ITHACA, N.Y. – At the Cornell University men's lacrosse annual awards banquet, held this morning at the Statler Hotel, head coach Jeff Tambroni announced that senior Max Seibaldwill serve as team captain for the 2009 season, marking just the second time since 1966 that the Big Red has had a single captain of the men's lacrosse team. Tambroni also announced the award winners for the 2008 season.

 

Seibald, a three-time All-American from Hewlett, N.Y., is also a three-time first-team All-Ivy selection, becoming only the eighth player in Cornell history to earn that distinction. He was named to the 2008 Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award, Division I Player of the Year Watch List after finishing the year ranked second on the team with 27 goals and third overall with 33 points. A two-way player with tremendous speed and strength, he registered his 100th career point last season. He holds the longest point scoring streak on the team, and enters the 2008 season tied with Zack Greer for the longest point scoring streak in the country, having registered at least one point in the past 34 games. Seibald became the first Big Red men's lacrosse player to be named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, doing so as a sophomore in 2007, making him one of only five sophomores in the history of the award to be named a finalist. 

 

John Glynn was named the Dr. Ray Van Orman Memorial Award winner as the team's most valuable player. The award was renamed the Dr. Ray Van Orman Memorial Award in 1984 to honor the memory of Dr. Van Orman, an outstanding lacrosse coach at Cornell from 1940-49,

 

Matt Moyer earned the Lawrence Van Buren Woodworth Memorial Award, given annually to the player who most exemplifies competitive spirit and fair play, as the team's outstanding defensive player.

 

The Joe Phillip Memorial Award, which goes to the team's offensive MVP, was awarded to Ryan Hurley. The award is given annually to the person who contributed to the overall team effort, in grateful memory of Phillip, whose humor, inspiration and service to Cornell lacrosse will never be forgotten.

 

Troy Turri '08 earned the J.E.B. Sportsmanship Award for combining the qualities of lacrosse ability, leadership, fairness, courteous relations and graceful acceptance of results on and off the playing field.

 

The C.F. Morse Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, given annually to the player who combines the physical attributes of a Spartan and the scholar achievements of an Athenian, was awarded to Mike Corbolotti '08.

 

The LaFrance award, given to the senior who combines mental and physical toughness, along with humor and bravery, despite injury, was awarded to Tee Cahill '08.

 

Pierce Derkac took home the Charlie Hustle Award. Given in memory of Charles W. Cayten to the player who has displayed outstanding hustle on the practice and game fields, a leader in the pursuit of ground balls in relation to playing time.

 

Danny Nathan '08 earned the Al "Junior" Kelz - Mike Herriott Award as the team's outstanding senior player. The award was established by the late R.L. Cullen in memory of Junior Kelz and Mike Herriott, who were tragically killed while on a lacrosse scouting trip in 1965.

 

The Cornell Lacrosse Club Most Improved Player Award, which in recent years has been given to the rookie player that has had the greatest impact on the team, was awarded to Shane O'Neill.

 

Jack Seibald and former volunteer assistant coach Eric Genova were named the recipients of the Dave Friedleb Memorial Award, given by the Cornell lacrosse community to the person or persons whose enthusiasm, assistance, interest and compassion for the Cornell lacrosse team are greatly appreciated.

 

Coming off an 11-4 season and its sixth straight Ivy League title, the Big Red has begun preparing for the 2009 season with fall practices. Cornell's fall season concludes with the Navy Fall Ball Tournament in Annapolis, Md. Other participants include Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Ohio State, Navy and Virginia.