MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) honored Mansfield Mountaineer student-athletes as they announced their yearly award winners at the Mountie Awards ceremony on Wednesday (Apr. 30) afternoon.
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee is a club made up of dedicated student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience.
SAAC announced five major awards this year:
Female Rookie of the Year
Male Rookie of the Year
Female Comeback Player of the Year
Male Comeback Player of the Year
Saramae Radel Team Leader Award
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Jenna Duke
Duke became the first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Freshman in the Mansfield field hockey program history. Behind her 12-goal campaign, the Stroudsburg native posted the 7th most shots on goal in the conference with 37 and recorded 28 points, placing her 5th in the conference. The forward landed three multi goal games on the season, including her first career hat trick versus Roberts Wesleyan. As an unforgettable freshman campaign, Duke led the team in goals (12), assists (4), points (28), shots on goal (37), and game-winning goals (3).
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Marcus Quaker
Quaker was a dual sport athlete, becoming a key figure on the football field and on the track. In the fall, Quaker was a part of the two-quarterback system, leading the team in passing yards with 829. He also holds the longest completion in program history with a 91-yard touchdown. Ten rushing touchdowns and five passing touchdowns highlighted the first year and a 107 rushing yard, four touchdown day at Cornell stood out as the best game, tying the most rushing TDs in a game and his ten being the second most for a single season.
On the track, his first year saw him earn three school records in the decathlon, the heptathlon, and the 4x200 relay. Inking his name in multiple top ten categories, the freshman finished seventh in the decathlon and 16th in the javelin throw at the PSAC Outdoor Championships.
FEMALE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Danae Ellzy
Ellzy commanded on the court, doubling her points and rebounds per game from the previous season, averaging 13.4 points on the season. The junior finished with ten games of 15+ points and secured her first career double-double with 20 points against Shepherd. The guard became a consistent No. 2 on the offense, making 5+ field goals in 11 of her 18 appearances and accumulated 6+ rebounds in seven games.
MALE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR - David Allison
Allison returned from injury where he only played in one game the previous season and appeared in six games on the Mountaineer offensive line that helped push the Mounties to their single season rushing record of 1,920 yards on the year. With the junior helping anchor down the trenches, Mansfield led the Collegiate Sprint Football League in total yards per game at 434.9 and rushing yards per game at 240.0.
SARAMAE RADEL TEAM LEADER AWARD - Jack Gartner
Gartner stood firm as a key member of the offensive line. Earning All-CSFL Second Team Honors as a sophomore, the lineman proved that he was a leader before, during, and after the snap, appearing in six games on the Mountaineer offensive line that helped push the Mounties to their single season rushing record of 1,920 yards on the year. With the sophomore helping anchor down the trenches, Mansfield led the CSFL in total yards per game at 434.9 and rushing yards per game at 240.0.
