PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University Department of Athletics has announced the winners of its major awards for the 2020-21 academic year, honoring 11 student-athletes for their accomplishments on the field of competition, in the classroom and within the greater Plymouth community.
 
The awards, presented annually, honor former coaches and educators who were pioneers in the development of physical education and athletics at Plymouth State. The 11 recipients represent the best of more than 700 students who were involved with PSU Athletics as a student-athlete or support staff member during the 2020-21 school year. The award winners, selected following a vote by the head coaches and department administrators, will be honored on campus in the fall.
 
"I am always so proud of the winners of the annual Athletics Department Awards," said Director of Athletics Kim Bownes. "Winning these awards is such an honor - not only because it means that you were the best of the best, but because these students' actions matched the lofty standards of the distinguished people the awards are named for."
 
"With all the uncertainty over the last year, these incredible student-athletes remained committed to fulfilling the mission of Plymouth State Athletics," added Associate Director of Athletics Courtney O'Clair. "They represent their teams, our department and Plymouth State University in the best possible ways. They define what it means to be a Panther."
 
   
Terrell Lewis, Men's Track & Field/Football

 
Senior Terrell Lewis (New Boston, N.H.) was selected the Paul E. Arold Male Athlete of the Year for the second straight year after capturing the second All-America honors of his career. The 6-3 hurdler took third place at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 110-meter Hurdles after setting and resetting the school record three different times. He entered the championships with the third-fastest seed time in the nation, also earning All-New England honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and placing second at the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NEICAAA) Outdoor Championships.
 
From Head Track & Field Coach John Ostler: "Terrell excelled on the track in limited action in 2021. As a two-sport athlete, he spent most of the spring balancing football practices with track practices and meets. Terrell's season took off just as the school year ended. He began his postseason with impressive performances, stepping up in weight class at Dartmouth College and NEICAAA Championships. Those solid races gave him confidence to achieve a massive personal best and storm into the NCAA Championship meet as the third-ranked hurdler in the country. He capped the spring with an All-American performance, matching his program record in the event finals."
 
   
Mathilde Nelles, Women's Skiing

 
Junior Mathilde Nelles (Malmedy, Belgium) made an immediate mark in her first year of competition on the collegiate ski scene. Her fifth-place finish in the giant slalom at the National Collegiate Ski Championships was the best for any skier (male or female) at NCAA Championships in school history, an accomplishment that netted her First Team All-American honors. Nelles was the team's top finisher in five of six carnival races, which included three top-two finishes, including a win in the slalom at the UNH Carnival. She finished no worse than seventh in every race (carnival and NCAAs) she completed.
 
From Head Ski Coach Trevor Hamilton: "Mathilde made PSU history by becoming the first NCAA All-American, First Team no less, at the NCAA Skiing Championships. In addition to winning the UNH Carnival and several regional FIS competitions, she also represented PSU at the US Alpine Championships at Aspen. Mathilde single-handedly brought the women's team to new levels in many aspects and was equally impressive in the classroom maintaining a perfect GPA with English as her second language."
 
   
Sarah Jackes, Women's Lacrosse / Erik Armskog, Men's Soccer

 
Graduate student Sarah Jackes (Londonderry, N.H.) was a five-year starter and two-time captain on the women's lacrosse team, anchoring a defense that reached the Little East Conference (LEC) Tournament Championship game for a seventh straight year.
 
Senior Erik Armskog (Gothenburg, Sweden) controlled the midfield for the men's soccer team, filling a starting role all four years while serving as a two-year captain.
 
From Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sandy Bridgeman: "Sarah excels both on and off the field and is an incredible representative of the Plymouth State women's lacrosse program. She has been a four-year starter (five, if you include the shortened 2020 season) and team captain and maintained a perfect GPA throughout her academic career – both undergraduate and graduate. This year Sarah was also employed as a full-time fifth grade teacher at the Southwick School in Tilton and coaches a youth lacrosse team in her spare time."
 
From Head Men's Soccer Coach Rob Wright: "Erik leaves the men's soccer program as a four-year starter, two-year captain and top academic performer of our graduating class with a near-perfect GPA. As a scholar, he was able to maintain his exceptionally high standards even while taking additional online studies through Harvard University in addition to his studies at PSU – all with English as his second language. As a citizen of the community, Erik was a key member of the PSU Competitive Sales team, co-founder and president of the PSU International Business Club and was a marketing assistant for the office of the president, working in public relations, integrated marketing, social media marketing, internal communications and event planning. Finally, Erik also assisted admissions as an International Outreach Specialist. His motivation, drive and dedication to representing both himself and PSU in the best possible light is second to none."
 
   
Matt Tosone, Football / Maggie McCarthy, Women's Tennis

 
Senior Matt Tosone (Walpole, Mass.), a defensive back for the Panthers' football program, was involved in multiple community service programs in addition to leading by example in his work and preparation on the football field.
 
Senior Maggie McCarthy (Marion, Mass.), a two-time captain of the women's tennis team, earned All-LEC First Team honors in both singles and doubles play after leading the Panthers to the finals of the LEC Tournament for the second time in three years.
 
From Head Football Coach Paul Castonia: "Matt has been an excellent student during his career, graduating magna cum laude. He was involved in numerous community service projects during his time as a student and student teacher this past semester. He is one of the grittiest and toughest players we have had, overcoming injury and health difficulties to continue his career. He is a tireless worker who gained more than 30 pounds through his efforts in the weight room and led by example and verbally. He played numerous positions in the defensive backfield and on special teams, always doing anything that was asked of him to help the team. We have had few, if any, players who maximized their ability to the extent Matt did."
 
From Head Women's Tennis Coach Barbara Rawlsky-Willett: "Maggie has been a leader for the women's tennis team for two years now, this year under difficult conditions. She leads academically, graduating cum laude and receiving the ITA Student-Athlete Award and LEC Fall All-Academic honors. She leads on the court by playing in the number one singles and doubles positions, making All-LEC in both. She always does her best and does it with exemplary sportswomanship. Off the court she works for admissions and has been instrumental in helping recruited student-athletes commit to PSU. She was also the team's Panther Award winner this year."
 
   
Linus Lindeberg, Men's Soccer / Alexa Price, Women's Volleyball

 
Senior Linus Lindeberg (Stockholm, Sweden) was a two-year captain and four-year starting goalkeeper for the men's soccer program, maintaining extremely high academic standards while serving the PSU community through his roles with various campus organizations.
 
Junior Alexa Price (Moultonborough, N.H.) finished her third season as the setter of the women's volleyball team while also serving her fellow students as a tutor in multiple science and lab courses.
 
From Head Soccer Coach Rob Wright: "Linus has been a truly outstanding member of the men's soccer program. He personifies the finest qualities that Brad Wilby brought to our program nearly two decades ago. On the field, he was crucial in steering a very young group through this difficult past year. Off the field he maintained the highest of academic standards and provided service to the community as a key member of the hockey event staff, being a co-founder and president of the International Business Club and working as an International Outreach Specialist for the admissions office. Finally he showed incredible selflessness and strength of character this year on several occasions, putting the needs of his teammates ahead of his own, most notably to make sure that several of them would be able to play in our spring exhibition games at his own expense."
 
From Head Women's Volleyball Coach Joan Forge: "Alexa has a near-perfect GPA as a Biochemistry major and was voted on by her teammates to be the captain of the volleyball team. Her leadership skills, work ethic and healthy lifestyle is exemplary. She will reach the milestone of 2,000 career assists this fall, which is a feat only a few players have achieved over the program's 25-year history. Off the court, Alexa is a tutor in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physics and works as a Teaching Assistant in the General Chemistry labs. She also observes students doing lab work and helps by answering questions. Alexa is an 'environmental advocate' and loves to help people consider ways to be more eco-friendly, as well as being vocal about advocating for marginalized groups."
 
   
Jess Distler, Field Hockey

 
Senior Jess Distler (Brookfield, N.H.) was the starting goalkeeper for the field hockey team each of the last three years. A strong role model and leader for younger teammates, even during times of adversity, she posted a career GAA of less than 2.00 in over 2,000 minutes.
 
From Head Field Hockey Coach Bonnie Lord: "Jess is the true definition of what Dot Diehl would love in a student-athlete. She never missed a beat in this pandemic season. Despite going in and out of quarantine she stayed in constant communication with our two first-year goalies, supporting, encouraging and designing drills for them. Jess has been the starting goalie for the past three years and has worked hard at it every day. Most of all, she was a great role model with her always positive attitude, never-ending work ethic and assistance and support of every player on the field. She improved every single season and while we will never know how she might have added to her accolades in a 'normal' 2020 year, I am willing to wager that it would have been grit, determination and love of team."
 
   
Dawson Hill, Men's Skiing

 
Freshman Dawson Hill (Calgary, Alberta) posted top-ten finishes in three of his six carnival races, including a sixth place showing in the slalom at the UNH Carnival. The rookie qualified for the National Collegiate Ski Championships, where he finished 23rd in the slalom and 27th in the giant slalom against the best ski racers in all three collegiate divisions. He was equally impressive in the classroom, finishing his first year with better than a 3.90 GPA.
 
From Head Ski Coach Trevor Hamilton: "Dawson had a fantastic first season on the hill. A consistent carnival skier as a freshman, he qualified for NCAA Championships and had the third-fastest time in the second run of the slalom at NCAAs."
 
   
Jacob Scheinman, Athletics Communications/Events

 
Graduate student Jacob Scheinman (Plymouth, N.H.) was a key component of the Athletics Communications staff when the Panthers began intercollegiate competition in January. His flexibility and attention to detail was imperative as the department attempted to compress a full year of athletics competition into the spring semester.
 
From Assistant Director of Communications for Athletics Chris Kilmer: "Jacob was invaluable to our staff in a year where we were severely limited in our ability to hire student workers. He learned and mastered all of our stat-keeping programs to cover nearly every home sporting event we had starting in January. He provided in-game statistics for men's & women's ice hockey, men's & women's lacrosse, baseball, softball, field hockey, women's soccer and volleyball, while also working in the office regularly to prepare PA scripts, organize home and visiting team rosters and cumulative statistics for every sport that partook in intercollegiate competition. There is no way our office would have survived the spring semester without Jacob's contributions."