As the 2008-09 academic year comes to a close, the St. Mary's College of Maryland Department of Athletics and Recreation handed out its annual end-of-the-year awards Tuesday afternoon. 

Emily Smithson (Richmond, Va./James River), Sarah Grady (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron), Bobby Wiley (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook), Lauren Carrier (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill), and Camontae Griffin (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) were all recognized for their efforts on the academic and athletic fronts.

Athletic Director's Award

Scott Devine, the Director of Athletics and Recreation, named senior Emily Smithson of the field hockey team the recipient of the 2008-09 Athletic Director's Award to after demonstrating unselfish dedication to Seahawk athletics on and off the field.  Smithson served as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board and helped to produce several well-received community outreach programs this year.

Devine on Smithson: "Over the last four years, Emily has been an outstanding representative of the high ideals we talk about with our student-athletes here at SMCM.  Her accomplishments in the classroom and her contributions to the academic side of the College have been consistently topnotch.  On the athletic side, Emily has achieved recognition at the conference, regional, and national levels.  But beyond the classroom and the field, Emily has contributed in the leadership and service areas in so many ways.  She has served as team captain, president of our Student-Athlete Advisory Board and vice-president of the Capital Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Council, as well as working on our Sports Information staff.  In all of these roles, she has performed at a level of excellence throughout the years.  So, in addition to all of her accolades and accomplishments, what makes Emily so special is that she has truly given back in very real ways to St. Mary's, to our student athletes, and to our athletic department."

Female Scholar-Athlete Of The Year

Senior Sarah Grady of the women's soccer squad earned 2008-09 St. Mary's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors after posting a 3.976 GPA as a biology major with a minor in neuroscience.  A four-year letter winner as a midfielder for the Seahawks, Grady was a Dean's list member every semester as well as a St. Mary's Scholar and Nitze Scholar.  She earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors in 2007 and 2008, along with earning a nod for the 2008 NSCAA/adidas® College Scholar All-East Region Third Team.  Grady is a member of several honor societies, including Chi Alpha Sigma (for student-athletes), Nu Rho Psi (neuroscience), Tri-Beta (biology), and Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership).  An all-conference selection, she finished her soccer career with nine goals and five assists for 23 points.

Brianne Weaver, head women's soccer coach, on Grady: "Sarah has consistently exceeded expectations throughout her academic and athletic careers at St. Mary's.  For the past two years, the team has named her the best all-around representative of what we strive for, both on the field and in the classroom, and I could not agree more.  She has a very bright future ahead of her."

Male Scholar-Athlete Of The Year

Senior swimmer Bobby Wiley is the recipient of this year's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award after posting a 3.735 GPA as an economics major with a minor in history.  A two-year member of Chi Alpha Sigma, Wiley was also named to the CAC All-Academic Team.  He earned all-conference honors in 2008 and 2009 as a member of the 800 free relay, which finished third both years at the CAC Championships.  Wiley will leave St. Mary's a school record holder in the 800 free relay.

Julio Zarate, assistant swim coach, on Wiley: "Bobby Wiley came to St. Mary's with very little swimming experience, but through his incredible dedication and positive attitude towards hard work he became a leader of the team and optimized what St. Mary's swimming is all about."

Female Athlete Of The Year

Senior Lauren Carrier, a two-sport standout at St. Mary's, took top honors as the 2008-09 Female Athlete of the Year.  Carrier was tabbed as both the 2008 Women's Soccer Player of the Year and the 2009 Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year by the conference coaches, becoming only the third player in conference history to accomplish such a feat during the same academic year. 

In women's soccer, Carrier helped the Seahawks to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament with her leadership on the forward line.  A two-time All-CAC First Team pick, she led the team in scoring this season with 13 goals and 29 points despite a season-ending knee injury.  Carrier was also named to the NSCAA/adidas® All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team. 

Weaver on Carrier: "Lauren's athletic accomplishments this year were simultaneously incredible and improbable.  She led the soccer team to its best performance in program history with her offensive prowess, only to have her career cut short by a season-ending knee injury.  What is even more impressive than her soccer performance is the fact that she not only recovered in record time for lacrosse, but that she had a career year in that sport as well.  Her accomplishments and determination are the stuff of legends."

Carrier then accomplished the improbable, recovering from her torn ACL in just four months to return for her senior lacrosse campaign a mere three days before the season-opener.  An All-American, she became the school's all-time leader in both goals (246) and points (311).  Carrier, a three-time all-region selection, set the school's single-season record for most points in a season last year with 105 points on 78 goals and 27 assists.

Kara Reber, head women's lacrosse coach, on Carrier: "Lauren's accomplishments this season in both soccer and lacrosse are a true testament to her hard work and dedication and an inspiration to all those around her."

Male Athlete Of The Year

For the third year in a row, a men's basketball player is the recipient of the Male Athlete of the Year Award as junior guard Camontae Griffin (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) was chosen by the athletic department staff.  Griffin helped the Seahawks to the program's first-ever conference regular-season championship as the team finished atop of the league standings with a 14-2 CAC mark.  He earned D3hoops.com All-Middle Atlantic Region Third Team and All-CAC First Team honors after leading the squad with a conference second-best 20.4 points per game.  Griffin was three times named the PrestoSports/Pride of Maryland Player of the Week and twice the CAC Player of the Week.  He tallied a career-high 31 points in a regular-season win over Marymount (Va.) on December 6.

Chris Harney, head men's basketball coach, on Griffin: "Camontae is the true definition of an indomitable spirit, and will to succeed.  He came to St. Mary's from inner city Baltimore and in one year has successfully adapted academically, socially, and athletically.  He has made St. Mary's his home and represented the school on the basketball court, putting all of our opponents on notice that they must stop him first in hopes of defeating us in competition.  And that did not happen very much at all, thanks in no small part to his hard work and effort."

Athletes of the Month

The athletic department would also like to recognize the six Seahawks who were named Athletes of the Month throughout the 2008-09 academic year.

2008-09 St. Mary's Athletes of the Month
September - Katie Ewing, volleyball
October - Becca Tursell, volleyball
November - Brie McDowell, swimming
December - Rachel Hotchko, swimming
January - Camontae Griffin, basketball
February - Brie McDowell, swimming
March - Brie McDowell, swimming
April - Lauren Carrier, lacrosse