Block H Awards Top Statesmen student-athletes honored at Block H

The Hobart College Athletic Department and the Statesmen Athletic Association honored the top student-athletes of the 2024-25 season at the Block H Awards Dinner this evening. Senior hockey forward Luke Aquaro was presented the Francis L. "Babe" Kraus '24 Memorial Award as the senior athlete of the year.

The William C. Stiles '43 Memorial Award for leadership, determination and character was given to senior football linebacker Jaimen Bliss and graduate student volleyball outside hitter Andrew Kim. The Mike and Mary Anne Hanna Award was presented to football senior offensive lineman Ethan Kowalski. The Thomas B. Poole '61 Award was presented to senior hockey defenseman Cooper Swift.

Francis L. "Babe" Kraus '24 Memorial Award

The Francis L. "Babe" Kraus '24 Memorial Award is presented to the Hobart senior whose sportsmanship, leadership, and scholarship during his undergraduate career warrant the title "Athlete of the Year."

Luke Aquaro '25

  • 3x National Champion
  • Captain
  • CCM/.AHCA All-America East 2nd Team
  • All-NEHC 1st Team
  • Played in all 31 games
  • 2024-25: 16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points
  • Had GWG in OT in NCAA quarterfinal against Trine
  • Career: 111 GP, 70 goals, 64 assists, 134 points
  • 3rd on Hobart's career goals list, 4th in points, 6th in assists
  • 2023 Sid Watson Award Runner-Up

William C. Stiles '43 Memorial Award

Presented to the senior whose leadership, determination, and character most reflect the traits and values of former Athletic Director Bill Stiles '43.

Jaimen Bliss '25

  • Captain
  • D3football.com All-American 3rd Team
  • Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year
  • Played in all 11 games
  • 104 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks
  • 7th on single-season list in tackles and tackles for loss
  • Made 10 or more tackles in five games
  • 15 tackles in NCAA game against Susquehanna
  • Career: 43 games, 267 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks
  • 8th on Hobart's career tackles list
  • 3x All-Liberty League selection

Andrew Kim

  • AVCA All-American 1st Team
  • AVCA Region III Player of the Year
  • 2025 366 kills, 183 digs, 43 aces and 38 blocks
  • 2nd in the nation in points per set (5.45), 3rd in kills per set (4.63)
  • At Hobart: 51 matches, 877 kills, 348 digs, 89 aces 63 blocks
  • 4x AVCA 1st Team All-American
  • 2023 AVCA National Player of the Year
  • NCAA Division III career kills record 1,828

Hanna Award for Excellence

This award is presented to a senior whose career as a Hobart student-athlete has been exceptional and marked by dedication to the community, exceptional academic achievement, trustworthy leadership and dependability as a teammate.

Ethan Kowalski '25

  • Captain
  • NFF Hampshire Honor Society
  • 2025 CSC Academic All-America 2nd Team
  • 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist
  • 1st team All-Liberty League
  • Started all 11 games
  • Led O-Line that was 13th in nation in tackles for loss allowed (3.55/g)
  • Team was 2nd in LL in rushing offense (159.8 yds/g)
  • Played in 38 career games

Thomas B. Poole '61 Award

The Thomas B. Poole ’61, P’91, L.H.D. ’06 Award is presented to a senior whose unwavering commitment and loyalty to his fellow teammates, program, and purpose is exceptional; whose humble yet steadfast character and leadership have been critical to the program's culture and success; who is a true color-bearer with unconditional love for Hobart Athletics and Hobart College, ensuring that the flag never touches the ground.

Cooper Swift '25

  • 3x National Champion
  • Captain
  • Played in 29 games
  • 2024-25: 17 assists, 17 points
  • NEHC All-Tournament Team
  • All-NEHC 3rd Team
  • Career: 102 games, 4 goals, 52 assists, 56 points
  • 2023 NCAA Elite 90 Award
  • 2x CSC Academic All-American
  • 3x AHCA All-American Scholar

William J. Napier '57 Memorial Award

The Napier Award recognizes the loyalty and service which the late Bill Napier rendered to his College. As one of Hobart's most loyal and generous sons, he fully recognized and appreciated the value and meaning of intercollegiate athletics in the educational experience of Hobart students.

Aidan Rodgers '25

  • Captain
  • Started 25 of 26 games
  • Averaged 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals
  • Led Statesmen in assists and steals
  • 26 points against Vassar
  • Started 105 career games
  • Recorded 1,072 points, 335 rebounds, 326 assists and 120 steals
  • 25th on Hobart's career list in points
  • 2021-22 Liberty League Rookie of the Year
  • 2x CSC Academic All-District

Coach Bill Maxwell Memorial Award

The Maxwell Award is presented periodically to a student, alumnus, friend, parent, staff, or faculty member whose contributions to Hobart College reflect the values of former Head Football Coach Bill Maxwell.

Jack McDonald '64

Dorinne Maxwell Memorial Citizenship Prize

The award is presented annually to a student, member of the staff or faculty, or to a friend of the Colleges whose service mirrors the ideals of Dorinne Maxwell and whose helping hand has enriched the lives of others. The recipient will select a charity to receive a monetary contribution in Dorinne Maxwell's memory.

Pam Slentz

The William "Myles" Silverman '20 Award

The William "Myles" Silverman '20 Award for Excellence is presented to a cross country, golf, tennis, sailing or squash student-athlete whose performance in his individual sport has been exceptional.

Daniel Barrientos '26

  • CSCAA All-American on the 3-meter board
  • 15th in the 11-dive 3-meter competition at NCAA Championships, posting 437.15, earning 2nd team All-American honors
  • 2nd on the 1-meter board at Liberty League Championships.
  • 3rd on 3-meter board at conference championships
  • 4th on the 1-meter board at Northeast Regional
  • 5th on the 3-meter board
  • 2x Most Valuable Swimming & Diving Award recipient

Abe Solomon Memorial Award

The Abe Solomon Memorial Award is presented to the Hobart athlete competing in his first season of varsity intercollegiate athletics and whose performance and contributions to his team warrant the recognition of "Rookie of the Year."

Will Patton '28

  • 3x USCSA All-American (skier cross, giant slalom and slalom)
  • 5th in skier cross at USCSA National Championship
  • 6th out of 143 in giant slalom
  • 4th out of 142 in slalom
  • USCSA Mideast Conference Male Fastest Race award winner
  • Mideast Region 1st team All-Conference
  • Was 1st in the slalom at Mideast Region Championship

Joseph N. Abraham Memorial Athletic Training Award

This award is presented annually to the student-athlete who has participated throughout the season and has had to persevere through injury.

Matthew Iasenza '25

  • 3x National Champion
  • 2025 NCAA All-Tournament team
  • 2024-25: 30 games, 8 goals, 4 assists 12 points
  • GWG in national semifinals
  • Career: 91 games, 20 goals, 26 assists, 46 points
  • Empty-net goal in 2024 national championship game
  • 2x NEHC All-Academic

Joe Abraham Prize

The Joe Abraham Memorial Prize, first presented in 1996, has been established and endowed through the generous loyalty of Edward A. Froelich '55 in appreciation of the valuable lessons for life taught to so many by long-time trainer. The prize is presented to a student in recognition for his or her outstanding service to the athletics programs of Hobart and William Smtih.

Andres Duran '25

  • Student Athletic Trainer
  • Also Plays for the Hobart football team
  • Career: 36 games, 453 yards, 5 touchdowns

RFK Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award

The RFK Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award is presented annually to the student-athlete who has demonstrated unrelenting dedication to the strength and conditioning training process.

Jaimen Bliss '25

2024-25 College All-American Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year

The Joe Arnitz '66 Memorial Sportsmanship Award

The award honors the sportsmanship, teamwork and loyalty that marked the Hobart career of Joe Arnitz, co-captain of the 1965 Hobart football team and a lifelong secondary school teacher and coach.

L to R: Kahlil Fontana '26 - Hobart Hockey, Billy Gantcher '27 - Hobart Squash
Left to Right: Quinn Phillips '26 - Hobart Soccer, Hyat Oyer '25 - Hobart Tennis, Cashon Young '25 - Hobart Football

The Arnold Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award

This award recognizes the true spirit of the Statesman student-athlete by honoring Hobart men in their sophomore and junior years for their contributions to the community, for a high level of academic achievement and for selfless dedication as a member of a Hobart varsity team.

Sophomores

  • Henry Breslin, Sailing
  • Chas Doerflinger, Skiing
  • Zack Farren, Volleyball
  • Conor Lally, Hockey
  • Ben Pausman, Soccer
  • Rupert Ramsay, Swimming
  • E.J. Taylor, Football
  • Mike Valent, Lacrosse

Juniors

  • Ignat Belov, Hockey
  • Thomas Chyzowych, Soccer
  • Cooper Delbridge, Sailing
  • Connor Gasper, Cross Country
  • Tarang Malhotra, Tennis
  • Mike McGhee, Football
  • Christian Petry, Baseball
  • Max Snellenburg, Lacrosse
  • Charles Watroba, Rowing

Team Awards

Alpine Skiing

  • Most Valuable Alpine Skier: Will Patton
  • Alpine Ski Coach's Award: Reed Bluestein
  • Alpine Ski Coach's Award: Ryan Pero
  • Rookie Award: Will Patton

Baseball

The baseball team awards will be announced at the conclusion of the season.

Basketball

  • Bob Ford '54 Basketball Award: Hunter Meshanic
  • Statesmen Basketball Award: Carter Meshanic
  • Kent Butler '54 Basketball Award: Gabriel Bergeron
  • Rookie Award: Monty Nedd

Cross Country

  • Charles P. McCoy '68 Award: Duncan Kipkoech
  • Coach Ron Fleury Award: Connor Gasper
  • Dr. Augustus H. "Gus" Hillman '26 Memorial Award: Sean Moran
  • John L. Brown '32 Award: William Green
  • Rookie Award: Duncan Kipkoech

Football

  • Bill Middleton Memorial Football Award: Johnny Colombi
  • Bob Toner Defensive MVP Award: Jaimen Bliss
  • Michael Theodore Silver '39 Memorial Award: Mike McGhee
  • Mike Roberti '90 Memorial Award: Chris Ntumba
  • Robert L. Cullen '37 Memorial Football Award: Tobias Wefering
  • Harter Family Award: Anthony Romano
  • Tryon Memorial Football Award: Ethan Kowalski
  • Shirley A. Zornow '47 Memorial Award: Vincent Giordano
  • The Page G. Gibbons '26 Memorial Award: Cashon Young
  • Rookie Award: Johnny Harding

Golf

  • Van Etten Memorial Golf Award: Jake Romney
  • A.H. Beretta Memorial Award: Gavin Poyer
  • O'Connor Golf Award: Casey Graham
  • Rookie Award: Robby Kurzer

Hockey

  • Boswell Award: Tanner Daniels
  • Holden Award: Cooper Swift
  • Holden Award: Luke Aquaro
  • D. Michael Hazelton '85 Memorial Award: Mavrick Goyer
  • Rookie Award: Calum Chau

Lacrosse

  • Crook Family Award: Cole Emmanuel
  • Crook Family Award: Mike Valent
  • Crook Family Award: Seamus Schofield
  • Crook Family Award: Griffin Strange
  • Van Arsdale Award: Nolan Firth
  • C.R.A.G Outstanding Defensive Player Award: Julian Race
  • Lt. John Vandeverg Memorial Award: Connor DiTomasso
  • Kent W. Marbury '62 Memorial Award:  Alex Rosa
  • William H. Dobbin '40 Memorial Award: David Peterkin
  • Rookie Award: Daniel Cano

Rowing

  • Weiskittel Rowing Award: Aiden Vanek
  • Charles "Chip" Hart '90 Award: Colin Mester
  • Kent D. Smack '97 Award: James Feeley IV
  • Rookie Award: Lex Lauer

Sailing

  • Trevor Oakley Moore '07 Memorial Award: Juan Carlos LaCerda Jones
  • Class of 1994 Award: Nico Garcia Castrillon
  • Storck Family Sailing Award: Sam Carson
  • Rookie Award: James Kopack

Soccer

  • Stephen R. Murphy '77 Memorial Award: Brian Sheehan
  • Geoffrey S. Perselay '75 Award: Pierson Rubincam
  • Ray Demuth Memorial Award: Brendan Haggerty
  • Rookie Award: Brady Leitner

Squash

  • Dr. Frank P. Smith '36 Memorial Award: Roberto Vega
  • R. Chapin Siebert '75 Memorial Squash Trophy Award: Toby Clegg-Petri
  • Most Improved Player Award:  Mason Graham
  • Rookie Award: Toby Clegg-Petri

Swimming & Diving

  • Most Valuable Swimming & Diving: Daniel Barrientos
  • Swimming & Diving Coach's Award: Rupert Ramsay
  • Rookie Award: Gerard Humiston

Tennis

  • Myron V. Jacobs '37 Memorial Award: Hyat Oyer
  • William A. Walley '61 Tennis Award: Nick Grosso
  • Most Improved Player Award: Rahul Vallabhajosula.
  • Rookie Award: Marco Olmos

Volleyball

  • Most Valuable Volleyball Player: Andrew Kim
  • Volleyball Coach's Award: Aiden Kemora
  • Rookie Award: Alain Malcolm