FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU Athletic Department celebrated its stellar 2016-17 campaign Monday night in conjunction with the final week of classes during the annual Senior Send-Off and Awards Ceremony held on campus in the Cohen Center Ballroom.
 
Along with honoring the department's seniors, six different awards were handed out, highlighted by men's tennis player Andres Alfonzo (Hollywood, Fla./TCU/Florida Virtual School) winning the prestigious Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award, the highest honor FGCU Athletics bestows upon a graduating senior student-athlete. The award recognizes the ability of the winner(s) to combine athletic and academic success (minimum 3.20 GPA) with community service.
 
It's the first time in the award's history that a male recipient is the solo winner, and the first time a male has won the award since co-recipients in 2012.
 
More information about Alfonzo can be found below. Women's golfer Megan Blonien (Altus, Okla./Oklahoma State/Altus HS), volleyball outside hitter Leigh Pudwill (Lino Lakes, Minn./Northern Iowa/Centennial HS), women's soccer striker Tabby Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) and softball second baseman Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) were also recognized as finalists for the prestigious award.
 
Five other annual awards were presented on the night, beginning with the renamed Wings Up Team Spirit Award – previously the Eagle Team Spirit Award – which is given to the team which exemplifies Eagle spirit and team support. The 2017 honor went to the men's cross country team. The club consistently can been seen not only supporting other teams during their competitions but helping out on campus and throughout the community.
 
The Stanley "Butch" Perchan Award, previously named the Green and Blue Award, is annually bestowed upon a staff member who personifies the proverbial definition of someone who bleeds Green and Blue. Three years ago, Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh announced that the award would be renamed the Stanley "Butch" Perchan Award in honor of Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs Emeritus Butch Perchan. Perchan, via video, presented the 2017 honor to baseball associate head coach Rusty McKee.
 
McKee is in his 13th season with FGCU and has helped the program to four ASUN regular-season championships since 2008. A veteran of college coaching in the state of Florida, hitting coach McKee has been responsible for coordinating the recruiting efforts as well as assisting head coach Dave Tollett with all aspects of the program.
 
Beach volleyball player Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein HS) was the recipient of the Community Service Award, which is presented annually to the student-athlete who best exemplifies FGCU Athletics' dedicated commitment to volunteerism on campus and throughout the Southwest Florida community.
 
The Carl McAloose Spirit Award is given to at least one male and female student-athlete who best exemplify former Director of Athletics Carl McAloose's spirit and love for FGCU Athletics, as well as dedication to their team and teammates. Five recipients – one male and four female – won the award this year: baseball pitcher Mario Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS), volleyball player Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R Boone HS), swimmer and softball member Evita Leter (Paramaribo, Suriname/Doral Academy), women's soccer forward Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) and softball second baseman Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS).
 
The Most Inspirational Award, which was renamed the Duane Swanson Sr. Inspirational Award at the 2011 ceremony, was presented to baseball player Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS). Rivera has overcome multiple injuries, in addition to remaining at FGCU despite being drafted into the major leagues and ranks at, or near, the top of several program records.
 
EAGLE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE WINNER ANDRES ALFONZO
The 2016 ASUN co-Scholar Athlete of the Year, Alfonzo maintains a 3.53 GPA while majoring in finance. He was named to the ASUN All-Academic Team in 2016 and has been on the Dean's List multiple times. Alfonzo has assisted as a lab monitor at the Lutgert School of Business, helping others use and run the Wasmer Schroeder & Company Trading Room effectively and efficiently.
 
In addition to his work with the Lutgert School of Business on campus, Alfonzo is a member of the Athletic Health and Wellness Committee Board and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Alfonzo has also volunteered in the community by helping raise money for kids fighting cancer, preserving animal habitats, playing and interacting with children with disabilities and contributing to expanding non-profit organizations.
 
A vital part of FGCU's back-to-back ASUN regular-season titles in 2015 and 2016, Alfonzo earned First Team All-Conference honors as a junior while leading the team with 18 singles wins and 34 total wins, highlighted by a doubles championship at the Dick Vitale Lakewood Ranch Clay Court Classic while partnering with Oliver Landert. His consistency while at FGCU has helped him produce a top-5 career in total wins, a number limited due to injuries his senior season.
 
On Sunday, Alfonzo helped FGCU clinch its second ASUN Tournament title in three years as the Eagles claimed the crown out of the No. 4 seed. For his efforts, Alfonzo was named ASUN Tournament MVP.
 
HEAD COACH CJ WEBER ON ALFONZO
"Andres has been one of the most passionate leaders I have ever had the privilege of coaching. He is a 'big picture' kind of student-athlete. He knows this program is about a lot more than wins and losses. He represents us amazingly well in the Eagles Council, and he is always interested in ways to grow the program at large in the entire Southwest Florida tennis community. I get compliments everywhere I go about him, and his legacy will live on forever here at FGCU."
 
2016-17 EAGLES CLUB MOST OUTSTANDING MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES
Previously called just the Most Outstanding Male and Female Athlete Award, it was renamed to the Eagles Club Most Outstanding Male and Female Athlete Award on Monday evening. The Eagles Club is the official booster organization which helps financially support and raise funds for each of FGCU's 15 programs. Below is each of the nominees who have achieved all-conference First Team honors or higher. The winners will be announced at the annual Welcome Back Picnic in August.
 
MEN'S SOCCER: Albert Ruiz, Nicolas Samayoa, Kamar Marriott, Arion Sobers-Assue
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Tabby Tindell, Ashley Parks, Ali Rogers, Paulina Speckmaier
VOLLEYBALL: Amanda Carroll, Maggie Rick, Leigh Pudwill
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Luka Ndungu, Ronny Greenup
SWIMMING & DIVING: Ashley Wright, Hannah Burge, Elizabeth Zeiger, Katie Latham, Fanny Teijonsalo, Doris Eichhorn, Sommer Harris, Christina Kaas Elmgreen
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Brandon Goodwin
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Rosemarie Julien
MEN'S TENNIS: Felipe Ramirez
WOMEN'S TENNIS: Maja Ornberg, Breana Stampfli, Julia Ascúa
WOMEN'S GOLF: Megan Blonien
BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Katherine Puisis, Karissa Rhoades
BASEBALL*: Julio Gonzalez, Kutter Crawford
SOFTBALL*: Kelsey Huff, Racquel Fournet
* Anticipated; ASUN honors not yet released
 
2016-17 FGCU ATHLETICS AWARD WINNERS
Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award: Andres Alfonzo (Men's Tennis)
Duane Swanson Sr. Inspiration Award: Nick Rivera (Baseball)
Carl McAloose Spirit Award: Mario Leon (Baseball), Caroline Jordan (Volleyball), Evita Leter (Swimming & Softball), Ali Rogers (Women's Soccer), Jeanie Verderese (Softball)
Stanley "Butch" Perchan Award: Rust McKee (Baseball Associate Head Coach
Community Service Award: Madi Wilcox (Beach Volleyball)
Wings Up Team Spirit Award: Men's Cross Country
 
ABOUT FGCU
In its 10th season at the Division-I level, FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 62 conference regular season and tournament titles. Additionally, in just 5+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had 28 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships (29 including upcoming men's tennis). Seven programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sports. In 2014-15, FGCU finished 9th in the Division I-AAA Learfield Sports Director Cup final standings, ahead of several prominent Big East, Missouri Valley and Atlantic 10 Conference members.
 
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FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.