Bryant Recognized For Pair of Honors By Rhode Island Sportswriters

WARWICK, RI -  Bryant University was well represented last Sunday evening at the Words Unlimited 59th annual awards dinner as the Bulldogs took home a pair of awards for athletic achievement during the 2003-04 academic year.   

Before a capacity ballroom crowd at the Radisson Hotel in Warwick, Bryant was recognized with the Rhode Island Small College Achievement Award, as well as Rhode Island Male Coach of the Year, which went to baseball coach Jon Sjogren '88. 

Bryant's varsity sports teams captured four Northeast-10 Conference championships and sent eight teams to NCAA Championships during the 2003-04 year.  Five student-athletes were named conference player of the year with four student-athletes earning freshman of the year honors.

 In addition two coaches earned coach of the year honors and most perhaps the most impressive statistic of all: 14 student-athletes were named all-America for their respective sport during the past season.  Truly an amazing number, but one that represents exactly what kind of year it was for Bulldog athletics.

"Last year was a special year for Bryant University," said Director of Athletics Dan Gavitt.  "When President Ron Machtley took over some nine years ago, the 2003-04 athletic season was a vision for what he saw for the athletics program at Bryant."

Gavitt had the honor of presenting Bryant's award to women's soccer coach Chris Flint, women's tennis coach Barbara Cilli, and field hockey coach Coni Fichera.  All three teams played a key role in Bryant capturing its first-ever Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup trophy as the top athletic program in the conference.

Sjogren, now in his 15th year as coach of the Bryant baseball team, was not present to receive his award as Male Coach of the Year,  The Bulldogs were in Florida opening the 2005 season against top-ranked Florida Southern.  However, the three seniors from last season: B.J. Gagnon, Mike Florest, and Steve Dube, were on hand to accept the award on behalf of Sjogren.

The Bulldogs also played a vital role in Bryant's overall success, setting a school record with 40 wins and capturing the school's first-ever NCAA Regional Championship and berth in the NCAA College World Series. The Bulldogs finished the season ranked sixth in the country.

Words Unlimited, Rhode Island's organization of sportswriters, sportscasters, and publicists, is one of the nation's oldest and most active athletic media groups.  The organization began in 1945 when 12 sports writers and sportscasters joined to honor those individuals who made extraordinary contributions to the state's sports scene.