Four of CSI’s scholar-athletes and five All-Americans were honored last night at the 25th Annual Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner in Queens, NY. Nikolay Shevchenko, Gabriella Villarruel, Robert Hargraves and Raechel Strobel were honorees as scholar-athletes while Shevchenko, Pavel Buyanov, Vladislav Romanov, Andrey Tarasov and Danila Novikov were honored with an award for their All-American status.
A CUNYAC All-Star all four years, Shevchenko has totaled 93 gold medals and two silver in individuals, never recording a time below second place in dual events. Also a seven time All-American, he was one of CSI’s first swimmers to ever make it to the Division III National Championships and has participated in the most events at Nationals. His best being 4th place in four separate events. He holds a 3.081 GPA in Business Management and International Business.
A two-time CUNYAC Men’s Tennis All Star, Hargraves is a main-stay in the 6th singles spot for the College of Staten Island. Bobby has had an undefeated CUNYAC record this season in both singles and doubles play. He is a member of the CSI’s prestigious Macaulay Honors College, where he sports a 3.34 GPA.
A CUNYAC All-Star in two sports, Villarruel leads both her tennis and swim team statistically and as team captain. As a number 1 flight tennis star, she has had a winning singles record all four years. As for swimming, she holds two CSI school records in individual event, the 200 Fly and 200 IM, and is part of all five CSI records for relay teams. She holds a 3.2 GPA with a double-major in Business Management and Economics.
A four-time CUNYAC Softball All-Star, Strobel is part of seven CSI career records. The shortstop/second baseman leads her team with a fielding average of .987 to go along with a .387 batting average. She finishes her career with two CUNYAC Championships and two appearances in the DIII Nationals. With her 3.89 overall GPA as a Mathematics major, Strobel has won HSS/CUNYAC Scholar –Athlete of the Month on two occasions, a rare feat.
As for the All-American’s, five male swimmers were honored. Shevchenko was honored as a seven time All-American. Buyanov, a 12 time All-American with a National Championship title in the 100 breaststroke in 2010. Romanov, his second appearance in the Nationals this year is a 10 time All-American. Freshman’s Novikov and Tarasov are both three time All-American’s. As a team, the five guys placed 13th overall at the Nationals, their best yet.
Out of all the scholar-athletes honored one male and one female winner is chosen from the senior colleges and from the community colleges. From the community colleges, Lisa Kurner from Queensborough and Victor Tlepshev from Kingsborough. For the senior colleges, Stella Shifrin of Hunter and Agustin Lastra of Baruch.
The Commissioner’s Cup was also presented, the winner going to Baruch with 140 points. In second was Hunter with 115 and CSI in third with 95 points.