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| Vol. 18, No. 34 | June 10, 1999 |
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| Vol. 18, No. 34 | June 10, 1999 |
Football All-American Eddie Conti was named 1998-99 UD Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year at the annual UD men's athletics award luncheon, and All-American field hockey player Jodi Byrd was named UD's Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year at the 23rd annual UD women's intercollegiate athletics banquet.
In addition, two other student-athletes-track and field standout Dave Geesaman and women's lacrosse all-star Sarah Edwards-were honored this spring when they were selected to the 1999 GTE/College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District II Spring At-Large Team.
Conti, who has recently signed a free agent contract with the NFL's New York Jets, broke or tied 43 UD, Atlantic 10 Conference and NCAA I-AA records and was named to the NCAA I-AA All-American first team in 1998.
He also was a two-time All-East selection, two-time All-Atlantic 10 pick and played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game in Alabama.
A physical education major, Conti also was co-winner, with UD baseball outfielder Kevin Mench, of the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association's John J. Brady Award as the 1998 state's outstanding athlete.
Conti, a spread receiver, led Delaware to a 7-4 record and Top 25 ranking in 1998. He caught 91 passes, a school record, and led all National Collegiate Athletic Association I-AA receivers with 1,712 yards, setting a new NCAA record.
He established Atlantic 10 records for pass receiving in a game (345 yards on 15 catches in the game with Connecticut), season (1,712) and career (3,737).
His Delaware records include receptions in a game (15), season (91) and career (192); receiving yards in a game, season and career; all-purpose yardage in a game (401), season (2,368) and career (6,096); career touchdown receptions (31); consecutive games catching a pass (38); and 100-yard receiving games (13). He also holds UD's long punt return (85 yards) and pass reception (88) records, both against Northeastern.
Conti ranks No. 8 on the all-time NCAAI-AA passing/receiving/ yardage list and No. 9 on the NCAA all-time, all-purpose yardage list.
Byrd, a two-year captain and four-year starter, led the Blue Hens to a four-year run in which Delaware was ranked nationally her final three seasons, including a ranking of No. 6 in 1998.
The Blue Hens won at least 10 games and advanced to the America East semifinals each of Byrd's final three seasons, under head coach Carol Miller.
Both a defense and goal scorer, Byrd was a three-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection and was named a second team NFHCA All-American in 1998.
Byrd ranks eighth in all-time UD goal scoring with 35 goals, including 18 during her junior year when she ranked among the national leaders.
Her 79 career points, including 35 goals and 9 assists, ranks ninth in UD history.
Earning All-America East Conference honors three times during her career, Byrd was named America East Player of the Year in 1998 with 13 goals and six assists. She also was named to the America East All-Tournament team this fall.
Byrd is an honors student, majoring in physical education.
Geesaman, who was named to the men's first team, will now be eligible for the national Academic All-American team.
The academic honor was another of many for Geesaman, who graduated with a 3.682 grade point index in chemical engineering.
Geesaman, who earned third team CoSIDA Academic All-American honors last fall for cross country, led the Blue Hen outdoor track and field team to a second-place finish at the America East championships in early May by placing second in the 10,000 meters and sixth in the 5,000 meters.
He led the Blue Hens to the America East indoor title in February when he won the 5,000 meters.
He is a three-time America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a two-time winner of the ECAC/Robbins Award as UD's top male scholar-athlete.
Edwards, who was named to the women's second team, has a 3.774 grade point average as an elementary education major and has been a standout midfielder for the Blue Hen women's lacrosse team the last three seasons.
She led the nationally ranked squad to its third straight America East title this spring and earned second team All-America East honors for the second straight year.
Edwards was Delaware's second leading scorer this season with 32 goals and 16 assists. 
