University of Delaware Athletics
Esm?e Peet and Ben Sampson Earn CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Status
12/16/2016 2:53:00 PM | Field Hockey, Men's Soccer, Delaware Athletics
CAA Release
RICHMOND, Va. – They each led their teams to championships on the field this season and now the Colonial Athletic Association is recognizing them for their successes in the classroom as Esmée Peet (Zeewolde, The Netherlands/RSG Slingerbos) and Ben Sampson (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) were named CAA Scholar-Athletes for the fall sports season.
The field hockey pick and a senior majoring in international business/MIS, Peet is a four-time CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient and has made the Dean's List in each semester at the University of Delaware while being named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad and Chi Alpha Sigma.
Rolf van de KerkhofA three-time All-American, the midfielder contributed nine goals and seven assists for a Blue Hens' squad that went 23-2 and captured the National Championship this season. Peet received First Team All-CAA and All-Region honors for the fourth straight years and finished her career ranked fourth in goals (48) and points (120) at UD.
Peet joins Kim Wagaman (2002) and Leah Geib (2003, 2004) in earning CAA Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year accolades.
Sampson, the men's soccer selection for the second time in his career (2014), is a graduate student pursuing a Master's degree in electrical and computer engineering with a concentration in signal processing, communications and controls. Just a few weeks ago, Sampson became the first-ever CAA men's soccer player to be honored as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year.
Ian Hennessy, who recently completed his 11th season at the helm of the Blue Hens men's soccer team. “Over twenty percent of our players are engineers, and Ben has led this group with an astonishing career at UD. I speak on behalf of all our department in congratulating Ben and Esmée in bringing home the double, in the CAA's most prestigious award for all of its student-athletes.”Sampson, who made the Dean's List in every semester and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in electrical engineering last May, is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma and Eta Kappa Nu Honor Societies. On the field, Sampson received First Team All-CAA and Third Team NSCAA All-Region honors this season after helping lead the Blue Hens to a conference title and an NCAA berth. The defensive midfielder contributed four goals this season, had 24 career points (10 goals, 4 assists) and was part of 24 shutouts. Sampson set UD records for career games played (85) and starts (84).
Matt HaneyThe CAA honors one Scholar-Athlete in each of its 21 championship sports. Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve on their team and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. The winners were selected by a vote of the media relations directors at each CAA institution.
MEDIA CONTACT: Maggie Hayon, Assistant Sports Information Director | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389 | C: 302-379-9182
