CATS awards honor top student-athletes
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Photos by Alexandra Butler, photographer/photo editor
Top award winners at Penn College Athletics' eighth annual Celebrating Athletic Triumphs and Successes ceremony, also known as "The CATS" awards, are (from left): Walt Heiser (men's lacrosse), Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Elliot Dotson (men's lacrosse), Male Newcomer of the Year; Megan Kurian (women's soccer), Female Newcomer of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year; and Livingston Cross (men's basketball), Male Athlete of the Year. Not pictured is: Kayleigh Miller (women's basketball & cross country), Female Scholar-Athlete honoree.
Pennsylvania College of Technology Athletics honored student-athletes at the eighth annual Celebrating Athletic Triumphs and Successes ceremony, also known as "The CATS" awards. The ceremony was held in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium.
Megan Kurian (women's soccer) and Elliot Dotson (men's lacrosse) were named Female and Male Newcomer of the Year award winners.
Kurian burst onto the scene in her freshman campaign, setting the women's soccer single-season goals assists and points record while leading the Wildcats to an undefeated regular season (15-0-4) and a run to the United East semifinals. The Royersford native scored 26 goals, 15 assist and 67 points while appearing in all 20 games for the Wildcats this season. Kurian was named United East Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year while also earning first team all-conference honors and was a United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team selection.
Dotson currently leads the Wildcats with 49 assists and 86 points and is second with 37 goals scored for the men's lacrosse team. From Wilmington, Delaware, he leads the United East with an average of 5.06 goals per game. Dotson has posted seven hat-tricks including a season-high five goals in three games against Guilford, Rosemont and Bryn Athyn to lead the Wildcats to the second seed in the United East playoffs.
The Newcomer of the Year category also included Gigi Parlante (women's basketball), Mackenzi Tice (softball), Carter Davis (wrestling), Scott Goldfeder (men's soccer) and Joe Savage (men's basketball).
Kurian and Livingston Cross (men's basketball) were selected as the Female and Male Athletes of the Year.
Cross led the country in double-doubles as the men's basketball star light up the scoreboard with 23 double-doubles. From Union, New Jersey, he averaged 22.3 points and 13.2 rebounds while starting in all 28 games for the Wildcats. Cross earned United East All-Conference First Team honors while leading the team on a Cinderella run to the conference semifinals as the 12-seed.
The Athlete of the Year nominees also included Rachel Teats (women's basketball), Mackenzie Weaver (softball), Tommy DeGeyter (men's soccer), Elliot Dotson (men's lacrosse), Noah Hunt (wrestling), Peyton Mussina (golf), Alec Rees (cross country) and Shawn Townsend (baseball).
Kayleigh Miller (women's basketball & cross country) and Walt Heiser (men's lacrosse) earned the Female and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.
Miller, a two-sport athlete while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, helped the Wildcats score its highest finish at the United East Cross Country Championship race with a time of 31:50.2. On the basketball court, Miller scored 71 points and dished out 31 assists in 25 games this season. She earned the United East Elite 20 Award in women's cross country and the Senior Scholar-Athlete award in women's basketball this season. Hailing from Sayre, he serves as vice president of the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee and enjoys helping both of her programs complete community service initiatives.
Heiser, is a key member of the men's lacrosse defensive unit that has posted its winningest season with a 13-4 record and a two-seed in the United East playoffs. Heiser finished the regular season leading the team among defenders with 37 ground ball pickups and seventh on the team with 11 caused turnovers. The Milford, New Jersey native is president of the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee and an active member of the team when it comes to helping coordinate community service events.
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year category included Hailey DeBrody (volleyball), Madison Herriman (softball), Morgan Solano (women's soccer), Tommy DeGeyter (men's soccer), Noah Hunt (wrestling) and Alec Rees (cross country).
Makenzie Weaver was honored with the One Shining Moment Award. The softball senior and career strikeout record holder recorded her 500th career strikeout against Notre Dame on March 29.
Honorees of the inaugural Student-Athletic Advisory Committee Awards are (from left): Nathan Gustkey (baseball), Comeback Player of the Year; Tommy DeGeyter (men's soccer), Mr. Wildcat; Emily Pardee (women's basketball), Ms. Wildcat; and Breakout Moment winners Megan Kurian (women's soccer) and Noah Hunt (wrestling).
In the inaugural Student-Athletic Advisory Committee Awards category, seniors Tommy DeGeyter (men's soccer) and Emily Pardee (women's basketball) were named Mr. and Ms. Wildcat. Senior Noah Hunt (wrestling) and freshman Megan Kurian (women's soccer) were selected as the Breakout Moment winners, and Nathan Gustkey (baseball) was selected as the Comeback Player of the Year.
Eric Hunt, the Wildcats' athletic communications coordinator, was selected as Staff Member of the Year.
Men's Lacrosse earned the Community Service Award.
The CATS ceremony also recognized graduating seniors, who were presented with Wildcat Athletics stoles to be worn during Penn College Commencements, set for May 16-17.
For additional information on Wildcats Athletics, visit the website.
Student-athlete Matt Bailor (baseball) serves as host of the awards ceremony, held in the college's Klump Academic Center Auditorium.
Joined by softball head coach Angela Stackhouse (left), senior softball star Makenzie Weaver receives the One Shining Moment Award.
Eric Hunt (center), the Wildcats' athletic communications coordinator, is honored as Staff Member of the Year. Joining him are Matt Blymier (left), assistant director of athletics for compliance and athletic communications, and Scott Kennell, director of athletics.
Kennell celebrates Men's Lacrosse as recipient of the Community Service Award. Accepting on behalf of their team are CJ Jones (left) and Walt Heiser.
Inductees to Penn College's Alpha Iota Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, an honor society recognizing elite student-athletes who succeed in their sport and in the classroom, join together on stage for a group photo.