Panas named to MAAC 35th anniversary spring team
How many players occupied baseball rosters in the 35-year history of the MAAC? Thousands of players. Yet, when they named the 35th anniversary spring team, former Toronto Met Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) was elected.
By MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) began in 1980 and is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, the conference has compiled a 35th anniversary team to showcase its best spring sport athletes from the past three and half decades. These individuals, divided into a first and second team, are the best student-athletes in conference history.
Connor Panas, the only MAAC back-to-back male student athlete of the year award winner (2014, 2015), finished his Canisius career with a laundry list of accolades, helping to lead the Golden Griffins to their second MAAC Championship in 2015, earning 2015 MAAC Tournament MVP honors during the five-game win streak. Panas finished his Canisius career third in program history in hits, second in doubles and first in career-triples. Panas was highly regarded in the league, earning 2014 MAAC Player of the Year honors to go along with MAAC first-team accolades in both his junior and senior seasons. The Blue and Gold infielder was a 2015 Capital One Academic All-American along with an ABCA/Rawlings All-American nod. The Toronto, Ontario native was also just the second player in MAAC history to earn NCBWA District II Player of the Year honors.
Panas was one of five baseball players named to the First Team, while three were selected to the Second Team.
Athletes were selected from all sports including lacrosse, tennis, track and field, golf and baseball.
First Team
Connor Panas, Canisius, Baseball
Kevin Ross, Canisius, Men’s Lacrosse
Joe Michalsin, Fairfield, Men’s Tennis
Tim Bayley, Iona, Track and Field
Leonard Korir, Iona, Track and Field
Chris Cody, Manhattan, Baseball
Joseph Radin, Marist, Men’s Lacrosse
Chris Tracz, Marist, Baseball
Dylan Capwell, Monmouth, Track and Field
Mike Thomas, Rider, Baseball
Bryan Neufeld, Siena, Men’s Lacrosse
Dan Paolini, Siena, Baseball
Men’s Second Team
Matt Callaghan, Fairfield, Men’s Lacrosse
Jay Mulieri, Loyola, Golf
Michael Mulieri, Loyola, Golf
Eugene Tanner, Manhattan, Men’s Lacrosse
Victor Pugliese, Monmouth, Men’s Tennis
Walter Garcia, Niagara, Men’s Tennis
Jordan Schwartz, Niagara, Baseball
Kei Ezaka, Quinnipiac, Men’s Tennis
Thomas Jankins, Quinnipiac, Baseball
Scott Rich, Rider, Baseball
Connor Mullee, Saint Peter’s, Baseball
Isaiah Harris, Saint Peter’s, Track and Field