Rhode Island College Announces
2003-04 Winter Sports MVPs

Providence, RI--The Rhode Island College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation held its annual Winter Banquet at RIC’s Donovan Dining Center on Monday, Mar. 22 to honor those student-athletes who participate in varsity winter athletics. Each sport gave out their Most Valuable Player Award.

Men’s Basketball

Senior guard Kamran Alemdar (Stockholm, Sweden) was named the men’s basketball MVP. He closed out his career being named a member of the Second Team All-Little East Conference Team. He played in 26 games, starting 25 of them this season. He averaged a team-high 14.3 points, while also contributing 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Alemdar registered season-highs of 25 points vs. UMass-Dartmouth on Feb. 11, seven rebounds twice, four assists on several occasions, four steals vs. Southern Maine on Feb. 14 and three blocks vs. UMass-Boston on Feb. 7.

He is a communications major and a 1999 graduate of Vasalunds Gymnasiet.

Women’s Basketball

Junior forward Heather Pettigrew (Cranston, RI) was named the women’s basketball MVP. She played in 27 games, starting 12 of them this season. She was second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while also contributing 1.4 assists and 1.9 steals per contest, which was good for second on the team. Pettigrew registered season-highs of 18 points vs. Keene State on Feb. 21, 13 rebounds vs. Keene State on Jan. 17, four assists twice, seven steals vs. Western Connecticut on Feb. 17 and three blocks vs. Keene State on Jan. 17.

She is a management major and a 1999 graduate of Cranston High School West.

Women's Gymnastics

Junior Caren Normandin (Fall River, MA) was named the women's gymnastics team's MVP. The all-arounder led the squad on every event this season. She posted averages of 9.272 on vault, 8.613 on bars, 9.394 on beam, 9.313 on floor and 36.591 in the all-around. For her efforts at the ECAC Championships, she qualified for her third consecutive National Collegiant Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships as a floor and beam specialist from the East Region.

She is an elementary education with a minor in special education and a 2001 graduate of Durfee High School.

Men’s Indoor Track and Field

Senior Tim Rudd (Warwick, RI) was named the men’s indoor track and field team's MVP. This season, Rudd placed 13th in the 800 meters with a time of 1:59.71 at the ECAC Div. III Championships on Mar. 6. Rudd ran a season-best time of 1:54.50 in the 800 meters at the New England Open Championships on Feb. 28. He earned All-New England honors in two events at the N.E. Championships on Feb. 21. Rudd placed seventh in the 800 meters with a time of 1:57.47 and eighth as part of the 4x400 meter relay team with a school-record time of 3:28.14. He earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in four events at the Alliance/Little East Championships on Feb. 14. Rudd placed second in the 600 meters with a school-record time of 1:24.52, second in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:36.77 and first in both the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay with times of 3:32.97 and a school record 8:27.78, respectively. He finished fifth in the mile with a season-best time of 4:26.60 at the Harvard Invitational on Dec. 13. He placed first in the 1,000 meters with a season-best time of 2:36.67 at the Alden Invitational on Dec. 6. Rudd leaves RIC holding school records in the 600, 1,000, 1,500, and 3,000 meters. He is also a member of the RIC record-holding 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay squad.

He is a political science major and a 1999 graduate of Pilgrim High School.

Women’s Indoor Track and Field

Sophomore Dana Skorupa (Cumberland, RI) was named the women’s indoor track and field team's MVP. Skorupa was a three-time Little East Conference Women's Track Athlete of the Week selection this winter. She broke two RIC records this winter, with high marks in both the 55 and 200 meters. She earned All-ECAC honors in the 200 meters, placing seventh with a time of 26.54. Skorupa earned All-New England honors in two events. She placed fourth in both the 55 meters and 200 meters with times of 7.40 and 26.45, respectively. Both times were new school records. Skorupa earned All-Alliance/Little East honors in three events at the Alliance/Little East Championships on Feb. 14. She placed third in the 55 meters, first in the 200 meters and first in the 400 meters with times of 7.53, 26.58 and 1:00.70, respectively. She finished fifth in the finals of the 55 meters with a time of 7.63 and fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 26.55 at the Tufts Invitational on Feb. 7. She placed first in the 55 meters, second in the 200 meters and third in the 400 meters with times of 7.52, 26.82 and 1:01.92, respectively at the Southern Maine Invitational on Jan. 31. She finished first in the 200 meters with a time of 26.75 and second in the 55 meters with a time of 7.50 at the Wesleyan University Invitational on Jan. 17.

She is an elementary education major with a minor in special education and a 2002 graduate of Cumberland High School.

Wrestling

Junior Justin Deveau (North Attleboro, MA) was named the wrestling team's MVP. He was selected as one of two N.E. Wild-Cards to compete at the NCAA Div. III Championships, which were hosted by Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa on Mar. 6-7. Deveau went 1-2 at the NCAA Championships. Both of his losses were to eventual All-Americans. Deveau earned All-New England honors, placing second at 285 lbs. at the NECCWA Championships. He has earned All-New England honors in each of his three seasons as an Anchorman. Deveau was 39-6 at 285 lbs. with 161 points, 57 takedowns, ten reversals, 42 escapes, 15 near-falls and five pins. His 39 wins is a new school record for a single season.

He is a marketing major and a 2001 graduate of North Attleboro.

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