WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University Department of Athletics announced the recipients of its four major department awards for the 2022-23 academic year on Thursday.  Three programs were honored as GU released its awards for Outstanding Achievement by a Female Athlete, Outstanding Achievement by a Male Athlete, Outstanding Coaching Achievement as well as the Robert A. Duffey Scholar-Athlete Award.

Robert A. Duffey Scholar-Athlete Award
The Robert A. Duffey Scholar-Athlete Award is presented each year to the Georgetown senior who best exhibits excellence in both academics and athletics.
Julia Leas (C'23, G'26) - Women's Soccer

• Leas graduated in the winter of 2022 with magna cum laude honors after being a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and named 2022 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American.
• She was a College Sports Communicators First Team Academic All-American and a United Soccer Coaches First Team Scholar All-American
• The Vienna, Virginia native was one of the BIG EAST's two nominations for the 2022-23 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
• Leas helped lead the Hoyas to both a BIG EAST regular season and conference titles earning unanimous BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors and a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team.
• Following the season, she was the recipient of BIG EAST Sport Excellence Award and was named the 2022-23 BIG EAST Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
• Leas is currently competing for the Hoyas in her final year of eligibility on the Hilltop.

Outstanding Achievement by a Female Athlete
Melissa Riggins (C'25) – Women's Track & Field / Cross Country

• Riggins is a two-time All-American and a five-time BIG EAST Champion.
• Her fifth-place finish at last season's NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in the DMR earned her All-America honors, and her eleventh-place finish in the 1500m also earned her All-America second team honors.
• At the 2023 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, Riggins won the 4x800m and the mile.
• Off of the track, Riggins was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team.
• Riggins will be back on the track for the Hoyas this season. She is currently competing in cross country.
• This is the second year in a row that a student-athlete from the women's track & field/cross country program was honored with this award after Maggie Donahue won it a season ago.

Outstanding Achievement by a Male Athlete
Tucker Dordevic (G'23) – Men's Lacrosse

• Dordevic was a USILA First Team All-American as well as being recognized as an Inside Lacrosse Third Team Media All-American and a USA Lacrosse Magazine Second Team All-American.
• He was drafted by Whipsnakes LC in PLL in the first round as sixth overall and was later named the PLL Rookie of the Year.
• The Portland, Oregon native was a 2023 Tewaaraton Award Finalist as well as being named the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
• In the postseason, he was the unanimous BIG EAST Attack Player of the Year, and an All-BIG EAST First Team unanimous selection.
• During the regular season, Dordevic was named BIG EAST Attack Player of the Week five times and to the Weekly Honor Roll twice as well as being selected to the USILA National Team of the Week twice.
• The Hoyas won their fifth-consecutive BIG EAST championship in 2023.

Outstanding Coaching Achievement
Track & Field/Cross Country Coaching Staff – Alton McKenzie, Brandon Bonsey and Mitchell Baker

• During the cross country season, Baker was named the Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year after the Hoya women won their third consecutive Women's Cross Country BIG EAST Championship.
• After the Blue & Gray won the BIG EAST Cross Country Championship, they went on to win the Mid-Atlantic Championship for the second year in a row.
• Heading into the NCAA Championships, the Hoyas were ranked No. 14 in the nation and wrapped the season with a 10th overall finish at the NCAA Championships.
• On the men's side, Bonsey led the Hoyas to a third-place finish at BIG EAST and a trip to the NCAA Championship.
• Five runners were tabbed as all-region following a second-place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Championship.
• McKenzie helped secure five first-place finishes at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships with the women placing third.
• Overall five Hoyas earned USTFCCCA All-Americans following an impressive showing at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
• With six titles and the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Track Performer at the league's championship meet, McKenzie took this momentum into four All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championship.
• The Blue & Gray closed out the year with the women sitting in 18th in the USTFCCCA Terry Crawford Program of the Year final standings as one of just 19 teams to even qualify for consideration for the program of the year and the only BIG EAST institution.