ITHACA, N.Y. – Ithaca College student-athletes Cristina Nunez and Zack Kundel were named female and male athletes of the year and Julie Schaeffer received the multi-sport athlete award at the annual Ithaca College Athletics Senior Awards Brunch Thursday.
 
Nunez received the Iris Carnell Senior Athlete of the Year Award, named after a former Ithaca coach and administrator who was the first female inductee into the Ithaca Athletic Hall of Fame. A graduate student and member of the women's tennis team, Nunez finishes her time at Ithaca as the all-time leader in singles, doubles and overall victories. She has a career record of 80-17 in singles, 66-28 in doubles and an overall record of 146-45. She is a three-time selection as Empire 8 Player of the Year, eight-time all-conference First Team (four singles, four doubles) and three-time MVP of the Empire 8 Championship (2009, 2010, 2012). She has been individually ranked in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and was an ITA national tournament qualifier in 2013. Nunez has been an Empire 8 President's List Honoree with a 3.75 grade-point average.
 
Kundel was presented with the Ben Light Senior Athlete of the Year Award, named after another former Ithaca coach and administrator and a charter member of the school's Hall of Fame. Kundel took all-America honors this season for the third time in his career, as he helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team earn a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He was part of the winning 200-yard medley relay team at the 2014 UNYSCSA / Empire 8 Championship. Kundel's effort also helped the 200-yard medley relay team set a new program record. He graces the Ithaca record book 11 times, including the top spot in the 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard free relay. He finishes his career with nine all-state selections, four state championships, nine all-conference selections and five Empire 8 titles.
 
The James K. Harris Memorial Award, named for an Ithaca graduate who participated in three sports and presented to the outstanding multi-sport student-athlete, was given to Schaeffer. She was a member of the women's track & field program during 2011-12 competing primarily in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon. As a member of the women's basketball team in 2012-13, Schaeffer helped the Bombers to an Empire 8 championship and an appearance in the NCAA Round of 16. As a member of Ithaca's crew team, Schaeffer rowed in the varsity 8 as a junior and senior. She helped the Bombers to a NCAA bid in 2013, and was a NIRC Stewards all-America selection this past season. Schaeffer also competed in sculling, becoming Ithaca's top single sculler on the team. She earned first place in the collegiate double at the Head of the Fish in 2013 and finished among the best in doubles at the Small Boat Collegiate Championships.
 
The Robert C. Deming Leadership Award, named for the former Ithaca director of athletics and presented to the student-athlete who has been recognized for athletic ability, maintained high standards in the classroom and demonstrated outstanding leadership on campus and in the community, was given to women's soccer senior Meredith Jones. She served as President of Ithaca's Student-Athlete Advisory Council during 2013-14. Jones has been an all-conference selection twice in her career. A mainstay on the Bomber defense, Jones helped Ithaca to 12 shutouts and an Elite 8 appearance as a senior.
 
The Bernard Scholar-Athlete awards, named for former Ithaca faculty members Jack and Flo Bernard and presented to the male and female athletes with the highest cumulative seventh-semester grade-point average, were given to Benjamin Van De Water of men's track & field and Renée Metzger of women's basketball. Awards for the male and female athletes with the highest cumulative seventh-semester grade-point average from each season: the fall sport recipients were Joe Weber of men's cross country and track & field and Lindsay Beatty of sculling; the winter sport recipients were Van De Water and Metzger; the spring sport recipients were Alex Becker of men's crew and Katie Long of women's lacrosse.
 
The winner of the Rodney H. Dusinberre Athletic Training Excellence Award, presented annually to the senior student athletic trainer who best exemplifies the qualities of hard work, commitment and loyalty to the Ithaca College athletic training program, was John "Jay" Loehner.
 
The Mark Alderman Athletic Training Service Award, given to the senior athletic training student who displays service, kindness and compassion for others, was awarded to Will Stotter.