The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference

BABSON PARK, Mass. - The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) announced its 2008-09 men's basketball award winners on Tuesday, NEWMAC Tournament champion, MIT, earned three All-Conference selections, including the NEWMAC Player of the Year, Jimmy Bartolotta (Littleton, Colo.). MIT coach Larry Anderson was selected as the NEWMAC Coach of the Year. Clark freshman Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, Mass.) was named the Rookie of the Year while Babson College received the NEWMAC Sportsmanship award.

Joining Bartolotta on the All-Conference team were teammates Billy Johnson (Everett, Wash.) and Bradley Gampel (Miami, Fla.), each of whom were Second-Team selections. Regular season champion, WPI, also picked up three All-Conference nods. Jerome Kirkland (Boston, Mass.) was named to the First Team while teammates Ben Etten (Hollis, N.H.) and Adam Lirette (Dover, N.H.) garnered Second-Team honors. Coast Guard senior Craig Johnson (Medford, Ore.), Springfield junior Pat Crean (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) and Wheaton sophomore Anthony Coppola rounded out the All-Conference First Team. Mark Alexander (Providence, R.I.) of Clark and Babson's Zach Etten (Hollis, N.H.) were named to the Second Team.

2008-09 NEWMAC Men's Basketball Awards

Player of the Year
Jimmy Bartolotta, MIT

Rookie of the Year
Brian Vayda, Clark

Coach of the Year
Larry Anderson, MIT

Sportsmanship Award
Babson College

First Team All-Conference
Jimmy Bartolotta, MIT
Craig Johnson, Coast Guard
Pat Crean, Springfield
Anthony Coppola, Wheaton
Jerome Kirkland, WPI

Second Team All-Conference
Zach Etten, Babson
Mark Alexander, Clark
Bradley Gampel, MIT
Billy Johnson, MIT
Ben Etten, WPI
Adam Lirette, WPI

NEWMAC Announces 2008-09 Men’s Basketball Post-Season Award Winners