QUEENS, N.Y. – The City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) awarded its most prestigious honors – the 2024-25 Scholar-Athletes of the Years – at the 38th Annual Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner at Terrace on the Park on Thursday.
 
In a tradition that began when the conference was first founded in 1986-87, the CUNYAC annually recognizes two of its graduating student-athletes, rich in both academics and athletics, as its Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
 
In 2024-25, Baruch College’s Ava Deguzman (women’s tennis) and Hunter College’s Conor Sullivan (men’s soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field) were recognized as the Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
 
In addition to recognizing the Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the CUNY Athletic Conference honored 27 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mentions along with four All-Americans from the 2024-25 athletic year. Each were presented a plaque and CUNYAC sportswear.

2024-25 CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Honorable Mention

Baruch
Mia Castillo (women’s basketball)
Dylan Minnick (men’s basketball)
Ryan Oommen (men’s volleyball)

Brooklyn
Dasha Goodman (softball)
David Lema (men’s volleyball)
Aleah Rafat (women’s volleyball, basketball)
Ryan Sham (men’s tennis)

CCNY
Vivianna Alatorre (women’s volleyball)
MIchael Chasanov (baseball)
Jessica Fuentes (women’s soccer)
Stephen Suprun (baseball)

Hunter
Jessica Fowler (softball)
Bethany Tomaneng (women’s volleyball)
Nick Yao (men’s volleyball)

John Jay
Ellarose Bianca (women’s soccer)
Daniel Gonzalez Verdejo (men’s volleyball)
Kristin Gretener (women’s volleyball)
Ethan Simaan (baseball)

Lehman
Nelson Benzan, Jr. (men’s track and field)
Marilyn Cadena (women’s soccer)
Vitoria Heloany Reis (women’s tennis)
Marcos Rosario (men’s swimming)

Medgar Evers
Kayshaun Higgs (men’s volleyball)

York
Maryam Khan (women’s tennis)
Richard Reyes (men’s track and field/swimming)
Stanley Sanchez (men’s soccer/volleyball)
Jasmine Vega (women’s volleyball)
 

For the latest news on the CUNY Athletic Conference, log on to cunyathletics.com – the official site of the CUNY Athletic Conference. Also, become a follower of the CUNYAC on Instagram (@CUNYAC), Twitter (@CUNYAC) and YouTube (@CUNY Athletic Conference), and “LIKE” Us on Facebook (CUNY Athletic Conference). 

TJ Dillashaw literally went out on a limb in his eighth UFC title fight.

The former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion is one of the greatest fighters ever at 135lbs, having beaten then-champion Renan Barao and Cody Garbrandt twice as well as #4-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen.

Despite his resume, TJ Dillashaw had one of the most controversial final chapters in UFC history.

Following a two-year suspension for the performance-enhancing drug EPO, Dillashaw returned to the win column against Sandhagen in 2021 and was given a title fight a year later against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 in Oct. 2022.

Prior to the fight, Dillashaw failed to disclose a career-ending shoulder injury and refused to withdraw. On fight night, Dillashaw would lose in a lopsided second-round TKO after his shoulder popped out.

This would be Dillashaw’s last MMA fight. Years after his retirement, the former champion explains what made him so confident in beating Sterling even with the brutal handicap.

TJ Dillashaw thought he’d KO Aljamain Sterling with one arm: ‘His striking was garbage’

While on ‘The Jaxxon Podcast’, Quinton Jackson said he was at the gym the day Dillashaw’s shoulder popped out in training and told Dillashaw he wished he had pulled out of the Sterling fight.

Dillashaw explains why he didn’t.

“I was fighting a guy that I felt like I could still beat with the arm that I had,” Dillashaw said of Sterling.

“I felt like I could’ve knocked him out. Yeah, [with one arm].

“His striking is complete garbage,” Dillashaw added.

A wrestler at heart, Sterling dominated Dillashaw with his takedowns as Dillashaw grimaced in pain with his shoulder injury.

Dillashaw was heavily criticized for not withdrawing from the bantamweight title fight.

TJ Dillashaw says being ‘delusionally optimistic’ got him to the UFC title in the first place

The odds weren’t great for Dillashaw at UFC 280 but neither were his chances of fighting again after shoulder surgery. Dillashaw can’t raise his left arm too high nowadays because of the injury.

Still, Dillashaw pushed through and made it to his title fight against Sterling, where he attempted to become a three-time champion—a feat only Jon Jones and Randy Couture have been able to accomplish in the UFC.

“I know I’m gonna have to have shoulder surgery, so I’m gonna be out for another year and a half. I’m 36 years old. It’s kinda like, this might be my last f—— shot,” Dillashaw said.

“Ends up, yes, it was because my shoulder was so bad…

“So it’s like, why am I gonna pass up this opportunity? Might be my last shot ever to be a three time world champion [and] get my belt back.

“[The odds] were f—— awesome,” Dillashaw joked.

“I’m delusionally optimistic but I really believe that’s also what got me to the belt. I believed in myself so much that I was able to push through so much negativity and get to the top,” Dillashaw said.

The UFC is back in Vegas where welterweight prospect Michael Morales will get a real test in the main event against veteran Gilbert Burns. Our MMA team covers all 12 matchups on the slate with The Beatdown.

Photo: Swatch Nines

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Swatch Nines surf returns to Waco, Texas June 23-25 and the athlete lineup has been announced. Thirty-five surfers, skateboarders, and BMX stars will gather for the three-day progression session.

Surfers include Zoë McDougall, Coco Ho, Milla Coco Brown, Macy Callaghan, Juliette Lacome, Dimity Stoyle, Mason Ho, Balaram Stack, Noah Beschen, Matt Meola, Jacob Szekely, Blair Conklin, Chippa Wilson, Dylan Graves, Josh Sleigh, and Lyon Farrell.

The lineup of skateboarders will include Andy Anderson, Val LaForge, Gustavo Ribeiro, Gabriel Ribeiro, Greyson Fletcher, Clay Kreiner, and the five BMX athletes in Waco will feature Sam Pilgrim, Kevin Peraza, Matthias Dandois, Erik Fedko, and Dennis Enarson.

The Swatch Nines promotional webpage hasn’t released many other details aside from the new athlete lineup and new promo video, but then again, what else is there to reveal? Just show up and let ‘er rip.

“For nearly two decades, Swatch Nines has carved out a unique place in the world of action sports,” they wrote on YouTube. “With 17 years of innovative events across snow, skate, and surf, the concept is simple but powerful: bring together elite athletes, visionary designers, and partners to create a space that’s not about competing — it’s about pushing boundaries, capturing magic, and having fun.”

Global finance, innovation and leadership take center stage in Doha this week as the Qatar Economic Forum, powered by Bloomberg, returns for its fifth edition from May 20-22 at the Fairmont Doha. Under the theme “The Road to 2030: Transforming the Global Economy,” the forum underscores Qatar’s growing role as a hub for international dialogue and economic transformation.

More than 1,500 global leaders — including CEOs, investors, policymakers and cultural figures — will convene to explore five editorial pillars: geopolitics and trade, business outlook, energy and security, sports and entertainment, and technology and AI. This year’s lineup includes Michael R. Bloomberg, Mary Callahan Erdoes (JP Morgan), Tony Elumelu (Heirs Holdings) and Tan Su Shan (DBS Bank), offering high-level insights into the forces reshaping global capital, policy and industry.

Hosted by Media City Qatar in collaboration with Bloomberg, the forum aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, emphasizing innovation, sustainability and economic resilience. With registration now closed, audiences can tune in to the live broadcast and follow key moments via social media.

Location: Fairmont Hotel, Doha

Dates: May 20-22

More details here.