Seton Hall Leads BIG EAST for Third Straight Year in Sport Excellence Awards

NEW YORK – Seven Seton Hall student-athletes have been named winners of the 2025-26 BIG EAST Sport Excellence Award, the conference office announced Wednesday. Stephen Beaman of men's cross country, Axel Berglund of men's soccer, Niamh Campbell of women's tennis, Kevin Cary of men's swimming & diving, Savannah Catalon of women's basketball, Ryan Reich of baseball and Lara Todorovic of women's golf were selected as the top student-athletes in their respective sports based on academic and athletic achievement as well as community service.

With seven honorees, The Hall earned the most winners of any BIG EAST institution for the third straight year.

The Sport Excellence Awards are given to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The winners are chosen by the BIG EAST Faculty Athletics Representative Council.

While the format of the awards allows for only one declared winner in each sport category, the selection of the recipients proves each year to be a challenge for the FAR Council, as candidate nominees represent exceptional student-athletes who excel in academics, service, and athletics, and are outstanding representatives of their schools and the Conference.

Beaman, who is now a two-time recipient of the BIG EAST Sport Excellence Award, served as a highly competitive veteran presence during his senior campaign in South Orange. The four-time BIG EAST All-Academic team selection and 2025 Chi Alpha Sigma inductee secured a trio of top 20 finishes in three races, including a season-best seventh place at the Metropolitan Championships to help the team secure its first title in the history of the event. In the classroom, Beaman maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average across all four years at Seton Hall.

Berglund concluded his four seasons in South Orange as both a pillar on the pitch for the Pirates and a shining example in the classroom. A four-time BIG EAST All-Academic team selection, a 2025 CSC Academic All-District selection and a 2025 Chi Alpha Sigma inductee, he graduated summa cum laude with a 3.97 grade point average in May. During the fall, Berglund served as a key cog in the Pirates' midfield, providing stellar defense and contributing three assists on the way to The Hall's first home NCAA Tournament win since the 2006 season.

Campbell, who sports a 4.0 grade point average, wrapped up a successful junior campaign on and off the court this past spring for the Pirates. The Seton Hall Junior Scholar-Athlete of the Year and ITA Scholar-Athlete won 21 matches between singles and doubles play this season, topping the 20-win mark for the first time in her career. The three-time BIG EAST All-Academic team and 2026 Chi Alpha Sigma inductee's most dominant showing came at the Lehigh Hidden Duals, where she swept her competition in straight sets across all three matches.

A four-time All-BIG EAST selection, Cary wrapped up his final season with the Pirates by both securing his second BIG EAST title in the 200 freestyle, as well as his second 400 medley relay title. The four-time BIG EAST All-Academic team selection and 2025 Chi Alpha Sigma inductee secured five additional personal bests this season, broke Villanova's pool record in the 200 freestyle and was named BIG EAST Male Athlete of the Week once.

A unanimous first-team All-BIG EAST selection, Catalon set new single-season career highs in nearly every statistical category including points, rebounds, assists, steals and shooting percentage. Named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll five times, the captain started every game and ranked in the conference's top-10 in points, steals and leads the BIG EAST in free-throw percentage. She was also named to the conference's first-ever All-Defensive Team. Off the court, Catalon was named to the CSC Academic All-District team, named a I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete, inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma and maintains an impressive 3.77 grade point average.

Reich, who is also now a two-time recipient of the BIG EAST Sport Excellence Award, was one of the anchors of Seton Hall's bullpen in 2026, seeing action in 21 games during his senior campaign. The righty worked 32.1 innings for the Pirates and posted a 4.73 ERA on the season. Reich reached the 200 career strikeouts milestone this season, hitting that mark on April 18 in a game against Villanova. He is a four-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic team, three-time CSC Academic All-District selection and 2025 Chi Alpha Sigma inductee.

Todorovic has been one of the top academics during her four years at Seton Hall while appearing in 24 tournaments in her women's golf career. A four-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and 2025 Chi Alpha Sigma inductee, she graduated summa cum laude with a 3.96 grade point average in May. On the course this spring, Todorovic returned to action after missing a year due to injury and saw action in five tournaments including the 2026 BIG EAST Championship.