CAA Announces 2024-25 Leadership And Sport Excellence Award Winners
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (June 20, 2025) – The CAA has announced the 20 recipients of the prestigious Leadership and Sport Excellence Award for the 2024-25 academic year.
The award mimics the Chuck Boone Leadership Award in football and the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award in men’s and women’s basketball. One student-athlete, who represents the highest standards of teamwork, integrity, leadership, and sportsmanship in his or her academic and athletic achievements, was selected in each of the other sports sponsored by the Conference. Nominees must be at the junior, senior or graduate academic level.
After evaluating the nominees, the CAA’s Faculty Athletic Representatives voted on the winners.
The 2024-25 CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award winners are as follows:
Baseball:
Tanner Thach, UNCW – Thach achieved a 3.52 GPA while majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. A member of the National College Honor Society and Chi Alpha Sigma, he has participated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Miracle League and Crossway Wilmington. On the field, Thach is a two-time first-team All-CAA selection who was the CAA Co-Player of the Year and All-America honoree in 2024. He owns the CAA single-season home run mark (27) and is UNCW’s career leader in homers and RBI’s.
Men’s Cross Country:
Evan Taylor, Elon – Taylor compiled a 3.994 GPA while majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. A six-time member of the President’s List and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, he was presented the A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete Award in 2025 for possessing the highest cumulative GPA among Elon male student-athletes. A member of the Elon SAAC group, he volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club. Taylor received all-conference honors in 2024 following a team-best 13
th-place finish at the CAA Men’s Cross Country Championship. He was also the individual winner at the Phoenix Invitational.
Women’s Cross Country:
Madison Synowiec, Elon – Synowiec earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a 3.984 GPA and has a 4.0 GPA while working on a master’s degree in Business Analytics. A member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, she has made the President’s List in each semester. Synowiec, a team captain, placed 16
th at the CAA Cross Country Championship. She was on the podium twice at the CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship, finishing second in the 5,000 meters and third in the 10,000 meters. Synowiec also competed at the NCAA East Regional Championship.
Field Hockey:
Megan Popp, Towson – Popp owns a 3.729 GPA while majoring in Exercise Science. A six-time member of the Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, she was named the NFHCA National Academic Squad in 2022. Popp is a member of the Towson SAAC group and the Field Hockey Leadership Council. She received an Excellence Earned Award for her combination of leadership, academics and community service. On the field, Popp has started all 18 games for the Tigers over the past two seasons. She played over 1,000 minutes as a midfielder and contributed one goal.
Men’s Golf:
Griffin Mitchell, Drexel – Mitchell compiled a 3.87 GPA while earning a bachelor's degree in Finance and is currently working on a master’s degree in Business Administration. A 13-time Dean’s List member, he made the CSC Academic All-District team and has participated in a variety of community service initiatives. On the course, Mitchell was second on the team with a 73.3 scoring average this season and was selected to the All-CAA second team for the second time. He finished second at the CAA Men’s Golf Championship to garner all-tournament accolades and also made the All-Northeast Region team.
Women's Golf:
Ashley Lafontaine, Elon – Lafontaine achieved a 3.99 GPA while majoring in Accounting. A six-time member of the President’s List and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, she received the A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete Award in 2025 for possessing the highest cumulative GPA among Elon female student-athletes. A member of Elon’s SAAC group, she has volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club. On the course, Lafontaine placed fifth at the CAA Women’s Golf Championship to earn All-Tournament honors. The Phoenix captain and team MVP had a 74.4 scoring average in 2025.
Men’s Lacrosse:
Myles Johnson, Hampton – Johnson owns a 3.85 GPA while majoring in Business. A member of Chi Alpha Sigma, he made the Dean’s List in each semester. Johnson was one of 12 students nationwide to be chosen to participate in the Institute for Responsible Citizenship and has served as a Fellow for AltFinance, which has provided networking opportunities with finance-focused HBCU students across the country. A member of Hampton’s SAAC group, he takes part in several campus organizations. On the field, Johnson saw action in nine games this season as a defender for the Pirates.
Women’s Lacrosse:
Kyndall Jackson, Hofstra – Jackson compiled a 3.95 GPA while majoring in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Disability Studies. She has been a member of the Provost’s List, Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in multiple semesters. Jackson has served on the SAAC Executive Board as the group’s secretary and has been involved in numerous community service projects. On the field, Jackson competed in eight games this season as a midfielder and contributed five assists and a pair of ground balls.
Rowing:
Firinne Rolfe, Northeastern – Rolfe achieved a 3.896 GPA while majoring in Sociology. She was an eight-time Dean’s List member, made the Northeastern Top Dog list six times and was twice recognized as a CRCA Scholar-Athlete. Rolfe has participated in numerous community service initiatives, including working as a project lead for the Safe Passage Project. On the water, Rolfe has been a member of the Varsity Eight boat and helped lead the Huskies to four consecutive CAA Rowing Championship titles and four NCAA Rowing Championship appearances.
Men’s Soccer:
Pierce Infuso, Hofstra – Infuso completed his bachelor's degree in Finance with a 3.65 GPA and added a master’s degree in Finance with a 3.8 GPA. A five-time Dean’s List member, he received CSC first-team Academic All-America accolades in 2024 and twice was recognized as a USC first-team Scholar All-American. A three-year team captain, he participated in the Woycik Pride Leadership Academy. On the field, Infuso helped lead Hofstra to four consecutive CAA Men’s Soccer Championship titles and four NCAA appearances. The defender twice received first team All-CAA and first team All-Atlantic Region accolades and he was named a Third Team All-American in 2023.
Women’s Soccer:
Kerry Pearson, Stony Brook – Pearson earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management with a 3.93 GPA and is working on a master’s degree in Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA. She made the Dean’s List during each semester and was twice honored on the CSC Academic All-District squad. The two-year team captain was part of SBU’s Academy of Leaders and Leadership Council, as well as serving as a PACK mentor. On the field, Pearson was a two-time All-CAA first team honoree and helped lead the Seawolves to CAA regular-season and tournament titles in 2024. The defender started 83 career games and contributed eight goals and 10 assists while helping SBU record 23 shutouts.
Softball:
Olivia Malinowski, Hofstra – Malinowski received a bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Global Studies which compiling a 3.73 GPA. She was a three-time NFCA/Easton All-America Scholar-Athlete and made the Hofstra Athletic Director’s Scholars list in five semesters. Malinowski serves as Vice President of the Hofstra SAAC group and has taken part in a variety of community service projects. On the field, Malinowski was a four-year letterwinner as a catcher and designated player. She made the All-CAA second team in 2024.
Men’s Swimming & Diving:
Brock Rempe, William & Mary – Rempe achieved a 3.74 GPA while majoring in Finance. A member of the CSC Academic All-District team in 2025, he made the William & Mary Provost’s List twice and was on the Dean’s List four times. Rempe served as a team captain for two seasons and volunteered in several community service initiatives. In the pool, Rempe posted four individual event victories this season and placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke at the CAA Swimming Championship. He posted eight podium finishes in 2023.
Women’s Swimming & Diving:
Bridget Thomas, Towson – Thomas compiled a 3.554 GPA while majoring in Exercise Science. She made the Dean’s List in five semesters and earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll eight times. Thomas participated in the Towson SAAC group as a campus ambassador and received an Excellence Earned Award for leadership, academics and community service. The two-time team captain placed fourth in the 1650 free and fifth in the 500 free at the 2025 CAA Swimming Championship after finishing fifth in both events in 2024.
Men’s Tennis:
Oskar Antinheimo, Elon – Antinheimo majored in Finance and Accounting while recording a 3.96 GPA. A member of the Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa and Beta Alpha Psi Honor Societies, he has been chosen as an ITA Scholar-Athlete for the past three years and has made the President’s List five times. Antinheimo is an Elon SAAC member and has participated in the Phoenix Leadership Academy. On the court, the three-year team captain earned third team All-CAA honors in singles in 2024 and made the All-CAA second team in doubles in 2025. He was chosen team MVP in 2024.
Women’s Tennis:
Sara Annamaria Medved, Stony Brook – Medved received a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics & Statistics with a 3.75 GPA and earned a master’s degree in Computer Science with a 3.95 GPA. She was named to the CSC Academic All-District team in 2024 and has made the Dean’s List in each semester. Medved received the ITA’s Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award for the Northeast Region as well as the Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship for the Northeast Region. Medved is a SAAC member and PACK mentor at SBU. On the court, she led the team with 14 doubles wins this season and added six singles victories.
Men’s Track & Field:
Savion Thompson, Northeastern – Thompson completed a bachelor's degree in Health Science and Business Administration with a 3.4 GPA and owns a 3.93 GPA while working on a master’s degree in Public Health. He has made Northeastern’s Top Dog list three times. Thompson has been an active member of NU’s SAAC group and helped spearhead the creation of Northeastern’s first Black Athlete Caucus. He is an ambassador for Northeastern’s Public Health program. On the track, Thompson was the CAA individual champion in the long jump and finished second in the triple jump in 2021 to earn All-CAA honors. During his career, the Huskies have claimed four CAA Outdoor Track & Field titles.
Women’s Track & Field:
Hope Belvit, Northeastern – Belvit achieved a 3.742 GPA while earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Communication Studies. She made the Dean’s List in six semesters and the NU Top Dog list three times. Belvit served as President of NU’s Black Athlete Caucus and was a team captain in 2024-25. On the track, she earned a silver medal in the hammer throw at the 2024 CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship and was the individual champion in the weight throw at the 2025 CAA Indoor Championship. Belvit ranks among NU’s all-time top 10 in both of those events.
Women’s Track & Field:
Asiah Gadson, Charleston – Gadson compiled a 3.51 GPA while completing a bachelor's degree in Public Health. A member of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll in each semester, she received the Rho Lambda Inspiration Award in 2025. A member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Gadson served as vice president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She also organized HIV prevention and education initiatives as a Public Health Department intern. On the track, Gadson contributed to the Charleston team in the 400 hurdles as well as the 100, 200 and 400 meters outdoors.
Volleyball:
Grace Melnick, UNCW – Melnick posted a 3.8 GPA while receiving a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies with a minor in French. An eight-time Dean’s List member, she was inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta Communications Studies Honor Society. A UNCW SAAC member, Melnick was head of the Diversity and Inclusion Board and has prioritized making sure international students feel welcomed. She received the Distinguished Engagement Award. On the court, Melnick was a four-year starter and set a school record with 13 blocks in a game. She ranked second in the CAA in blocks per set (1.15) in 2024.