NEW YORK – Sara Batchadji, a junior from Florida Tech, has been named a finalist in soccer for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. Batchadji is now among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II athletes across various sports. The DII Honda Athlete of the Year will be selected by senior women administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.
"I feel incredibly honored to be named a finalist for the Honda DII Athlete of the Year," stated Batchadji. "This recognition means so much to me, not just because of how special it is, but because it reflects all the work we've put in as a team. The athletes around me, along with our coaching staff, support me every day, and without them I would not be in this position. Being a part of a group that pushes each other every day, both on the field and off the field has been one of the best experiences of my life. I am extremely thankful for the recognition and support we've received as a team since winning the National Championship and I'm truly honored to represent my team and this amazing program on such a big stage."
Batchadji, a junior midfielder from Lübeck, Germany, was most recently named the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Player of the Year, continuing to add to an impressive resume during the 2025 season. She has already earned United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-South Region, D2CCA Second-Team All-South Region, CSC Academic All-District, and All-SSC First-Team honors for the second straight year.
Batchadji appeared in all 26 matches this season, recording five goals, five assists, and 15 points from the back line. Her most memorable strike came against Cal Poly Pomona, delivering the game-winner that sent Tech to its first-ever national championship match.
A key contributor to the program's sustained success, Batchadji played a vital role in guiding the Panthers to their first national championship in program history. She helped lead the Panthers to their third NCAA Final Four appearance and became part of her second Final Four team (also in 2023). The season marked career highs for Batchadji in goals (5), points (15), shots (57), and shots on goal (27).
Her standout year extends beyond the field, as Batchadji was also named a CSC Academic All-American and United Soccer Coaches Women's Scholar All-South Region honoree.
"We are so proud of Sara and all she represents as a scholar athlete," stated head coach Katy Freels."Sara is a special player who can take over games with her quality, intelligence, composure and technique, but more importantly Sara is an unbelievable person. She cares about her teammates with such sincerity and kindness, always leads by example and pursues excellence in every aspect of her life. Sara balances the demands of being a scholar athlete with so much dedication and maturity and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition than Sara."
"What Sara has accomplished this season is nothing short of extraordinary," added Athletic Director Jamie Joss. "To earn both national Player of the Year and Scholar Player of the Year honors is a testament to her remarkable dedication both on the field and in the classroom. She truly embodies what it means to be a Panther athlete as a scholar, champion and leader. Now, to see her recognized as a finalist for the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards Division II Athlete of the Year among the nation's elite athletes across all sports is simply incredible. Sara represents the very best of our athletic program and our institution. She's worked tirelessly to reach this level, and to be selected from such a competitive field of exceptional female athletes is an honor we don't take lightly. We could not be more proud of Sara, and, regardless of the final outcome, she's already proven herself to be a champion in every sense of the word. This recognition reflects not just her individual excellence, but the culture of achievement and support we strive to build across all our programs."
Now in its 50th year, the CWSA continues to honor the nation's top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, strengthening and advancing women's athletics programs nationwide.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation
For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company's mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life's potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.
