The Buffalo State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics held its annual Athletics Awards Banquet in conjunction with the Bengals Booster Club on Monday, April 29 at the Holiday Inn - Amherst.



The honored guests included the MVP's from Buffalo State's Athletics teams as well as several major and memorial award winners.



Basketball and volleyball player Monica Polka (Youngstown/Lewiston-Porter) earned the moniker of "Female Athlete of the Year." The two-sport star guided the Bengals' volleyball team to the SUNYAC semifinals and the school's best season since 1993. In the process she broke six individual school records and was named SUNYAC West Player of the Year. In the winter, she took to the hardwood and guided the Bengals to the SUNYAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Playoffs. She was again recognized by the SUNYAC on the league's first team and was honored as the MVP of the conference championship tournament.



Sprinter Markus Allen (Commack/St. John's the Baptist) and hockey player Todd Nowicki (Tonawanda/O'Hara) shared the honors of "Male Athlete of the Year." Allen led the Bengals to the team's highest finish ever in a major indoor track meet this past February with a third place finish at the SUNYAC Championships. Dating back to the outdoor season last spring, Allen has earned two SUNYAC and five New York State Championships, as well as set a school and New York State meet record. In addition, he was named Most Outstanding Performer in Running Events at the New York State Indoor Championships.



Nowicki, who earned a share of the "Male Athlete of the Year Award", also won the Hube Coyer Award, presented to a male athlete for accomplishments during his career at Buffalo State. This past season, Nowicki became the first Bengal hockey All-American and was also the first to be named SUNYAC Player of the Year. The forward finished his career as the Bengals all-time leading scorer with 116 career points and currently owns seven school records. Nowicki capped off his senior season by leading Buffalo State to its first-ever berth in the SUNYAC playoffs.



Basketball player Chrissy Milleville (Niagara Falls/Niagara-Wheatfield) received the Ruth Houston Award, recognizing her career accomplishments. The four-year starter finished her career as the Bengals fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,107 points and stands 10th with 473 rebounds. She was named SUNYAC Rookie of the Year for the 1998-99 season and finished her senior season as a Second Team All-Conference selection.



Milleville was also honored as the Female Scholar Athlete, an award that honors the senior-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. She holds a 3.57 GPA in dietetics and was a four-time SUNYAC scholar-athlete. The Male Scholar Athlete Award was presented to pole-vaulter Curtis Bachek (Bayport/Bayport-Blue Point). Bachek returned to the track team this season after undergoing brain surgery a year ago. The art education major holds a 3.91 GPA and is one of the best pole-vaulters in the SUNYAC.



Two memorial awards, the Daniel Walker Cross Country and the Robert Kissinger Swimming and Diving Awards, were also presented to student-athletes from the respective sports who exemplify an outstanding work ethic and commitment to the team and college. Colleen Scantlin (Scottsville/Wheatland-Chili) earned the Walker Award and Dan Hoefert (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda) claimed the Kissinger.



The final major award was the Golden Bengals Award, which recognizes the member of the college community who goes beyond his or her job description to assist the athletics department. This year's recipient was Associate Director for Admissions Sandy Swinford.



The following is a list of the 2001-02 Buffalo State Athletics teams Most Valuable Players:



Me(Youngstown/Lewistown-Porter)

Cheerleading - Danielle Link

Men's Cross Country - Tom Proctor (Niagara Falls/Niagara-Wheatfield) and

Jason Walsh (Hamburg/Frontier)

Women's Cross Country - Michelle Mackowiak (Eden/Eden)

Football (Offense) - Mike Stachewicz (Cheektowaga/Depew)

Football (Defense) - Erik Kraft (Bemus Point/Maple Grove)

Football (Special Teams) - Bo Sireika (Lackawanna/Lackawanna)

Men's Ice Hockey - Todd Nowicki (Tonawanda/O'Hara)

Women's Ice Hockey - Mary Keddie (Williamsville/Williamsville North)

Women's Lacrosse - Andrea Floriano (Tonawanda/Kenmore East)

Men's Soccer - Matt Romano (Eden/Eden)

Women's Soccer - Kim Nogle(Tonawanda/Tonawanda)

Softball - Tiffany Ciolek (Great Valley/Salamanca)

Men's Swimming and Diving - Matt Helming (Amherst/Sweet Home)

Women's Swimming and Diving - Leslie Seier (Palmyra/Palmyra-Macedon)

Women's Tennis - Melissa Kulju (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda)

Men's Indoor Track & Field - Markus Allen (Commack/St. John's the Baptist)

Women's Indoor Track & Field - Autumn Hensel (Akron/Akron)

Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Markus Allen (Commack/St. John's the Baptist)

Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Autumn Hensel (Akron/Akron)

Women's Volleyball - Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvale)



- BENGALS -