CHERRY HILL, NJ – The award dinner honorees included the American League's Most Valuable Player Mike Trout from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Mo'ne Davis and the Taney Dragons, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen, Villanova University basketball great Chris Ford and Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier. With the nation's most recognized award, the Most Courageous Athlete presented to Rowan University pitcher Richie Suarez.
He received the award at the Philadelphia Sports Writers 111th annual banquet, which was held on Friday, January 16 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The recipient of the award is kept a secret until it is given at the end of the evening to an amateur or professional athlete that has returned to his or her sport after a serious injury or setback.
"I don't feel what I did should be described as courageous," said Suarez. "I feel I did what anyone else would have done in the same situation. I just wanted to take my life back."
Suarez was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in August 2010 before he was to attend the University as a freshman that fall. He was scheduled for 14 months of chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsies, spinal taps and cranial radiation at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Suarez endured 40 months of treatment overall.
In the spring (March 2011), doctors identified that Suarez had avascular necrosis (AVN), which is a condition that causes bone tissue to die because of a significant loss of blood supply. He was informed at the end of the year (December 2011), that the AVN was in his hips, knees, tibias and femurs. Suarez's doctors told him that he would never play baseball again. The next year in August (2012), he underwent core decompression surgery on his left hip and knee to slow the AVN. The doctors then found that Suarez needed a bilateral hip replacement surgery, which he had in December (2012).
Suarez started his education at Rowan in January (2012). He went through several months of rehabilitation and returned to the mound in the summer of 2013. With the encouragement of his coaches, Suarez made the Rowan baseball team that fall. He received his last chemotherapy on December 22nd (2013). In high school, he played for coach Rob Christ at Eastern Regional. During the treatment process, he kept in contact with then Rowan head coach Juan Ranero.
In relief, the right-hander earned his first collegiate victory in a 6-4 win at Randolph-Macon College on February 23, 2014. He finished the season with a 3-0 record and a 4.05 earned run average. In nine appearances, Suarez threw 13.1 innings, had 10 strikeouts and held opponents to a .269 batting average. He also recorded wins versus Eastern Connecticut State University, 12-6 (Mar. 15) and against New Jersey City University, 16-1 (Apr. 17). For his performance against Eastern Connecticut State, he was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Division II/III Rookie Pitcher of the Week. Suarez pitched four innings and scattered four hits. He gave up one unearned run and struck out four batters
This week (Jan. 15), Suarez was selected as a recipient of the Haier Achievement Award, which is presented to deserving student-athletes for their accomplishments beyond sports. A senior, Suarez is majoring in biological science and plans to attend medical school. In the fall (2014), he received the Eastern College Athletic Conference Award of Valor. Suarez is a Rowan Scholar-Athlete and on the Dean's List. He is a member of the Bio and Pre-Health Clubs. Last spring, he was a NJAC All-Academic honorable mention selection.
