ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT Athletic Department hosted the 2025-26 ROARspy Awards, Sunday, at the Gene Polisseni Center, honoring the individual and team achievements from this past year.
 
Senior wrestling national champion Josh Harkless received four awards, including Men's Senior Athlete of the Year and the men's Dr. Mark Ellingson Award, honoring the department's top student-athlete.
 
Women's Lacrosse senior captain Adele Jones also landed two awards, including the women's Ellingson award and the women's Power Den Award. Senior Women's Soccer standout Elena Onodera was voted the Women's Senior Athlete of the Year.

Winners of each award (in bold) along with finalists listed below.
 
SAAC Appreciation Award - Sharon Milici – Athletic Department Senior Staff Specialist
The SAAC Appreciation award recognizes an individual, group, or department that continuously strives to enhance the overall student-athlete experience.
 
SAAC Community Service Award
The SAAC Community Service award annually recognizes the athletic team that has totaled the most community service and volunteering hours per athlete on the team during the year.
 
1. Women's Volleyball
2. Men's Lacrosse
3. Women's Rowing
 
SAAC Performance of the Year Award
The Performance of the Year award is given to a team or individual who had an exceptional performance in their respective sport during the academic year, as voted on by the Student Athlete Advisory committee.
 
Women's Hockey 3-2 upset at No. 4 Penn State
Diver Gwen Petrie sweeping the 1M and 3M boards at Liberty League Championships
Wrestler Josh Harkless winning the 285 National Championship
 
SAAC Best Pregame Fit Award
The Best Pregame Fit award is given to an individual or group who objectively had the best pregame competition outfit, as voted on by the Student Athlete Advisory committee.
 
Caitlyn Dihn – Women's Soccer
Karly Kolssak, Jaiden Fahrny – Women's Hockey
Annika Rieger – Women's Swimming & Diving
 
SAAC Best Media Day Picture Award
The Media Day Picture award is given to an individual or group who objectively had the best Media Day picture, as voted on by the Student Athlete Advisory committee.
 
Madeleine Barstow, Madison Passineau – Softball
Sephora Schoenheit, Laina Swartzwelder, Zoe Joss and Aiden Agostini – Swimming & Diving
Samantha Crisci and Jorja DeCarlo – Women's Track & Field
 
SAAC Best Action Shot Award
The Best Action Shot award is given to the athlete or team who objectively had the best action photo during a game or competition. Each team was asked to submit their favorite action picture of the year and the Student Athlete Advisory committee voted on the winner.
 
Sydney Pearson – Women's Basketball (photographed by Colin Norland
Women's Hockey Teddy Bear Toss  (photographed by Mikaela Engstrom
Sarah Tawaf - Women's Soccer (photographed by Rebecca Villagracia)
 
Power Den Awards
Two student-athletes are annually recognized for demonstrating a high level of competency in the weight room, and for having an enthusiasm for training while going above and beyond program requirements in their preparation.
 
Women
Jaidan Fahrny – Women's Hockey
Adele Jones – Women's Lacrosse
Rachel Kulp – Women's Track & Field
Ella Wilson – Women's Basketball
 
Men
Eddie Bedient – Men's Track & Field
Josh Harkless - Wrestling
Joe Holenstein – Men's Lacrosse
Kevin Scott – Men's Hockey
 
Bill Destler Community Service Award
Named in honor of RIT's ninth president and ardent supporter of intercollegiate athletics, the award is designed to recognize the outstanding community service efforts of our student-athletes and teams in the community and beyond.
 
Jillian Antol – Women's Soccer
Karly Kolssak – Women's Hockey
 
A. Stephen Walls Leadership Award
Named in honor of the founder of RIT's intercollegiate athletics Hall of Fame, this award annually goes to a student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities and activities within their team, the overall intercollegiate athletics program, and the campus community at large.
 
Erin DiPaola – Women's Basketball
Emma Pickering – Women's Hockey
Ellen Shepard – Women's Rowing
 
Team GPA Awards
Honoring the women's and men's programs in the department with the highest cumulative grade point averages.
 
Women
1. Women's Cross Country 3.859
2. Women's Swimming & Diving 3.689
3. Women's Track & Field 3.673
 
Men
1. Men's Cross Country 3.511
2. Men's Hockey 3.488
T3. Men's Soccer/Men's Track & Field 3.456
 
ROAR Cup – Women's Volleyball
The ROAR Cup is an all-encompassing award designed to promote excellence in academics, community service, athletic performance, and campus engagement across all RIT Athletics teams. Given to the team that objectively exemplifies these four pillars of excellence, this initiative aims to foster well-rounded student-athletes, encourage team pride, and enhance support for fellow teams.
 
Dr. Mark Ellingson Award
Named in honor of our former wrestling coach who went on to become RIT's fifth president, Ellingson Award nominees are considered based on a combination of high achievement in both the classroom and on the field of play.
 
Women
Jaidan Fahrny – Women's Hockey
Adele Jones – Women's Lacrosse
Faye Kaplinski – Women's Basketball
 
Men
Brody Brown – Men's Basketball
Josh Harkless – Wrestling
Charlie Slaymaker – Baseball
 
Senior Athlete of the Year
Awarded based on overall career athletic achievement the last four years.
 
Women
Jaidan Fahrny – Women's Hockey
Adele Jones – Women's Lacrosse
Elena Onodera – Women's Soccer
 
Men
Josh Harkless – Wrestling
Derick Koen – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Josiah Turner – Men's Basketball
 
Team Coaches Awards
TEAM MVP - This award recognizes the athlete who represents the highest level of overall impact on the team throughout the season. It reflects excellence in performance, consistency, and the ability to influence competition in meaningful ways. The MVP embodies the value of being essential to the team's success through both play and presence.
 
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - This award recognizes a member of the team who is new to the program and has made an immediate and meaningful impact. Open to any athlete in their initial season with the team including first-years, transfers or walk-ons, it reflects strong performance, adaptability and contribution. The recipient embodies the value of stepping into a new environment and quickly becoming an important part of the team.
 
TIGER TEAMMATE AWARD - This award recognizes an athlete who embodies outstanding team spirit and brings energy, enthusiasm and positivity to the program. It reflects a selfless commitment to the team, a willingness to give maximum effort, and the ability to uplift and motivate others. The recipient represents what it means to be a great teammate through both attitude and action.
 
FALL
Men's Cross Country
MVP – Derick Koen
Newcomer – Sebastian Montalvo
Tiger Teammate – Jackson Burger
 
Women's Cross Country
MVP – Kathryn Arbegast
Newcomer – Micah Gordley
Tiger Teammate – Jade Kimmel
 
Men's Soccer
MVP – Chris Lee
Newcomer – Constantine Santacrose
Tiger Teammate – David Brassie
 
Women's Soccer
MVP – Emily Sanchez
Newcomer – Bella Coccio
Tiger Teammate – Sam Tran
 
Women's Volleyball
MVP – Anna Wasula
Newcomer – Isabelle Swain
Tiger Teammate – Mia Gerber
 
WINTER
Men's Basketball
MVP – Josiah Turner
Newcomer – Xavier Nelson
Tiger Teammate – Jackson Otis
 
Women's Basketball
MVP – Maddy Ramsgard
Newcomer – Hannah Manley
Tiger Teammate – Erin DiPaola
 
Men's Hockey
MVP – Jakub Krbecek
Newcomer – Evan Konyen
Co-Tiger Teammates – Tyler Mahan and Austin Brimmer
 
Women's Hockey
MVP – Addie Alvarez
Newcomer – Tilli Keranen
Co-Tiger Teammates – Jaidan Fahrny and Lexi Sung
 
Men's Swimming & Diving
MVP – Griffin Messenlehner
Newcomer – Griffin Tomsheck
Tiger Teammate – Colin Zhao
 
Women's Swimming & Diving
MVP – Madisen Pavoris
Newcomer – Taryn Hickey
Tiger Teammate – Gwen Petrie
 
Men's Indoor Track & Field
MVP – Jack DeFeo
Newcomer – Naashon Calliens
Tiger Teammate – Michael Sardo
 
Women's Indoor Track & Field
MVP – Rachel Kulp
Newcomer – Christella Leukeu
Tiger Teammate – Rania Sabri
 
Wrestling
MVP – Josh Harkless
Newcomer – Jackson Rush
Tiger Teammate – Mason Grodzki
 
SPRING
Baseball
MVP – TBA
Newcomer – Sly Cash
Tiger Teammate – Joseph Wozny
 
Cheerleading
MVP – Kaitlyn Wadowsky
Newcomer – Sarah Lago
Tiger Teammate – Kaylie Chiodi
 
Men's Lacrosse
MVP – Joe Holestein
Co-Newcomers – Alexander Chairs and Ryan Sanders
Tiger Teammates – Jamie Hunt
 
Women's Lacrosse
MVP – TBA
Newcomer – TBA
Tiger Teammate – TBA
 
Men's Rowing
MVP – Nick Ricotta
Newcomer – Aaron Ryder
Tiger Teammate – Sam Ferreira
 
Women's Rowing
MVP – Jessica Hall
Newcomer – Sarah Markam
Tiger Teammate – Clara LaChance
 
Softball
MVP – Addison Hill
Newcomer – Taryn Jones
Tiger Teammate – Portia Castro
 
Men's Tennis
MVP – Yu Tanimoto
Newcomer – Evan Ly
Tiger Teammate – Anjann Sai Bharadwaj Boorela
 
Women's Tennis
MVP – Emily Greb
Newcomer – Amulya Settyvari
Tiger Teammate – Anika Galkiewicz
 
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
MVP – Erik Stephany
Newcomer – Cooper Bradley
Tiger Teammate – Eric Antonecchia
 
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
MVP – Samantha Crisci
Newcomer – Nora Tighe
Co-Tiger Teammates – Abby Nautel and Abby Thomas