NEW YORK, N.Y. – Simmons College fall athletes, first years Emmee Ashby (Payson, Ariz.), Julie Saltamartini (East Hampstead, N.H.) and Samantha Rondeau (Franklin, Mass.) were all honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference at the Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival in New York, N.Y. on December 14.
The ECAC honored the extraordinary achievements of its student-athletes, coaches, and administrators from the fall season. The ECAC held on-court presentations during halftime of each game of the basketball doubleheader.
During halftime of the first game between Manhattan College and Rutgers University, the ECAC recognized 50 of its Corvias ECAC Players of the Week/Month from the fall semester. The student-athletes, representing 28 different ECAC institutions, joined ECAC President and CEO, Dr. Kevin T. McGinniss, at center court of the “World’s Most Famous Arena” for an on-court presentation.
“To be able to recognize such deserving student-athletes, coaches, and administrators at a venue like Madison Square Garden, “ The World’s Most Famous Arena”, was truly an honor for the ECAC,” said McGinniss. “It was a special atmosphere to be a part of and I couldn’t be more thankful for the cooperation of the four participating ECAC institutions and the entire staff at MSG.”
Saltamartini and Rondeau were a part of the Sharks' NCAA Tournament qualifying field hockey team in 2014. Simmons advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning its first-ever Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship. Saltamartini and Rondeau were each named the ECAC Rookie of the Week once during the season with Saltamartini being honored for the week of September 29 to October 5 and Rondeau being recognized for October 13-19. Saltamartini was named the GNAC Rookie of the Year and also earned First Team All-GNAC honors, while Rondeau tied for the team lead with seven assists and ranked third with 21 points.
Ashby was named an ECAC Rookie of the Week three times this season. The middle blocker also earned GNAC Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the GNAC First Team as well after leading the Sharks to the GNAC Tournament Semifinals and a number three seed. Simmons won nine of its final 11 matches and posted a 9-2 mark in league play.