The College of Staten Island Athletics Department debuted a new-look awards dinner on Tuesday night as they hosted the 2024 Finnies at LiGrecci’s Staaten. The event marked the first in-person awards dinner held since the 2019 season giving this year’s senior class their first and only experience attending an end-of-year awards ceremony. The Finnies were conceptualized during the spring of 2020 with plans to debut the event in May of that year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic halted those plans, and all department awards were announced via social media each of the last few seasons. Yesterday’s event, put together through collaboration between the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and CSI Athletics administrators, welcomed over 200 guests including CSI student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
This year’s event, hosted by Joseph Foreman and Nicholas Durst of CSI Sportsnet, saw each team distribute three awards chosen by their respective coaches. In addition to the three awards given by the coaches of each team, department award-winners were chosen from among the three award-winners selected by each of the coaches. Additional award-winners were chosen from among nominees submitted by the coaches, and the Highlight of the Year award was chosen via a social media poll on the CSI Dolphins Instagram account. All department award winners aside from Highlight of the Year were voted on by a group of fifteen CSI coaches and administrative staff members.
The event opened with introductory remarks from Foreman and Durst, followed by words from CSI student-athletes and SAAC members Emily Albano and Avery Mochrie. CSI Director of Athletics Chase Licata then took the podium delivering an address to the student-athletes in attendance before welcoming College of Staten Island President Dr. Timothy G. Lynch. Following an address from Lynch, the evening’s awards ceremony began. Foreman and Durst provided a brief look back at everything that each team accomplished during the 2023-2024 season, including major milestones, playoff berths, and many academic and athletic accolades. The duo then announced the winners of three team awards, all chosen by each team’s head coach.
Following the announcement of each team’s award-winners, the winners of the CSI Athletics department awards were announced. Ahead of the announcement of the 2024 award-winners, the winners of all 2023 department awards were welcomed to the stage, receiving the in-person recognition that they could not last year. Finally, the department award-winners were announced, all leading up to the presentation of the Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards to close the show. Following closing remarks from Foreman, the dance floor was opened to the attendees concluding the awards portion of the event.
Full video of the 2024 Finnies will be available shortly. This list of all award-winners can be found below.
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2024 TEAM AWARD WINNERS
Women’s Soccer
Coaches Award – Jacquelyn D’Amico
Rookie of the Year – Ina Kölker
MVP – Isabella Radovini
Men’s Soccer
Golden Boot Award – Miguel Espinosa
Rookie of the Year – Franklin Shehu
MVP – Brian Kerilu
Cross-Country
Women’s Rookie of the Year – Elizabeth Nicotra
Men’s Rookie of the Year – Ethanael Elliott
Women’s MVP – Alexandrea Jackson
Men’s MVP – Wayne Stephenson
Swimming & Diving
Men’s Rookie of the Year – David Fayngersh
Women’s Rookie of the Year – Edna Melendez
Men’s Diver of the Year – Josiah Rivera
Women’s Diver of the Year – Jordan Swanson
Men’s MVP – William Kwan
Women’s MVP – Jessica Johnson
Women’s Basketball
Coaches Award – Ashley Lambert
Unsung Hero Award – Kyra Rose
MVP – Jenalyse Alarcon
Men’s Basketball
CSI Together Award – Bryce Waterman
Rookie of the Year – Aaron Goldstein
MVP – Messiah Mallory
Cheerleading
Coaches Award – Brianna Conseillant
Rookie of the Year – Aliveah Nelson
MVP – Jessica Ferger
Track & Field
Men’s Runner of the Year – Steven Elcock
Women’s Runner of the Year – Inioluwa Ogunfowora
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year – Dominik Hric
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year – Ava Thompson
Men’s Rookie of the Year – Ibrahima Diallo
Women’s Rookie of the Year – Sofia Dulisova
Men’s MVP – Vincent Ohenhen
Women’s MVP – Angelina Guerriero
Baseball
Rookie of the Year – Chris Polemeni
Pitcher of the Year – Gerard Santos
MVP – AJ Vigliotti
Softball
Rookie of the Year – Olivia Wanser
Defensive Player of the Year – Mariah Carcano
Offensive Player of the Year – Aileen Balderas
2024 DEPARTMENT AWARD WINNERS
Bob Steele Sportsmanship Award – Nick Campisi and Jenalyse Alarcon
Highlight of the Year – Matt Polemeni’s Home Run on Heroes Day
Distinguished Service Award – Women’s Basketball
Women’s Rookie of the Year – Olivia Wanser
Men’s Rookie of the Year – Chris Polemeni
Women’s Athlete of the Year – Aileen Balderas
Men’s Athlete of the Year – Messiah Mallory
– Story Courtesy of CSI Athletics
