Mount Athletics: 2024-45 Season Recap of Success

Hanna Aggen

On the night of Monday, April 28, the Mount St. Mary’s athletic teams and staff members came together to celebrate the finale of the 2024-2025 season. The second annual Emmit’s Award Ceremony celebrated 25 individual members of Mount athletics, as well as four teams receiving awards. The awards ceremony was made to highlight the triumphs of our Mount athletics. 

The first awards of the night were the Strength and Conditioning awards, presented by two of our four strength and conditioning coaches. For the men’s individual Strength and Conditioning award, Kacper Cieplik (C’24), a fifth year on Men’s Water Polo took the win. For the women, Softball’s senior Laurenne Gallagher (C’25) was awarded this year’s winner.  

The team Strength and Conditioning awards went to Softball for the women, and Baseball for the men.  

The awards following were female and male Transfer of the Year. For the men, junior Graham Dougald (C’26) of men’s Soccer was awarded. While fifth year Anna LeMaster (C’24) of women’s Basketball was awarded for the female side.  

The Rookies of the Year were also awarded.

Brandon Falconer (C’28) from Track and Field was the first to receive his accolade. Followed by Brooke Malchanoff (C’28) of women’s Lacrosse. Both rookies have had major success in their first seasons with the Mount.

Malchanoff was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of The Week multiple times throughout the regular season and now is going to the championship with her team, on May 2. Falconer came extremely close to breaking the school Javelin record in his first collegiate meet. 

For the male Comeback Player of the year, there were a total of four nominees, but graduate student Xavier Lipscomb (C’24) of men’s Basketball took the award. Lipscomb was a major contributing member of the MAAC championship team, and helped take the team to the NCAA tournament. In his final year with the Mount, Lipscomb hopes to “repeat what we did this year. We’re just gonna try to replicate.” 

The female Comeback Player of the year award was given to Emelie Beckman (C’25). Beckman is herself a MAAC champion, as well as being awarded both rookie and player of the week multiple times. Beckman has broken the school and MAAC record in Pole Vault, in the indoor and outdoor seasons respectively. 

The female Scholar-Athlete of the year was awarded to the women’s Swim team captain, Meghan Speicher (C’25). Speicher has been on the Mount Swim and Dive team for all four years of her collegiate career and has been a member of multiple record-breaking relays. That includes this year’s MAAC champion 4x100 Freestyle relay. The relay won gold, breaking the MAAC record as well as the school record. Speicher also has a 3.98 GPA. 

The male Scholar-Athlete of the year was awarded to Arran Fahey (C’25) from Track and Field. Fahey is the record holder for Pole Vault and is a major point scorer for the team. Fahey holds multiple MAAC championship golds under his belt. Fahey has a 4.0 GPA as a senior at the Mount. 

The coaches of the Mount athletic teams were asked to submit athletes for the Unsung Hero award. An award given to an athlete who in a major contributor to the team, with leadership, work ethic, and attitude. An athlete from each team was nominated, but only one man and one woman would be awarded.

For the men, Nick Fleming (C’25) from Baseball was recognized. Fleming is a senior on the Baseball team and shows an immense amount of dedication and leadership. For the women, Madison Szczublewski (C’24) of women’s Water Polo was recognized. Szcsublewski is a fifth year and has been with the Mount all five years of her collegiate career.

The women’s Water Polo program is only five years old, meaning Szcsublewski has been here since the program began. She is said to be a great leader in and out of the pool. 

The next award given, is named after a former Mount staff and athletics member. The Lynne Robinson award is given to a female athlete who shows a great amount of leadership in her years at the Mount. This year’s award was given to Gallagher, the winner of the Strength and Conditioning award earlier in the evening. Gallagher is said to be a player who is able to have a positive attitude on the field no matter what.  

The athletics department recognized two faculty and staff members. Stating the importance of those “behind the scenes.” The Staff Member of the Year award was given to Kostas Rizoulis. Kostas is a cook in Patriot and is beloved by many.  

The Faculty Member of the Year award was given to Business professor, Alejandro Cañadas. Cañadas was a former swimmer himself and holds his athletes very near to his heart. He stated that he “loves to see my student athletes succeed outside of the classroom.” 

The team chaplains were also recognized, with a Team Chaplain of the Year award. The team chaplain recognized was Deacon Danny Morrison, the chaplain for the men’s Lacrosse team. 

The final award was the Kolon Athlete of the Year award. This was awarded to four athletes, two men and two women, who performed with excellence in the 2024-2025 season.

For the men, Aaron Sorkin (C’25), of the men’s Golf team. As well as Dola Adebayo (C’25), a senior on the men’s Basketball team. Sorkin has been named MAAC player of the year. Having one of the most successful seasons in Mount history. Adebayo was a major player on the MAAC championship team and was the highest scorer for the Mount in the NCAA tournament. 

For the women, Jo Raflo (C’25) of women’s Basketball and Anna Salerno (C’25) of women’s Lacrosse. Raflo was named MAAC Player of the Week multiple times this season. She was the top point scorer on the Mount Basketball team and made the First Team All-MAAC. “I wish I could stay here forever.” The senior stated.  

Salerno was also awarded First Team All-MAAC in the regular season this year. Salerno stands at second in the MAAC for goals this season, sitting at 50. The senior has been at the Mount all four years of her collegiate year.  

As the 2024-2025 athletic year comes to an end, a few teams are still competing and need the support of the school. Congratulations to all award winners and good luck seniors.