By WACBA Hoops (@WACBAHoops)
WORCESTER – Nichols swept the men’s major awards while Assumption, Becker, Fitchburg State and WPI took top billing for the women as the Worcester Area College Basketball Association (WACBA) resumed its postseason awards program. Additionally, 12 student-athletes from each gender were tabbed All-WACBA. Voters included sports information directors or primary contacts from each of the nine NCAA schools in Worcester County, as well as three members representing the local media.
Nichols’ Marcos Echevarria was named Player of the Year while teammate DeAnte Bruton was tabbed the Rookie of the Year and head coach Tom Glynn was recognized as the Coach of the Year. WPI’s Ama Biney was unanimously selected as the Women’s Player of the Year as Fitchburg State’s Kyra Rose took home another Rookie of the Year nod. Assumption’s Kerry Phayre and Becker’s David Bostick were chosen as Co-Coaches of the Year.
Echevarria and Becker’s Samuel Durodola earned first team votes on all 12 ballots. Fitchburg State’s Jaleel Bell, Becker’s Kyle Credle, Bruton and Anna Maria’s Mike Rapoza also earned high praise from the voters. WPI bookended the second team with Ian Converse and Sean Doncaster. Joining the Engineer duo was Worcester State’s Paul Brooks, Becker’s Kareem Davis, and Holy Cross’ Malachi Alexander and Robert Champion.
Biney was the lone consensus first teamer on the women’s ballot. She was followed by Rose, Worcester State’s Britt Herring, Clark’s Ogechi Ezemma, Holy Cross’ Lauren Manis and Becker’s Cassidy Harrison. The women’s second team was the only one to feature student from each NCAA division. DII Assumption’s Jo Impellizeri led the way as WPI’s Priscilla Dunphy, Worcester State’s Kaitlin Berkel, Becker’s Adrianna Dowdy, DI Holy Cross’ Infinti Thomas-Waheed and Anna Maria’s Deja Taitt comprised the rest of the list.
The coaches group is in the midst of voting for the next Paul N. Johnson Award winner and the inaugural Pat Oroszko Courage Award recipient.
WACBA (Worcester Area College Basketball Association) is an organization billed as “one of its kind in the country” featuring 10 colleges, 20 programs plus sports information directors and media members to foster friendships and camaraderie along with promoting the GREAT GAME OF BASKETBALL throughout the TRADITION RICH Worcester Country Area.
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Men’s Player of the Year
Nichols sophomore Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.)
Women’s Player of the Year
WPI junior Ama Biney (Worcester, Mass,)
Men’s Rookie of the Year
Nichols freshman DeAnte Bruton (New London, Conn.)
Women’s Rookie of the Year
Fitchburg State freshman Kyra Rose (Rockland, Mass.)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Tom Glynn, Nichols
Women’s Co-Coaches of the Year
Kerry Phayre, Assumption and David Bostick, Becker
ALL-WACBA TEAMS
MEN’S FIRST |
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Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
1stPl |
Marcos Echevarria |
Nichols |
So |
Lynn, Mass. |
7 |
Samuel Durodola |
Becker |
Jr |
Rosedale, N.Y. |
1 |
Jaleel Bell |
Fitchburg St. |
Sr |
Dorchester, Mass. |
1 |
Kyle Credle |
Becker |
Sr |
Queens, N.Y. |
1 |
DeAnte Bruton |
Nichols |
Fr |
New London, Conn. |
|
Mike Rapoza |
Anna Maria |
Fr |
Charlton, Mass. |
2 |
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MEN’S SECOND |
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Ian Converse |
WPI |
Sr |
Woodstock, Conn. |
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Paul Brooks |
Worcester St. |
Sr |
Arlington, Mass. |
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Kareem Davis |
Becker |
So |
Lowell, Mass. |
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Malachi Alexander |
Holy Cross |
Sr |
Bowie, Md. |
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Robert Champion |
Holy Cross |
Sr |
Charlotte, N.C. |
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Sean Doncaster |
WPI |
Sr |
Medford, Mass. |
WOMEN’S FIRST |
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Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
1stPl |
Ama Biney |
WPI |
Jr |
Worcester, Mass. |
9 |
Kyra Rose |
Fitchburg St. |
Fr |
Rockland, Mass. |
1 |
Britt Herring |
Worcester St. |
So |
W. Brookfield, Mass. |
|
Ogechi Ezemma |
Clark |
So |
Hope Valley, R.I. |
2 |
Lauren Manis |
Holy Cross |
Fr |
Franklin, Mass. |
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Cassidy Harrison |
Becker |
Fr |
Foxborough, Mass. |
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WOMEN’S SECOND |
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Jo Impellizeri |
Assumption |
Sr |
Seaford, N.Y. |
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Priscilla Dunphy |
WPI |
Sr |
Barrington, R.I. |
|
Kaitlyn Berkel |
Worcester St. |
So |
Waterford, Conn. |
|
Adriana Dowdy |
Becker |
So |
East Haven, Conn. |
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I. Thomas-Waheed |
Holy Cross |
Jr |
Newton, Mass. |
|
Deja Taitt |
Anna Maria |
Sr |
Cambia Heights, N.Y. |
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