May 11, 2007

NEWARK, NJ - New Jersey Institute of Technology recognized the contributions and accomplishments of 250 student-athletes on its 19 varsity teams for 2006-07 at the annual athletic awards banquet on Wednesday, May 2, on campus at the Campus Center Atrium.

The night was capped with the announcements of the 2006-07 Male and Female Athletes of the Year, as well as the Male and Female Newcomers of the Year. Senior baseball player Kwesi Mitchell and junior volleyball player Leonardo Paludo shared honors as Male Athlete of the Year, while tennis player Iulia Doci, who was named Female Newcomer of the Year in 2005-06, was named Female Player of the Year for 2006-07. Sophomore transfer basketball player Nesho Milosevic was tabbed Male Newcomer of the Year and freshman volleyball player Kristy Haeckel was named Female Newcomer of the Year.

Male Newcomer of the Year: Nesho Milosevic
Nesho Milosevic, a sophomore forward from Bar, Montenegro, was named to the NCAA Division I Independent Newcomer first-team. He led NJIT with seven rebounds per game and was the leading rebounder in 17 games, leading in the scoring category twice. Nesho ranks third on the team with 8.3 points and was second on the team behind freshman Dan Stonkus with 26 blocked shots. In NJIT's first Division I game he posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, as NJIT upset defending MAAC champions Manhattan. He had six double-figure rebounding games, including 10 against St. John's of the Big East and an NJIT Division I-high 15 against IPFW. Nesho was named Independent Newcomer of the Week three times this season and in NJIT's final win of the season he posted 21 points and 10 rebounds against Longwood.

Female Newcomer of the Year: Kristy Haeckel
Kristy Haeckel, a freshman outside hitter from St. Louis, led the Highlanders offense this year. Haeckel, who was named to the NCAA Division I Independent Newcomer of the Week twice this season, led the Highlanders in kills (2.78), blocks (0.81) and points per game (3.74). She started all 31 matches this season for NJIT, while posting 11 double-figure kills games, with a career-high 30 kills against Maryland Eastern-Shore on November 4, 2006.