Drexel University Athletics
Bednarik and Senden Named Semanik Award Winners
5/29/2024 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Men's Rowing, Men's Golf, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Men's Tennis, Wrestling, Women's Basketball, Women's Rowing, Field Hockey, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Drexel Athletics, Men's Squash, Women's Squash, Android, Tickets, Spirit Team (Cheer), Spirit Team (Dance), Dragon Club, Dragon Origins, Dragon Dialogues, Compliance, Student Services, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
PHILADELPHIA – Drexel seniors Corinne Bednarik and Youri Senden have been named Drexel's 2024 Mary and John Semanik Award winners. The awards are given to Drexel's top female and male senior student-athletes who best exemplify the scholarship and athletic ideals of the former Directors of Athletics, Mr. and Mrs. Semanik. They were presented at the Best of the Blue and Gold Awards on Wednesday evening in the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
Bednarik was named a USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American and CAA Attacker of the Year for the second straight season, adding to her historic career as a Dragon. The attacker was also named IWLCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team, receiving Second Team recognition last season. The fifth-year ended her career with 99 points this season, which set the Drexel all-time single-season record. She also holds the single-game assists (8) and points (11) record after dominant performances this season. The Glenmoore, Pa. native was the team leader with 41 assists and tallied a CAA third-best 58 times, scoring a hat trick in 15 games this season. The captain tied the all-time DU record of 292 points in the NCAA first round vs #18 Princeton.
Senden capped an impressive career as a Dragon by being the first Dragon in the men's soccer program to earn the Coastal Athletic Association Defender of the Year award. The Voerendaal, Netherlands native also earned First Team All-CAA honors for the second straight year after playing all but three minutes this past season. Senden scored one goal and captained the backline across 1457 minutes and earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and All-America teams, along with the Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Star Team. To cap off his season, Senden was named the PhillySIDA Men's Soccer Performer of the Year.
Drexel's Male Team of the Year award went to the rowing team for their performance in the Dad Vail Regatta. The team captured the men's title for the third consecutive year and paired with the women's team to win the overall points championship. The Varsity 8+ race also went in favor of the Dragons, making them the first team in 23 years to win the race in three straight years.
The Female Team of the Year award went to the lacrosse team. The Dragons defeated #25 Penn State, 10-8, then defeated #16 Navy, 13-12. The Dragons then stamped their ticket to the fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Coaching Staff of the Year award was awarded to the women's lacrosse team. Katie O'Donnell and her staff led the Dragons to a 13-6 season, including a chance at the conference title and the program's fourth straight NCAA bid. The staff also had one IWLCA All-American, the CAA Goalkeeper of the Year, and the conference's Attacker of the Year.
The Victory of the Year award was the women's basketball. The team captured its third CAA title after defeating the top-ranked Stony Brook Seawolves, 68-60. The Dragons went 11-for-19 from behind the three-point line and held Stony Brook to just 31 percent and never conceded the lead in the game, pushing the Dragons' win streak to seven games.
The Male Performance of the Year went to Jakub Kwasny. The senior had a fantastic showing in the CAA Swimming & Diving championships, earning six medals. Kwasny earned gold in the 100 fly and 200 fly, silver in the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay, and won bronze in the 400 medley relay. In the 100 fly, Kwasny broke the program and CAA Championship records after touching the wall in 45.61.
The Female Performance of the Year went to Chelsea Gravereaux for her performance in the CAA Championships. After winning three gold medals in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free and winning bronze in the 200 free relay, Gravereaux was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Championships.
The Play of the Year went to Chloe Hodges from Women's Basketball. The senior scored a layup with three seconds remaining against Towson in the conference's semifinals to send the Dragons to the league's championship game against Stony Brook.
Calvin Hicks Spirit Award: John Little, Rowing
I Am A Dragon Award: Aldercy Bui, Women's Swimming & Diving
SAAC Service Award: Maggie Stillman, Spirit Team
Dragon Cup: Women's Soccer & Men's Swimming & Diving
BSAU Impact Award: Peaches Brown
Spirit Team Performers of the Year: Alexa Fretz (Cheer) / Eliza Covello (Dance)
National Strength and Conditioning Association All-Americans: Grace Abbonizio (Softball), Liam Kammar (Men's Lacrosse), Emma Goodrow (Women's Soccer), Sebastian Smith (Men's Swimming and Diving)
All-Dragon First Team
All-Dragon Second Team
All-Dragon Third Team
All-Mario (All-Rookie)
Bednarik was named a USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American and CAA Attacker of the Year for the second straight season, adding to her historic career as a Dragon. The attacker was also named IWLCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team, receiving Second Team recognition last season. The fifth-year ended her career with 99 points this season, which set the Drexel all-time single-season record. She also holds the single-game assists (8) and points (11) record after dominant performances this season. The Glenmoore, Pa. native was the team leader with 41 assists and tallied a CAA third-best 58 times, scoring a hat trick in 15 games this season. The captain tied the all-time DU record of 292 points in the NCAA first round vs #18 Princeton.
Senden capped an impressive career as a Dragon by being the first Dragon in the men's soccer program to earn the Coastal Athletic Association Defender of the Year award. The Voerendaal, Netherlands native also earned First Team All-CAA honors for the second straight year after playing all but three minutes this past season. Senden scored one goal and captained the backline across 1457 minutes and earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and All-America teams, along with the Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Star Team. To cap off his season, Senden was named the PhillySIDA Men's Soccer Performer of the Year.
Drexel's Male Team of the Year award went to the rowing team for their performance in the Dad Vail Regatta. The team captured the men's title for the third consecutive year and paired with the women's team to win the overall points championship. The Varsity 8+ race also went in favor of the Dragons, making them the first team in 23 years to win the race in three straight years.
The Female Team of the Year award went to the lacrosse team. The Dragons defeated #25 Penn State, 10-8, then defeated #16 Navy, 13-12. The Dragons then stamped their ticket to the fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Coaching Staff of the Year award was awarded to the women's lacrosse team. Katie O'Donnell and her staff led the Dragons to a 13-6 season, including a chance at the conference title and the program's fourth straight NCAA bid. The staff also had one IWLCA All-American, the CAA Goalkeeper of the Year, and the conference's Attacker of the Year.
The Victory of the Year award was the women's basketball. The team captured its third CAA title after defeating the top-ranked Stony Brook Seawolves, 68-60. The Dragons went 11-for-19 from behind the three-point line and held Stony Brook to just 31 percent and never conceded the lead in the game, pushing the Dragons' win streak to seven games.
The Male Performance of the Year went to Jakub Kwasny. The senior had a fantastic showing in the CAA Swimming & Diving championships, earning six medals. Kwasny earned gold in the 100 fly and 200 fly, silver in the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay, and won bronze in the 400 medley relay. In the 100 fly, Kwasny broke the program and CAA Championship records after touching the wall in 45.61.
The Female Performance of the Year went to Chelsea Gravereaux for her performance in the CAA Championships. After winning three gold medals in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free and winning bronze in the 200 free relay, Gravereaux was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Championships.
The Play of the Year went to Chloe Hodges from Women's Basketball. The senior scored a layup with three seconds remaining against Towson in the conference's semifinals to send the Dragons to the league's championship game against Stony Brook.
Calvin Hicks Spirit Award: John Little, Rowing
I Am A Dragon Award: Aldercy Bui, Women's Swimming & Diving
SAAC Service Award: Maggie Stillman, Spirit Team
Dragon Cup: Women's Soccer & Men's Swimming & Diving
BSAU Impact Award: Peaches Brown
Spirit Team Performers of the Year: Alexa Fretz (Cheer) / Eliza Covello (Dance)
National Strength and Conditioning Association All-Americans: Grace Abbonizio (Softball), Liam Kammar (Men's Lacrosse), Emma Goodrow (Women's Soccer), Sebastian Smith (Men's Swimming and Diving)
All-Dragon First Team
| Valentine Van Hellemont | Field Hockey |
| Eline Di Leva | Field Hockey |
| Youri Senden | Men's Soccer |
| Antonio Illuminato | Men's Soccer |
| Amari Williams | Men's Basketball |
| Corinne Bednarik | Women's Lacrosse |
| Jenika Cuocco | Women's Lacrosse |
| Belle McHugh | Women's Lacrosse |
| Gavin Kelly | Men's Lacrosse |
| Grace Abbonizio | Softball |
| Sebastian Smith | Men's Swimming and Diving |
| Jakub Kwasny | Men's Swimming and Diving |
| Chelsea Gravereaux | Women's Swimming and Diving |
| Margot Prow | Women's Squash |
| Men's V8+ | Men's Rowing |
| Lorie Lemongo | Women's Tennis |
| Amaris Baker | Women's Basketball |
All-Dragon Second Team
| Natali Foster | Field Hockey |
| Megan Hadfield | Field Hockey |
| Delaney Lappin | Women's Soccer |
| Annalena O'Reilly | Women's Soccer |
| Casey Touey | Women's Soccer |
| Allison Drake | Women's Lacrosse |
| Luke Tomak | Men's Lacrosse |
| Collin Gucwa | Men's Lacrosse |
| Drue Nicholas | Golf |
| Alan Jesudason | Men's Tennis |
| Alex De Sousa | Men's Tennis |
| Nico Serna | Men's Squash |
| Karina Tyma | Women's Squash |
| Renata Lombera | Women's Tennis |
| Federica Nocera | Women's Swimming & Diving |
| Griffin Mitchell | Golf |
All-Dragon Third Team
| Patrick Short | Men's Soccer |
| Lily Dunbar | Women's Soccer |
| Justin Moore | Men's Basketball |
| Lindsay Nelson | Softball |
| Hussein El Tawil | Men's Tennis |
| Cody Walsh | Wrestling |
| Dom Findora | Wrestling |
| Men's 3V8+ | Men's Rowing |
| Women's V8+ | Women's Rowing |
| Brooke Mullin | Women's Basketball |
| Kacper Karnik | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Elisa Rigazio | Women's Tennis |
| Maddie Ricardo | Women's Tennis |
| Camryn Ryan | Women's Lacrosse |
| Men's V4+ | Men's Rowing |
| Egor Kirakosov | Men's Tennis |
All-Mario (All-Rookie)
| Pien Elsen | Field Hockey |
| Julian Jordheim | Men's Soccer |
| Isaiah Whittaker-Francis | Men's Soccer |
| Bea Buckley | Women's Lacrosse |
| Ellie Wall | Women's Lacrosse |
| Pat Lyman | Men's Lacrosse |
| Youssef Bastawy | Men's Squash |
| Dimi Gkelis | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Will Burridge | Men's Tennis |
| John Hildebrandt | Wrestling |
| Laine McGurk | Women's Basketball |
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
G
/ Women's Basketball
/ Men's Squash
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
Back/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Tennis
/ Spirit Team (Dance)
G
/ Women's Lacrosse
/ Men's Tennis
F
/ Field Hockey
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Soccer
/ Men's Tennis
D/M
/ Field Hockey
149
/ Wrestling
F
/ Field Hockey
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
D
/ Women's Soccer
Fly/Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Field Hockey
133
/ Wrestling
F
/ Women's Basketball
M
/ Men's Soccer
/ Men's Tennis
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
Breast/Sprint Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
A/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Men's Tennis
Fly/Sprint Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
F
/ Women's Soccer
/ Women's Tennis
/ Men's Rowing
/ Women's Tennis
G
/ Women's Basketball
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
/ Men's Golf
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
P
/ Softball
/ Men's Golf
Back/Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
/ Women's Rowing
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
/ Women's Squash
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Men's Soccer
/ Men's Squash
M
/ Men's Soccer
Fly/Free/Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Spirit Team (Dance)
M/A
/ Men's Lacrosse
F
/ Women's Soccer
/ Women's Squash
F/M
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
165/174
/ Wrestling
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's BasketballCAA
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