MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech hosted the annual Scholars, Champions, Leaders Awards, celebrating athletic and academic successes at the Clemente Center on Thursday.
The evening began by recognizing the Panthers' four All-Americans and three Academic All-Americans from this past year, followed by celebrating the 257 scholar-athletes named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
GPA Award
The first award of the evening, the Team Grade Point Average Award, recognizes the highest cumulative GPA achieved by our men's and women's teams, underscoring the importance of academic excellence in sports.
The women's Lacrosse team earned the Women's Team GPA Award with a 3.60 cumulative GPA, and the Men's Soccer team received the Men's Team GPA Award with a 3.64 cumulative GPA.
Martha Work and Andy Seminick Sportsmanship Awards
Following the GPA Awards, the Female and Male Sportsmanship Awards were announced. The awards are named in honor of former booster and team supporter Martha Work and former head baseball coach Andy Seminick. To receive this award, the scholar-athletes must exhibit respect, courtesy, and restraint in their actions and remain positive in pursuit of excellence.
Due to her always looking for ways to support and encourage her teammates, while also demonstrating respect and positivity towards opposing teams,
Linsey Whipple (Volleyball) was named the Martha Work Sportsmanship Award winner.
Nominated for the Martha Work Sportsmanship Award were
Samantha Shortal (Softball),
Linsey Whipple (Volleyball), and
McKenzie Winder (Women's Basketball).
Brian Barlotta (Men's Lacrosse) earned the Andy Seminick Sportsmanship Award for his exceptional leadership, earning praise from officials and his ability to communicate with professionalism and respect.
Nominated for the Andy Seminick Sportsmanship Award were
Logan Allen (Men's Basketball),
Brian Barlotta (Men's Lacrosse),
Jason Hargesheimer (Men's Track),
Justas Kuskevicius (Men's Rowing),
Connor Orth (Men's Swimming), and
Austin Sewell (Baseball).
Freshman of the Year
The Freshman of the Year Award recognizes the female and male scholar-athletes who excelled in their first athletic season.
The Female Freshman of the Year went to
Haley Rider (Softball), a dominant force in the lineup, who started 40 of 42 games and led the team with a .378 batting average. Rider posted a stellar .597 slugging percentage and 1.029 OPS while delivering six doubles, four triples, and four home runs. With 22 RBIs and 17 runs scored,
The nominees were the following,
Nadine Johnson (Women's Basketball),
Clare McGuire (Women's Lacrosse),
Alice Mottershead (Women's Soccer),
Haley Rider (Softball), and
Melissa Zucco (Women's Swimming).
After finishing as the fastest freshman in the SSC, earning SSC Cross Country Freshman of the Year and All-SSC Second Team,
Ben Peck (Men's Cross Country) earned the Male Freshman of the Year.
The nominees for the men were the following
Filippo Bessi (Men's Track),
Ben Csernak (Men's Basketball), Matteo Ghiaradelli (Men's Soccer),
Carson Mann (Men's Lacrosse),
Efe Ongoren (Men's Swimming),
Ben Peck (Men's Cross Country),
Pedro Castro (Men's Rowing), and Connor Wiggins (Baseball).
Rising Star
The Rising Star Awards are presented to an emerging leader in their sport whose performance reflects growth in contribution to their team's success and increased levels of leadership.
Kaitlin Sinkler (Women's Soccer) was named the Female Rising Star winner for her tremendous junior campaign. Kaitlin led the SSC in goals against average (0.645), allowing just 10 goals in 16 games played and nearly 1600 minutes on the pitch.
Nominated for the Female Rising Star Award were
Courtney Capar (Volleyball),
Mikayla Morin (Women's Basketball),
Sammy Murphy (Softball),
Miranda Olhasso (Women's Swimming), and
Kaitlin Sinkler (Women's Soccer).
Steve Ulrichs (Men's Lacrosse) claimed the Male Rising Star Award as a defensive force for Florida Tech, making an immediate impact. Ulrichs started all 16 games with 34 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers. Tasked with shutting down top attackers, he also contributed offensively with a goal and two assists. His dominance earned him USILA D2 Team of the Week honors after a standout performance in Tech's 14-9 win over North Greenville, where he led with five turnovers and seven ground balls.
Nominated for the Male Rising Star Award were
Marshall Burke (Baseball),
Diego Estebanes (Men's Track),
Thomas Matt (Men's Rowing),
Alvaro Ivorra Ronda (Men's Soccer), and
Steve Ulrichs (Men's Lacrosse).
Sports Performance Awards
The Sports Performance Awards were given by the Sports Performance Department to the athlete whose athletic accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength and conditioning.
The Female Sports Performance Award was given to Kari Bogen (Volleyball) for her unwavering dedication this past year in the weight room and on the court, consistently showing up and looking for ways to improve.
The Male Sports Performance Award went to
Roman Samson (Baseball), one of the strongest athletes, for his leadership in the weight room, as he exemplifies the qualities our coaches look for.
Panther Award
An individual outside of athletics who has shown continuous support and has made an impact within our programs was eligible for the Panther Award.
Javan Cameron received the Panther Award as he's a mentor, a supporter, and a familiar face of encouragement. With a larger-than-life presence in the café he manages, he goes beyond serving coffee by building genuine connections with scholar-athletes and staff.
Nominees for the Panther Award consisted of Javan Cameron (Barista/Lead Cashier), Peggy Zismeister (Campus Dining Services), Tim Muth (Professor, College of Business), Lauryn Countryman (Little League District 2), Adam Demers (Director of Housing), Eroica Davis (Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid and Compliance), and Paul Costintino (Professor, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering).
Performance of the Year
The Performance of the Year Awards recognize an individual athlete's best and most significant performance in a single contest.
Cordelia Kearns claimed the Female Performance of the Year Award. In the regular season game against Tampa at home, Cordelia led with 23 kills and 11 digs to give Tech the program's first-ever win against Tampa in a thrilling five-set match.
Nominated female performances were
Rae Ann Dressel's (Women's Swimming) record-breaking performance at the SSC Championships, Cordelia Kearn's (Volleyball) 23 Kills and 11 Digs against top-ranked Tampa,
Sarah Liberatore's (Women's Basketball) 21-point performance at Flagler, Softball's five-run comeback at Florida Southern, and
Kaitlin Sinkler's (Women's Soccer) penalty kick save to win the SSC title.
Pitching seven innings in a 2-0 shutout victory over No. 4 Florida Southern,
Jacob Pino (Baseball) earned the Male Performance of the Year Award. He gave up just two hits and zero runs while totaling four strikeouts, facing 23 batters. His performance earned him the SSC and Regional Pitcher of the Week honors.
Nominated male performances were Men's Rowing's Varsity 4's third-place finish at IRA's,
Jax Francisco's (Men's Lacrosse) career-high 19 saves against Alabama-Huntsville,
Jason Hargesheimer's (Men's Track) 800-meter performance at the Eagles Invite,
Efe Ongoren's (Men's Swimming) B-Cut final performance at the NCAA Championships,
Jacob Pino's (Baseball) two-hit, zero earned runs performance against No. 4 FSC, and
Max Polks' (Men's Basketball) 32-point performance against Eckerd.
Champions Award
The Champion's Award is based on his/her athletic performance and accomplishments during the 2024-25 athletic year.
Earning her second award, Kearns (Volleyball) claimed the Female Champions Award after becoming the program's first-ever All-American and leading the volleyball program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Kearns totaled 501 kills, 29 service aces, 42 block assists, nine block solos, and 20 double-doubles while recording 10+ kills in 29 of 30 matches this season and 20+ kills in six games. Her 501 kills led the SSC, were seventh in the country, and are the second most in a season in program history.
Nominated for the women were
Cordelia Kearns (Volleyball),
Marta Llopis (Women's Soccer),
Kyandra Poitier (Women's Basketball), and
Sophia Scichilone (Women's Lacrosse).
Filippo Fazzi (Men's Soccer) claimed the Male Champions Award. An All-Region First Team honoree, Fazzi appeared in all 17 games with 16 starts, accumulating a team-high seven goals and tallying the second-most assists with four. The senior finished in the conference's top 10 in goals and game-winning goals.
Nominees for the men were
Donovan Brown (Men's Basketball),
Filippo Fazzi (Men's Soccer),
Gabe Garrett (Baseball),
Omer Bayram (Men's Rowing),
Ben Peck (Men's Cross Country), and
Jakob Terpak (Men's Lacrosse).
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented to a scholar-athlete who has demonstrated a combination of academic and athletic excellence and years of service to the team.
Daniela Tobon (Women's Soccer) was named the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA in Conservation Technology as a graduate student. Tobon's a two-time CSC Academic All-District Honoree and has been named to the SSC Honor Roll and Florida Tech AD Honor Roll every year. She's been a key contributor on the field, earning this year's SSC Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Nominated for the women were
Ella Niles (Softball),
Chiara Patelli (Volleyball),
Sophia Scichilone (Women's Lacrosse), and
Daniela Tobon (Women's Soccer).
Jacopo Ghezzi (Men's Soccer) was named the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a 3.89 GPA in Computer Engineering. Ghezzi is a USC 2024 Scholar All-American, a two-time Academic All-District honoree, and has earned the SSC Commissioners' Honor Roll and AD's Honor Roll every year. Jacopo is also an All-SSC and All-Region First Team selection.
Nominated for the men were
Jacopo Ghezzi (Men's Soccer),
Garrett Gmeiner (Men's Lacrosse),
Carlos Guzman (Baseball),
Donovan Murphy (Men's Basketball),
Hugo Ruzicka (Men's Rowing), and
Jack Schule (Men's Track).
Leadership Award
The Leadership Award goes to a scholar-athlete who exemplifies leadership and commitment.
The Female Leadership Award went to
Tai Roberts (Women's Basketball), who embodies the saying 'lead by example', setting the standard for scholar-athletes through her relentless work ethic. Always the first on the court and the last to leave, she dedicates herself to perfecting her game. Her commitment and determination inspire those around her, making her a true leader both on and off the court.
Emma Angelo (Women's Lacrosse),
Savannah Oxley (Women's Soccer),
Ashley Rants (Volleyball), and
Tai Roberts (Women's Basketball) were nominated for the female award.
The Male Leadership Award went to
Domantas Marocka (Men's Rowing). A two-time team captain, Marocka has been a crucial leader in guiding the men's rowing team through a new coaching philosophy and staff. Respected and well-loved by his teammates, he embodies the team culture through his positivity and leadership. His ability to facilitate clear communication between coaches and athletes has fostered unity and success within the program.
Neils Buitenhuis (Men's Cross Country),
Isaiah Edden (Men's Basketball),
Armando Loynaz (Men's Soccer),
Domantas Marocka (Men's Rowing),
Roman Samson (Baseball), and
Gavin Wessel (Men's Lacrosse) were nominated for the male award.
Team of the Year
The final award of the evening was the Team of the Year Award, which is presented to the team that has achieved the most notable performance during the 2024-25 season.
Taking home the Team of the Year Award was Volleyball. It was a record year for the Volleyball program, as they finished the season with a 20-10 overall record, made their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, earned their first-ever National Ranking, and had the first two All-American selections. During the season, they took down four top-ranked opponents, including earning the program's first-ever win against Tampa.
The evening closed out with senior speeches from
Kiera Ceely of women's swimming and
JR Radun of men's lacrosse.
