Senior named CSI's top
Scholar-Athlete and will do post-graduate work at Yale
Tara
Gianoulis needed crutches to find her seat at last night's annual
athletic awards banquet at the College of Staten Island.
By the time the graduating senior begins
post-graduate work this summer at Yale, where she has accepted a
full academic scholarship, Gianoulis figures to be walking on her
own.
The Dongan Hills resident received CSI's
Scholar-Athlete Award, the third swimmer in the past seven years to
capture the honor. She posted a 3.88 grade-point average in
Bioinformatics, a field combining molecular biology and computer
science.
Gianoulis took up intercollegiate swimming three
years ago while rehabbing a foot injury sustained while running. She
caught CSI coach Oleg Soloviev's eye during those pool sessions, and
the recruiting process was underway.
"When I started, I didn't know anything about
(competitive) swimming," said Gianoulis, who competed this year with
a torn tendon in her left foot suffered while running. "My coaches
have been very patient. I've had some terrific training."
The 21-year-old Gianoulis was given medical
clearance to postpone surgery until after the recent swimming
season. She placed second in the one-meter diving event at the CUNY
Conference championships, and has been one of Soloviev's most
dependable distance swimmers.
"She's had several injuries but just kept coming
back," said Soloviev. "Her maturity level is outstanding. She has a
very big future ahead of her.
"Swimming is a very laborious sport. It can be
boring so you have to challenge yourself on a daily basis. There's
no easy road."
Gianoulis has a background in classical ballet. The
McKee/Staten Island Tech graduate spent nine years with the Staten
Island Ballet and director Ellen Tharp.
More recently, Gianoulis has been a constant
presence at CSI's 7 a.m. swimming practices at the Willowbrook
campus pool.
"She was there every morning," said Soloviev. "You
can really tell who the serious swimmers are by their attendance."
Basketball players Michael Stewart and Debra
Pasquale were recognized as Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
Both were leading scorers who led their CSI teams into the ECAC
tournament ... The dinner at the Campus Center was capped with a
video of some sports highlights of the school year.
CSI AWARDS BANQUET
Female Athlete of the Year Debra Pasquale,
basketball Male Athlete of the Year Michael Stewart, basketball
Scholar-Athlete Award Tara Gianoulis, swimming Baseball MVP: Tom
Wohlfit; Rookie of the Year: Jason Filoramo; Pitcher of the Year:
Nick Secchini; Coaches Award: Ted Maceda; Oustanding Service:
Michael Guarneri, Lino Isabel. Men's basketball MVP: Michael
Stewart; Rookie of the Year: Rashad Long; Coaches Award: Rob Nguyen.
Women's basketball MVP: Keisha Cook; Rookie of the Year: Kim
Thompson; Coaches Award: Debra Pasquale, Jacclyn Rock. Men's soccer
MVP: Valon Osmani; Rookie of the Year: Peter Strachnyi; Coaches
Award: Mitchell Poormand, Sergio Nusfaumer. Cheerleading
Appreciation Award: Jenna Lo'Monaco. Men's swimming MVP: Gerald
Francois; Rookie of the Year: Keith Marsh; Coaches Award: Yevgenity
Kagan. Women's swimming MVP: Laura Papagni; Rookie of the Year: Gina
Troise; Coaches Award: Amy Loeffler. Softball MVP: Theresa Caputo;
Rookie of the Year: Dana Glennerster; Coaches Award: Jennifer
Doscher. Men's tennis MVP: Alex Ilchenko; Rookie of the Year: Dmitry
Lutsker; Coaches Award: Craig Gellerman, Leonard Sherman; Marcel
Sandougout; Paul Ricciardi. Women's tennis MVP: Liza Dungo; Rookie
of the Year: Adriana Romano; Coaches Award: Lee Wickstrom. Women's
volleyball MVP: Giorgia Penso; Rookie of the Year: Danielle Cassero;
Coaches Award: Kim Rutter.
