TOWSON, Md. – Towson University student-athletes
Brian Benzing, of the swim & dive team, and
Aubrey Schaffer, of the track & field and cross country team, were each named recipients of the 2023-24 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Leadership and Sport Excellence Award, announced by the league office Thursday morning.
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 21 sports sponsored by the Conference.
Benzing, majoring in sport management, was a two-year captain of the Towson swimming & diving program and recently completed an internship with the Towson Athletics marketing department prior to graduation.
He capped an illustrious career at Towson as the first-ever four-time CAA Men's Swimmer of the Year, a three-time CAA Championships Men's Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet, a two-time honorable mention All-American and the national runner-up in the 100 breaststroke at the 2024 Division I NCAA Championships with a time of 50.59, making him an All-American in the event. He is a four-time individual CAA record holder and finished 12
th in the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials earlier this month.
Aubrey Schaffer is a recent graduate majoring in elementary education. As the Towson Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President for the 2023-24 academic year, she helped organize athletic community service events and led monthly committee meetings. Schaffer worked with the Casey Cares Foundation, a nonprofit that helps families with critically ill children, through the Honorary Captains Club.
The Frederick, Md., native competed in all five cross country meets this past season, running Towson's fastest time at each. She clocked PRs in the 5k (19:06.7) and 6k (22:21.60), finishing in the top-15 in both races. During the outdoor track season, she ran the fifth-fastest 10k time in Towson program history, clocking a 36:24.02. The time also ranked 28th in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Benzing is Towson's first recipient on the men's side since Burke Camper received the distinction in June of 2022. Shaffer is the first Towson women's recipient since Erika McKay earned the honor in July of 2018.
