MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech's Sara Batchadji has been named the 2025-26 Sunshine State Conference Female Athlete of the Year, as announced by the league office on Thursday, June 18^th.
 
The SSC began awarding Male and Female Athlete of the Year in the 1987-88 academic year. The award is voted on by athletic directors, senior women administrators, athletic communication directors and faculty athletic representatives from each of the 11 SSC member institutions.
 
While leading the Panthers to their first national championship in program history, Batchadji recorded career highs in goals (5), points (15), shots (57) and shots on goal (27). Batchadji also scored the game-winning goal in the national semifinals against Cal Poly Pomona to send Florida Tech to the national championship game.

The Lubeck, Germany, native's long list of accolades includes being named the United Soccer Coaches National Scholar Player of the Year and National Player of the Year, a finalist for the 2025 Honda Cup Division II Athlete of the Year, First Team All-SSC, a member of the NCAA Division II All-Tournament Team, a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and a Second Team Academic All-American.

Outside of competition, Batchadji is active in the community, volunteering with the Down Syndrome Association of Brevard and National Marrow Donor Program, while also being an active member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

Batchadji is the first Panther to win the SSC Female Athlete of the Year award and just the second overall Athlete of the Year winner for Florida Tech (Richard Sharpe, Men's Soccer, 1992-93). She is also just the third women's soccer player to win the award since its inception in 1987.

Scholars. Champions. Leaders.