NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 15, 2016) -- It didn't take long for Wilmington University men's golf standout Ryan Rucinski to establish himself as one of the finest golfers in the conference, as on Friday the freshman garnered both the 2016 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Men's Golf Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards, respectively. The announcement was made by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara, who also announced that Rucinski had garnered one of the 10 spots on the all-conference team.

In addition to Rucinski's major awards, it was also announced that Concordia College's Nicholas Osso was named the 2016 BSN Sports CACC Coach of the Year, while Dominican College garnered the 2016 CACC Men's Golf Team Sportsmanship Award in helping to grow the sport and the CACC brand through acts of goodwill.

Rucinski has appeared in nine tournaments this season and averaged a score of 74.64 over 22 rounds competed in. His lowest round of the season was a two-under-par, 69, during the second round of the Buccaneer Invitational on April 4 at Normandy Shores Golf Club in Miami Beach, Fla.

He finished among the top-20 individuals in five tournaments, including a win in a playoff at the Coach Carpenter Classic, March 28-29, at the Crofton Country Club in Crofton, Md. Rucinski carded rounds of 74-74-76 for a three-round total of 224 (+8) on the par 72 course. He finished in a tie for first with teammate Joey Russo after 54 holes (3 rounds) and eventually won on the second playoff hole to earn his first collegiate individual title.

Rucinski competed in another playoff earlier during the fall season as he tied for first after 18 holes of the GBC Fall Invitational. The rookie carded an even-par, 71, at Deerfield Golf Club in Newark, Del., before coming up short on the fourth playoff hole to teammate Miguel Siercke. Despite the setback, Rucinski had laid claim to being one of the finest players in the conference and region.

Osso was named the BSN Sports Coach of the Year after guiding Concordia to seven top-five finishes in nine tournaments played in. The Clippers won a pair of tournaments, including the Philadelphia Tri-Match on March 22 with a 299 (+11) and then placing first out of 15 teams at this past weekend's Mike Bello Invitational. The Clippers also placed second out of 10 teams at the CACC Fall Invitational back on Oct. 6 at The ACE Club in Philadelphia.

Dominican received the team sportsmanship award for demonstrating outstanding character and sportsmanship under head coach Keith Prokop. 

Nine other CACC golf standouts were honored on Friday, as they joined Rucinski on the all-conference team. The 2016 All-CACC Team included Mos Bangpetch (Concordia), Sam Clark(Wilmington), Jordan Lamb (Wilmington), Andreas Lunding (Wilmington), Troy Miller(Wilmington), Sam Riemer (Chestnut Hill College), Juan Roa (Concordia), Rucinski, Russo and Siercke.

Five of this year's All-CACC honorees repeated their all-league honors from a season ago, including Bangpetch, Clark, Lunding, Riemer and Russo. Lunding was named last year's CACC Player of the Year, while Russo was crowned the league's rookie of the year.

All 10 individuals are gearing up for next week's 2016 CACC Championship, which will be held April 18-20 at Back Creek Golf Club in Middletown, Del. The practice round will be held on Monday (April 18) with the first and final rounds to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday (19-20). The winner of the championship will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II East/Atlantic Super Regional.

Fans are welcomed to come out to Back Creek to watch the championship live and for free. However, if fans cannot attend, the CACC and Wilmington University will be providing live stats and live video webstreaming of the championship throughout the first and final rounds. Fans wishing to watch the live video broadcast can do so by clicking HERE.

The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Nyack College, Philadelphia University, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.

2016 CACC MEN'S GOLF PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Rucinski (Wilmington)

2016 CACC MEN'S GOLF ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ryan Rucinski (Wilmington)

2016 BSN SPORTS CACC MEN'S GOLF COACH OF THE YEAR
Nicholas Osso (Concordia)

2016 CACC MEN'S GOLF TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Dominican College

2016 CACC MEN'S GOLF ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Mos Bangpetch (Concordia)
Sam Clark (Wilmington)
Jordan Lamb (Wilmington)
Andreas Lunding (Wilmington)
Troy Miller (Wilmington)
Sam Riemer (Chestnut Hill)
Juan Roa (Concordia)
Ryan Rucinski (Wilmington)
Joey Russo (Wilmington)
Miguel Siercke (Wilmington)