University of Connecticut Athletics
Varsity Athletes Honored at Letterwinners Ceremony
9/27/2019 11:07:00 AM | General
During a ceremony in Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday night, athletes for 2018-19 winter and spring sports were honored for earning a varsity letter.
First-time letter winners received a varsity letterman jacket, second-time winners got the choice of a blanket or watch, and third-time winners received a framed plaque with their name and picture.
The ceremony was the first of its kind for winter and spring athletes. The first-ever letterwinners ceremony took place in May for the fall-sport athletes.
The ceremony was hosted by Jamelle Elliot, the associate athletic director of the National C Club and a former letter winner herself in women's basketball. She said that she felt it was important for the athletes to be formally honored for what they've accomplished.
"In the past, they would go to the equipment room and just pick [the awards] up like it was another piece of sports equipment," Elliot said. "So we thought it would be nice to explain to them exactly why they're getting an award -- to let them know that it's a big deal and to let them know that they are now eligible, because you only have to letter one year to become a member of the National C Club."
The National C Club is made up of UConn alumni who lettered in a varsity sport. It promotes connections and networking between those former UConn athletes and current ones.
On Wednesday, 19 of those alumni were present at the ceremony, with at least one representative from each sport honored. These alumni included Morgan Tuck and Wendy Davis from women's basketball, Justin Srb from men's basketball, Mark Sinatro from men's tennis, Karen Ford from women's tennis, Jillian Rispoli from softball and Steven Ferreira from men's swimming and diving.
Tuck said that she really liked the ceremony, because nothing like it was in place when she was here just three years ago.
"I thought it was really cool," she said. "I think any time you get to acknowledge people for their success in front of their peers, I think that's like one of the best things you can do, and especially when it's intersport. Because swimming might not know about rowing or rowing might not know about basketball, so I think it's cool that they all get to do it with each other."
Overall, 224 athletes from 14 different sports were honored. There were 104 first-time winners and 120 second- and third-time winners. The teams in attendance were men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and cross country, men's and women's swimming and diving, baseball, softball, women's lacrosse, rowing, golf, and women's hockey.
Here is what some of the athletes had to say about receiving their awards:
Christyn Williams (Women's Basketball): "It was a great honor. I was really proud of our teammates and all the other athletes. It's always an honor."
Alterique Gilbert (Men's Basketball): "It felt great. This is the first year we actually got a jacket, so it was pretty cool. And then to have alumni here to present us with the award is special."
Christian Vital (Men's Basketball): "It's an honor. Not a lot of people have the ability to come here to UConn, so to receive something, to be given a gift for your efforts and accomplishments … I know it means a lot to me and to my teammates as well."
Chris Winkel (Baseball): "It's the culmination of a lot of hard work, the culmination of a lot of time and effort. So receiving an award once you letter, it means a lot."
Emily Reid (Women's Hockey): "It felt great. It's always an honor to be a Husky and wear the Connecticut logo. So it's always nice when all the athletes from all the different sports can come together and be recognized."
Natalie Snodgrass (Women's Hockey): "I just think it's a reflection of all the hard work we did before we got here and then getting to this point. We're making so many new memories and so many good friends, so just being here every day is really fortunate. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything."
Abby Capone (Rowing): "It felt great to be appreciated after a whole year of hard work. It makes me really excited to continue on the team."
Grace O'Connor (Rowing): "It's a really prestigious athletic program, so it just feels good for us to be recognized and be a part of such a good program."
