Rider Athletes of the Year
Field Hockey's Egusquiza, XC/Track's Gonzalez
LAWRENCEVILLE-Virginia Egusquiza of the field hockey team and Chris Gonzalez of the cross country and track & field teams were named the Rider University Athletes of the Year for the 2010-11 academic school year.
Egusquiza, a junior from Getxo, Spain (ies Julio Caro Baroja), was the Northeast Conference Player of the Year, the NEC Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player and earned Regional All-America honors.
"Every time someone tells me something good about myself, it makes me feel successful on what I do," Egusquiza said, "because, usually, I work really hard on it. It makes me feel motivated and willing to improve. I think everyone can always work a little harder. This is why I got really excited and got a huge smile on my face when I heard about this award. I couldn't wait to call my Mom and tell her about it. She gets even more excited than I do. I think it is because, as she doesn't see me often, she loves to hear about me achieving my goals."
Gonzalez, a senior from Somerset, N.J. (Franklin Twp.), won the IC4A Cross Country Championship in the fall, was named MAAC Championships' Most Outstanding Performer in both the winter (Indoor) and the spring (Outdoor) and was an NCAA First Round Qualifier.
"It was a very exciting year competing and this award really is a great honor," said Gonzalez. "Things came a long way in my four years here, for me and the team and this is a nice final piece to it all means a lot to me. Big thanks to Coach Hamer, as he did a lot to elevate my level this year. My training took a huge boost, and that turned out to be a big key in finding my best success. He was a big part in getting me there. I'm very proud of my accomplishments and very grateful for this award."
Gonzalez finished a Rider-best third in the MAAC Cross Country Championships, won the MAAC 800 meters and set Rider records in the 800m and mile during the Indoor Track Season and won two MAAC gold medals (800m, 4 x 800m) and a silver (1500m) during the Outdoor Track Season, leading Rider to the conference championship.
"Chris has had such a great career at Rider and he had an outstanding year," said Rider cross country/track & field head coach Bob Hamer. "He was one of the main reasons we were able to win a championship. His ability to compete at the highest level when the team needed him was evident throughout this year. His accomplishments rank up there with the greatest track and field athletes of all time at Rider."
Egusquiza led Rider to the NEC Championship with the fourth most assists in Division I and ranked 13th in the nation in points per game. She scored in 17 of Rider's 20 games, leading the Broncs to a 16-4 record, 7-0 in the NEC.
"Virginia is so deserving of this honor," said Rider field hockey head coach Lori Hussong. "She is the ultimate competitor who always gives her best effort on the field as well as in the classroom. Her skill and knowledge of the game coupled with her undying desire for excellence makes her one of the greatest players ever to wear a Rider uniform. She is a pleasure to watch on the field as she has helped to raise the level of our play."
Egusquiza enters her final season at Rider as the career leader in assists and is already seventh in career scoring.
"Players like Virginia don't come along very often," said Hussong, now in her 12th season at Rider. "She is unselfish and always puts the team's needs before her own. Not only is she a great player, but most importantly she is an outstanding person off the field as well. She is someone who exhibits character, integrity and always represents our program in the highest way. This is a great accomplishment and a great reward for all of the hard work and dedication that she put into our program this year."
Gonzalez' time in the mile (4:00.84) was the 34th fastest in the NCAA in 2010-11. He set Rider records at three different courses (Van Cortlandt, Lehigh, Penn State) and qualified for the Indoor IC4As in five different events. His three teams placed first (Outdoor), second (Indoor by five points) and third (best-ever in MAAC Cross Country).
"I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to coach him for the past four years," Hamer said.
-ru-
