Baseball | 5/12/2026 3:18:00 PM
NEWARK, N.J. - Rutgers University–Newark Athletics recognized a number of student-athletes for their achievements on the field, in the classroom, and within their respective programs during the 2026 Rutgers-Newark Athletic Awards Banquet.
The night bagan with the Coaches Award honors the student-athlete who best represents the intangibles of being a great teammate through work ethic, selflessness, leadership, and commitment to their program. This year's recipients included Michael Weinbel from baseball, Emily Leiras from women's basketball, Osa Osagie from men's basketball, Annabella Velaj from women's soccer, Gerson Gonzalez-Quevedo from men's soccer, Destiny Maury from softball, Juan Silva from men's volleyball, Kaitlyn Koo from women's volleyball, Daniel Cortez from men's track & field, and Chidimma Igwe from women's track & field.
Rutgers-Newark also honored its All-Academic Team, recognizing the junior or senior on each team with the highest cumulative GPA. This year's honorees included:
Several individual academic honors were also presented during the banquet. Maria Castillo of women's soccer earned recognition for the highest GPA in the Business School with a 3.91 GPA. Sabrina Suquinagua of women's volleyball received the award for the highest GPA in Criminal Justice with a 3.79 GPA, while Janelle Atta of women's soccer was honored for the highest GPA in Arts & Sciences with a 3.89 GPA. Gabrielle Negvesky of women's soccer earned recognition for the highest GPA in the School of Public Affairs and Administration with a 3.15 GPA.
The department's top academic honors were awarded to Joseph Bernardo and Maria Castillo, who were named the Rutgers University–Newark Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Bernardo excelled both on the baseball field and in the classroom, earning a 3.86 GPA while serving as a leader for the Scarlet Raiders. Castillo led all athletes with a 3.91 GPA, she combined elite academic success with standout performances for the women's soccer program to earn Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.
Rutgers University–Newark Athletics also inducted its 2026 class into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. Chi Alpha Sigma is the first and only national scholar-athlete society recognizing collegiate student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically. Student-athletes must compete at the varsity level, achieve junior academic standing or higher, and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above to qualify for induction.
This year's Chi Alpha Sigma inductees included:
Several special recognition awards were also presented throughout the evening. Gilroy Prial of the baseball team earned the Essex County Award, presented to the most outstanding student-athlete from Essex County who demonstrated excellence both athletically and academically. Prial was recognized for his leadership, service as SAAC President, and surpassing 100 career hits during the season.
Jaielyn Alston of women's basketball received the Massenburg Award, which honors a student-athlete who demonstrates athletic achievement, scholastic excellence, and service to the community. Alston was recognized for her involvement across campus organizations, including Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, the Black Organization of Students, and her work as a resident assistant.
Emily Leiras of women's basketball was honored with the Courage and Character Award, presented to a student-athlete who overcame significant obstacles outside the classroom while continuing to excel academically and athletically. Leiras was recognized for her determination and perseverance in returning from injuries to compete once again on the hardwood.
The Mike Alvarez Outstanding Student-Worker Award was presented to Evan Santana for his exceptional contributions to Rutgers-Newark Athletics through his work behind the scenes within the department.
The banquet also recognized nominees for the department's major "Of the Year" awards, with winners set to be officially announced on June 1 following the completion of the track & field season.
Nominees for Male Rookie of the Year included Jonathan Jerez from baseball, Duncan Sturt from men's volleyball, and Raheem Murray from men's basketball. Jerez made an immediate impact offensively for the Scarlet Raiders, totaling 35 hits and 20 RBIs during his freshman campaign. Sturt orchestrated the men's volleyball offense while earning NJAC Rookie of the Year honors along with All-Conference recognition in both the NJAC and CVC. Murray emerged as a key contributor for men's basketball, earning NJAC Rookie of the Week honors three times and receiving All-NJAC Honorable Mention recognition.
Female Rookie of the Year nominees included Keliah Cottrell and Shaina Sackett from women's soccer, along with Cyan Long from women's volleyball. Cottrell anchored the Scarlet Raiders defense with consistent performances throughout the season, while Sackett earned NJAC Rookie of the Week honors and recorded 35 saves in goal. Long delivered a strong all-around season for women's volleyball, contributing over 100 kills, 164 points, and 362 digs.
Nominees for Female Student-Athlete of the Year included Fejiro Akiri and Shanil Auguste from women's track & field, along with Emily Karlicki from women's soccer. Akiri captured a gold medal in the weight throw at the NJAC Indoor Championships and earned First Team All-NJAC honors. Karlicki led women's soccer offensively with seven goals en route to Second Team All-NJAC recognition. Auguste continued her standout throwing career by earning All-NJAC honors in the shot put.
Male Student-Athlete of the Year nominees included Aleks Kolodziej and Michael Suarez from men's volleyball, along with Erick Cortes from men's soccer. Kolodziej established himself as one of the NJAC's top all-around players, finishing the season with 236 kills and 162 digs while earning First Team All-NJAC and Second Team All-CVC honors. Suarez ranked among the conference leaders offensively with 319 kills while also earning First Team All-NJAC and Second Team All-CVC recognition. Cortes powered the men's soccer attack with 15 goals, five game-winning goals, and multiple postseason honors including All-Region IV Second Team recognition.
For the latest news, updates, and information on Rutgers-Newark sports, visit rutgersnewarkathletics.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Scarlet Raiders news by following Rutgers-Newark Athletics on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Gallery: (5-13-2026) 2026 Athletics Banquet
