NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware athletics department has announced the winners of the Blue Hen Team Sportsmanship Awards for the 2005 spring athletics season.

Now in its second year, the Blue Hen Sportsmanship program honors those student-athletes who have been outstanding role models and displayed outstanding sportsmanship towards their teammates, coaches, opponents, and game officials. The winners are selected by the coaching staffs of each sport.

The 2005 spring winners were Lyra Sawzin (women's rowing - at right), Lindsey Greer (women's lacrosse), Chris Collins (men's lacrosse), Nick Riordan (men's outdoor track and field), Reagan Hastings (women's outdoor track and field), Lauren Gardner (softball), Dave Harden (baseball), Adam Liebman (men's tennis), Katie Miller (women's tennis), and Steve Banks (golf).

"We are once again proud to honor these individuals for their efforts in showing true sportsmanship throughout the year," said University of Delaware Director of Athletics Edgar N. Johnson. "These special student-athletes have shown that you can be an outstanding competitor on the field and still accomplish your goals with great character and sportsmanship while showing respect to your opponents and officials."

Sawzin, a senior captain from Brookline, MA (Brookline HS), was voted the team's Outstanding Performer this season after leading the squad to a second place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association championships. She was a member of the Varsity Eights boat that placed second at the CAA championships April 23 at Drexel.

Greer, a senior defender from Laurel, MD (Hammond HS), was a four-year standout and led the nationally-ranked 2005 squad to an 8-8 record and a berth in the CAA semifinals. Greer played in all 16 games with 15 starts and recorded 15 groundballs and 12 caused turnovers in 2005. She earned second team All-CAA honors as a sophomore in 2003.

Collins, a senior co-captain from Yorktown Heights, NY (Lakeland-Panas HS), led the nationally-ranked UD men's lacrosse team to an 11-6 record this spring as the Blue Hens captured the CAA regular season title, lost to Towson in the CAA Tournament championship game, and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. Collins, a three-year starter, earned second team All-CAA honors for the second straight year this spring after posting a 7.56 goals against average and a .584 save percentage.

Riordan, a senior jumper and sprinter from Skaneateles, NY (Skaneateles HS), placed 11th in the long jump and 12th in the triple jump at the CAA outdoor championships in April, leading Delaware to a fifth place team finish. Riordan, who missed all of last season while recovering from a car accident in December, 2003, recently received the Outstanding Contributor Award presented by the UD Student Services for Athletes department.

Hastings, a senior pole vaulter from Seaford, DE (Seaford HS), posted four top 10 finishes in the pole vault at the CAA outdoor championships during her career, including an eighth place finish in 2005 with a jump of 9-6 1/4. She also placed fifth in the event in 2002, eighth in 2004, and ninth in 2003.

Gardner, a senior captain and outfielder from Chelmsford, MA (Chelmsford HS), was a three-year letterwinner for the UD softball squad, leading the 2005 team to record of 28-25. She started all 53 games this past spring and batted .194 with 10 runs batted in.

Harden, a senior captain and outfielder from Wilmington, DE (Dickinson HS), was a four-year letterwinner for the Hens and has led the team to a berth in the CAA Tournament this spring. He missed the second half of the 2005 season due to injuries suffered when he was struck by a car while walking near campus April 8. He batted .167 with four RBI in 2005 after batting .311 with a team-high 14 home runs in 2004.

Liebman, a junior from Westport, CT (Staples HS), posted a 7-16 record playing at No. 2 singles this past season and ranks 28th all-time at Delaware with 33 career singles wins. Earlier this month he was named the winner of the Lee J. Hyncik Award as the junior letterwinner on the UD men's tennis team with the highest grade point index.

Miller, a senior co-captain from Emmaus, PA (Emmaus HS), was a three-year letterwinner for the Blue Hens and played primarily at the No. 5 singles spot in 2004-05. She posted a singles record of 13-8 this past season and was 17-14 for her career. She also was 15-10 in doubles action this season and won the Swarthmore Invitational Flight E singles and Flight C doubles titles during the fall.

Banks, a senior from Freehold, NJ (Freehold Township), was a three-year letterwinner for the UD golf team. He ranked fifth on the team in 2004-05 with a 79.47 stroke average and placed 32nd at the CAA championships in April. He also placed 10th at the Scotty Duncan Memorial this spring.

In addition to the spring award recipients, also honored previously this year as their team's sportsmanship award winner were Jason Gordon (men's cross country), Leslie Wason (women's cross country), Leah Geib (field hockey), Shelby Lawrence (women's soccer), Richard Zeller (men's soccer), Niecy Taylor (volleyball), Mark Moore (football), Kyle Gurkovich (men's swimming and diving), Meredith Law (women's swimming and diving), Mike Slattery (men's basketball), Charlie Williams (men's indoor track and field), Brittany Wright (women' s indoor track and field), and Tiffany Young (women's basketball).