PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Johnson & Wales University athletic department hosted its annual awards banquet on Monday evening, April 27 at the Wildcat Center.

Photos: Senior Toast / Awards / Pre and Post Banquet / Red Carpet 

President Joe Greene presented the Thomas Carmody Award to Mila Kuilan (women's lacrosse). The award is presented to a male or female senior or graduating student-athlete who exemplifies the Johnson & Wales way of character, spirit, and community service.

The Ron Bachman Award was presented to the male and female senior or graduate student-athlete who excels both athletically and academically, as well as displaying leadership. The female award went to Mady Lyons (softball) while the male award was presented to Davis Bone (men's ice hockey). 

The Team Academic Achievement Award was presented to men's and women's ice hockey for having the highest team cumulative grade point average (GPA). The individuals with the highest GPA were Jadyn Torres (softball), Rebecca Johnson (field hockey), Lyons and Bone.

Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Coordinators Maddy Santore and Ben Finnigan presented the Male and Female Athlete of the Year Awards. Junior Jack Richardson (wrestling) took home the honors on the men's side while sophomore Grace Jaffray (women's basketball) received the women's award.

Richardson earned All-America honors with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championship. He finished the season with a 31-4 record. Jaffray was named the Conference of New England (CNE) Player of the Year and finished in the top five in scoring in the nation (22.5 ppg).

The Male and Female Rookie of the Year awards were presented to Nico Rivera (wrestling) and Riley Shepley (women's lacrosse). Rivera was named New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Rookie of the Year and earned All-America honors at the NCAA Division III National Championship. Shepley ended her season atop the CNE in points with 95; the San Diego native ranked second in goals (65) and fourth in assists (30). 
Comeback of the Year: The women's ice hockey team, which rallied from a second-period deficit to defeat Curry, 3-1, and advance to the Conference of New England (CNE) Semifinals.

Breakthrough Performance: Sierra Nausieda (women's volleyball) and Connor Nelson (men's ice hockey). Nausieda native led the Conference of New England (CNE) in digs/set (5.01) and recorded her 1,000th career dig. Nelson was named to the CNE Second Team after finishing tied for second in goals with 15.

Teammate of the Year: Jordan Hopping, women's ice hockey

Friends of Athletics Award: Jon Burke, JWU athletics photographer

Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Jadyn Torres (softball), Mady Lyons (softball), Davis Bone (men's ice hockey)

Rookies of the Year: Nico Rivera (wrestling) and Riley Shepley (women's lacrosse)

Athletes of the Year: Grace Jaffray (women's basketball) and Jack Richardson (wrestling)

Wildcat Award Recipients
Baseball: Kiefer McGrath
Men's Basketball: Silas Sawtelle 
Women's Basketball: Brianne Foley
Cross Country: Caroline Carter 
Equestrian IDA: Abigail Gilley
Equestrian IHSA: Isabelle Pacella
Field Hockey: Susannah Brown
Men's Ice Hockey: Evan Gravel
Women's Ice Hockey: Kylie O'Keefe
Men's Lacrosse: Bryce Hoag 
Women's Lacrosse: Alyssa Morrison 
Men's Soccer: Carson Merluzzo
Women's Soccer: Kylie Schmidt 
Softball: Jadyn Torres
Women's Track & Field: Katelyn O'Brien
Women's Volleyball: Ajie Jagne 
Wrestling: Thomas DiResta