TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University athletics department, in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), announced the winners of the 2025-26 Golden PAWS awards show. The Golden PAWS event took place at SECU Arena on Monday night, May 11.

The awards were nominated and voted on by athletics senior staff members, head coaches and SAAC representatives. 

Athlete of the Year
Acknowledges the season-changing impact of one student-athlete this athletic year.
--Male: Mikey Weisshaar, men's lacrosse
--Female: Baara Stewart, track & field

Senior Career Achievement
Recognizes a student-athlete for outstanding achievements through their four (or five) years at Towson.
--Male: Mikey Weisshaar, men's lacrosse
--Female: Isabella Minervini, gymnastics | Leeann Redlo, track & field

Rookie of the Year
A freshman (true or redshirt) that had an outstanding first season and positively impacted their team.
--Male: Andrew Indorf, football  
--Female: Jocelyn Lannon, gymnastics
 
Newcomer of the Year
A transfer that had an outstanding first season at Towson and positively impacted their team.
--Male: Jed Garner, men's swim & dive
--Female: Hannah Lewis, women's lacrosse

Unsung Hero of the Year
A student-athlete performing important but often unglamorous tasks that contribute significantly to a team's success.
--Male: Joe Meidling, men's lacrosse
--Female: Semaya Turner, women's basketball  

Best Moment
Recognizes a student-athlete or team for the best moment/play of the year.
--Male: Men's basketball rallies from 17 points down to beat Drexel on national television. Jack Doumbia, Jr. hits two free throws to give the Tigers the lead with eight seconds remaining then blocks the potential game winning shot.
--Female: Tilda Sjökvist drills a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift women's basketball to a 58-55 victory over Hofstra.

Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Recognizes the top academic performer who is of senior academic standing at Towson.
--Male: Ryan Schrier, men's lacrosse
--Female: Britney Denny, swim & dive

Strength & Conditioning Award
Recognizes the student-athlete with the greatest commitment to their strength & conditioning program.
--Male: Ariihau Faana, men's golf
--Female: Payton Todd, soccer
 
MedStar Health Comeback Award
MedStar Health recognizes the student-athlete who, despite injury, has demonstrated a commitment to the rehabilitation program to return to competition while showing positivity and perseverance.
--Male: Max D'Alessandro, baseball
--Female: Morgan Kelly, swim & dive
 
Community Service Award
Recognizes a student-athlete who demonstrates a commitment to community service, involvement and general positivity in support of Towson University.
--Male: Christian Johnson, men's swimming & diving
--Female: Lauren Greene, gymnastics

SECU Arena Highlight of the Year
--First sellout crowd in the history of SECU Arena when 5,209 fans attended the annual STEM game on December 3, 2025 to see the women's basketball team host Loyola.

Tiger Cup
Given to the team which attended the most Towson athletic events this season.
--Winner: Gymnastics

Michele O'Connor Award
Chosen exclusively by Towson SAAC, honoring a Towson athletics staff member whose efforts go above and beyond enhancing the student-athlete experience.
--Winners: Jen Dudley and Erin Mandahl, academics  

Ted Zaleski Award
Honoring the top student fan of the year to Towson Athletics.
--Winner: Carl Brashears

Campus Partner Award
--Winner: Amanda Lewis, Aramark

Carl Runk Black & Gold Impact
--Winner: John and Robin Beynon

Excellence Earned winners
--Selected by sport administrator, given to the most well-rounded student-athlete on the roster. The criteria includes on-field and academic performance as well as community service.

BAS	AJ Kolb
MBB	Caleb Embeya
WBB	Masyn Marchbanks
XC	Baara Stewart
FH	Tessa Scheenstra
FB	Shamir Boyd
MGOLF	Sky Aung
WGOLF	Grace Oristian
GYM	Isabella DeCroo
MLAX	Matt Nilan
WLAX	Ocea Leavy
SOC	Sydney Lindeman
SOFT	Alyssa Myint
MSW	Ian Lee
WSW	Dylan Gustaff
TEN	Gaia Montecchi
VB	Sydney Stewart