SCSU women’s hockey picks up forward Payton Holloway on 2nd recruiting try
With the NCAA Division I hockey transfer portal, there are times when schools get a second opportunity to recruit players. That was the case for Payton Holloway. Holloway, a forward from Tomah, Wisconsin, played forward the last two seasons at Minnesota Duluth. When she was finishing up playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Holloway narrowed her college […]
With the NCAA Division I hockey transfer portal, there are times when schools get a second opportunity to recruit players.
That was the case for Payton Holloway. Holloway, a forward from Tomah, Wisconsin, played forward the last two seasons at Minnesota Duluth.
When she was finishing up playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Holloway narrowed her college choices to
St. Cloud State
and UMD. She chose the Bulldogs at the time. But she entered the transfer portal after last season and will be playing for SCSU this fall.
“I wasn’t getting the opportunity here at Duluth that I was wanting and I wasn’t able to showcase my abilities and really play my game,” Holloway said Thursday, May 1. “I wasn’t going to get any more opportunity next year. I thought I would enter the portal and see what was out there.”
The third week of April, she decided to play for the Huskies.
“It’s definitely stressful,” Holloway said. “There were quite a few schools reaching out. I had quite a few phone calls and quite a few with the same schools. I was able to narrow down right away which ones I was interested in. St. Cloud reached out a few days after I entered the portal. Once they reached out, it was kind of a no-brainer.”
She had an official on-campus visit to SCSU when she playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Her connection to SCSU coach Brian Idalski played a role, and so did his track record.
“His ability to build the program the past few years,” Holloway said of what impresses her about Idalski. “He’s a great coach. He’s the type of coach that I’m looking for. His coaching style, the way he goes about things: I just really like that about him. I’m really excited to be coached by someone like him.”
Idalski said that with the transfer portal, if a team does not get a player the first time around, it’s important to still be on good terms with them.
“When you talk about what the landscape is with recruiting and the transfer portal, there’s a lot of kids who circle back,” he said. “So you try to leave on good terms, knowing you may end up seeing that kid in a couple years in the transfer portal. Building that relationship and those conversations are important for not only then, but down the road.”
Holloway said that her parents, Ian and Laura, are also excited about her choice.
“They’re pretty pumped,” she said of her parents. “My dad is really excited, excited to see me so happy to be going to a place that I think is going to be very good for me, both on and off the ice. They have a good exercise science program. That’s a big plus.
“It’ll be great to go to St. Cloud and play for that coaching staff and be able to develop to where I want to be at the next level.”
In two seasons at UMD, Holloway had a goal and two assists in 60 games.
Minnesota Duluth forward Payton Holloway (6) skates with the puck against Vermont on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group
Holloway’s father played hockey for the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the 1990s and gave her an early start in hockey.
“My dad put me on skates when I was about 3 years old,” she said.
He also coached her teams until she was 14.
“He’s very knowledgeable and he knows the game really well,” Holloway said of her dad. “There’s always pros and cons to having a parent as a coach. They can be a little extra hard on you.
“But I think him being hard on me really motivated me to be a good player and the player that I am. I’ve always liked a coaching style that is honest. ‘This is what you’re doing wrong. This is you need to do.’ I grew up with him being like that. There was never any negativity. There were never any fights. He was hard on me because he wanted to see me achieve and be great.”
Ian also helped coach when Holloway moved up to AAA hockey and played for the Madison Capitols.
She then decided to go to Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the famous prep school in Faribault, Minnesota.
“I played in Madison for the Capitols for 4-5 years,” Holloway said. “I was looking for something new, something where I could develop a little bit more and get ready for college. Me and a girl from Madison both ended going to Shattuck. We ended up loving it. I think the best decision I’ve made was to go to Shattuck. It’s a great place for hockey and the schooling was awesome.”
She played two seasons for the Under-19 team. Her last season in 2022-23, she led the team in both goals (35) and points (60) in 52 games and helped Shattuck-St. Mary’s win the national title.
Minnesota Duluth’s Payton Holloway (6) races for the puck in a game against Bemidji State at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
CONTRIBUTED
What she brings to the ice
When she was playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s, she played center. With the Bulldogs, she played mostly wing and she is hoping to get back to playing center this season with the Huskies.
“I’ve always been a center, so I’m really looking forward to that,” she said. “I think I have very good vision on the ice. I read plays very well. I always think a step ahead and I feel like I’m a very smart player and a good shot, great passing. I think I have a great hockey IQ and I’m really excited to be able to showcase that at St. Cloud and do some damage in the WCHA and take down the top teams.”
Idalski said that with the graduation of centers
Emma Gentry
and
Brieja Parent,
Holloway and transfer Sidney Jackel (Lindenwood) are both going to get looks at center.
“The natural centers that we have are young and freshmen,” Idalski said. “I don’t like putting freshmen in the middle of the ice. That’s got to be a pretty special kid to me. We’re going to take a look at it and she did it when she was younger. Jackel’s the same way. Both get a look down the middle of the ice.”
Despite her lack of production at UMD, Idalski sees potential offense in Holloway.
“She’s got a profile for the ability to put the puck in the net,” he said. “It didn’t happen a whole lot at Duluth for whatever reason. She can shoot a puck and she’s going to have the opportunity to come in and compete to be a top-six kid for us and someone that can score. That’s an area we want to upgrade. We’re excited about that possibility and the chance to work with her.”
Holloway said that her younger brother, Parker, is also a forward. Parker is about to graduate from Tomah High School and plans to play for junior hockey for the Wisconsin Woodsmen, an NA3HL team that plays their home games in Tomah.
“(My dad) always tried to get me and my brother to play ‘D,’ but neither of us caved into that,” she said.
While Parker has a new team, Payton is glad that her decision to pick a new school to play for is over.
“The whole not knowing where I was going to go was a little scary, but it was a good scary,” she said. “There was a place out there that was better for me. I’m just happy to be able to focus on getting ready for the season and dialing in on their workout and training stuff.”
Minnesota Duluth forward Payton Holloway (6) passes the puck against Syracuse on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
What does it mean to be a female athlete? Running striders till you throw up? Singing with your teammates during your hour-long bus ride to Huntley? Or starting each season with the annual fundraising car wash? In Lulu Keil’s case, being a female athlete means pairing each homecoming dress with an assortment of bruises from […]
What does it mean to be a female athlete? Running striders till you throw up? Singing with your teammates during your hour-long bus ride to Huntley? Or starting each season with the annual fundraising car wash?
In Lulu Keil’s case, being a female athlete means pairing each homecoming dress with an assortment of bruises from her game the night before.
Captain Lulu Keil #7 Varsity Lacrosse
As a Varsity field hockey, lacrosse, and basketball player, Keil is no stranger to the guts and glory it takes to be a female athlete. Whether it’s fall, spring or winter, the pride she takes in wearing her jersey to school is undeniable and it inspires her peers to follow in her footsteps.
“I love coming to school in my uniform. It’s so fun to represent your team and having teachers ask you about your game really makes the school feel more like a community,” said Keil.
Like most aspiring athletes, Lulu grew up playing a variety of sports: tennis, golf, ice hockey, and soccer. It wasn’t until her freshman year when she decided to try out for the girls field hockey and lacrosse teams, and to no one’s surprise, she was a natural.
With her unwavering determination and hunger to succeed, Keil quickly became a vital player on both teams, earning her a starting position, and a captain title.
“Lulu’s probably one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive person on our team, she hates to lose, and she’s willing to fight. Watching her do that throughout tryouts, watching her do that everyday in drills, I never doubted that she was ready to be a Varsity level player, even when she might’ve doubted it,” said Girls Varsity Lacrosse and Field Hockey Coach Catanzaro.
Lulu Keil #14 Varsity Basketball
Catanzaro credits Lulu’s success to her unpredictable movement on the field.
“Lulu stands out as an athlete primarily because she can do things you don’t expect. She is dynamic, she is smart on the field, regardless of what sport it is, and she has an amazing ability to read the situation and adjust to it before other players do,” said Catanzaro.
Not only has Keil mastered the skills it takes to win a game, she understands the criteria for a strong team dynamic. Amongst her teammates, she is recognized as the “heart and soul” of the team. She exemplifies the perfect balance of focus and hard work, while also maintaining a supportive, and lighthearted attitude for her peers.
“Lulu and I sat on the bus together during field hockey and basketball season and we always had so much fun together. She really helped ease my nerves before a game, and those bus rides were some of the most memorable parts of my athletic career,” said teammate Ryan Rice.
LFHS athletics has provided Keil with memories, skills, and friendships that will last a lifetime. From an intimidated freshman to a starting Varsity captain, the four years she has dedicated to her teams has shaped her into the person she is today and taught her the importance of being apart of a team.
“It’s not just a one person sport, and in order to be successful in field hockey, everyone on the team has to be doing their part,” said Keil, “I also love meeting so many new people and making connections with people I wouldn’t otherwise know.”
Regardless of her success at LFHS, Keil never imagined continuing her athletic career onto a collegiate level.
“I decided pretty late that I wanted to play field hockey in college. At first, I thought I wanted more of a traditional college experience, but during my final season at LFHS, I realized that I couldn’t picture my life without field hockey,” said Keil.
After emailing back and forth with the coach and visiting the campus, Keil announced her commitment to play field hockey at Dension University.
“Lulu is a Divison 1 level player. Denison is getting far more than they bargained for with her; she is going to go there and do great things. I can see Lulu being an All American, if she choses. The sky’s the limit for her, and I think she will take Denison by storm,” Catanzaro said.
Zakai Zeigler, SEC’s 2-time defensive player of year, suing NCAA to play 5th season in 5 years
Associated Press Two-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA over rules limiting him to four seasons in a five-year window as an unlawful restraint of trade under both federal and Tennessee laws. Zeigler’s lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. […]
Two-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA over rules limiting him to four seasons in a five-year window as an unlawful restraint of trade under both federal and Tennessee laws.
Zeigler’s lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The point guard played four seasons at Tennessee, helping the Volunteers to consecutive Elite Eight berths before graduating earlier this month.
The Vols went 109-36 during Zeigler’s time with the school. Zeigler was a third-team All-American this season, which ended with Tennessee’s loss to eventual national runner-up Houston in the Elite Eight on March 30.
“We have requested a preliminary injunction to allow Zakai to compete in the upcoming season while pursuing his graduate studies,” according to a statement from the Garza Law Firm and Litson PLLC. “We look forward to a swift resolution of this matter so that Zakai can begin preparing for next season.”
The NCAA said in a statement the association fully supports athletes profiting from name, image and likeness along with other benefits and is working for such reforms, which includes a proposed $2.8 billion settlement of an antitrust lawsuit.
“A patchwork of different state laws, executive orders and court opinions, make it challenging for any league to operate on a fair playing field, including at the conference level and that’s why partnering with Congress to develop a national standard would provide stability for student-athletes and schools everywhere,” the NCAA said.
This latest lawsuit against the NCAA notes Zeigler “diligently completed his undergraduate degree in four years” and graduated this month. That makes Zeigler’s lawsuit different from athletes who started careers at junior colleges or lower-division NCAA schools and are seeking a fifth season.
Yet the NCAA rule limiting athletes to four seasons during a five-year window keeps Zeigler from playing a fifth season and earning NIL money in “the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes,” according to the lawsuit.
How much could Zeigler could earn in a fifth season with the Vols? The lawsuit says between $2 million and $4 million for 2025-26, given his record and visibility playing in the Southeastern Conference and based on projections from the Spyre Sports Group, the NIL collective associated with the university.
Athletes who redshirt or take five years to finish an undergraduate degree can earn NIL money each of their five years. The lawsuit also points to the NCAA’s redshirt system controlling who gets access to a fifth year of eligibility.
The lawsuit asks that the NCAA rule be declared a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Tennessee’s Trade Practices Act.
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
It’s Mosca versus Bufalino for the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas
They will square off in the General Election on Nov. 4
WILKES-BARRE — The race to fill the new seat on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas will be decided in the November General Election, because neither cross-filed candidate could garner both nominations. Attorney Mark Bufalino easily won the Democratic nomination and Attorney […]
They will square off in the General Election on Nov. 4
WILKES-BARRE — The race to fill the new seat on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas will be decided in the November General Election, because neither cross-filed candidate could garner both nominations.
Attorney Mark Bufalino easily won the Democratic nomination and Attorney Tom Mosca decidedly captured the Republican nod.
The two will square off on Nov. 4, to see who will wear the black robe on the Luzerne County bench.
An additional judgeship on the Court of Common Pleas was added to the Luzerne County bench under Pennsylvania legislation from December 2023. The new judge will take office on the first Monday of January 2026.
According to unofficial results, Bufalino received 13,197 votes on the Democratic side, to 6,944 for Mosca. On the Republican side, Mosca received 11,651, to 7,437 for Bufalino.
“I am very pleased with the totals,” Bufalino said. And I am very appreciative of all the support from Republicans and Democrats. I will continue to work hard as we now head to the general election in November.”
Mosca said, “I’m thankful and grateful for all the people who came out and voted for me. It looks positive, and I am looking forward to getting into the meat of a spirited campaign heading to the fall general election.”
When he announced his candidacy for judge, Bufalino said he has devoted his life to the fight for justice and the rule of law.
Bufalino, 54, of Shavertown, is a well-known attorney and community leader who said his diverse legal experience allows him to bring the qualifications and temperament needed to be a tough, but fair member of the Luzerne County bench.
“As a lifelong resident of Luzerne County, I know how special this community is, which is why I want to take the professional and life lessons I have acquired through nearly 30 years of experience and use them to serve the residents of Luzerne County,” Bufalino said.
A graduate of Wyoming Seminary, Villanova University and Dickinson School of Law, Bufalino said he has handled a wide variety of complex civil and criminal cases at both the federal and state levels. He has been counsel for local law enforcement officers, and he was certified by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to try death-penalty capital homicide cases.
“As a Luzerne County judge, I pledge to fight for our families ensuring justice and fairness in our courts,” Bufalino said.
When Mosca entered the race, he said if given the opportunity, he is ready to serve the people of Luzerne County as the next county judge.
“For much of my professional career, I’ve had the desire to become [a judge] one day,” said Mosca, who has 35 years of local law experience. “I finally believe that all of my life’s experiences have prepared me for this moment.”
During the campaign, Mosca touted his volunteerism, experience and support for law enforcement. He said he has worked on cases of varying stakes throughout his career, from property disputes among neighbors to large commercial transactions.
For the past eight years, Mosca said he has served in leadership roles in the NEPA Task Force Against Human Trafficking, and he is the current board chair of the Victims Resource Center.
“I pledge that my courtroom will be a level playing field for all who enter it, with everyone receiving fair treatment, and the respect to which they are entitled,” Mosca said.
Mosca and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters, Hillary and Tori, and two grandchildren, Sebastian and Vivian.
He is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary and Wilkes University, and he earned his law degree from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Adrian College Announces Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025
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ADRIAN, Mich. — Adrian College’s Athletic Department, in conjunction with the Office of Alumni Relations, have announced the 2025 Adrian Bulldogs Athletic Hall of Fame class. The new inductees include nine individuals. The inductees will be formally honored during homecoming weekend, September 19-21, 2025. The Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to recognize former athletes and coaches who have distinguished themselves in the field of intercollegiate […]
ADRIAN, Mich. — Adrian College’s Athletic Department, in conjunction with the Office of Alumni Relations, have announced the 2025 Adrian Bulldogs Athletic Hall of Fame class. The new inductees include nine individuals. The inductees will be formally honored during homecoming weekend, September 19-21, 2025.
The Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to recognize former athletes and coaches who have distinguished themselves in the field of intercollegiate athletics at Adrian College either by their performance on athletic teams during their undergraduate years, by their strong leadership in their profession, or their meritorious efforts on behalf of the athletic program at the College.
This year’s honorees include the following nine individuals:
Beth Carr ’79, Women’s Basketball
Rob Liva ’88, Baseball & Football
Leah James Pence ’06, Women’s Soccer
Adam Krug ’09, Men’s NCAA Hockey
Brian Bilius ’11, Baseball
Zach Graham ’13, Men’s NCAA Hockey
Samantha Barker Ayre ’14, Women’s Soccer
Kelsey Kusch ’15, Women’s NCAA Hockey
Keenan Robinson ’02, Honorary Contributor
A Walk of Fame is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, beginning at the Caine Student Center and ending at the Adrian Tobias Center where a reception is set for 5:15 p.m. The induction ceremony in Ritchie Dining Hall will start with dinner at 5:45 p.m. Tickets to the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony can be purchased by clicking HERE.
Nick Saban explains changing opinion on College Football Playoff expansion
When he was still roaming the Alabama sidelines, Nick Saban was an ardent defender of college football bowl games, and as such, openly rejected the further expansion of the College Football Playoff. But as the CFP committee weighs further proposals to expand the Playoff from 12 to 16 teams beginning in 2026, the former Crimson […]
When he was still roaming the Alabama sidelines, Nick Saban was an ardent defender of college football bowl games, and as such, openly rejected the further expansion of the College Football Playoff.
But as the CFP committee weighs further proposals to expand the Playoff from 12 to 16 teams beginning in 2026, the former Crimson Tide head coach appears to have changed his tune.
“Back in the (day), I was never for expanding the Playoff, because I thought bowl games were really important to the history and tradition of college football,” Saban said Tuesday morning ahead of his annual Nick’s Kids charity golf tournament in Birmingham. “But now that we have expanded the Playoff and bowl games have taken a less significant role. So I think expanding the Playoff and having as many teams involved as we can without playing too many games for the players, that’s a little bit of concern, is probably a good thing.”
For Saban, expanding the College Football Playoff is ultimately about providing more teams the opportunity to participate in meaningful postseason games, especially as non-Playoff bowl games lose more and more significance.
Power conference commissioners met this weekend to once again weigh the future of the Playoff, according to Yahoo! Sports insider Ross Dellenger, with discussion reportedly centering around a potential “compromise” for the Big 12 and ACC regarding a new 16-team model.
Saturday’s meeting is the second time the commissioners gathered to talk about potential CFP expansion in the last 10 days. ESPN’s Pete Thamel noted Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti appeared virtually since he’s in California for the conference’s upcoming spring meetings.
The proposed 16-team bracket would include four automatic bids for each of the SEC and Big Ten, according to Dellenger. The ACC and Big 12 would get two spots each, while the Group of 6 would get one. There would also be three at-large spots.
In addition, as Dellenger previously reported, “inner-league play-in games” could also be in the cards at the end of the year. That would put the third-place team in a conference against the sixth-place team, as well as the fourth-place team against fifth-place.
ACC coaches emphatic that SEC, Big Ten automatic qualifier proposal makes ‘zero sense’
These renewed discussions have come after those within the ACC and Big 12 rejected the “4-4-2-2-1” format proposal from the Big Ten and SEC which gives those leagues favored status with more AQ bids.
“No one likes it,” an anonymous non-Big Ten and SEC athletic director told Dellenger.
Miami head football coach Mario Cristobal was among several ACC coaches to sound off on the Big Ten-SEC proposal. Cristobal called out the entire idea that Power Four conferences are effectively gifted multiple automatic bids to the Playoff.
“Granting spots, that makes zero sense,” Cristobal told Dellenger. “Football has never been about gifting. It’s about earning.”
Hamilton athletic department announces 2025 senior award winners
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Softball pitcher/utility player Emma Tansky ’25 (Collegeville, Pa./Episcopal School) and men’s hockey defenseman James Philpott ’25 (Calgary, Alberta/Centennial HS) were honored as Hamilton College’s top athletes from the Class of 2025 at the Jack B. Riffle Celebration for senior varsity athletes on Tuesday, May 20. The Riffle Awards […]
Softball pitcher/utility player Emma Tansky ’25 (Collegeville, Pa./Episcopal School) and men’s hockey defenseman James Philpott ’25 (Calgary, Alberta/Centennial HS) were honored as Hamilton College’s top athletes from the Class of 2025 at the Jack B. Riffle Celebration for senior varsity athletes on Tuesday, May 20.
The Riffle Awards have been presented annually since 1987 to the top male and female athlete in Hamilton’s senior class. Riffle graduated from Hamilton in 1950 and passed away on Dec. 13, 1986. A group of Riffle’s friends and associates established a memorial fund in his name because of his deep interest in Hamilton athletics.
Tansky is the first Riffle winner from the softball team since Olivia Gozdz ’16 in 2016. Tansky was a four-time all-region selection and earned all-NESCAC honors twice, including a first team nod this spring. She holds program records for most stolen bases in a season and career, and ranks second all-time in hits and runs scored. Tansky ended her career with an impressive .408 batting average and played a key role in leading Hamilton to a NESCAC postseason appearance in 2024.
Philpott is the first Riffle winner from the men’s hockey team since Evan Buitenhuis ’18 in 2018. A two-time all-American and one of just three players in program history with multiple all-America honors, he was named to the first team in 2025. Philpott was a three-time all-NESCAC selection, including first team honors in 2024 and 2025. In his final season, he helped lead the Continentals to a program-record 21 wins, their first NESCAC title, an NCAA championship appearance, and a No. 8 national ranking. Philpott totaled 70 points on 13 goals and 57 assists in 99 career games, as Hamilton went 62-35-5 and won at least one postseason game in three of his four seasons.
Sylvie Najarian ’25 (Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Pascack Hills HS) and Connor Griff ’25 (Purchase, N.Y./Harrison HS) received the Jean-Marius Gelas Memorial Awards. The Gelas Awards are presented annually to a male and female senior student-athlete who has displayed outstanding development in sportsmanship, leadership, character and athletic ability during their college years.
Najarian is the first women’s cross country and track and field athlete to receive the Gelas Award. A two-time NCAA championship qualifier in cross country, she earned all-region honors in both 2023 and 2024. Najarian served as team captain for both the women’s cross country and track and field teams during her senior year and was named to the 2025 NESCAC Spring All-Sportsmanship Team. She was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was an Adirondack Adventure leader for two years. Najarian was recognized twice by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as an NCAA Division III All-Academic honoree for cross country.
Griff is the first men’s tennis athlete to receive the Gelas Award. A two-year team captain, he helped lead the Continentals to one of their best seasons in team history in 2024–25 with a 16-5 overall record that included a 6-4 mark in NESCAC play, their first conference championship quarterfinal appearance, and a No. 21 national ranking. He earned 2025 all-America honors by winning a first-round doubles match at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Cup and also competed in the (ITA) singles tournament. Griff reached the finals in both singles and doubles at the 2024 ITA Northeast Regional Championships in September and entered the spring ranked 15th in singles and 13th in doubles. A two-time all-NESCAC first team selection for singles, he also played in the singles draw of the 2023 NCAA championships. He tied the team record for most career singles wins and set the record for career doubles victories, and was named a 2024 ITA Division III Scholar-Athlete.
“He has achieved these accomplishments while being plagued with chronic knee injuries that created considerable obstacles for him over his four years,” Head Coach Peter Arsenault said. “Despite pain and frustrations with his knees, he has been the heart and soul of this team, both on the court and off. Our team has been inspired by his willingness to fight through adversity and pain. Whether he won or lost, his efforts to compete for the team provided inspiration to his teammates. His teammates respect his attitude and work ethic immensely, and many of our recruits have come, in part, to play alongside him.”
Katt Withers ’25 (Arlington, Va./Richwoods HS [Ill.]) and Hank Morgan ’25 (Caldwell, N.J./Berkshire School [Mass.]) received the Milton H. Jannone Awards. The Jannone Awards have been presented annually since 2009 to a male and female senior athlete who exhibit outstanding athleticism, leadership and academic accomplishment.
Withers is the first women’s swimming and diving athlete to receive the Jannone Award. A consistent contributor at the NESCAC championships, she scored in both individual and relay events throughout her collegiate career and is on Hamilton’s all-time top 10 list in the 50-yard butterfly. Withers was a three-time NESCAC winter all-academic team honoree and was selected for the 2022 NESCAC Winter All-Sportsmanship Team. Beyond the pool, she served as the softball team manager and will continue her involvement in swimming as a graduate assistant coach at Smith College in the fall.
Morgan is the first men’s basketball athlete to receive the Jannone Award. A two-time team captain, he was named a 2025 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) first team all-American and D3hoops.com second team all-American. Morgan was voted the NABC District 1, D3hoops.com Region 1 and NESCAC Player of the Year, and he was selected to play in the NABC College All-Star Game. He was a two-time all-NESCAC first team selection and made the D3hoops.com all-region team twice, including the first team in his final season. Morgan was one of 10 national finalists for the Jostens Trophy, which recognizes excellence in basketball, academics, and community service. Off the court, he was a three-time NESCAC winter all-academic team honoree, earned a spot on the 2023–24 NABC Honors Court, and was named to the 2022–23 Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators. Morgan finished his career ranked ninth in team history in scoring and sixth in three-pointers made, and he helped lead the Continentals to two 20-win seasons, two NCAA tournament appearances, and the 2023 NESCAC title.
(via abevarughese/TT)
