Seton Hall Honors Student-Athletes at Annual SHUCademy Awards
4/26/2026 12:41:00 PM | General, H.A.L.L. Program
South Orange, N.J. – As the end of the 2025-26 academic year rapidly approaches, the Pirates community came together to celebrate the achievements of Seton Hall student-athletes throughout the year at the 10th annual SHUcademy Awards held April 21 inside the Bishop Dougherty University Center Event Room.
Serving as hosts an emcees for the evening were Matt Ambrose and Luke Chmiel, members of the Seton Hall external relations staff.
Freshman Female Athlete of the Year was presented to volleyball's Sadie Reich, who Led Seton Hall with 286 kills and a 3.45 kills per set average, and the number could have been higher, but her season was cut short due to injury. Despite missing the last five matches of the season, she still ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in kills per set and ninth in points per set.
Men's soccer's Giacomo Mana took home Freshman Male Athlete of the Year honors. Mana was in the starting lineup from day one for the Pirates and played an outstanding midfield and finished the season seventh on the team in minutes played, and he was the only freshman on the team to play more than 1,000 minutes. He helped the Pirates earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament and win a first-round game.
Marta Aguilar of the women's golf team was named the Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year. Aguilar has been named BIG EAST Golfer of the Week three times this year and won two individual titles giving her four for her career, which is two more than any other women's golfer in school history. Her 73.79 scoring average this year is on pace to be the lowest for a single-year in Seton Hall history.
Nick Graham of the men's swimming & diving team took home Sophomore Male Athlete of the Year honors after finishing the year as the BIG EAST's best diver. At February's BIG EAST Championship, Graham swept the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events to then earn BIG EAST Most Outstanding Male Diver honors for the second straight year. He is the third Pirate all-time to sweep the diving events at one championship meet.
Junior Female Athlete of the Year went to women's basketball's Savannah Catalon. She was a unanimous first-team All-BIG EAST selection, ranking in the conference's top-10 in points and steals and leading the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage. She was also named to the conference's first-ever All-Defensive Team. Catalon set new single-season career highs in nearly every statistical category including points, rebounds, assists, steals and shooting percentage.
Budd Clark from the men's basketball team was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year after averaging a team-high 12.7 points and 4.9 assists per game on the season. He was a second-team All-BIG EAST selection and named to the conference's All-Defensive team.
The senior athletes of the year will be announced at the Pirate Blue Senior Banquet on May 12.
Other winners on the evening included:
Walter Dukes Integrity & Impact Award
Stephen Beaman, Men's Cross Country
Sue Dilley Regan Champion for Change Award
Erin Howard, Softball
Iron Pirate Award
Matt Pontari, Baseball
Rylee Nelson, Volleyball
Pirate Perseverance Award
Shailyn Pinkney, Women's Basketball
Sport & Spirituality Award
Jake Karulf, Men's Swimming & Diving
Breakthrough Athletes of the Year
Gabe Cavazzoni, Baseball
Ari Woodard, Women's Basketball
Performance of the Year
Men's Soccer defeating Siena in penalty kicks to win NCAA Tournament first round
Pirates Cup
Softball Team
Pirate Staff MVP
Andreas Lindberg, Men's Soccer
Pirate Recognition Award
Michael Carswell
Gallery: (4-26-2026) 2026 SHUCademy Awards
Serving as hosts an emcees for the evening were Matt Ambrose and Luke Chmiel, members of the Seton Hall external relations staff.
Freshman Female Athlete of the Year was presented to volleyball's Sadie Reich, who Led Seton Hall with 286 kills and a 3.45 kills per set average, and the number could have been higher, but her season was cut short due to injury. Despite missing the last five matches of the season, she still ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in kills per set and ninth in points per set.
Men's soccer's Giacomo Mana took home Freshman Male Athlete of the Year honors. Mana was in the starting lineup from day one for the Pirates and played an outstanding midfield and finished the season seventh on the team in minutes played, and he was the only freshman on the team to play more than 1,000 minutes. He helped the Pirates earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament and win a first-round game.
Marta Aguilar of the women's golf team was named the Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year. Aguilar has been named BIG EAST Golfer of the Week three times this year and won two individual titles giving her four for her career, which is two more than any other women's golfer in school history. Her 73.79 scoring average this year is on pace to be the lowest for a single-year in Seton Hall history.
Nick Graham of the men's swimming & diving team took home Sophomore Male Athlete of the Year honors after finishing the year as the BIG EAST's best diver. At February's BIG EAST Championship, Graham swept the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events to then earn BIG EAST Most Outstanding Male Diver honors for the second straight year. He is the third Pirate all-time to sweep the diving events at one championship meet.
Junior Female Athlete of the Year went to women's basketball's Savannah Catalon. She was a unanimous first-team All-BIG EAST selection, ranking in the conference's top-10 in points and steals and leading the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage. She was also named to the conference's first-ever All-Defensive Team. Catalon set new single-season career highs in nearly every statistical category including points, rebounds, assists, steals and shooting percentage.
Budd Clark from the men's basketball team was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year after averaging a team-high 12.7 points and 4.9 assists per game on the season. He was a second-team All-BIG EAST selection and named to the conference's All-Defensive team.
The senior athletes of the year will be announced at the Pirate Blue Senior Banquet on May 12.
Other winners on the evening included:
Walter Dukes Integrity & Impact Award
Stephen Beaman, Men's Cross Country
Sue Dilley Regan Champion for Change Award
Erin Howard, Softball
Iron Pirate Award
Matt Pontari, Baseball
Rylee Nelson, Volleyball
Pirate Perseverance Award
Shailyn Pinkney, Women's Basketball
Sport & Spirituality Award
Jake Karulf, Men's Swimming & Diving
Breakthrough Athletes of the Year
Gabe Cavazzoni, Baseball
Ari Woodard, Women's Basketball
Performance of the Year
Men's Soccer defeating Siena in penalty kicks to win NCAA Tournament first round
Pirates Cup
Softball Team
Pirate Staff MVP
Andreas Lindberg, Men's Soccer
Pirate Recognition Award
Michael Carswell
Seton Hall Softball vs. Iona (Game 2)
Thursday, April 23
Seton Hall Softball vs. Iona (Game 1)
Thursday, April 23
Seton Hall Pirates Live Stream
Thursday, April 23
2026 Seton Hall Giving Day is Here!
Tuesday, April 21
