CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Holy Cross men’s soccer captain Yuji Callahan, a recent graduate, and Lehigh women’s track & field rising senior Maura Henderson were named the 2017-18 recipients of the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award when it was announced by the League office on Thursday. Callahan and Henderson were selected through a vote by administrators of the League’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
The Patriot League Sportsmanship Award is in its 13th year after being created to honor student-athletes that uphold the principles on which the League was founded – fairness, equality, and excellence in academics and athletics. Each of the 10 full member institutions is eligible to nominate a male and female student-athlete for the award.
Callahan, a two-year team captain, and two-time all-League midfielder, helped the Crusaders to the Patriot League Men’s Soccer Championship Game for the first time since 2013, earning all-tournament honors in the process. He started 17-of-19 games played during his senior season while finishing third on the team in minutes played (1,572). The Okinawa, Japan native was a veteran leader within the Holy Cross Leadership Academy while serving as a volunteer with
Working for Worcester and
Benching for Breast Cancer. Callahan also worked as a volunteer translator for the Special Olympics in 2013 on the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.
“The distinct combination of Yuji’s basic work ethic, innate intelligence, engaging personality, not to mention, his non-negotiable commitment to succeed - wherein he will leave an indelible fingerprint on our athletic department and the College - is immediately why he came to mind for this award,” said Armani Dawkins, the Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Development at Holy Cross. “Yuji demonstrates the values of respect and integrity both on the playing field, and in moments when he thinks no one is watching.”
“Yuji has been an exceptional leader and servant of this soccer program,” rising senior teammate R.J. Place said. “He is also a young man of outstanding character. His contribution to the athletic department and the school deserves to be recognized.”
Henderson has collected Patriot League titles at the 2017 outdoor track and field championships in the 5,000-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase and at the 2017 indoor championships in the 5,000-meter run, though injuries limited her during the 2018 indoor and outdoor seasons. The Narberth, Pa. native is a six-time All-Patriot League selection in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field while holding six Lehigh program records and qualifying for the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field preliminaries. Despite being limited during her junior season, Henderson has continued to impress teammates, coaches and administrators alike with her selfless attitude toward competition and life. She plans on continuing the trend this summer, as she will spend her time teaching health to children in Uganda.
“If she is nervous or hesitant, she won't show it, displaying her unique ability of composure under pressure,” teammate Stacie Nadel acknowledged. “Additionally, Maura's ability to develop a uniquely personal relationship with all of her teammates further reveals how important others are to her. Maura has the exceptional skill of always knowing what to say when her teammates are sad or have a bad race. In fact, I look for Maura after a bad race because she can always find the silver lining or can tell me a joke to cheer me up.”
“Maura’s goal to make it to NCAAs and become an All-American was very attainable at the beginning of the year, but as a few injuries occurred, she was unable to advance to the Championships,” Lehigh track & field assistant coach Brook Astor said. “When a male teammate qualified for NCAAs, Maura was the first one to suggest that a group of us take a road trip to watch the race. While many athletes would have been heartbroken over not achieving their dream, Maura looked past herself and turned her attention and support to her teammate...It is selfless acts like this that make Maura a great sport and an even better role model for the younger athletes on our team.”
Other nominees for this honor included Fiona Caulfield (American, women’s swimming and diving), Emily George (Holy Cross, women’s soccer), Luz Nagle (Bucknell, women’s volleyball), and Allison Snelling (Army West Point, softball).
Initially awarded at the conclusion of the 2005-06 academic year, the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award is given to one male and one female winner selected each year. The Patriot League has established this Sportsmanship Award to recognize and honor those who demonstrate the values of respect and integrity through a specific action ideally directed towards an opponent. Nominees must have consistently demonstrated the values of respect and integrity in his or her daily participation in intercollegiate athletics. Student-athlete or team nominees must be affiliated with a Patriot League-sponsored sport during the academic year. In addition, nominees must be in good academic standing at the time of the award application.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.