RICHMOND, Va. – Towson University student-athletes Megan Popp and Bridget Thomas have been honored as 2024-25 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Leadership and Sport Excellence Award Winners, announced by the league on Friday.
 
The CAA selects one student-athlete per sport, for 20 total, 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.
 
Popp earned the award for field hockey and Thomas earned the award for women's swimming & diving.
 
This is the second straight year where Towson has had two athletes honored with this distinction, with Brian Benzing and Aubrey Schaffer being recipients last year for men's swimming & diving and cross country respectively.
 
Popp, an exercise science major, just finished her junior campaign and second year as a starter for the field hockey team.  A member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad, Athletic Director's Honor Roll and CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, she is also a member of Towson SAAC and the Towson Field Hockey Leadership Council.
 
Thomas, also majoring in exercise science, finished her Towson career as one of the primary freestyle swimmers over the last four years with two-top five finishes in the 2025 CAA Championship.  The team captain is a long-time member of the Dean's List, Athletic Director's Honor Roll and CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, is a campus ambassador for Towson SAAC and received an Excellence Earned award.
 
Each school nominates student-athletes for these awards.