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NEWARK, NJ— NJIT Athletics recognized the contributions and accomplishments of over 325 student-athletes on its 19 varsity teams for 2014-15 season at the athletic awards banquet on Tuesday, May 5, on campus at the Campus Center Ballroom.

The athletic sports banquet and awards ceremony was a fun-filled night designed to honor all of the NJIT Highlander teams' for all of their hard work on and off the field during the 2014-15 athletic year.

Most Outstanding Player by sport awards along with Fans of the Year, Community Service, Highlander Academic and Senior Awards were given out over the course of the evening.  There was also a slideshow featuring the 2014-15 NJIT Highlander student-athletes in action.

The evening was capped with the announcements of the 2014-15 Male and Female Athletes of the Year, as well as the Male and Female Newcomers of the Year.

Sophomore basketball player Damon Lynn was honored as Male Athlete of the Year, while women's fencer Julia Garcia, was named Female Athlete of the Year.

Men's fencer Simon Rizell earned Male Newcomer of the Year and Garcia was also honored as Female Newcomer of the Year.

Male Athlete of the Year – Men's Basketball Damon Lynn
Record-setting sophomore Damon Lynn received Honorable mention on the Associated Press 2014-15 All-America team, becoming he third Highlander in the last four year to be recognized.
He was voted onto the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Associated Division I second-team and Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I all-star third team.

He is the first player in NJIT history to reach 1,000 career points as a sophomore (1,078), led the Highlanders in numerous statistical categories this season, including scoring (17.5ppg), 3-point field goals (126, school record and second highest total nationally in D1), assists (123 – NJIT Division I single season record) and steals (58).

Women's Athlete/Newcomer of the Year – Women's Fencer Julia Garcia
Garcia, from Madrid, Spain, won a silver medal in the women's epee competition at the 2015 NCAA Fencing Championships on March 22. 

She is the first female fencer to compete in the National Championship and becomes the newest NJIT All-American.   Garcia qualified and competed at the Junior World Championships in Uzbekistan on April 7 finishing 13^th out of 113 fencers from 49 countries. 

 

Men's Newcomer of the Year – Men's Fencing Simon Rizell
Rizell started the season by winning the Temple Open out of 83 competitors. He finished his freshmen season with a 34-5 overall mark on the foil strip and 45-7 overall. 

The freshman from Gothenburg, Sweden, started the season with a 22-bout win streak and captured the 2015 MACFA conference foil championship. He placed 4th at the NCAA Regional Championships and 18th at the National Championships.

Rizell participated in 4 world cups this season and also qualified for the 2015 European games, by placing in the top 4 at the qualifying event in Gothenburg, Sweden on December 20^th. 


Fans of the Year – Bob English and Billy McDermott
There are two men here that travel regularly throughout the tristate and northeast regions, in support of the Highlander athletic program. Whether its men's basketball at Providence, women's volleyball at Army or nearly every home event, there is not a team they have not supported over the years.

Community Service – Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track & Field Teams
Community service is a valuable part of the educational experience and Athletics comes close to volunteering 1500 hours annually. 

This year's effort is led by a team that put in over 400 hours of community service getting involved with: ASB Hands of a Woman Church Cleanup in conjunction with NJIT's Exclusive Alternative to Spring Break Program, Essex Park Cherry Blossom 10K Run, 24-hour Make-A-Wish-Foundation Jogathon, Newark Parks Snow Removal at Nate Turner Field in Jersey City and Jersey City Parks Annual Easter Egg Hunt.