Marquette University Athletics
Ralph H. Metcalfe Senior Awards Handed out Sunday
5/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | SAAC
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MILWAUKEE --Student-athletes and members of the Marquette University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics gathered Sunday evening at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee for the annual Senior Awards Banquet to honor the Ralph H. Metcalfe Senior Award winners.
Men's soccer led the way with three winners, topped by Major League Soccer SuperDraft selections Axel Sjoberg (male scholar award) and Charlie Lyon (president's trophy).
During his final season sporting the Blue and Gold, Sjoberg started and played every minute of the season's 18 matches, where he recorded three assists and seven shots on goal. He was named to the 2014 NSCAA Men's University Division I Scholar All-American Third Team, was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection, and a three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. He graduated in December with a 3.863 grade point average and a degree in finance.
Lyon started 61-of-63 games he appeared in for Marquette. In 2014, he set a program record with eight-straight shutouts (Sept. 5-Oct. 11) spanning 804:58 minutes on the way to earning co-BIG EAST Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors as well as several other postseason accolades. Lyon was named a 2014 Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-American, 2014 Capital One Academic All-American First Team selection and named the team's Scholar Player of the Year.
Fellow men's golfer Adam Chester was given the male leadership and service award, while women's soccer player Maggie Edlebeck won the women's award.
Another women's soccer player, Mary Luba, was honored as the outstanding female athlete winner after leading the Golden Eagles with 16 points as a senior on her way to All-BIG EAST First Team accolades.
The top male athlete award was given to Jordan Greenfield of the men's lacrosse team, who used his final season of NCAA eligibility as a graduate student at Marquette in 2015. Greenfield posted a program-record 52 points as the Golden Eagles posted a program-best 10 victories and climbed as high as No. 9 nationally in the Inside Lacrosse media poll. He was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.
For the women's cross country and track and field teams, SAAC President Haley Loprieno earned the Cura Personalis Award, while Elisia Meyle won the female scholar award with a cumulative grade point average of 3.952 as a biochemistry and molecular biology major.
Following the banquet, Tom Ford,Associate Athletic Director - Academic Support & Student Programs, was presented with a Marquette letterman jacket honoring his 25 years of service to the department.
Ralph H. Metcalfe Senior Awards
Cura Personalis Award (SAAC): Haley Loprieno, women's cross country/track and field
Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award: Jordan Greenfield, men's lacrosse
Outstanding Senior Female Athlete Award: Mary Luba, women's soccer
Outstanding Senior Male Scholar Award: Axel Sjoberg, men's soccer (3.863 GPA)
Outstanding Senior Female Scholar Award: Elisia Meyle, women's cross country/track and field (3.952 GPA)
Outstanding Senior Male Leadership & Service Award: Adam Chester, men's golf
Outstanding Senior Female Leadership & Service Award: Maggie Edlebeck, women's soccer
President's Trophy: Charlie Lyon, men's soccer
With all other classes also represented on Sunday evening, three other individuals were honored, led by men's high jumper Wally Ellenson and women's sprinter Cassy Goodrich.
Record-Breaking Performance: Wally Ellenson, men's track and field
Top Rookie: Cassy Goodrich, women's track and field
Blooper of the Year: Daniel Szczepanek, men's soccer
Ralph H. Metcalfe
Ralph H. Metcalfe was known as the world's fastest human from 1932-34. Metcalfe was the NCAA champion in the 100- and 200-yard events in 1932-34 and he broke or tied every world record from 40-220 yards. For five consecutive years (1932-36), he captured the AAU 200-meter title, the Central Collegiate Conference 100- and 220-yard crowns and the Drake Relays 100-yard honors in each of his three varsity seasons at Marquette.
Metcalfe served as senior class president and was the captain of the MU track team in 1934. He placed second in the 100 meters and third in the 200 meters in the 1932 Olympics, and came back in the 1936 Olympics to finish second in the 100 and help the U.S. win gold in the 400-meter relay.
After his college career, he joined the armed forces and served in World War II. After he got out of the army, he went go on to a life of public service and was a congressman for the state of Illinois.
He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975 and an inaugural member of the M Club Hall of Fame in 1972.
