University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Athletics Holds 12th Annual SAMYS
May 04, 2026 | Athletics Department
The annual awards ceremony was held at the Mullins Center.
AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts Athletics held the 12th annual SAMYS on Monday night, honoring excellence among varsity sports programs with the awards ceremony at the Mullins Center.
The awards covered the spring 2025, fall 2025, winter 2025-26 and spring 2026 sport seasons. The Team and Coaching Staff of the Year Awards will be announced at the conclusion of the spring 2026 season.
Monday night's award winners and award descriptions can be found below:
The Minuteman Award: Jayden Ndjigue (Men's Basketball)
This award will honor one student athlete who exhibits high character, enthusiasm, a selfless positive attitude and good sportsmanship. Often an unsung hero, this award goes to a student-athlete who demonstrates the core values of UMass Athletics and a high level of pride in the University of Massachusetts.
Dr. James Ralph Athletic Training Award: Izzy Larimore (Field Hockey)
The Dr. James Ralph Athletic Training Award is given to a senior athlete who has overcome injury and/or illness to persevere in their sport. The recipient of this award is a person who represents hard work, dedication, and courage to pursue greatness in competition in the face of adversity that comes with injury and illness.
Excellence In Leadership Award: Callen Powers (Baseball)
This award goes to a student-athlete who exemplifies outstanding leadership in competition, by demonstrating strong communication skills and spreading positivity. While fostering team cohesiveness, this person has a fighting spirit and uses it to make their teammates excel in their sport.
Community Impact Award: Men's Basketball
The award recognized the team that has gone above and beyond to make a meaningful difference in their community through volunteerism and service. This award celebrates the collective effort and dedication of the team that has contributed the most volunteer hours throughout the year demonstrating a deep commitment to improving lives and fostering positive change. Whether though charity work, outreach programs, or local initiatives, this team's selfless actions have had a lasting impact, showcasing the true power of sports to inspire, uplift, and unite communities.
F.A.R. Team GPA Award: Tennis
The Faculty Athletics Representative, or F.A.R, Team Award goes to the team that earned the highest team cumulative grade point average following the fall 2025 semester.
F.A.R. Individual GPA Award: Myrte van Herwijnen (Field Hockey), Emilie Bell (Rowing), Savanna Henderson (Field Hockey), Riley Cole (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Men's Scholar Athlete Achievement Award: Collin Catherwood (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Women's Scholar Athlete Achievement Award: Megan Olbrys (Women's Basketball)
Women's Rookie of the Year Award: Emily Barrett (Field Hockey)
Rookie of the Year honors one female student-athlete in her first year of competition at UMass. This individual is one who had a significant impact on and contribution to her team or sport program over the course of an entire season. Any freshman, redshirt freshman or transfer student competing for the first year is eligible for this award.
Men's Rookie of the Year Award: Danny Carbuccia (Men's Basketball)
Rookie of the Year honors one male student-athlete in his first year of competition at UMass. This person had a significant impact on and contribution to his team or sport program over a season. Any freshman, redshirt freshman or transfer student competing for the first year is eligible for this award.
Women's Transfer of the Year Award: Peyton Costello (Women's Soccer)
New for 2025-26, this award acknowledges the impact of our transfer student-athletes. The Men's Transfer of the Year honors a male student-athlete in his first year of competition at UMass, who previously came from a different university. This individual is one who had significant impact on and contribution to their team or sport program over the course of an entire season. Any transfer student competing in their first year at UMass is eligible for this award. Any transfer student-athlete from the spring 2025 competition season may also be considered for this award.
Men's Transfer of the Year Award: Leonardo Bettiol (Men's Basketball)
New for 2025-26, this award acknowledges the impact of our transfer student-athletes. The Men's Transfer of the Year honors a male student-athlete in his first year of competition at UMass, who previously came from a different university. This individual is one who had significant impact on and contribution to their team or sport program over the course of an entire season. Any transfer student competing in their first year at UMass is eligible for this award. Any transfer student-athlete from the spring 2025 competition season may also be considered for this award.
The Minuteman Superfan Award: Men's Track & Field
The Minuteman Superfan Award honors the team that has demonstrated unmatched school spirit and unwavering support for UMass Athletics throughout the year. This award is given to the team that attended the most UMass sporting events, rallying behind all teams on campus and creating a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere of community and pride. Whether rain or shine, win or lose, these superfans have been a constant presence, amplifying school spirit and fostering a deeper connection among athletes, students, and fans alike. Their dedication to cheering on the Minutemen embodies the true essence of UMass pride and the unifying power of sports.
Elaine Sortino Award: Lilly Ferguson (Women's Basketball)
The Elaine Sortino Award is named in honor of Elaine Sortino, the epitome of inspiration and courage. During her time at UMass, Sortino served the Massachusetts athletics department in many ways as a head coach and administrator, yet still found time to make a difference in the community. Sortino's illustrious career has been etched in the record books at both the state and national levels. The award is given to an individual for extraordinary acts of courage, perseverance or service to others.
Maroon Excellence Award: Myrte van Herwijnen (Field Hockey)
The Maroon Excellence Award for career achievement awards a student who has completed or will be completing their final year of eligibility during the 2025-2026 school year. Characterized by an outstanding career athletic achievement in their sport, the honoree will have shown performance and dedication and made a significant contribution to their team's success.
Men's Athlete of the Year: Michael Hrabal (Hockey)
The Male Athlete of the Year award is given to the student who is characterized by an outstanding athletic achievement in his sport and the honoree will have demonstrated performance and dedication and has made a significant contribution to the success of their team.
Women's Athlete of the Year: Kassidy Morris (Women's Lacrosse)
The Female Athlete of the Year award is given to the student who is characterized by an outstanding athletic achievement in her sport and the honoree will have demonstrated performance and dedication and has made a significant contribution to the success of their team.
The awards covered the spring 2025, fall 2025, winter 2025-26 and spring 2026 sport seasons. The Team and Coaching Staff of the Year Awards will be announced at the conclusion of the spring 2026 season.
Monday night's award winners and award descriptions can be found below:
The Minuteman Award: Jayden Ndjigue (Men's Basketball)
This award will honor one student athlete who exhibits high character, enthusiasm, a selfless positive attitude and good sportsmanship. Often an unsung hero, this award goes to a student-athlete who demonstrates the core values of UMass Athletics and a high level of pride in the University of Massachusetts.
Dr. James Ralph Athletic Training Award: Izzy Larimore (Field Hockey)
The Dr. James Ralph Athletic Training Award is given to a senior athlete who has overcome injury and/or illness to persevere in their sport. The recipient of this award is a person who represents hard work, dedication, and courage to pursue greatness in competition in the face of adversity that comes with injury and illness.
Excellence In Leadership Award: Callen Powers (Baseball)
This award goes to a student-athlete who exemplifies outstanding leadership in competition, by demonstrating strong communication skills and spreading positivity. While fostering team cohesiveness, this person has a fighting spirit and uses it to make their teammates excel in their sport.
Community Impact Award: Men's Basketball
The award recognized the team that has gone above and beyond to make a meaningful difference in their community through volunteerism and service. This award celebrates the collective effort and dedication of the team that has contributed the most volunteer hours throughout the year demonstrating a deep commitment to improving lives and fostering positive change. Whether though charity work, outreach programs, or local initiatives, this team's selfless actions have had a lasting impact, showcasing the true power of sports to inspire, uplift, and unite communities.
F.A.R. Team GPA Award: Tennis
The Faculty Athletics Representative, or F.A.R, Team Award goes to the team that earned the highest team cumulative grade point average following the fall 2025 semester.
F.A.R. Individual GPA Award: Myrte van Herwijnen (Field Hockey), Emilie Bell (Rowing), Savanna Henderson (Field Hockey), Riley Cole (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Men's Scholar Athlete Achievement Award: Collin Catherwood (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Women's Scholar Athlete Achievement Award: Megan Olbrys (Women's Basketball)
Women's Rookie of the Year Award: Emily Barrett (Field Hockey)
Rookie of the Year honors one female student-athlete in her first year of competition at UMass. This individual is one who had a significant impact on and contribution to her team or sport program over the course of an entire season. Any freshman, redshirt freshman or transfer student competing for the first year is eligible for this award.
Men's Rookie of the Year Award: Danny Carbuccia (Men's Basketball)
Rookie of the Year honors one male student-athlete in his first year of competition at UMass. This person had a significant impact on and contribution to his team or sport program over a season. Any freshman, redshirt freshman or transfer student competing for the first year is eligible for this award.
Women's Transfer of the Year Award: Peyton Costello (Women's Soccer)
New for 2025-26, this award acknowledges the impact of our transfer student-athletes. The Men's Transfer of the Year honors a male student-athlete in his first year of competition at UMass, who previously came from a different university. This individual is one who had significant impact on and contribution to their team or sport program over the course of an entire season. Any transfer student competing in their first year at UMass is eligible for this award. Any transfer student-athlete from the spring 2025 competition season may also be considered for this award.
Men's Transfer of the Year Award: Leonardo Bettiol (Men's Basketball)
New for 2025-26, this award acknowledges the impact of our transfer student-athletes. The Men's Transfer of the Year honors a male student-athlete in his first year of competition at UMass, who previously came from a different university. This individual is one who had significant impact on and contribution to their team or sport program over the course of an entire season. Any transfer student competing in their first year at UMass is eligible for this award. Any transfer student-athlete from the spring 2025 competition season may also be considered for this award.
The Minuteman Superfan Award: Men's Track & Field
The Minuteman Superfan Award honors the team that has demonstrated unmatched school spirit and unwavering support for UMass Athletics throughout the year. This award is given to the team that attended the most UMass sporting events, rallying behind all teams on campus and creating a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere of community and pride. Whether rain or shine, win or lose, these superfans have been a constant presence, amplifying school spirit and fostering a deeper connection among athletes, students, and fans alike. Their dedication to cheering on the Minutemen embodies the true essence of UMass pride and the unifying power of sports.
Elaine Sortino Award: Lilly Ferguson (Women's Basketball)
The Elaine Sortino Award is named in honor of Elaine Sortino, the epitome of inspiration and courage. During her time at UMass, Sortino served the Massachusetts athletics department in many ways as a head coach and administrator, yet still found time to make a difference in the community. Sortino's illustrious career has been etched in the record books at both the state and national levels. The award is given to an individual for extraordinary acts of courage, perseverance or service to others.
Maroon Excellence Award: Myrte van Herwijnen (Field Hockey)
The Maroon Excellence Award for career achievement awards a student who has completed or will be completing their final year of eligibility during the 2025-2026 school year. Characterized by an outstanding career athletic achievement in their sport, the honoree will have shown performance and dedication and made a significant contribution to their team's success.
Men's Athlete of the Year: Michael Hrabal (Hockey)
The Male Athlete of the Year award is given to the student who is characterized by an outstanding athletic achievement in his sport and the honoree will have demonstrated performance and dedication and has made a significant contribution to the success of their team.
Women's Athlete of the Year: Kassidy Morris (Women's Lacrosse)
The Female Athlete of the Year award is given to the student who is characterized by an outstanding athletic achievement in her sport and the honoree will have demonstrated performance and dedication and has made a significant contribution to the success of their team.
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