known, Durocher is the second recipient of the award, established last year. The 14-year head coach guided the Terriers to their first Beanpot title since 1981 and their first-ever Beanpot trophy as a varsity program.
Harry Agganis Terrier Pride Award
Given to a student-athlete or coach who “bleeds Scarlet and White” and best exemplifies Terrier Pride: leadership, determination, citizenship, humility, and teamwork
Alex Heinen (CGS, COM), Softball
Among the team captains since junior year, senior Heinen will look to help BU claim its third conference title in four years. The 2018 Patriot League Player of the Year is also a two-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
Aldo “Buff” Donelli Leadership Award
Given to a male and female senior who have demonstrated outstanding leadership both on and off the field
Michael Laviano (COM), Men’s Lacrosse
Laviano missed all of last season to injury, but returned this season as one of the team’s tri-captains. He has helped the Terriers post a 10-4 record, 7-1 at home, so far this season.
Lauren Spearman (CGS, Sargent), Women’s Basketball
After three quiet seasons, Spearman turned heads this year when she led the Patriot League in 3-pointers, with 2.3 per game. She was a constant presence on the floor, averaging 38 minutes a game.
Team GPA Award—Women’s Tennis (3.64)
Given to the program with the top average GPA
Joseph P. Mercurio Campus Community Recognition Award—Daryl DeLuca, assistant dean of students
Given to honor an individual who provided “invaluable and limitless” support in the past year
Athlete Choice Awards
Unsung Hero
Maggie Lohrer (CAS), Women’s Lacrosse
Junior Lohrer hasn’t appeared on the field since an injury in 2018, but she has been recognized for her constant support for her teammates. She has twice been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
Brett Davidson (Questrom), Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Junior Davidson (also a redshirt sophomore in cross country) garnered a Second Team All-Patriot League honor in 2018 after a 10th-place finish at the Patriot League Championships.
Breakout Athlete of the Year
Marcel Aubry (ENG), Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Despite being a freshman, Aubry competed as part of the silver medal–winning relay group during the 2019 Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships. The runners fell short of gold by only a 10th of a second.
Sarah Cicchetti (Questrom), Women’s Track & Field
It was a record-breaking indoor season for senior Cicchetti, who broke a 31-year-old weight throw record in December, only to break it twice more by the season’s end. Her latest record stands at 17.97 meters.
Moment of the Year—Women’s Ice Hockey’s First Beanpot Win as a Varsity Program
The BU women’s ice hockey team claimed its first Beanpot title since 1981 and its first as a varsity program. The Terriers upset the third-ranked Northeastern Huskies before defeating host team Harvard in overtime in the championship game. Find BU Today’s photo essay here.
Play of the Year—Maggie New’s Patriot League Winning Goal
Maggie New (Sargent), Women’s Field Hockey
Sophomore New found the top-left corner of the net in the 2019 Patriot League title game against American University, a goal that proved to be the conference tournament’s winning goal. She has twice been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
And here’s Maggie’s goal… incredible shot after getting to the ball before it left the circle! pic.twitter.com/oqq7HEdXZb
— BU Field Hockey (@TerrierFH) November 4, 2018
Upset of the Year—Abby Gugel’s Patriot League 5K Win
Abby Gugel (Sargent), Track & Field/Cross Country
Junior Gugel won the 5000-meter race at the 2019 Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championship after finishing 12th the season before. She shattered her personal record by over 30 seconds. She has been on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
Senior Jonathan Chang (COM) can be reached at jchang19@bu.edu; follow him on Twitter @jonathanychang.
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