BUZZARDS BAY, Mass – Our final awards of Senior Awards Week are the Male and Female Athlete of the Year. These awards are presented annually to a male and female senior student-athlete who have exemplified what it means to be a Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneer on and off the field throughout their four years at the Academy.

On behalf of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Alumni Association it is our pleasure to present to you our Male and Female Athlete of the Year, from football, Kyle Johnston, and from volleyball and track & field, Michelle Sheehan!

The Male Athlete of the Year, Kyle Johnston, is a four year starter for the football team, having played in 39 of a possible 40 games for the Buccaneers. Each season Kyle's numbers on the field improved. In his freshman season he posted 24 total tackles, 36 in his sophomore year, 47 his junior year and finally 57 his senior year. Each of his statistics followed the same trend. He went from four quarterback sacks in his freshman season to 12.5 his senior year and 7.5 tackles for loss in year one to 19.5 in year four. His 12.5 sacks in his senior year were tops in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference and fifth highest in the nation among Division III football players. The 19.5 tackles for loss he had in 2019 were second best in the MASCAC, tied for 10^th in the nation.

Kyle's outstanding senior season earned him a handful of prestigious honors following the 2019 season. He was one of 11 Buccaneer football players named to the MASCAC All-Conference teams, he was selected to the New England Football Writer's All-New England Team with some of the best college football talent in New England and to top it all off, he was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.

In college athletics, especially at the Divison III level, we use the term "student-athlete" because our athletes are student first. Kyle is just that, a student-athlete. Not only is he outstanding on the field but this International Maritime Business major holds a grade point average north of 3.5 and has earned as many accolades for his academic as he has his athletic prowess. Each of his four years at the Academy Kyle has been named to the MASCAC Fall All-Academic Team, was awarded the Athletics Director's Academic Achievement Award earlier this week and earlier this month he was named MASCAC Scholar-Athlete of the year by the MASCAC ADs.

"Kyle came from an excellent high school program He is a dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball that teams had to game plan for. His speed and athleticism will certainly be missed on our defensive line," said head football coach Jeremy Cameron. "While he is a dynamic football player, Kyle has always had his eye on the future putting his academics at the Academy above all else." Added Cameron.

As a scholar and an athlete, Kyle Johnston is your 2019-2020 Male Athlete of the Year.

Our Female Athlete of the Year is a two-sport athlete, having played four years of volleyball in the fall and ran four years of track in the spring.

On the volleyball court, Michelle did not miss a match in her four year career, playing in 102 matches, 340 sets as a Buccaneer. Primarily a setter, Sheehan had just 184 kills in her career but set her career high in her senior season with 61. She racked up 899 assists in her career and had 111 service aces. Defensively she had 465 career digs and 31 total blocks. In 2019 she recorded a career high six solo blocks. She also had a career high 1.3 points per set in her senior season.

"Michelle Sheehan is an all-around stand-up woman. She has devoted herself to the Academy and is always looking to contribute in anyway she can on and of the court. She is a ntural born leader, a great friend, and a reliable teammate," said assistant volleyball coach Jen Roy. "Michelle has a bright future ahead of her and it is all thanks to her hard work and dedication to everything she has done at the Academy."

In track & field, Michelle competed in the 100, 200, and 400 meter sprints, as well as the 400 meter hurdles. She was also on the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams for the Bucs. Sheehan currently holds five school records in the 100, 200, and 400 meter sprints and is on the record holding teams for the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. In her sophomore season, Michelle qualified for the New England Alliance Championships in the 400 meter hurdles. She finished sixth overall at the meet. Michelle was the recipient of the 2018 track & field MVP award.

Sheehan held captaincies in both volleyball and track & field. We was a three-time track captain from her sophomore year to senior year and was a volleyball captain in her senior campaign.

"Michelle was always willing to jump in to anything and was always there for her team," said head track & field coach Cathy Lohse. "Michelle was elected captain her sophomore year because of her strong leadership skills and dedication to her team and teammates. Despite nagging injuries, Michelle was never one to take the easy road. She always worked hard and put in the extra effort without a single complaint."

Michelle has impressed so many with her athletic prowess but she is just as impressive outside of athletics. She was the class treasurer for her freshman class, was sophomore class presidents, served as a squad leader, was the 2^nd Company Damage Control Officer, and served as a 3^rd Deck Training Rate.

These two outstanding Buccaneer student-athletes have accomplished so much while at the Academy. From all of us in the Department of Athletics, congratulations to Kyle Johnston and Michelle Sheehan on being named 2019-2020 Male and Female Athlete of the year!