NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University Athletic Department hosted its 20th Annual Senior Athlete Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, honoring the graduating Class of 2024 while recognizing several athletes for their strong academic, athletic, and Corps achievements throughout their collegiate careers.

Leocadia Clark (Stowe, Vt.) of the women's hockey and women's lacrosse teams and Benjamin Stark (Montverde, Fla.) of the men's swimming & diving team headlined the award winners, claiming the Coach Mariano Award, given annually to the most outstanding female and male senior athletes as voted on by the athletic staff.

Other major award winners included John Luchsinger (Durham, N.H.) of the baseball team and Melianne Reynolds (Sherbrooke, Quebec) of the women's hockey team, earning Male and Female Scholar Athlete of the Year honors.  Thomas Muraski (Keller, Texas) of the men's lacrosse team received the Garrity Award, Clark was tabbed the Looke Award winner, and Ally LaGue (Barre, Vt.) of the women's hockey program was recognized as the Crosby Courage Award recipient.

Clark marks the fifth straight season a women's hockey player has won the top female athlete award, joining Ann-Frederique Guay '23, Alexa Berg '22, Samantha Benoit '21, and Amanda Conway '20 as recent winners.

Clark earned New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Second Team honors after a historic campaign that saw her reach third place in program history in career wins (38) and second in career shutouts (19) while also becoming the third to reach the 1,000 career-save plateau.

In the last two seasons, Clark helped lead Norwich to the NEHC Tournament title (2023) and an NEHC regular season title (2024).  She ranks first all-time in program history in save percentage (.939) and was named the 2023 NEHC Tournament Most Valuable Player after allowing a single goal in the entire tournament.

In women's lacrosse, Clark, a three-year player, owns career marks of 61 points on 44 goals and 17 assists to go with 69 ground balls and 33 caused turnovers.  Entering Thursday night's GNAC Play-In Game, Clark sits in a three-way tie for second on the team in points with 46, having rattled off 33 goals.  She sits second on the team in draw controls with 70.

Stark ranks among the most accomplished swimmers in program history.  A member of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 GNAC Championship teams, Stark, across three seasons, has won 14 individual and/or relay championships at the GNAC title meet, while setting three GNAC individual and relay records in the process.

A seven-time GNAC Rookie of the Week honoree en route to earning Rookie of the Year recognition in 2022, Stark amassed 13 GNAC Athlete of the Week nods throughout his storied career.  He set 14 individual and relay school records and earned All-Conference recognition over three years.

Stark also qualified and scored at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Open Championships in 2023 and 2024, and was tabbed to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team both years, as well.

During the 2022-23 season, Stark, alongside teammate Martin Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.), became the first Norwich swimmers to ever participate in the CSCAA Collegiate Open Water National Championship at Florida International University.  Stark graduates owning three individual school records in the 200 butterfly, 200 IM, and 400 IM, while also being a part of five relay school records in the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 800 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay.

Muraski won the Garrity Award, given to the senior who has distinguished himself/herself athletically and academically and has displayed leadership in the Norwich University Corps of Cadets.

Branched in the United States Army, Muraski is a Cadet First Lieutenant and plans to be an infantry officer in the Army after graduation.  At the Joint Service Awards, Muraski also received The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the U.S. President's Medal, awarded to the commissioning fourth-year cadet leader and varsity letterwinner demonstrating stellar performance, leadership, and character through athletic and academic achievements.

Muraski is also a co-recipient of the Jack Burney Combat Arms Awards for the Outstanding Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery Commissionees, given to the graduating senior cadets who branched Infantry, Armor, and Field Artillery for displaying dedication, professionalism, and the warrior ethos.

Muraski has cemented himself in Norwich's record books over his four-year career, which includes two GNAC All-Conference nods.  Owning 16 goals and five goals, Muraski ranks first in program history in ground balls with 535 ground balls and faceoffs won with 897, having taken 1,491 in his career.

Clark also won the Roy Looke Award, which is given to the senior who has distinguished themselves athletically and academically and has displayed leadership as a civilian.

A senior psychology major, Clark carries a 3.67 cumulative GPA as a two-sport athlete who has excelled in women's hockey and women's lacrosse.

Baseball's John Luchsinger (Durham, N.H.) won the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a 3.93 cumulative GPA, while Melianne Reynolds (Sherbrooke, Quebec) won the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a 3.98 GPA.

LaGue of the women's hockey team became the eighth recipient of the Charles F. Crosby Courage Award, which was established in 2017 in honor of longtime Norwich athletics supporter and former member of the sports information department, Charlie Crosby '63.

The award was established to honor a graduating senior athlete or team manager who has overcome adversity during their time at Norwich.  Crosby fought leukemia for 15 years and was a full-time employee of the University during his entire battle with cancer.

Fifty-five student-athletes earned scholar-athlete honors for carrying a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher.

Baseball: Ethan Aube, Jon Bunker, Joe Grygent, Matt Ingraffia, John Luchsinger, Dayton Sofka
Women's Basketball: Silas Bernier
Men's Cross Country: Colby Makin, Nate Palter, Mark Sommer
Women's Cross Country: Emmerson Leach
Football: Justin Bryant, Garrett Field, Jehric Hackney, Declan Kapusta
Men's Golf: Jackson Clayton
Men's Hockey: Joe Nagle, Patrick O'Neal
Women's Hockey: Neris Archambault, Leocadia Clark, Aimee Headland, Ally LaGue, Melianne Reynolds
Men's Lacrosse: Coley Bagwell, James Magee, Mitchell McKay, Thomas Muraski, Tyler Seidel
Women's Lacrosse: Neris Archambault, Eleonore Burns, Leocadia Clark, Celine Juneau, Maeve Noble-Lowe
Men's Rugby: Kurt Sayers, Michel St. Juste
Women's Rugby: Jenifer Nicolas-Ramirez, Nicole Perault
Women's Soccer: Kayla Dawson, Leonora Everett, Celine Juneau
Softball: Liliana Rolfe, Julia Vawter
Men's Swimming & Diving: Aidan Danforth, Tobias Macedo, Benjamin Stark, Daniel Taylor, Logan Wineriter
Women's Swimming & Diving: Heather Ansley, Cassidy Chadock
Men's Tennis: Matthias Tchantouridze
Wrestling: Joshua Ducharme, Michael Milanoski, Michel St. Juste
Volleyball: Sam Lebruska, Leah Mathewson

Norwich Athletics thanks the Class of 2024 for the lasting legacies and memories they have provided for our University over the past four seasons and wishes them luck in their future endeavors.