University of Delaware Athletics
Trio of Blue Hens Earn CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award
6/21/2023 10:00:00 AM | Field Hockey, Softball, Women's Cross Country, Delaware Athletics
RICHMOND, Va. - The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) announced Wednesday morning the 21 recipients of the CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award for the 2022-23 academic year. The University of Delaware is represented by a trio of Blue Hens with Jessica Pidgeon (cross country), Lizzie Gaebel (field hockey) and Hanna Garber (softball) garnering the prestigious honor.
The award mimics the Chuck Boone Leadership Award in football and the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award in men's and women's basketball; an award Tara Cousins (women's basketball) won earlier this year. One student-athlete, who represents the highest standards of teamwork, integrity, leadership and sportsmanship in his or her academic and athletic achievements, was selected in each of the other 21 sports sponsored by the conference. After evaluating the nominees, the CAA's Faculty Athletic Representatives voted on the winners.
Pigeon was a four-year member of the cross country program and compiled a 3.988 GPA to earn her degree in Elementary Teacher Education with a concentration in ESL and a minor in disability studies. A Dean's List member during every semester, she was an Eagleson Award recipient from the Honors College and twice earned the College of Education and Human Development Excellence in Academic Achievement Award given to the student with the top GPA. Pidgeon serves as Chief of the Delaware SAAC group and has worked as a HENS mentor for incoming freshmen student-athletes for three years. In 2021-22, she received the 302 Award, given to the student-athlete who most embodies the definition of a Blue Hen on their team. On the trails, the Harriman, N.Y. has competed in 28 races over her career in the Blue & Gold Uniform including earning All-CAA accolades in 2021 after a 10th-place individual finish at the CAA Women's Cross Country Championship. Pidgeon will be pursuing a career as a Teams and Community Manager for Voice in Sport, a digital platform for girls and women in sport.Â
Gaebel, a Kennett Square, Pa. native and former goalie for the Blue Hens field hockey team, completed her Master's degree in Business Analytics and Info Management after completing an undergraduate degree in Science Operations Management with a 3.77 GPA. Gaebel was a two-year team captain and a former member of the Delaware Student Athlete Advisory Committee and has volunteered at the Soup Kitchen at Friendship House and with UDance, an organization that helps combat childhood cancer. Gaebel made the Dean's List in each semester from freshman year through senior year and is a four-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Gaebel played a key role for the Hens squad that captured four straight CAA championships.Â
Garber finished an extraordinary, five-year Delaware career in 2023 that saw her succeed on and off the field, as she compiled a 3.77 GPA while majoring in Mathematics Education. She was recognized as an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2019 and is a two-year member of softball's leadership council. As a two-year member of softball's leadership council, Garber spearheaded an athletics department initiative called the Hens Cup, which was centered on building department cohesion. She was also involved in UDance, a fundraiser for childhood cancer. On the field, Garber earned NFCA All-Northeast Region first team honors in 2021 and 2022 and was an All-CAA honoree four times - making the first team in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the second team in 2019. She was named to the CAA All-Tournament team in 2020 and 2021. For her career, she hit .350/.433/.538 with 229 hits and 81 stolen bases and helped Delaware to two CAA Regular Season titles. Â Â
The award mimics the Chuck Boone Leadership Award in football and the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award in men's and women's basketball; an award Tara Cousins (women's basketball) won earlier this year. One student-athlete, who represents the highest standards of teamwork, integrity, leadership and sportsmanship in his or her academic and athletic achievements, was selected in each of the other 21 sports sponsored by the conference. After evaluating the nominees, the CAA's Faculty Athletic Representatives voted on the winners.
Pigeon was a four-year member of the cross country program and compiled a 3.988 GPA to earn her degree in Elementary Teacher Education with a concentration in ESL and a minor in disability studies. A Dean's List member during every semester, she was an Eagleson Award recipient from the Honors College and twice earned the College of Education and Human Development Excellence in Academic Achievement Award given to the student with the top GPA. Pidgeon serves as Chief of the Delaware SAAC group and has worked as a HENS mentor for incoming freshmen student-athletes for three years. In 2021-22, she received the 302 Award, given to the student-athlete who most embodies the definition of a Blue Hen on their team. On the trails, the Harriman, N.Y. has competed in 28 races over her career in the Blue & Gold Uniform including earning All-CAA accolades in 2021 after a 10th-place individual finish at the CAA Women's Cross Country Championship. Pidgeon will be pursuing a career as a Teams and Community Manager for Voice in Sport, a digital platform for girls and women in sport.Â
Gaebel, a Kennett Square, Pa. native and former goalie for the Blue Hens field hockey team, completed her Master's degree in Business Analytics and Info Management after completing an undergraduate degree in Science Operations Management with a 3.77 GPA. Gaebel was a two-year team captain and a former member of the Delaware Student Athlete Advisory Committee and has volunteered at the Soup Kitchen at Friendship House and with UDance, an organization that helps combat childhood cancer. Gaebel made the Dean's List in each semester from freshman year through senior year and is a four-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Gaebel played a key role for the Hens squad that captured four straight CAA championships.Â
Garber finished an extraordinary, five-year Delaware career in 2023 that saw her succeed on and off the field, as she compiled a 3.77 GPA while majoring in Mathematics Education. She was recognized as an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2019 and is a two-year member of softball's leadership council. As a two-year member of softball's leadership council, Garber spearheaded an athletics department initiative called the Hens Cup, which was centered on building department cohesion. She was also involved in UDance, a fundraiser for childhood cancer. On the field, Garber earned NFCA All-Northeast Region first team honors in 2021 and 2022 and was an All-CAA honoree four times - making the first team in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the second team in 2019. She was named to the CAA All-Tournament team in 2020 and 2021. For her career, she hit .350/.433/.538 with 229 hits and 81 stolen bases and helped Delaware to two CAA Regular Season titles. Â Â
Players Mentioned
/ Delaware Athletics
GK
/ Field Hockey
INF
/ Softball
/ Women's Cross Country
Highlight: Softball Pre-CAA Hype
Wednesday, May 10
Highlight: MLAX vs. Stony Brook - 2023 CAA Championship
Tuesday, May 09
Highlight: MLAX vs. Towson - 2023 CAA Semi-Finals
Tuesday, May 09
Highlight: WLAX CAA Hype 2023
Monday, May 08
