Cory Lizalde

2026 Blue Carpet Award Finalists Announced

4/16/2026 5:01:00 PM | By: JCUSID

The 2026 SAAC Blue Carpet Awards are set for Friday, April 24 at 6 pm

It is awards season in University Heights!

To commemorate the last year, the John Carroll Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Blue Gold Club are proud to host the 2026 Blue Carpet Awards!

The event is set for Friday, April 24, beginning with a reception at 6 pm before the awards ceremony at 7 pm. An after-party will follow. The event will take place in the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. Here is the list of finalists:

Man of Carroll (must be a senior/grad student)

Basheer Alramahi, Track & Field
- All-American in ITF in 800 meter dash, 4x400 meter Relay. Second consecutive NCAA Elite Scholar Athlete Award Winner which has never been done before in Division III history. Holds several school records with records in ITF of 400 meter dash, 500 meter Dash, and 4x400 meter relay, and in OTF of 400 meter dash and 4x400 meter relay. All American in OTF in 4x400 meter Relay, 400 meter dash. He was named to the All-Region Team in OTF for 400 meter dash and 4x400 meter relay. He was named OAC Champion in the 400 meter dash in OTF.
Brody Hanlon, Track & Field
- John Carroll CSSA Liason, and JDOS Track and Field Liason. Works closely with many community service initiatives: Bolton Lunch Buddies, Carroll Calculates, YouthAbility Exercise and Walking Group, Writers in Residence, Cosmic Bobbins, and Cleveland Sews.
Chad Harpster, Football
- Starting Longsnapper, member of the NFF Hampshire Society, campus tour guide.
Andrew Massucci, Soccer
- First Team All-NCAC, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, Third Team All-Region, Second Team All-Ohio, First Team Academic All-Ohio.
Nick Semptimphelter, Football
- D3football.com Fourth Team All-American, D3football.com Region 4 First Team and Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-NCAC, Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist, Campbell Trophy semifinalist, Set NCAA records: Pass Completion Percentage (77.9%) and Single Game Completion Percentage (96.2%).

Woman of Carroll (must be a senior/grad student)

Kendra Dziubinski, Volleyball
- College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, 3rd on the Team in Blocks (81), First on the team in hit percentage (.309).
Kaylie McKenney, Basketball
- College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, First on the team in FG% (.565), 3rd on the team in Rebounds (162).
Lauren Koppelmann, Swimming & Diving
- Works closely with the Labre Project organizing a clothing drive, clothing sorting day, and service night for the swimming and diving team to distribute food and clothing to the homeless community in Cleveland. Worked closely with Susan G. Komen Company organizing a Breast Cancer Awareness meet and participating in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. Organized the Morgan's Message swim meet and held a card-making event for Cleveland Clinic patients.
Melissa Smith, Softball
- Academic All-OAC team, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, and holds the single season record for runners caught stealing (15).
Graci Semptimphelter, Basketball
- Second Team All-NCAC, 1st on the team in 3-point percentage (43%) which is 1st in the NCAC, 8th in NCAA Division III, and 5th in program history. Converts free throws at an impressive 85.4% rate and ranks 7th in single-season program history.

Female Athlete of the Year

Dakota Houston, Track & Field
- All-American in OTF in 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash and 4x100 meter relay. All-American in ITF in the 60 meter dash and 200 meter dash. School record holder in ITF 60 meter dash, OTF 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and 4x100 meter relay. NCAC Champion in ITF in 60 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and 4x400 meter relay. All Region Team in OTF in 4x100 meter relay, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and Long Jump. OAC Champion in OTF in 4x100 meter relay, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and Long Jump.
Maddie Kavenagh, Tennis
- All-OAC First Team, finished the 2025 campaign with an 8-6 record in singles play and had a 12-3 doubles record.
Ava Ryncarz, Basketball
- Honorable Mention All-American from the WCBA, and Fourth Team All-American from D3hoops.com , All-NCAC First Team, D3hoops.com First Team All-Region. She holds a school record for single game made three pointers (10) and single season made three pointers (92).
Emily Patrzyk, Soccer
- NCAC Offensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-Region, First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-NCAC. Has a team high 8 goals and 20 points on the year.
Abby Schroff, Cross Country/Indoor Track & Field
- NCAC Champion in Mile & 5000 meter run in ITF, All-Region in ITF in Distance Medley Relay, Mile, 3000 meter run, and the 5000 meter run & Second Team All-NCAC in XC. All NCAC in IFT in Mile, 3000 meter run, and 5000 meter run.

Male Athlete of the Year

Basheer Alramahi, Track & Field
- All-American in ITF in 800 meter dash, 4x400 meter Relay. Second consecutive NCAA Elite Scholar Athlete Award Winner which has never been done before in Division III history. Holds several school records with records in ITF of 400 meter dash, 500 meter Dash, and 4x400 meter relay, and in OTF of 400 meter dash and 4x400 meter relay. All American in OTF in 4x400 meter Relay, 400 meter dash. He was named to the All-Region Team in OTF for 400 meter dash and 4x400 meter relay. He was named OAC Champion in the 400 meter dash in OTF.
Luke Chicone, Basketball
- D3hoops.com First Team All-American, NABC First Team All-American, NABC District 7 Player of the Year, NABC First Team All-District 7, D3hoops.com Region 7 First Team. D3hoops.com Region 7 co-player of the year. NCAC Player of the Year and NCAC Top Defender of the year. Broke several single-season school records, which are single-season steal record (83), single-season scoring record (710 points), and single-season assists record (191).
Anthony Markello, Tennis
- All-OAC First Team, finished with a 4-9 record in singles play and a 8-5 record in doubles play.
Bart Kubis, Swimming
- First Team All-American in 200 Breaststroke, Second Team All-American in 100 Breaststroke, NCAC Champion in 200 Breaststroke and school record in 200 Breaststroke with a time of 1:58.65.
Tyren Montgomery, Football
- D3football.com First Team All-American, AFCA Second Team All-American, Associated Press Second Team All-American, D3football.com Region 4 First Team, First Team All-NCAC. He holds several school records, including receptions in a season (119), receiving yards (1,528), and receiving TD's (17 last season).

Comeback Player of the Year

Cate Braniecki, Diving
- Injured in November 2025, returned to compete at NCAC Championships finishing 8th in 1M Diving Finals, and 7th in 3M Diving Finals.
Luke Chicone, Basketball
- Injured in the 4th game of 2024-25 season, returned for 2025-26 and won D3hoops.com First Team All-American, NABC First Team All-American, NABC District 7 Player of the Year, NABC First Team All-District 7, D3hoops.com Region 7 First Team. D3hoops.com Region 7 co-player of the year. NCAC Player of the Year and NCAC Top Defender of the year. He broke several single-season school records, which are single-season steal record (83), single-season scoring record (710 points), and single-season assists record (191).
Chris Golson, Football
- Missed all of the 2024 season, returned in 2025 and won First Team All-NCAC and D3football.com Third Team All-Region.

Male Rookie of the Year

Jacob Florio, Swimming & Diving
- NCAA Championships qualifier in 200 Backstroke, 100 Backstroke, and 200 IM. Earned All-NCAC by finishing 3rd place in 200 Backstroke. He is a school record holder in 200 Backstroke with a time of 1:46.64.
Ethan Glossa, Baseball
- Earned Second Team All-OAC and All-OAC Tournament Team. He led the OAC in RBIs (49).
Sean Hogan, Lacrosse
- All-OAC Honorable Mention, tallying 11 points with 5 goals and 6 assists on the season. He picked up 24 ground balls and caused 6 turnovers in his first year as a Blue Streak.
Adom Sharpley, Wrestling
- 28 wins led the team, finishing 4th at Regionals after a strong start in the Regional Tournament winning with a 10-3 decision in the consolation semi to move on.

Female Rookie of the Year

Brooke Berkowitz, Soccer
- NCAC Newcomer of the Year, Third Team All-NCAC, NCAC All-Tournament Team.
Abby Cassidy, Lacrosse
- OAC Rookie of the Year, First Team All-OAC. Tallied 48 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers, and 79 draw controls.
Taylor MacAdam, Wrestling
- NWCA Scholar All-American, First Team All-AMCC, JCU's First AMCC Champion (103), 6th place at Regionals
Julia Gulla, Golf ^
- 3x NCAC Women's Golfer of the Week, Won a one-hole playoff to capture medalist honors, earned medalist honors 5 times over the fall season, and set a program record finishing with an even-par 72 at the JCU Fall Invitational. Overall, set three individual low scoring records for the school in the fall semester

^ Spring sports athletes are usually not considered as freshmen, but Gulla competed in the fall with accolades worthy of consideration

Men's Team of the Year

Men's Basketball
- NCAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament appearance for the fourth year in a row
Men's Cross Country
- NCAC Champions, Third at Regional Championships
Football
- NCAC Champions with a program record 24 points, Reached NCAA Semifinal for 3rd time in program history
Men's Golf
- OAC Champions

Women's Team of the Year

Women's Basketball
- Reached Sweet 16 for first time in history, program record 26 wins
Women's Lacrosse, NCAC Runners-up
- NCAA Tournament 2nd Round, first 14-0 start in program history, OAC Runners-up
Women's Soccer
- NCAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions. Made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years
Women's Track & Field
- NCAC Indoor Champions, Third Place in OAC Outdoor Championships