The MAAC Committee on Athletic Administration created the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award in October 2001 to recognize overall excellence in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community. Each MAAC member selected one male and one female nominee for the honor. The conference sports information directors vote to determine one overall winner for men and women. The conference awards honorable mention accolades to each nominee. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 overall grade point average, be in their second year of residence at the institution, and be a starter or important reserve on their team.
"These two student-athletes represent best the core mission of the MAAC to provide opportunities for young men and women to excel in the classroom and on the sport fields or arenas of the league," noted Rich Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC. "Both have had great individual success, but more importantly have helped their teams succeed in NCAA championships. I congratulate Mitch and Corielle and their families, teammates, coaches and schools on this award."
Goose, a graduate student from Norwich, England, is a three-time All-American (2011 cross country, 2012 indoor 3k second team, and 2012 5k second team). He helped the Gaels win the 2011 MAAC Men's Cross Country Championship with his third place finish. Goose also finished fifth in the 2011 NCAA Cross Country Northeast Regional as the Maroon and Gold took second place in the team finish, and then placed 40th in the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Championship with Iona taking ninth place in the event. He was named the Most Outstanding Male Track Performer at the 2012 MAAC Indoor Track and Field Championships after running the second fastest and second ever sub-four minute mile in Iona history with a time of 3:59.26 at the meet. Goose ran the third fastest 3k in school history with a 7:51.75 at the UW Husky Classic, qualifying him for the NCAA Championship, where he took 16th place with a time of 8:22.70. During the 2012 outdoor track season, he set another school record, this time in the 5k with a 13:34.41 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational and qualified for the NCAA Preliminaries. At the 2012 MAAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, he ran the eighth fastest 800m time in school history with a 1:50.71 and also finished first in the 4x800m relay. Goose ran a 14:17.74 at the NCAA East Preliminary 5k to qualify for the NCAA Championship final, where he placed 12th overall to earn Second Team All-America honors. A two-time member of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and a three-time selection to the MAAC All-Academic Team, he owns a 3.85 grade point average and is working on his master's degree in communication arts.
"We are extremely proud of Mitch and his accomplishments both in and out of the classroom," said Iona College Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall, Jr. "On behalf of Iona College, its administrators and coaches and the 400+ student-athletes, I salute Mitch and his achievements. It is another tremendous award for Coach Santos' cross country and track and field program."
"I am very happy for Mitch; he has worked extremely hard in both his academics and athletics, and his hard work has really paid off for him," said Iona College cross country/track and field head coach Ricardo Santos.
Yarde, a 5-foot-8-inch senior guard from Reading, Pa., helped lead the Red Foxes to four NCAA Championship appearances during her college career. Last season, she was named the 2011-12 Pepsi Max MAAC Player of the Year after being nationally ranked points per game, assists per game, blocked shots per game, field goal percentage, three-point field goals per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Yarde was also tabbed as the MAAC Women's Basketball Championship Most Valuable Player, and earned a spot on the First Team All-MAAC, All-Met Basketball Writers' Association and All-ECAC. She is the first player in program history to be ranked in the top 10 in points (1,470 - fourth), rebounds (688 - seventh) and assists (321 - seventh). She ranks in Marist's career top 10 in 10 categories, including field goals made, three-point field goals made, games played, blocks, three-point field goal percentage and free throws made. A 2011-12 CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District First Team selection and a three-time member of the MAAC All-Academic Team, Yarde earned her bachelor's degree in psychology/special education with a 3.48 GPA.
"This is a terrific honor to validate a hall of fame athletic career and is the true definition of the ‘final product' of what a Marist graduate should emulate," Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "Marist could not be more proud of Corielle and her accomplishments."
"The best word to describe Corielle would probably be perseverance," Marist women's basketball head coach Brian Giorgis said. "Her first year was very trying. But she worked very hard and, going into her senior year, the other players really looked up to her and she just put us on her back and helped us to a very rewarding season."
Honorable mentions were awarded to the following nominees: Canisius College - Drew Petit (baseball), Megan Oosting (women's lacrosse); Fairfield University - Joe Michalisin (men's tennis), Michelle Yoshida (women's swimming); Iona College - Heidi Gregson (women's cross country/track & field); Loyola University Maryland - Christopher Golon (men's rowing), Catriona Miller (women's rowing); Manhattan College - Roman Ewald (men's track & field), Lindsey Loutsenhizer (women's basketball); Marist College - Will Griffin (men's cross country/track & field); Niagara University - Carl Haworth (men's soccer), Hannah Hendrick (volleyball); Rider University - Michael Soroko (men's track & field), Abi Cottam (women's soccer); Saint Peter's College - T.J. Sumigray (men's golf), Shona Potrzuski (women's cross country/track & field); Siena College - Tom Morr (men's lacrosse); Shannon Jones (softball).
