Rutgers Athletics will honor six current student-athletes and three former Scarlet Knights who collected awards in 2016-17 during halftime of the Rutgers football game against Eastern Michigan on September 9 at High Point Solutions Stadium.
Recipients of the Werblin Award, Headley-Singer Award, Coursen Award and Rutgers Leadership Award are all listed below.
WERBLIN AWARD
Awarded to a male or female student-athlete who, either as an individual or member of a team, received national recognition or has won a national championship during the most recent academic year.
Anthony Ashnault, Wrestling
Ashnault became the first three-time All-American in program history when he secured sixth place at the 2017 NCAA Championships after advancing to the semifinals in St. Louis. He achieved the feat on the heels of his second consecutive Big Ten, 141-pound, title courtesy of a 15-2 major decision over Michigan State’s John Gasca. Ashnault finished the 2016-17 campaign with a team-leading 30 victories. His efforts helped Rutgers to a 12-5 dual record, as the Scarlet Knights finished No. 12 nationally in the dual rankings. In his first three seasons as a Scarlet Knight, the South Plainfield, N.J., native has accumulated 91 wins, including 53 in dual action.
Alyssa Black, Swimming & Diving
Possessing the top two marks in program history in both 1-meter and 3-meter diving, Black finished her career “On the Banks” as a two-time Honorable Mention All-American in the 3-meter event. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Black was one of five Scarlet Knights to compete at the 2017 NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, where she secured Honorable Mention All-America in the 3-meter dive with her 16th-place finish. Black was Rutgers Athletics’ nomination for 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year.
Jermaine Griffith, Men’s Track & Field
One of the top sprinters in men’s track and field history, Griffith finished as a First Team All-American in the 400m at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas. The Hamilton, New Jersey native also placed third in the 400m with a time of 46.15 at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 25, a personal best in the event.
Jules Heningburg, Men’s Lacrosse
A team captain, Heningburg was named an All-American by the USILA for his performance this season. The starting attackman, a 2016 First Team All-Big Ten selection, scored 20 goals and added a career-high 26 assists for 46 points, also collecting 20 ground balls. He had 10 multi-point games. The Maplewood, N.J., native was named a Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse and was a Big Ten Preseason Honoree.
Christopher Mirabelli, Men’s Track & Field
The reigning two-time Big Ten champion and USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Field Athlete of the Year secured First Team All-America status for the first time in his career when he finished eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The Lumberton, New Jersey, native defended his Big Ten title in the event with his throw of 75.17m (246′ 7″). The toss just missed the Big Ten record of 75.23m (246′ 10″) set by Ohio State’s Bill Stanley in 2013. Mirabelli also reset his school record in the javelin this season at the Penn Relays, when he added a toss of 76.67m (251′ 6″) to capture the Scarlet Knights’ first Penn Relay’s individual title since 2013.
Michael Rexrode, Men’s Lacrosse
A team captain, Rexrode had a stellar junior campaign on and off the field for RU. The defenseman was named a Third Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten selection and Second Team All-ECAC. He led the Big Ten with a career-high 23 caused turnovers and was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The Leesburg, Va., native holds a 3.75 GPA in Civil Engineering and earned a postgraduate scholarship from the Big Ten. He is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Ken Theobold, Wrestling
Theobold made an impact on the mat, in the classroom and in the community. Rutgers’ 2016-17 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient, he capped his collegiate career by earning All-America status at the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. A three-time SAAC member, he is an Embrace Kids Foundation liaison and Knights in Action Award Winner who compiled 185 community service hours while maintaining a 3.134 cumulative grade point average as a Labor Studies & Employment Relations major. The Toms River, New Jersey, native rattled off four wins at nationals this year, including a 9-3 upset of No. 2-seeded Anthony Collica of Oklahoma State, en route to a seventh-place finish. His performance gave Rutgers two All-Americans in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. A three-time NCAA Championships qualifier, Theobold finished his career with 88 victories, including 43 in dual action.
COURSEN TROPHY
Awarded annually to a member of the most recent graduating class (May, 2017) who, throughout his/her career at the University, demonstrated the following characteristics: has participated in the intercollegiate athletics program and proved himself to be an athlete of outstanding ability, and has shown determination, courage, modesty and self-discipline and who, with unselfish devotion to his teammates and generous fairness to his opponents, has represented Rutgers University to the highest of standards.
Thomas Carr, Men’s Track & Field
A 2015 Honorable Mention All-American in the javelin, Carr was one of the top scorers for the men’s track and field team in 2017 after sitting out the 2016 outdoor season while rehabbing from elbow surgery. This past spring, the Voorhees, New Jersey, native earned a bronze medal in the javelin at the Big Ten Championships and qualified for the NCAA Track and Field East Regional Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. Carr produced the third-best throw (70.88m, 232′ 6″) in the Big Ten and 15th-overall mark nationally in 2017, and finished second in four meets during the 2017 outdoor season.
HEADLEY-SINGER AWARD
Awarded annually to a member of the most recent graduating class (May, 2017) who, throughout his/her career at the University, demonstrated the following characteristics: has participated in the intercollegiate athletics program and proved herself to be an athlete of outstanding ability, and who has shown determination, courage, modesty, and self-discipline, and who, with unselfish devotion to her teammates and generous fairness to her opponents, has represented Rutgers University to the highest of standards.
Alyssa Black, Swimming & Diving
Possessing the top two marks in program history in both 1-meter and 3-meter diving, Black finished her career “On the Banks” as a two-time Honorable Mention All-American in the 3-meter event. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Black was one of five Scarlet Knights to compete at the 2017 NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, where she secured Honorable Mention All-America in the 3-meter dive with her 16th-place finish. Black was Rutgers Athletics’ nomination for 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S EXCELLENCE AWARD
Michael Rexrode, Men’s Lacrosse
A team captain, Rexrode had a stellar junior campaign on and off the field for RU. The defenseman was named a Third Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten selection and Second Team All-ECAC. He led the Big Ten with a career-high 23 caused turnovers and was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The Leesburg, Va. native holds a 3.75 GPA in Civil Engineering and earned a postgraduate scholarship from the Big Ten. He is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Christopher Mirabelli, Men’s Track & Field
The reigning two-time Big Ten champion and USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Field Athlete of the Year secured First Team All-America status for the first time in his career when he finished eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The Lumberton, New Jersey, native defended his Big Ten title in the event with his throw of 75.17m (246′ 7″). The toss just missed the Big Ten record of 75.23m (246′ 10″) set by Ohio State’s Bill Stanley in 2013. Mirabelli also reset his school record in the javelin this season at the Penn Relays, when he added a toss of 76.67m (251′ 6″) to capture the Scarlet Knights’ first Penn Relay’s individual title since 2013.
RUTGERS LEADERSHIP AWARD
Presented to a student-athlete who demonstrates excellent leadership qualities in their community, university and sport. Student-athletes receive points for academics, university, personal, athletics and community.
Emily Mills, Women’s Golf
A three-time team captain and one of the most accomplished players in the history of Rutgers women’s golf, Mills has made an impact on the course, in the classroom and in the community. A three-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association Division I All-America Scholar and 2016-17 Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar, she set a program-record with a 67 in the opening round of the 2016 Big Ten Championship. Mills has led the Scarlet Knights in stroke average every season. A Rutgers Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member, she received the 2017 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner and is a two-time Big Ten All-Academic selection. A Cell Biology and Neuroscience major, Mills is enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program.
Michael Rexrode, Men’s Lacrosse
A team captain, Rexrode had a stellar junior campaign on and off the field for RU. The defenseman was named a Third Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten selection and Second Team All-ECAC. He led the Big Ten with a career-high 23 caused turnovers and was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The Leesburg, Va. native holds a 3.75 GPA in Civil Engineering and earned a postgraduate scholarship from the Big Ten. He is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
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Press Release courtesy of Rutgers Athletics.
