File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. -- Seven University of Delaware student-athletes from fall sports programs have been selected as their team’s 2008 Blue Hen Team Sportsmanship Award winner for this past season, UD Director of Athletics Edgar N. Johnson announced.

The program, now in its sixth year, honors those student-athletes who have been outstanding role models and displayed outstanding sportsmanship towards their teammates, coaches, opponents, and game officials. The winners, who will receive a certificate noting their award at the season-ending athletics banquet, are selected by the coaching staffs of each sport. Winter sports winners will be announced in March with the spring winners being announced in May.

The 2008 fall winners are sophomore Mitch Kastoff in men’s cross country, senior Lexi Ambrogi in women’s cross country, sophomore Florence Sijbrandij in field hockey, senior Jon Herrman (at right) in football, junior Kyle Davis in men’s soccer, senior Jamie Flynn in women’s soccer, and sophomore Greta Gibboney in volleyball. All seven athletes are honor students and all but one has recorded a cumulative grade index better than 3.0.

Kastoff, a history education major from Valley Stream, N.Y. (George W. Hewlett), earned his first varsity letter in 2008 after competing in six events and leading the Blue Hens to a fourth place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association championships. He posted two top 30 finishes on the year, placing 29th at both the season opening Princeton Invitational and at the Blue Hen Invitational. He also finished 48th at the CAA championships.

Ambrogi, a health and physical education major with a minor in journalism, competed in seven meets during the 2008 season and led the Hens to a fifth place CAA championship finish. A three-year letterwinner, she placed 10th at the Blue Hen Invitational and was 19th at the Delaware Invitational to highlight her season. She also finished 59th at the CAA championships.

Sijbrandij, a back from Arnhem, Netherlands (Stedelijk Gymnasium), enjoyed an outstanding season for the UD field hockey team in 2008 as she earned second team All-Mid Atlantic Region honors by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. The biology major served as a co-captain this fall and ranked third on the team in scoring with 10 points on four goals and two assists.

Herrman, an accounting major with a minor in management information systems, started all 12 games for the Blue Hen football team at offensive guard this past fall and was part of a unit that allowed just 20 sacks all season. A four-year letterwinner from McKees Rocks, Pa. (Central Catholic HS), Herrman appeared in 37 career games with 19 starts. He was a key backup for Delaware’s 2008 NCAA Tournament runner-up squad that went 11-4.

Davis, a biochemistry major from Hockessin, Del. (Salesianum HS), appeared in seven games this past fall and made six starts on defense for the Blue Hens. He anchored a defense that allowed an average of 2.05 goals per game and earned a 1-0 shutout over Virginia Commonwealth. He was named to the ESPN The Magazine/College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District 2 All-Academic first team following the season.

Flynn, a math education major from East Meadow, N.Y. (East Meadow HS), capped an outstanding career as a four-year letterwinner at midfielder in 2008. She started all 18 games and had one assist in 2008 when she also was named to the Blue Hen Classic All-Tournament team. She appeared in 60 career games and started 34 contests.

Gibboney, a communications major from Huntington, Pa. (Huntington Area HS), played a key role in leading the Blue Hen volleyball team to its second straight CAA title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2008. She appeared in all 35 matches with 11 starts and ranked second on the team in service aces with 37. The defensive specialist and libero also ranked fifth on the squad with 264 digs (2.06 per game).