More Than Ten Student-Athletes at York Earn CUNYAC Distinctions

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By Pandora’s Box Staff

The City University of New York’s Athletic Conference’s post-season award list for fall sports featured over 10 York student-athletes from York College bagging awards. 

Men’s basketball sophomore guard Devine Chisholm was awarded CUNYAC Player of the Week for his games played from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10. Chisholm, scored 11 of his 17 points during the second half of York’s season opener against St. Joseph‘s College. He logged 36 minutes (his 2nd highest) and added seven rebounds and four assists to his statline. Last year, Chisholm was cited as the CUNYAC Rookie of the Week on three separate occasions before he became the program’s first CUNYAC Rookie of the Year since Omari Phipps in year 2007.

Keshawn Ross of Rosedale was one of seven runners named to the Men’s Cross Country Sportsmanship Team by the CUNYAC league officials. It is the third time he has been honored by the CUNYAC, having being named to the sportsmanship team for indoor track & field in the 2017-18 season and outdoor track for 2019.

Fellow Queens resident Gina Scales, a senior from Jamaica, was named to the CUNYAC/Army ROTC Sportsmanship Team. It is her first time making the postseason honor list. 

Men’s soccer received two awards, with the Cardinals’ freshman forward Marvin Mondesir being named a second-team all-star while senior midfielder Fabrice Pierre-Paul of Elmont  was selected for the Sportsmanship Team. Mondesir led the team with seven goals and totaled 15 points in 13 games. He also won the conference’s Rookie of the Week honors for Oct. 7 to 13, the first time for the team since 2014. He had three goals in one game — against Baruch College followed by a pair against John Jay College. Pierre-Paul was the squad’s third Sportsmanship Team honoree in the last four years.

Volleyball Sophomore Kiara Gonzalez has been recognized and named to the Sportsmanship Team by CUNYAC League officials. Gonzalez, a native of Brooklyn, became York’s second Sportsmanship Team honoree in as many seasons, joining 2018 selection Chayana Jimenez with the award.  She was one of two Cardinals to play in all 21 matches in 2019 and opened the year with the program’s first CUNYAC Player of the Week merit since 2014.  

In women’s soccer, freshman forward Gisselle Flores-Barajas was named CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, the first female Cardinal to receive the honor. Flores-Barajas scored eight goals on the season and garnered Rookie of the Week honors for the week of Oct. 14 to Oct. 20. She scored the game-winning goal against the College of St. Elizabeth on Oct. 14 and two days later scored three goals in one game against Medgar Evers College. 

Goalkeeper Chelsea Vasquez was named to the Sportsmanship Team. Vasquez, sophomore, started every game for York this season. She is York’s third Sportsmanship Team selection in the last four years.

Women’s swimming freshman Che’Rel Haywood was recognized by the CUNYAC league officials as Rookie of the Week for meets held Oc. 28 to Nov. 3. Haywood had York’s first weekly honor since the 2012-13 season, when Sandra Shamburger collected Rookie of the Week laurels for the Jan. 7 to Jan. 13, 2013 reporting period. Haywood debuted on Nov. 1 at Baruch College with a CUNYAC victory in the 100-meter breaststroke by a margin of 25.39 to finish the race in 1:30.48.  She touched the wall in 2:56.94 to place second in the 200-meter IM and also competed in the third leg of the 200-meter medley relay to finish fourth in 3:04.15.

The women’s tennis team also had a pair of honorees.

Junior Geraldine Guese was named a first-team all-star after making the second team last year. She set a school record with four wins in a season in the No. 1 singles spot as the Cardinals advanced to CUNYAC Championship play for the first time since 2014. She is the team’s second two-time all-star and its first first-team all-star since 2011.

Monique James was named to the Sportsmanship Team. She spent the season playing at No. 6 singles and in doubles competition. James is the third player in the history of York women’s tennis to be accorded the honor.