MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Kiwanis Club of Utica held its 35^th annual recognition banquet honoring local student-athletes from six colleges and universities at Club Monarch in Yorkville. Of those honored were SUNY Morrisville senior's Alana McDonald (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Steven Frerichs (Wilson, N.Y.).
 
SUNY Morrisville athletics selected both student-athletes for their excellence in their sport, in the classroom and within the community.
 
"It is a tremendous honor for our student-athletes and athletic department to be included in this celebration," said Matt Grawrock, SUNY Morrisville Director of Athletics. "The Kiwanis Club of Utica has done a tremendous amount over the years for college athletes in the area, and to have two of our outstanding student-athletes recognized by their organization is an incredible honor, not only for them, but also for our athletic department."
 
"I am incredibly grateful to the Kiwanis for inviting us. Our representatives this year exemplify what is best about Morrisville Athletics."
 
McDonald is a two-sport student-athlete for the Mustangs, competing in both women's ice hockey and lacrosse. Across her career she has excelled both on and off the fields of competition, while serving as a role model within the local and surrounding community.
 
A constant on the Dean's List as a nursing major, McDonald has several athletic accolades to her backing. In hockey, the senior played a critical role to the team's success this season, as they appeared in the SUNYAC playoffs for the first time since 2020. As a freshman she earned All-Rookie accolades at forward.
 
On the lacrosse field, McDonald is a three-time All-Conference first team honoree, guiding the team to the conference title game in back-to-back seasons.
 
Earning multiple weekly awards throughout both seasons, the Potsdam native is also a constant on the Dean's List for SUNY Morrisville, is a United East Scholar-Athlete, SUNYAC Commissioner's List honoree and holds a 3.63 cumulative average as a bachelor's degree student in the nursing program. She is a Chi Alpha Sigma – Alpha Lambda honoree.
 
Aside from her involvement on the competition fields and within the classroom, McDonald was also an active participant in several community service endeavors, most recently with the Make-A-Wish Foundation with women's ice hockey.
 
For two seasons, she was a three-sport student-athlete for the Mustangs, competing in women's cross country and guiding the team to a top three finish at the league championships.
 
"Alana is a fierce competitor and a player who wants to know why everything works the way it does and the purpose behind it," head women's lacrosse coach Andrea Cofrin said.
 
"While you expect to teach your student-athletes great lessons in sport, she has taught me too, to slow down my vision to help our players better understand the scheme we are trying to create. That's one of many reasons that makes her very deserving of this honor."
 
"The investment Alana has made to better her game and herself is extraordinary."
 
Frerichs was recognized by the State University of New York as the 2023 SUNY Division III Football Scholar Athlete of the Year, earning the starting role at quarterback for the Mustangs for three seasons, collecting 3,716 yards passing across 37 games played, while adding 1,148 rushing yards. Across his career on the gridiron, he assisted Morrisville in reaching the post-season as a junior, qualifying for the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl.
 
The Wilson, N.Y. native wrote his name in the Mustang record books twice in single game records, nine times in single season top 10 records, and an overall 13 times in career top 10 performances in program history after completion of his career.
 
In addition to his success on the field, Frerichs excelled in the classroom, achieving President's List honors for the Empire 8 multiple times across his career with greater than a 3.75 grade point average, and made a consistent appearance on SUNY Morrisville's Dean's and President's List for academic achievement.
 
Alongside semester accolades, Frerichs also was inducted into the college's national student-athlete honor society, Chi Alpha Sigma – Alpha Lambda Chapter. Frerichs is a two-time captain for the Mustangs and two-time All-Conference honoree for the Empire 8 at quarterback and was a semi-finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy from the National Football Foundation.
 
Throughout his career he has assisted the football program with numerous community service initiatives, including Be The Match bone marrow donor programs, supplies for the local food pantry as well as youth role model programs through Fun Friday's with the Morrisville-Eaton School District. In addition to his work on and off the field, the senior was always in the football office studying film, working with the younger players and wide receivers to get better, and learning how to become more of an effective leader on and off the football field. His dedication to the program, character and winning attitude made him a great leader for Mustang athletics in multiple ways.
 
Frerichs earned his bachelor's degree in renewable energy from Morrisville in December, alongside a 3.91 overall GPA.
 
"Steve deserves this award as with all the others," head coach Ed Raby, Jr. said.
 
"He is one of the best, if not the best, leaders I have ever come across in my twenty years of playing and coaching football.
 
"His toughness, work ethic, and care for others is unmatched. We love him and will miss him. There is no doubt Steve will make us proud as he continues his career after graduation."
 
"This is a well-deserved honor for both Alana and Steve, and I am so grateful to have been there to see them recognized. I look forward to continuing to celebrate the successes of our student-athletes," Grawrock said.
 
SUNY Morrisville's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
 
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2023 issue and earned additional recognition in Top Public Schools Regional Colleges (North). For more information about SUNY Morrisville, visit www.morrisville.edu.
 
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