PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University Department of Athletics has announced the winners of its major awards for the 2021-22 academic year, honoring ten students for their accomplishments on the field, 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 ten winners represent the best of more than 700 students who were involved with Panthers' athletics as student-athletes or support staff members during the 2021-22 school year. The award winners, selected following a vote by the head coaches and department administrators, will be honored on campus in the fall.
 
"This past year has been filled with success and award recipients in every sport," said Director of Athletics Kim Bownes. "As we recognize our department award winners, I want to say how proud I am of these men and women for all they have done and continue to do to make our department and institution the great place that it is."
  Senior Jacob Rigoli (Essex, Vt.) was selected the Paul E. Arold Male Athlete of the Year after establishing himself as one of the best weight throwers in all of NCAA Division III. After not competing for 18 months, Rigoli earned All-America honors when he finished third in the weight throw at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships with a school-record toss of 19.28 meters, becoming the first All-American thrower in school history. Rigoli earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-East Region honors in the weight throw and USTFCCCA All-New England in the hammer throw and discus throw. The Little East Conference (LEC) champion in both weight throw and hammer throw and DIII New England champion in the weight throw, Rigoli set and reset school records in the weight throw, hammer throw and discus throw multiple times throughout the year.
 
From Head Track & Field Coach John Ostler: "Over the course of his season, Jacob set and reset the school record nearly every meet and amassed six victories, including LEC and New England Championships, in the weight throw. His crowning achievement came in March when he finished third in the nation. His best throw of 19.28 meters earned him All-American status and led the competition for the entire preliminaries and one round of the finals. Jacob also set school records in the hammer throw and discus throw during outdoor season. He's a tireless worker in the weight room and a student of the sport."
 
  Senior Kim Bowles (Wonalancet, N.H.) was voted the Janet Nell Female Athlete of the Year after leading the women's cross country team to its first-ever LEC Championship while personally capturing the individual title – also a first for the women's program. Crowned the LEC Runner of the Year and named to the All-LEC First Team, Bowles finished a program best 49th at NCAA Division III East Regionals. Her efforts helped the Panthers to a 14th place team finish, also a program record. Bowles was the top Plymouth State finisher in six of seven races, placing second in the other race, while finishing among the top 20% of the field in five races. A champion in the classroom as well as on the course, Bowles also became the first ever USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete across both the men's and women's programs.
 
From Head Cross Country Coach John Ostler: "After a slow start to her season, Kim stepped up when it mattered the most. Kim won the individual title at the LEC Cross Country Championships and helped secure the team win as well. Both victories were stunning upsets and firsts in PSU women's cross country history. For her efforts that day and all season she was voted LEC Runner of the Year and named to the All-LEC First Team. Two weeks later she followed up her victory at LECs with a program best 49th place finish at the NCAA Division III East Region Championships."
 
  Senior Ben Chipman (North Vancouver, British Columbia) was a two-year assistant captain as a defenseman on the three-time Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament Champion men's ice hockey team. A member of several campus organizations, Chipman was named to the MASCAC Sportsmanship Team and was named a Krampade/AHCA All-America Scholar.
 
From Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach Craig Russell: "Ben finished his undergraduate degree in Marketing with a concentration in Professional Sales with a perfect GPA and will be returning for his MBA next fall as our head captain. He was the top student in the Professional Sales major and belonged to various groups on campus, as well as serving many roles throughout the on and off-campus community. Ben is well-known around campus and is one of the most kind, polite, organized, helpful and compassionate individuals we've ever had as part of our program."
 
  Senior Terrell Lewis (New Boston, N.H.) claimed his third career All-America honor after finishing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May. He served as a mentor to teammates in and out of his event groups and willingly set aside personal ambitions to qualify for NCAAs in order to take on more events to help the men's track & field team score additional points at meets throughout the year.
 
Senior Mallory Lloyd (Hartland, Vt.) was a three-year captain and leaves the women's soccer program as one of the top offensive players in school history, despite a reduced COVID season in 2020 and having her final year cut short due to injury. She ended her career tied for fourth in goals (31), tied for seventh in assists (19) and fifth in points (81).
 
From Head Track & Field Coach John Ostler: "Terrell could have focused on himself. It would have been natural for him to strictly pursue his own lofty goals, but the reality was the exact opposite. As he's done for his entire decorated career, he served as a great mentor to younger teammates. He lobbied to be put into five or six events, thinking only of what was best for the team without considering the negative implications for his own qualifying. Terrell is an exemplar for hard work in practice, the weight room and in the training room – always encouraging his teammates to follow his lead. He is a genuinely nice person who stands up for what is right."
 
From Head Women's Soccer Coach Ryan Joy: "Mallory has been a captain for the last three years. She had a season ending injury in her final year of play and will still end up as the fourth leading scorer in program history. Her true leadership showed after sustaining an injury this season, when she still led her teammates off the field and showed up to every non-traditional season session despite not being able to play. She makes the new players coming in feel welcome, shows tremendous leadership and will be the first player since 2016 to come onto our coaching staff because of her character."
 
  Senior Manny Alisandro (Manchester, N.H.) was a key contributor and two-time captain of the men's basketball team, helping the Panthers to the semifinals of the LEC Tournament in back-to-back full seasons. He averaged 6.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting an even 50% from the floor this winter, and also dished out the third-most assists on the team.
 
Junior Julia Mahoney (Stratford, Conn.) earned All-LEC First Team honors after making an impact all over the field to help the women's lacrosse team to the championship game of the LEC Tournament for an eighth straight season. She ranked among the leaders in draw controls (76), draw controls per game (4.22), ground balls (37) and caused turnovers (10), while chipping in five goals and seven assists on the year.
 
From Head Men's Basketball Coach Andrew Novick: "During Manny's four years on the men's basketball team, he has excelled not only on the court but also in the classroom and community. He exemplifies leadership with his positive attitude and unwavering support of his teammates. As a captain, he demonstrated a willingness to set a great example and use his compassion to get others to live that same high standard. He earned strong grades and found time to work as a certified EMT while maintaining his other responsibilities, including becoming an influential member of campus as a strong voice for our student body."
 
From Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Sandy Bridgeman: "Julia has always demonstrated a high level of leadership and commitment to the lacrosse program and the Plymouth State community. She is confident, mature and has an innate ability to connect with those around her. She is selfless in her willingness to help others or support a teammate in need and is also our go-to person in hosting recruits, speaking to parents or serving as a role model to represent our program and the University. Her commitment to leadership and service goes beyond the classroom and lacrosse field, as she received an internship at Voices Against Violence in Plymouth where she will have an opportunity to impact and connect with people in need. She is a fantastic and humble athlete who is genuinely committed in her service to others, whether that is on the lacrosse field, her college campus, within the Plymouth community or back in her hometown."
 
  Senior Mariah Luscher (Holderness, N.H.) was a four-year member of the field hockey team with the flexibility to play multiple positions. During her senior season, Luscher helped lead a Plymouth State defense that allowed fewer than 2.25 goals per game. She was named the team's Panther Award winner in May.
 
From Head Field Hockey Coach Bonnie Lord: "Mariah epitomizes the student-athlete that Coach Dot envisioned as a leader and advocate for the growth of the game. Mariah presented herself as a dedicated, committed and team-oriented teammate. A strong competitor, Mariah led with strength, compassion and had the respect of her teammates and coaches. She was a popular coach as we worked with the local Thundercats youth field hockey program and was a leader for our adoptee Arielle and our mission for childhood cancer awareness. Coach Dot would be thrilled that Mariah will begin her coaching career as the assistant at Holderness in the fall."
 
  Freshman Jacob Gallaher (Gambrills, Md.) made an immediate impact on the men's cross country and track & field teams while sporting a perfect GPA in the classroom. The rookie earned All-LEC Second Team honors after placing 11th at the LEC Cross Country Championships and two weeks later took 58th at the NCAA Division III East Regional Championship. A five-time LEC Cross Country Rookie Runner of the Week, Gallaher also finished fourth in the 5000-meter run at the LEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May and sixth at the LEC Indoor Track & Field Championships in the same event in February.
 
From Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach John Ostler: "Jacob is a model student-athlete. Within weeks of having him on campus, I knew he was going to be supremely successful in our community. He possesses ample discipline, toughness and willingness to prepare. Jacob is off to a great start, but his best is still yet to come."
 
  Senior Stevie MacDonald (Malden, Mass.) served as a department intern and had a role in every on-campus event during the 2021-22 year. He filled multiple roles on the event staff, worked in the equipment room, served as a building supervisor and was a liaison with visiting teams, coaches and officials.
 
From Associate Director of Athletics Courtney O'Clair: "I don't think Stevie missed a single athletics event this year … he was outstanding. He was always eager to help in any way that he could. He would be the first one in and the last one to leave regularly. For every home event he would help with the setup, greet the visiting team and officials, help run the event, then break down and close the PE Center. Stevie was my right-hand person and I leaned on him heavily this year. It's going to be hard to find another intern as committed to PSU Athletics as Stevie."