The Princeton Athletics community gathered on May 19, 2022 to celebrate and honor the Princeton Athletics Class of 2022 as part of the Gary Walters '67 PVC Awards Banquet. Ford Family Director of Athletics, John Mack '00 led the celebration and spoke to the impact, perseverance and achievements of this year's graduating seniors.
PRINCETON ATHLETICS 2021-22 HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
CLASS OF 1916 CUP
Awarded annually to the Princeton varsity letterwinner who, continuing in competition, achieved at graduation the highest academic standing.
This year's finalists were Julia Campbell (men's heavyweight rowing), Jamie Kim (water polo), Jake Mayer (golf), Caroline Noonan (soccer) and Jack Roberts (soccer & golf).
CLASS OF 1916 CUP - RECIPIENT
JAKE MAYER '22 | MEN'S GOLF
Jake Mayer is an economics major and team captain for Princeton men’s golf, earning Academic All-Ivy honors this spring after being named a GCAA All-America Scholar in 2020. Mayer helped lead the Tigers to the 2019 Ivy League championship, and paced Princeton in scoring at the NCAA Athens Regional. He was named PING All-Northeast Region and awarded the program’s Martin P. "Buff" Wohlforth ’76 Memorial Award, presented to the individual who has contributed the most to the Princeton golf program, for that campaign.
Mayer served as co-president of the Student-Athlete Service Council (SASC) for the past two years, helping to organize a variety of on and off-campus service initiatives to connect varsity student-athletes with the Princeton community. He has also been an active volunteer coaching golf with the Special Olympics of New Jersey.
ART LANE '34 AWARD
Awarded to an undergraduate student-athlete(s) in recognition of his or her selfless contribution to sport and society. Given in memory of Art Lane '34 by family and friends.
This year's finalists were Elijah Barnes (basketball), Alex Charles (soccer), Ornella Ebongue (open rowing), Niko Gjaja (volleyball), Maddie Hamilton (softball), Grace Lanouette (track & field), Mary Murphy (lacrosse) and Elle Ruggiero (squash).
ART LANE '34 AWARD - RECIPIENTS
ORNELLA EBONGUE '22 | OPEN ROWING
Ornella Ebongue of the women's open rowing team has been instrumental in the implementation and success of Princeton Rowing’s STEM to Stern program, which provides local underserved middle school students access to the sport of rowing and STEM curriculum. Additionally, she has served her residential college community as a student assistant, helping to support and promote civic engagement opportunities. Ebongue participated in the PVC-sponsored Coach for College program in the summer of 2019, where she taught mathematics, life skills and sports to underprivileged youth in rural Vietnam.
After working as a lifeguard and realizing she was saving children of color at a disproportionately high rate, Ebongue took action, helping to implement swimming programs in the Greater Boston area that provides children of color ongoing access to free swimming lessons.
ELLE RUGGIERO '22 | WOMEN'S SQUASH
Elle Ruggiero, a captain and two-time All-American for Princeton women’s squash, helped lead the Tigers to a top-five national ranking in each of her three full seasons. A two-time College Squash Association Scholar-Athlete, Ruggiero has dedicated herself to service both on campus and abroad. She was a member of the First College Council, Athlete Ally and Student-Athlete Wellness Leaders. She has also volunteered as a tutor with the FUTURO Program, providing academic support and mentorship to first and second-generation high school students.
Ruggiero has interned with Child Family Health International, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the United States Agency for International Development. For her impactful work across these organizations, Ruggiero was awarded the Henry Richardson Labouisse ’26 Prize, which funds international civic service projects.
TIGER REFLECTIONS FROM THE CLASS OF 2022
CLASS OF 1967 PVC CITIZEN ATHLETE AWARD
Presented by the Princeton Varsity Club for contributions to sport and society.
RECIPIENT - SARI CHANG GUTHRIE '84 | TRACK & FIELD
Sari Chang Guthrie ’84 was a standout on the Princeton women’s track & field team, competing in the hurdles, high jump, long jump and pentathlon. She became the first Women’s Indoor Heps individual champion in Princeton history.
Following Princeton, she began her professional career in the entertainment industry as an actress and fashion model. She later earned a master of Architecture degree from Yale University and pursued her architectural career. Today, Sari is a registered Architect and principal at JACOBSCHANG Architecture where she focuses on projects that create environmental and social impact in communities.
Throughout her career she has also made a commitment to service, volunteering on numerous boards and councils that focus on community advocacy, the arts and children’s health, including Friends of the East River Esplanade, National Dance Institute and Make-A-Wish Metro NY, to name a few.
"Athletes are doers, and when you apply that passion for action to things you care about in your community, it translates to good citizenship." - Sari Chang Guthrie '84
MARVIN BRESSLER AWARD
Presented to that member of the Princeton family who, through heartfelt support of the University's student-athletes and coaches, best embodies a belief in the lifelong lessons taught by competition and athletics as a complement to the overall educational mission.
RECIPIENT - ALEC DUN *04
Alec Dun *04 serves as Associate Dean in Princeton University's Office of the Dean of the College. In his role, Dun provides guidance to students, faculty and other constituents on matters affecting the academic lives of undergraduates and helps to manage and balance the relationship between academic and athletic affairs.
In addition to being a resource for nearly 1,000 varsity student-athletes, Dun, a collegiate tennis and squash athlete himself, is a long-standing Athletic Fellow for the Princeton men's and women's tennis programs.
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS
CHRIS SAILER STUDENT-ATHLETE LEADERSHIP AWARD
In recognition of legendary head coach Chris Sailer and her retirement after 36 years of leading the Princeton women's lacrosse program, two Princeton Athletics alumni generously endowed a new Student-Athlete Leadership Award in her name.
The leadership award, which was announced as part of this year's event, will be presented annually as part of the PVC Award Banquet to Princeton student-athlete(s) who exemplify extraordinary leadership qualities both on and off the field.
PVC LETTER SWEATER ENDOWMENT
The Princeton Varsity Club is proud to announce the endowment of its Varsity Letter Sweater program thanks to an anonymous gift from two alumni of the Great Class of 1989. This newly endowed fund will allow the PVC to continue its longstanding tradition of distributing letter sweaters to graduating varsity student-athletes at the Gary Walters '67 PVC Awards Banquet.
In addition to supporting varsity letter sweaters, this gift will also fund honorary lifetime membership in the PVC for one or more young alumni serving their community with distinction. Natalie Tung '18 (squash), co-founder and Executive Director of HomeWorks in Trenton, was the inaugural recipient of this honorary PVC Lifetime Member recognition.
WILLIAM WINSTON ROPER TROPHY
Awarded annually to a Princeton senior man of high scholastic rank and outstanding qualities of sportsmanship and general proficiency in athletics. Presented by Mrs. William W. Roper and the Class of 1902.
This year's finalists were George Baughan (lacrosse), Youssef Ibrahim (squash), C.J. Licata (track & field), Kevin O'Toole (soccer) and Jeremiah Tyler (football).
WILLIAM WINSTON ROPER TROPHY - RECIPIENT
KEVIN O'TOOLE '22 | SOCCER
Kevin O’Toole made Princeton men’s soccer history, becoming the first Tiger to win multiple Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year awards over his career and leading Princeton to only the second perfect Ivy League season in program history. O’Toole scored seven goals and added nine assists to lead the Ivy League in scoring on his way to third-team All-American honors from both United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News.
A three-time first-team All-Ivy selection, O’Toole tallied 15 goals and 18 assists during his Princeton career, dishing out the fourth-most assists in program history and he will graduate as a two-time Ivy League champion. In January, O’Toole was drafted 34th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by NYCFC and has begun his professional career.
C. OTTO VON KIENBUSCH AWARD
Given annually to a Princeton senior woman of high scholastic rank who has demonstrated general proficiency in athletics and the qualities of a true sportswoman. Presented in memory of C. Otto von Kienbusch ’06, friend and benefactor of women’s athletics at Princeton.
This year's finalists were Maia Chamberlain (fencing), Abby Meyers (basketball), Lucy Rickerson (soccer) and Kyla Sears (lacrosse).
C. OTTO VON KIENBUSCH AWARD - RECIPIENT
KYLA SEARS '22 | LACROSSE
Kyla Sears has has rewritten the record books for Princeton women's lacrosse during the most successful offensive career in program history. The 2022 Ivy League Attacker of the Year, Sears ranks No. 1 all-time in points by a Tiger with 307, No. 1 in goals with 209, No. 1 in assists with 98 and No. 1 in free position goals with 75. An efficient performer, she has scored at least one goal in every career game played.
Credits:
Princeton Athletics, Sideline Photos, Shelley Szwast