4 Ephs Honored: 21st Annual Frank Deford Award Ceremony and 1st Aaron Pinsky Sports Broadcasting Award
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Three Williams College seniors and one junior were honored Monday evening at the annual Frank Deford Award ceremony in the Brooks Rogers Auditorium. Winners of the 21st Frank Deford Award were seniors Tom Coleman (Philadelphia, NY), Dan Pesquera (Somers, NY) and Rachel Rosten (Fairfield, CT). Junior Lorenzo Patrick was awarded the first Aaron Pinsky ’06 Sports Broadcasting Award.
On hand to speak and present the 21st Frank Deford Award was ESPNBoston’s Gordon Edes. In four decades in sports Edes has worked at the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, The National Sports Daily, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Boston Globe and Yahoo! Sports. Edes worked for Frank Deford at the National Sports Daily as a national baseball writer, while Deford was the editor.
Tom Coleman was recognized for his three years as the Ephs’ chief statistician for football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and women’s soccer. “Every year Tommy got better and better,” noted Eph Assistant Sports Information Director Kris Dufour. “Tommy handled every challenge we had for him and this year he even asked for more. He will be sorely missed next year.”
In addition to working in Sports Information Coleman was also
hired as a Teaching Assistant in the Mathematics Department.
Coleman, a four-year member of the Eph baseball team as a pitcher,
will be heading to the University of Missouri in the fall to pursue
a graduate degree in math.
This past weekend the 19-9-1 Ephs won their fourth consecutive NESCAC West title and they will advance to the NESCAC Championship Tournament at Tufts University Friday, May 7-9, in Medford, Mass.
Dan Pesquera was honored for his writing skills over the past
three years in covering football, men’s and women’s ice
hockey, baseball and handling stats for field hockey and
men’s and women’s lacrosse.
“Dan was recommended to us by a previous winner of the
Deford Award, Jacob Cerny,” noted Williams Sports Information
Director Dick Quinn. “Dan got off to a slow start at Williams
and due to some adjustment problems had to take some time off. Over
that time Jacob Cerny asked if Dan came back to Williams would we
give him another chance. Yes was the answer, as long as it would
fit his schedule and not be a burden. Since his return Dan has
excelled in what is truly one of the best comeback efforts
I’ve seen at Williams. Thankfully Dan will be back to help us
for one more semester next fall.”
Rachel Rosten was singled out for recognition for her numerous contributions over her three and a half years in Williams Sports Information that saw her cover women’s ice hockey, women’s soccer, basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, NCAA Soccer Tournaments and she also worked with ESPN’s College GameDay on its first ever visit to a Division III campus in 2007 for the Williams- Amherst game. “Rachel has covered hundreds of events in her time here,” stated Quinn. “Her professionalism and demeanor made her an extremely valuable member of Williams Sports Information,” noted Quinn. In June after graduation Rosten will continue her sports career by joining the Stats and Research Department at ESPN. “ESPN is going to be very, very happy they hired Rachel Rosten,” said Quinn.
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| L to R: Lorenzo
Patrick '11, Peggy, Lincoln and Rachel Pinsky |
Junior Lorenzo Patrick (Chicago, IL) was named the winner of the first Aaron Pinsky ’06 Sports Broadcasting Award. Patrick received the award from Lincoln Pinsky, Aaron’s father, who was accompanied by his wife Peggy and daughter Rachel.
“For three years Aaron Pinsky broadcast football and men’s and women’s basketball and both his talent and enthusiasm are traits I hope all future Eph broadcasters will emulate,” stated Quinn. “One of Aaron’s great strengths was that he was always prepared to do the game. He brought a lot of stats and research with him. He had a knack for describing the action in a folksy, yet informative and entertaining manner, just like he did everything else here in his impressive Williams career.”
Patrick has called the action for Williams football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball in his three years. “Lorenzo’s very first football game he was paired with a senior, but the senior failed to show up. Undeterred Lorenzo hopped on the team bus and headed to Bowdoin where he did a fine job for someone who had never seen the Ephs play.”
“Lorenzo is a gifted broadcaster who hopes to make a career out of calling sports action. I expect that with his talents and willingness to work hard at improving he will attain that goal. This summer Lorenzo will do some PA and broadcasting for the North Adams Steeplecats in the NECBL before returning for a fourth and final year to be the Ephs’ primary broadcaster.”
