The Oswego State Athletics Department capped off the 2008-2009 intercollegiate season by honoring the accomplishments of its sports teams and seniors at the second annual Athlete Recognition Banquet in May at the Campus Center Arena.

The festivities included a recap of all 24 sports throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons along with recognition of 87 seniors who have completed their intercollegiate playing careers at Oswego State.

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the department's outstanding male and female senior athletes for 2008-09.  Wrestler Derrick Smith '09 was the men's honoree, while women's lacrosse standout Rachel Ventresca '09 garnered the women's honor.

Smith, a two-time captain for the Lakers, finished his career with a 67-25 career record as a three-time NCAA Division III Championship qualifier. An adolescence education major sporting a 3.82 grade point average, Smith has garnered Scholar All-America accolades from the National Wrestling Coaches Association for two straight seasons and has made the President's and Dean's lists numerous times at Oswego.

He was also the recipient of the Donald Snygg Award, which is given to the most outstanding student-athlete at Oswego State. Smith most recently was named a second team selection on the ESPN The Magazine/College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District I Team.

Ventresca, who graduates from Oswego a year early with a degree in Childhood Education, led the Lakers women's lacrosse team to its finest season in three years with a 9-8 mark. She capped an outstanding three-year career as the third-leading scorer in school history with 188 points on 138 goals and 58 assists.  Ventresca was the team's top scorer for the second straight year, netting 58 goals to go with new single-season marks for assists (38) and points (94). She also brought down single-game school records with nine goals and 14 points in a 22-5 victory over Keuka College

-- Mark Coley

PHOTO CAPTION:
Women's lacrosse standout Rachel Ventresca '09 and wrestler Derrick Smith '09 were named outstanding senior athletes for the 2008-09 season.



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