Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that
Monica Feeley of Vassar College and
Edvinas Rupkus of Skidmore College have been named the recipients of the 2018-19 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 Monica Feeley and Edvinas Rupkus 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. Monica and Edvinas were both All-Americans and Academic All-Americans – 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, Feeley will also be the league’s nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Feeley led Vassar field hockey onto the national stage during the 2018 fall season. The Brewers won their first Liberty League title while also earning the program's first bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. Vassar climbed as high as fifth in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III poll. Feeley was named the program's first All-American, the North Atlantic Region Player of the Year and the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year.
Feeley anchored a defense that allowed just eight goals in 20 games. She recorded one goal and two assists while also registering a team-leading seven defensive saves. Feeley also ranked among the team leaders in minutes played.
A double major in biology and psychology, Feeley graduated from Vassar with a 3.83 grade point average. Academically, she won Vassar's Virginia Swinburne Brownell Prize for outstanding work and research in biology. She was inducted into Sigma Xi for her research achievement in a field of pure or applied science. Feeley earned several awards this spring, including CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team honors and Academic All-District. She was also awarded Vassar's Betty Richey Performer of the Year award in May.
Rupkus concluded his career as one of the most decorated men's basketball student-athletes in Liberty League history. This past season, he became Skidmore's all-time leading scorer, while also ranking first all-time in the Liberty League (founded in 1995-96). He finished his career with 2,128 points on an impressive 52.3 percent shooting from the field, 41.4 percent from 3-point range, and 83.2 percent from the free throw line. He is one of 11 active NCAA division III players to record 2,000 points and 600 rebounds. After 110 career games (second all-time), Rupkus is Skidmore's all-time leader in scoring, scoring average (19.3 ppg), and free throw percentage. He's third all-time in rebounds (701) and 3-point field goals made (186).
Rupkus has collected numerous honors in his career, including: Liberty League Player of the Year (2018 and 2019), 2019 NABC First Team All-American and East Region Player of the Year, 2018 NABC All-American (East Region First-Team selection, unanimous 2017, 2018, 2019), All-Liberty League First Team (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Liberty League Rookie of the Year (2016), and D3hoops.com 2019 East Region Player of the Year.
A double major in business and economics, Rupkus graduated with a 3.94 grade point average, which included four perfect 4.0 semesters. Rupkus is only the second three-time Academic All-America in any sport at Skidmore. He was a first team selection in 2017-18 and a second team member in 2016-17. He is the first Skidmore men's basketball player to earn the honor three times and the first to be selected to the first team twice.
Liberty League Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2018-19
Monica Feeley, Vassar College, Field Hockey
Edvinas Rupkus, Skidmore College, Men's Basketball
2017-18
Taryn Cordani, Ithaca College, Cross Country / Track & Field
Matthew Knigge, Vassar College, Men’s Vollebyall
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