By Louie Galdos
Elm Staff Writer
This spring season for the first time in Washington College athletics history, both the most valuable player and most improved player awards were announced through social media. This occurred due to the unfortunate cancellation of the second half of spring sports starting after spring break.
For Shoremen lacrosse, the M.V.P was awarded to junior goalkeeper Chris Del Rosario and the M.I.P was awarded to junior attackmen Joe Maimone.
Chris Del Rosario is one of the team captains this year. This was his second year in a row winning team M.V.P. He has won other awards such as the 2020 Elizabeth “Bo” Blanchard Memorial Sportsmanship Award, the Centennial Conference defensive player of the week for February 18, 2019, Shoreman of the Week for April 9,2019, and lastly three-time Goose Nation TV Shoreman Player of the Game.
Statistically, Chris has recorded a total of 339 saves with a save percentage of 54.7% throughout his three years as a Shoreman.
Maimone had a breakout season this year. He recorded a shot on goal percentage of 84.6% in this season alone and recorded 11 shots on goal. He was able to do this in a short five game season. In only his junior year, next year should be another tremendous year for him causing havoc as an attackman.
Maimone expresses in his own words how it feels to win the M.I.P award for the 2020 season.
“It was a good feeling to win the M.I.P award, but most importantly I am looking forward to getting back together with my teammates in the fall,” Maimone said.
For Shorewomen lacrosse, the M.V.P was awarded to junior midfielder Anna Bennett, and the M.I.P was awarded to sophomore midfielder and defender Molly Sharpe.
Bennett is also one of the team captains. She has also won the 2019 Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll, Shorewoman of the Week for May 7, 2019, and one-time Goose Nation TV Shorewoman Player of the Game.
In her career so far, anna has recorded 48 total points, 67 groundballs, 57 shots on goal with a shot on goal percentage of 66.3%.
Sharpe had a breakout season this year after a freshman year where she battled injuries. In a position where she played on both sides of the ball and in a five-game season, she recorded four caused turnovers, five groundballs, and two assists.
Bennett expresses in her own words how it feels to win the M.V.P award for the 2020 season. “It’s an honor to be named M.V.P by my team. My teammates mean the world to me and I would not be in this position without them pushing me at practice every day. I can’t wait to get back out on the field with my team in the spring,” Bennett said.
For Shorewomen softball, the M.V.P was awarded to freshman catcher Lexie Witmer, and the M.I.P was awarded to junior outfielder Amelia Mazza.
Witmer is the second freshman in a row to win the M.V.P award. As a freshman, she led the team with 18 hits, 6 doubles, 9 RBI’s and was second on the team with a .391 batting, .522 slugging, and 8 runs scored.
Witmer expresses in her own words how it feels to win the M.V.P award for the 2020 season.
“I am so fortunate to have played with such a great group of girls over the past year and to see our hard work pay off within the short season we had. It’s truly humbling to be named M.V.P for this team and if I am considered to have played any role in garnering the success we had, I am very honored,” Witmer said.
As a junior, Mazza has had 10 hits, 8 runs, 6 RBI’s, an average of .250, and .325 slugging in her career at WC.
Mazza expresses in her own words how it feels to win the M.I.P award for the 2020 season. “I am extremely honored to have received the M.I.P award. I am sincerely grateful for the recognition I have received for this award. Every challenge I have faced has only strengthened me to make myself a better person and player that I am today. However, this was not a solo act, I would not be here without my coaches and teammates constant support and encouragement to get better. Something that our team really focused on was getting better by 1% every day and that is something I’ve taken to heart,” Mazza said.
For the Shoremen baseball team both the M.V.P and M.I.P was awarded to sophomore outfielder Max Ruvo.
In a short season Ruvo was very productive winning the M.V.P, and M.I.P awards in the same year. He also has won other awards such as D3baseball.com Team of the Week on February 26, NCBWA Division III Honorable Mention Hitter of the Week for February 26, Centennial Conference Player of the Week for February 25, two-time Goose Nation TV Shoreman Player of the Game, and lastly holds the single season record slugging with a .902.
Ruvo expressed in his own words how it feels to win both the M.V.P and M.I.P awards for the 2020 season. “I was honored to win the awards but most importantly help the team towards a greater goal. We have unfinished business and I can’t wait to get back after it next spring,” Ruvo said.