NEW YORK - The BIG EAST Conference has announced the winners of the 2025-26 BIG EAST Sport Excellence Awards, which recognize academic and athletic achievement as well as community service.
The Sport Excellence Awards are presented to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The winners are selected by the BIG EAST Faculty Athletics Representative Council.
Seton Hall led all schools with seven honorees. UConn, Butler, Marquette and St. John’s also had multiple recipients.
While the format of the awards allows for only one declared winner in each sport category, the selection of the recipients proves each year to be a challenge for the Faculty Athletics Representative Council. The nominees represent exceptional student-athletes who excel in academics, service and athletics and are outstanding representatives of their schools and the Conference.
Academic & Athletic Excellence
2025-26 BIG EAST Sport Excellence Award Winners
Baseball
Ryan Reich
Seton Hall
GPA3.749
Men's Basketball
Alex Karaban
UConn
GPA3.920*
Men's Cross Country
Stephen Beaman
Seton Hall
GPA4.000*
Men's Golf
Mason Schmidtke
Marquette
GPA3.781
Men's Indoor Track & Field
Jesse Hamlin
Butler
GPA3.904*
Men's Lacrosse
Peter Detwiler
Marquette
GPA3.901
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
William Zegarski
Butler
GPA3.611
Men's Soccer
Axel Berglund
Seton Hall
GPA3.970
Men's Swimming & Diving
Kevin Cary
Seton Hall
GPA3.600
Men's Tennis
Adam Groves
St. John’s
GPA3.910
Softball
Hailey Conger
Butler
GPA3.949
Volleyball
Erin Jones
St. John’s
GPA3.980
Women's Basketball
Savannah Catalon
Seton Hall
GPA3.796
Women's Cross Country
Melissa Riggins
Georgetown
GPA4.000*
Field Hockey
Sol Simone
UConn
GPA3.963
Women's Golf
Lara Todorovic
Seton Hall
GPA3.960
Women's Indoor Track & Field
Anna Connors
UConn
GPA3.880
Women's Lacrosse
Hanna Bodner
Marquette
GPA3.959*
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Jamora Alves
St. John’s
GPA3.620
Women's Soccer
Maja Lardner
Georgetown
GPA4.000*
Women's Swimming & Diving
Jordyn Libler
Xavier
GPA3.895
Women's Tennis
Niamh Campbell
Seton Hall
GPA4.000
* Graduate GPA indicated.