Queens’ Ling, Daemen’s Salzberg Honored as John Smillie, Jr. Award Recipients

This year's honorees are Queens women's tennis senior Mariana Ling (Orlando, FL) and Daemen men's basketball graduate student Ryan Salzberg (Manlius, NY). Mariana Ling Queens | Senior | Women's Tennis Ling was coming off of a standout 2021-22 sophomore campaign. In her first year as a Knight, she played a key role in both singles and doubles, helping lead the team to its 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Ling closed the season with a dominant win over Franklin Pierce's Zoe Asterio Correa in the NCAA First Round – one of several performances that showcased her competitive edge and versatility on the court. She made her return to the court this past fall, teaming up with longtime teammate Rea Hagishima in doubles play. With her competitive spirit as fierce as ever, Ling helped secure key wins over ECC opponents Molloy and D'Youville, contributing to the team's momentum during a historic season – one that culminated in Queens winning the East Coast Conference Championship for the first time in five years. Ryan Salzberg  Daemen | Graduate Student | Men's Basketball | Guard On October 16, 2023, the first practice of his senior year, Salzberg went up for a layup and tore his ACL on his left knee.  Salzberg underwent successful surgery on November 16, 2023, dedicated six months of rehab and reconditioning, and was cleared to start playing basketball again in May 2024. The entire summer of 2024 allowed Salzberg to continue getting stronger, working on his basketball conditioning, and getting his ball-handling and shooting touch back. 
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