Albany, NY---- The Sage Colleges’ department of athletics recently honored members of the varsity teams at the Athletic Awards Banquet. Senior golfer Dan Schulz (Broadalbin, NY/Broadlbin-Perth), a member of the golf team at Sage was named the recipient of the 2011-2012 Gator Award as team Most Valuable Player. In addition to his award, Schulz was also cited as the 2011-2012 Male Athlete of the Year. Junior outfielder and pitcher Rachel Smith (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane), a member of the softball team at Sage was named the recipient of the 2012 Gator of the Year Award as the team Most Valuable Player. In addition to her selection as the Gator Award winner in softball, Smith was also named Sage’s Female Athlete of the Year for her efforts during the 2011-2012 academic year.
Schulz helped lead the young Gator men’s golf program to the best finish in the young history of the program as they took home the runner-up title, garnered the Skyline Conference Sportsmanship Award, and Schulz was one of two Sage golfers to earn first team honors at the league’s championship event.
Not only was he recognized for his efforts on the course, but for his outstanding contributions in the classroom. He was named to Sage’s Athletic Honor Society at the banquet. In addition, Schulz was selected as a member of the 2011 Skyline Conference all Academic Honor Roll. The academic honor roll is comprised of all student-athletes, who have earned a 3.30 GPA or better in the fall semester. In addition, a Scholar-Athlete of the Year in each sport is awarded to the First Team All-Skyline Conference performer, who carries the highest Grade Point Average for the fall semester. Schulz distinguished himself as the 2011 Skyline Conference Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Schulz, who is a physical education major at Sage, attained a 3.947 gpa this past fall semester and in addition to earning acclaim from the Skyline Conference for his prowess in the classroom and on the course, was also named to Sage’s Scholar-Athlete First Team.
Smith penned her name to Sage softball single-season records for home runs (8), at-bats (141), and runs scored (41). She is also a record holder as this year’s team has played in more games than any other Sage squad with 41 appearances to her credit. For the year, Smith is batting .369 with 52 hits, including 12 doubles and 8 home runs. She has 35 RBIs with a. 638 slugging percentage. She has also turned a strong performance as a Sage pitcher. She is 11-8 with a 2.64 ERA in 98 innings of work with 72 strikeouts. She hit successfully in all but five games this season and had nine games with multiple RBIs, including a personal-best five RBIs in the Gators’ 16-2 win over Skidmore. She was named to the 2012 Skyline Conference All-Star First Team and is also a candidate for the ECAC All-Star Team.
Head coach Jamie Brown said of Smith, “Her amount of success this season was based upon her drive and work ethic.” Brown added, “She is hands down our MVP for her commitment to the team, on and off the field. We wouldn't have been as successful this season without her."
The Sage Colleges’ softball team is anxiously awaiting the announcement of the 2012 Eastern College Athletic Conference Metro Softball Tournament field on May 7. The Gators are currently 26-15 on the year after finishing the season as the Skyline Conference Runner-up and earning the No. 2 seed in the league’s tournament. Sage is among the teams in contention for the 2012 ECAC Division III Championship Tournament.