2026 JCU SAAC Blue Carpet Awards Cover Photo

Peter Wangechi

2026 JCU Blue Carpet Awards Recap

4/24/2026 9:06:00 PM | By: Jamie Dailey '22, SID Assistant

The 2026 JCU SAAC Blue Carpet Awards Were Celebrated This Evening In The Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center (Friday, April 24th)

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – On Friday, April 24th, John Carroll University Athletics celebrated their student-athletes at the JCU Blue Carpet Awards hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Athletes from all sports celebrated their success this evening in the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center with several awards given out as voted by administration staff.

Below is a list of the awards and who were named the winners:

Man of Carroll - Basheer Alramahi (Men's Track & Field)
Woman of Carroll - Graci Semptimphelter (Women's Basketball)
Female Athlete of the Year - Dakota Houston (Women's Track & Field)
Male Athlete of the Year - Tyren Montgomery (Football)
Comeback Player of the Year - Luke Chicone (Men's Basketball)
Male Rookie of the Year - Jacob Florio (Men's Swimming & Diving)
Female Rookie of the Year - Julia Gulla (Women's Golf)
Men's Team of the Year - Football
Women's Team of the Year - Women's Soccer
2026 Coaching Staff of the Year - Women's Basketball
Athletic Trainer of the Year - Eddie Dobrowolski
Best Photographer - Sam Herr
Best Commentator - Brendan Kantz

Another award presented tonight was the Roman-Canning Award for Student-Athlete Community Service.

The finalists that were announced included seniors Brody Hanlon (Men's Track & Field), Lauren Koppelmann (Women's Swimming & Diving), Vivian Rung (Women's Lacrosse), and Owen Schuckert (Football).

Brody Hanlon won the Roman-Canning Service Award for his hard work on and off the track.

About Brody Hanlon:
The JCU Track and Field standout has made a huge impact on the track and field program and the campus as a leader and role model who influences his teammates and peers to engage in community service and live the mission of JCU.

Hanlon has been the John Carroll CSSA Liaison for all four years, Boler Community Day Team Lead for two years, and Jesuit Community Day of Service Track and Field Liaison for three years.

This past fall, Hanlon has been working closely with the Bolton Lunch Buddies. During this experience, the Finance major worked with 3rd-5th graders to help foster social, behavioral, and academic skills through connection during lunch and recess. During the fall 2024 semester, Hanlon worked with Carroll Calculates: 5th Grade Math at Gearity. He helped tutor young learners in mathematics in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District.

In addition, Hanlon interned with the Walsh Group (which designed the Athletic, Wellness, and Event Center), learning valuable lessons as a Project Accountant Intern.

His Coach describes him as a "true example of being a "Man of Carroll" who consistently demonstrates servant leadership in all aspects of his life and encourages his teammates to be part of something greater by being of service to others. Brody leads by example and empowers his teammates to succeed by putting the team's needs before his own and instilling belief in others. Hanlon is credited with influencing his teammates to embrace the University's Jesuit mission, encouraging them to join him in service projects such as Cleveland Metroparks cleanups and work at the Greater Cleveland Foodbank.

Hanlon's community service commitment is remarkable in its depth and breadth. His most significant contributions include:
Youth Mentorship and Education: Hanlon has led the Writers in Residence Program at the Juvenile Detention Center and provided math tutoring for 5th graders through the Carroll Calculates program. Additionally, he served as a "Lunch Buddy" for the Bolton Elementary School.
Empowering Vulnerable Populations: He spent significant time with the YouthAbility Exercise and Walking Group and engaged in philosophy tutoring at Benedictine High School.
Economic and Social Support: Through the Cosmic Bobbins & Cleveland Sews initiative, he helped community members build relationships and provided support for social entrepreneurship efforts.
Beyond his individual service, Hanlon has served as a vital bridge between the JCU athletic department and the community. He has held the role of John Carroll CSSA Liaison for four years and served as the Track & Field Team Liaison for the Jesuit Day of Service for three years. His leadership extends to the Boler College of Business, where he served as a Community Day Team Lead for two years.

About Matt Canning and Greg Roman:
Matt Canning graduated from John Carroll University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Bachelor of Science in psychology. A leader on the football team, Canning played cornerback and was also a member of the track & field team. After graduation, he served on Coach Tony DeCarlo's staff as an assistant coach. He has worked for Henkel (formerly Manco) for the last 29 years and is currently the VP of North American Sales. Canning has proudly worked with (and hired) several John Carroll student athletes and alumni during his time with the company.

Greg Roman is a member of the class of 1994 at John Carroll University, graduating with a degree in Political Science. Greg was an All-OAC defensive tackle on the football team at JCU. He has worked at the upper echelons of collegiate and professional football for over 25 years, holding coaching positions with the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Stanford University, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, the Los Angeles Chargers, and now the New York Giants. From 2011-2014, as Offensive Coordinator of the 49ers, he led the team to three straight NFC Championship games as well as Super Bowl XLVII in 2012. He is currently in his first year as the senior offensive assistant for the New York Giants.

Previous Winners
2022 - Alex Heishman, Women's Lacrosse
2023 - Rachel Halapchuk, Women's Swimming
2024 - Zach Brinks, Men's Golf
2025 - Matt Wrather, Football

A big thank you to Kasey Konte, Kore Sharpley, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for their leadership and work that went into this event!

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