Conboy and Curran selected as 2016-17 Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that
Caroline Conboy of the William Smith College and
Kent Curran of Union College have been named the recipients of the 2016-17 Liberty League Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards.
Established following the 2012-13 academic year, the recipients of the Liberty League Scholar-Athlete are selected in a vote by the Liberty League member institutions. The 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.
“I am pleased to announce that Caroline Conboy and Kent Curran have been selected as the Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year,” said King. “The Scholar-Athlete awards represent the very best of the Liberty League and intercollegiate athletics – individuals who have achieved at elite levels academically and athletically while emerging as leaders on their campuses. Caroline and Kent rank among the best all time with their respective programs, so it is only fitting that we recognize the dedication and commitment that they have demonstrated to their academic and athletic pursuits over the past four years.”
By virtue of her selection as the Liberty League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year,
Conboy will also be the league’s nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
A swimmer at Willam Smith, Conboy graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she was a two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American and a 2017 third team CoSIDA Academic All-American. Conboy was a three-time Liberty League All-Academic Team pick and a three-time UNYSCSA All-Academic selection.
In the pool, Conboy finished 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke and 12th in the 200 breaststroke at the 2017 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, earning All-America honorable mention in both events. She successfully defended her titles in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the UNYSCSA Championships. Conboy was named the UNYSCSA Swimmer of the Meet and also received the UNYSCSA's Barbara Radef Award. At the Liberty League Championships, she earned her third consecutive championship in the 200 breaststroke while winning her second straight title in the 200 individual medley.
In 2016, Conboy was a first team All-American in the 100 breaststroke (8th place) and an honorable mention All-American in the 200 breaststroke (16th).
During her collegiate career, Conboy produced 35 record-breaking swims, graduating with the program standards in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke, and the 100 and 200 IM. Her name also appears on the school's record board for the 200 and 400 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Conboy won eight Liberty League Championships and four UNYSCSA Championships.
In the community, Conboy sought out volunteer and internship opportunities in special education classrooms at grade schools here in the Finger Lakes and in her hometown of Saratoga Springs. She has been a volunteer swim coach with the Geneva YMCA Special Olympics team and was active in the HWS College Experience Outreach Club, serving as that group's president in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Curran, an outfielder on the Union baseball team, was selected as a 2017 first team CoSIDA Academic All-American, the second Dutchman baseball player to earn such an honor. Union’s Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Curran graduated summa cum laude as a double major in biology and Spanish. He is a member of Union's eight-year Leadership in Medicine Program with Albany Medical College.
A 2017 D3baseball.com All-Region selection and a 2017 All-Liberty League First Team honoree, Curran led the Liberty League in slugging percentage (.694), doubles (17) and triples (5) and finished fourth in batting average (.403) and RBI (33). He produced a team-best nine multiple-RBI games and 16 multiple-hit games, also reaching base safely in 30 of 36 contests.
In 21 Liberty League games this season, Curran batted .403 with a .778 slugging percentage, 10 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 25 RBI. Curran was named All-Liberty League all four years of his career and was tabbed as a CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honoree three times.
On campus, Curran served as co-Leader of the Public Health Leadership Group at Union. A Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative, Curran was also a member of the Catholic Student Association as well as a Minerva Council member of the Wold House. He served as an assistant coach for the Western Wings Special Needs Softball Team in his native Minnesota.
Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2016-17
Caroline Conboy, William Smith College, Swimming & Diving
Kent Curran, Union College, Baseball
2015-16
Tara Lamberti, University of Rochester, Field Hockey
Jamie Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Men’s Golf
2014-15
Madeline Buckley, William Smith College, Soccer
John Coleman, Clarkson University, Basketball / Baseball
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