OXFORD, Ohio-Miami University's synchronized skating teams gathered with family and friends Saturday evening to celebrate the 2015-16 season at the annual postseason banquet.

Fourteen RedHawk skaters and one other special individual received awards at the event. Each team had a skater named outstanding skater, most improved skater and also awarded a spirit award. The senior and collegiate teams also had awardees for rookie of the year and outstanding senior.

Senior Stephanie Fukui, who was a two-year member of the senior team, earned the Karin Sherr Trophy, which is awarded to a skater who embodies a true commitment to excellence both on and off the ice. This athlete demonstrates excellence in the core values of Miami Varsity Synchronized Skating in her daily life ââ'¬" it is "who they are," not just "what they do." This student-athlete embraces the full collegiate experience and demonstrates continuous growth. She displays great discipline, commitment and passion in these five core pillars of education: Academics, Athletics, Community Service, Self Development, Team. This award is open to all members of the synchronized skating program and is voted on by all members of synchronized skating program and supporting staff.

For the senior team, senior Tori Alexander was named the Senior Team Outstanding Skater, while Alyssa Nowak was tabbed the team's Senior of the Year. Senior Brittan Mariage, in her first season on the senior team, captured the team's Rookie of the Year. Freshman Jillian Christie earned the Most Improved Skater Award, and sophomore Erica Steinel earned the Team Spirit Award.

For the collegiate team, senior Linnea Barrett was named the Outstanding Skater, and Rebecca Sievewright was the Senior of the Year. Sophomores Cheney Lyford and Olivia Ferrante notched the team's Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Skater awards, respectively, while junior Anne Marie Misey was named the Team Spirit Award winner.

From the junior team, sophomore Grace Leonard was the team's Outstanding Skater, freshman Vanessa Niemczyk was the Most Improved Skater, and freshman Kaitlyn Allman was the Team Spirit Award recipient.

A new award this year was the Jeff Hucke Service Award, named in honor of the RedHawks' long-time equipment manager and given to an individual for his/her exceptional service who goes above and beyond for the advancement of the program. The first recipient of this award was Briella Freda, a senior at Miami who skated on the junior team as a freshman but was unable to try out the following year due to injury. She asked to volunteer her time with the program and has assisted with try-out videoing and announcing, team banquet preparations, apparel distribution and collection and a myriad of other day-to-day tasks over the past three years.

Karin Sherr Award Winner: Stephanie Fukui
Jeff Hucke Service Award: Brielle Freda

Senior Team
Rookie of the Year: Brittan Mariage
Team Spirit: Erica Steinel
Most Improved: Jillian Christie
Senior of the Year: Alyssa Nowak
Outstanding Skater: Tori Alexander

Collegiate Team
Rookie of the Year: Cheney Lyford
Team Spirit: Anne Marie Misey
Most Improved: Olivia Ferrante
Senior of the Year: Rebecca Sievewright
Outstanding Skater: Linnea Barrett

Junior Team
Team Spirit: Kaitlyn Allman
Most Improved: Vanessa Niemczyk
Outstanding Skater: Grace Leonard