SUWANEE, Ga. – In an announcement made today, 20 student-athletes were recognized as regional winners of the second annual
Division III Commissioner's Association (DIIICA) Student-Athlete of the Year awards.
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Each of the winners will advance to the national ballot for consideration for 2022-23 D3CA Men's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year and Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.
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Ryan Beard of Westminster (Pa.) College and Eliza Beaudin of Elmira (N.Y.) College were recognized as the inaugural recipients of the national awards last year.
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Conferences were permitted to submit two nominations for each award if at least one of the nominations was an international student/ethnic minority. Graduating seniors were the only student-athletes eligible for this award.
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Selection criteria for the awards included considerations based on academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership and a personal statement submitted by each nominee.
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Voting was conducted by the commissioners within each of the ten regions, with the top male and female honoree recognized as finalists for the Awards Committee to select the Division III Commissioner's Association Men's Sport and Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.
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The two national winners will be announced later this month.
D3CA REGIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Region I
Men's Sport               Nathaniel Berry, Bates College (Swimming & Diving) – NESCAC
Women's Sport      Elise Morris, Middlebury College (Soccer) – NESCAC
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Region II
Men's Sport               Matthew Kearney, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cross Country/Track & Field) - NEWMAC
Women's Sport      Sophia Slovenski, University of Southern Maine (Track & Field) – LEC
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Region III
Men's Sport               Noah Campanelli, St. John Fisher University (Baseball) – Empire 8
Women's Sport         Karson Saunders, Union (N.Y.) College (Softball) – Liberty
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Region IV
Men's Sport               Hunter Gutierrez, Stevens Institute of Technology (Wrestling) – MAC Freedom
Women's Sport          Kristiina Castagnola, Rowan University (Field Hockey) – NJAC
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Region V
Men's Sport               Mason Nissley, Messiah University (Volleyball) – MAC Commonwealth
Women's Sport          Abby Birk, Johns Hopkins University (Field Hockey) – Centennial
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Region VI
Men's Sport               Kasey Draper, Roanoke College (Basketball) – ODAC
Women's Sport          Tess Muneses, Washington & Lee University (Field Hockey) – ODAC
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Region VII
Men's Sport               Tyler Horvat, Washington & Jefferson College (Baseball) – PAC
Women's Sport          Isabelle Hoover, College of Wooster (Cross Country/Track & Field) – NCAC
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Region VIII
Men's Sport               Nick Kowalczyk, Dominican University (Soccer) – NACC
Women's Sport      Madison Kellione, Transylvania University (Basketball) – HCAC
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Region IX
Men's Sport               Nick Aney, Gustavus Adolphus College (Tennis) - MIAC
Women's Sport          Birgen Nelson, Gustavus Adolphus College (Track & Field) – MIAC
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Region X
Men's Sport       Josh Angle, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (Basketball) – SCIAC
Women's Sport    Ashley Croft, East Texas Baptist University (Softball) – ASC
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About the DIIICA: The Division III Commissioners Association became a stand-alone organization in January 1992, after previously serving as a combined group with the Division II Commissioners Association. The association is comprised of 43 NCAA Division III conferences, representing over 440 public and private institutions. The purpose of the DIIICA is to empower commissioners to effectively lead their conferences and positively impact Division III intercollegiate athletics by identifying challenges, developing solutions, and taking collective action that reflects the conference perspective.
