William Smith College senior Olivia Zitoli, the Division III National Player of the Year, and Hobart College senior Richie Bonney, an NABC All-American and Capital One Academic All-American of the Year, were selected as Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year for 2013-14.
Oliva Zitoli, Richie Bonney named 2013-14 Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that
Olivia Zitoli of William Smith College and
Richie Bonney of Hobart College have been selected as the recipients of the Liberty League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards.
Selected in a vote of the Liberty League member institutions, the Liberty League Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards are presented to graduating student-athletes – one female and one male – who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics and service/leadership throughout their time as student-athletes.
“Olivia Zitoli and Richie Bonney represent the very best of intercollegiate athletics and I am pleased to announce their selection as Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year, ” said King. “Not only have Olivia and Richie excelled in their respective sports, they have achieved at the highest levels academically while also emerging as leaders on their campuses. It is only fitting that we recognize the dedication and commitment that they have demonstrated to their academic and athletic pursuits during the past four years.”
By virtue of her selection as the Liberty League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Zitoli will also be the league’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Zitoli, a senior defender on the Heron soccer team, became just the second William Smith College student-athlete to be named the Division III Women's Soccer National Player of the Year as selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Zitoli and the Herons won the NCAA Championship this season with one of the stingiest defenses in the NCAA records book. The first team All-American led a back line that recorded a school record 21 shutouts, one shy of the NCAA season record. William Smith (23-1) allowed six goals in its first eight matches this season, but did not allow an opponent to break the goal line in October, November or December, registering 16 consecutive shutouts, the third longest streak in NCAA history.
A starter in all 24 matches this year, Zitoli even contributed to the offense, scoring the game-winning goal against then No. 16 Skidmore.
In addition to earning All-America accolades, Zitoli was named the 2014 DIII Woman of the Year nominee for soccer by THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards presented by Honda. She earned NSCAA first team All-East, ECAC Upstate first team All-Star, Liberty League Player of the Year, and first team All-Liberty League. Zitoli was tabbed the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week four times and garnered All-Tournament honors after the Liberty League Championship and the NCAA Championship. Additionally, she was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the NCAA Championship.
During her four seasons on campus, William Smith went 75-7-8 (.878), program records for most wins, fewest losses, and highest winning percentage for a graduating class. Zitoli and her classmates have extended the Heron soccer team's reign over the Liberty League to seven consecutive regular season and tournament titles.
Zitoli helped the Herons advance to the national semifinals in 2010 and 2011. The four-year starter tallied three goals, all game winners, and an assist in 85 career matches.
Bonney concluded one of the finest seasons in Hobart basketball history by being selected as the recipient of the 2014 Jostens Trophy for NCAA Division III men's basketball. A national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men's and women's NCAA Division III basketball players of the year, the Jostens Trophy takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded NCAA Division III student-athlete. This year's class marks the 17th year the award has been presented.
Bonney led the Statesmen and ranked second in the Liberty League in scoring average at 20.4 points per game. His 591 total points this year are fifth on Hobart's single season list. The unanimous Liberty League Player of the Year scored a season-high 31 points at Clarkson and added 30 points in a 94-81 upset of No. 21 Scranton in the first round of the NCAA Championship.
An exceptional rebounder, Bonney corralled 318 boards (fifth on the single season list), for a league-high 11.0 rpg. Only two Statesmen have grabbed more rebounds in a season. The two-time first team All-Liberty League selection pulled down a career-high matching 19 rebounds at Hartwick.
Bonney's scoring and rebounding prowess resulted in 21 double-doubles this season, the second most in the nation. He also ranked in the top 20 in the nation in total field goals made (2nd, 234), total rebounds (10th), rebounding average (11th), total points (12th), and offensive rebounds per game (17th, 3.93).
The Hobart career record holder for points (1,738), field goals made (680), field goal percentage (.583), and games played (114), Bonney led the Statesmen to an 87-27 record (.763) over the past four seasons, including a 22-7 mark this season. He helped Hobart win four Liberty League regular season titles and the 2013 and 2014 Liberty League Tournament Championships. Bonney and the Statesmen captured the 2011 ECAC Upstate Tournament Championship and then made three consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, advancing to the second round in 2012 and 2014.
In the classroom, Bonney is just as impressive. The philosophy and public policy studies double major is a two-time Capital One first team Academic All-American and was voted the 2013-14 Academic All-America of the Year for Division III men's basketball. He is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic Team selection and has earned Dean's List honors six times. Bonney is a Druid, Hobart's senior class honor society, and was previously inducted into the Orange Key Society and the Chimera Society, Hobart's sophomore and junior class honor societies, respectively.
In the community, Bonney has served as a pre-orientation leader for groups of incoming first-year students during each of the past two summers, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity build sites in Geneva. He has helped with team basketball clinics in a local elementary school as well as an annual on campus basketball clinic for Ontario ARC.
Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2013-14
Olivia Zitoli, William Smith College, Soccer
Richie Bonney, Hobart College, Basketball
2012-13
Emily D'Addario, William Smith College, Cross Country
Adam Updegrove, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Soccer / Swimming & Diving