DANBURY, Conn. - Western Connecticut State University celebrated its student-athletes at its annual Athletics Awards Banquet at the William A. O'Neill Athletic and Convocation Center on the school's Westside Campus. Close to 500 student-athletes, coaches and administrators were in attendance for the special event.  The attendees were treated to a fantastic 2025-26 recap video, while the emcee for the evening's event was WCSU Alumni Hall of Famer Bart Busterna and major awards were presented by WestConn Director of Athletics Lori Mazza.



The evening began with the Wolves' head coaches handing out orange stoles to WestConn's nearly 100 graduating seniors.  Next WestConn's Chi Alpha Sigma inductees and members were recognized for their excellence in both the classroom and in athletic competition. Chi Alpha Sigma recognizes college students who play at the NCAA level all while maintaining a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA,  starting in their academic junior and/or senior years.  The awards were presented by the coaching staffs and WestConn Faculty Athletics Representative Julie Perrelli, PhD.  Junior inductees received a certificate, and seniors received a medallion that is worn at graduation.  In all, 64 WestConn student-athletes were recognized as Chi Alpha Sigma members.

After dinner, the awards program began with the Overall Team Grade-Point Average Award. The award for highest team grade-point average honors an NCAA-eligible team's academic effort, not the efforts of the individual athletes.  The team concept seems to shine through here at WestConn and acknowledging a team not only for the accomplishments on the court/field/pool but in the classroom is equally as important.  Eighteen of 22 sports teams earned an overall g.p.a. of 3.00 or better.  WestConn men's ice hockey, coached by Doug Friedman, has the highest team g.p.a. of 3.52, followed closely behind by WestConn women's soccer with a 3.33, and WestConn field hockey had a 3.32.  

The WestConn Scholar Athlete of the Year award was given to three athletes in 2026, a testament to the high academic achievement of these Wolves student-athletes.  The award goes to the female and male athlete with the highest cumulative g.p.a. who at least of sophomore standing.  WestConn women's track and field junior Caitlin Conley (Ridgefield, Conn.) received the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award with a 3.96 g.pa.  Juniors Elliot Mancini (New Fairfield, Conn.) and Ryan Stillman (Windsor, Conn.) received the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year award, as each held a 3.91 g.p.a.

WestConn's Rookie Athlete of the Year is given annually to the female and male freshman athlete who contributed the most to his/her team and whose performance indicates future contributions.  Each varsity team nominates a player for this award and the 2026 WestConn Athletics Female Rookie of the Year was women's track and field freshman Jordyn Grey (Naugatuck, Conn.) and the WestConn Male Rookie of the Year was men's soccer freshman Matthews Rocha (Danbury, Conn.).  The purpose of the WestConn Athlete of the Year awards is to recognize one male and one female athlete for their outstanding performances in the athletic arena. The 2026 Male Athlete of the Year is men's soccer sophomore Nickolas Santana (New Haven, Conn.) and this year's Female Athlete of the Year is women's lacrosse senior Madison Ratchford (Ridge, N.Y.).

The final award given at the 2025 WestConn Athletics Banquet was the Athlete of Distinction award, established to recognize a student-athlete each year who exhibits the following attributes; dedication to their sport, positive attitude, athletic ability, citizenship, character, leadership, and sportsmanship.  They are expected to contribute to their sport, to the classroom experience, and to the greater community at large.  Each varsity team submitted a nominee and Wolves men's soccer junior Justin Riverst (Repetigny, Quebec) was this year's recipient of this prestigious honor.