2025 WESPYs Finalists Announced

DURHAM, N.H. – The finalists have been announced for the seventh annual WESPYs. The event showcases the athletic and academic achievements from the 2024-25 season and will take place on Tuesday, May 6 in the Granite State Room.

This year, the show will feature 10 different awards ranging from individual student-athlete awards to team awards and highlights. Below are the finalists for each award.

2025 Finalists:

Award: Jim Urquhart Outstanding Student-Athlete Award
Started: 1999
Criteria: Outstanding men's and women's senior or graduate student-athletes based on a career of athletic success, community involvement, and academic achievement. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility. Student-athletes can only be considered once during their UNH Athletics career.

Finalists

Women
Kira Juodikis, Women's Hockey
Kelly Kaufmann, Volleyball
Jasmine Lyons, Women's Nordic Skiing
Gracy Mowers, Gymnastics
Chiara Pradissitto, Swimming and Diving
Sally Rainey, Women's Soccer

Men
Hayden Dahl, Men's Alpine Skiing
Alex Gagne, Men's Hockey
Aidan Shea, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Josiah Silver, Football

Award: The Cathy Coakley Student-Athlete Community Involvement Award
Started: 2011
Criteria: Men's and women's senior or graduate student-athlete(s) who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the University, UNH Athletics, and the larger community with involvement in campus organizations, volunteer work, SAAC, and other service organizations. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility.

Finalists

Alex Gagne, Men's Hockey
Nathan Maybach, Men's Nordic Skiing
Sally Rainey, Women's Soccer
Summer Simpkins, Gymnastics
Zedane Williams, Football

Award: Tina True Strength and Conditioning Award
Started: 2007
Criteria: Given annually to a pair of Wildcat seniors or graduate student-athletes for their commitment to strength and conditioning. Tina True was a co-captain and coxswain of the women's crew team from 2000 to 2002; her commitment to training and passion for the sport greatly contributed to the success of the team. Tina's life was tragically cut short by a car accident in January 2002 during her junior year.

There are no finalists for this award, the winner will be announced at the WESPYs.

Award: Wildcat Award for Academic Excellence Started: 2010
Criteria: Given annually to the graduating senior men's and women's student-athletes with the highest undergraduate cumulative grade-point average.

There are no finalists for this award, the winner will be announced at the WESPYs.

Award: Granite Strong Award
Started: 2019
Criteria: Men's and women's senior or graduate student-athletes who have overcome adversity, are unsung heroes, or have gone above and beyond what should be expected of them by their coaches and teammates. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility.

Finalists

Women
Abby Hawkes, Lacrosse
Megan Logue, Women's Soccer
Gracy Mowers, Gymnastics
Shea Verrier, Women's Hockey

Men
Eli Gore, Men's Nordic Skiing
Neil Politano, Football
Connor Sweeney, Men's Hockey

Award: Director of Athletics Leadership Award
Started: 2024
Criteria: Men's and women's senior or graduate student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding leadership and represent the team, Athletics, and/or university exceptionally well. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility.

Finalists

Women
Meghan Guarente, Women's Soccer
Belen Morales Lopez, Women's Basketball
Jasmine Lyons, Women's Nordic Skiing
Zoe Michael, Women's Alpine Skiing
Gracy Mowers, Gymnastics
Hannah Serbousek, Volleyball

Men
Roger Anderson, Men's Nordic Skiing
Kevin Finn, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Dylan Maxon, Men's Soccer
Ryan Toscano, Football

Award: Rookie of the Year
Started: 2019
Criteria: Given annually to the men's and women's rookies (freshman or redshirt freshman) for outstanding athletic achievement.

Finalists

Women
Lydia Hart, Swimming and Diving
Faye Meijer, Field Hockey
Sarah Moore, Women's Track and Field
Dasha Romanov, Women's Alpine Skiing
Ruth White, Women's Cross Country and Track and Field

Men
Jayden Buckrell, Men's Alpine Skiing
Denzell Gibson, Football
Max Voigt, Men's Soccer

Award: Performer of the Year
Started: 2020
Criteria: Given annually for the most outstanding athletic achievement by men's and women's student-athletes in the current academic year, from any class year.

Finalists

Women
Tasmin Cookman, Field Hockey
Eva DeChent, Women's Basketball
Meghan Guarente, Women's Soccer
Lydia Hart, Swimming and Diving
Claire Ronan, Women's Cross Country and Track and Field

Men
Jayden Buckrell, Men's Alpine Skiing
Matthew Goncalves, Men's Soccer
Josiah Silver, Football

Award: Highlight of the Year
Started: 2020
Criteria: Given annually to the team or student-athlete with the most spectacular play of the year.

Finalists
Men's Basketball (Sami Pissis game-winning three-pointer in the 80-79 win vs. UMass Lowell)
Women's Basketball (Maggie Cavanaugh scores with 12 seconds left in 48-45 win at UMass)
Lacrosse (Rose Pavuk scored behind the back goal versus Bryant)
Men's Alpine Skiing (Jayden Buckrell wins national championship in the slalom)
Men's Soccer (Matthew Goncalves scored late game winner in 3-2 win at Princeton)
Women's Soccer (Ginny Delacruz scores from 35 yards out vs. Merrimack)

Award: Event of the Year
Started: 2021
Criteria: Given annually to the team or student-athlete with the most exceptional game or competition performance of the year.

Finalists
Men's Basketball (Rallied from trailing by 17 points to defeat UMass Lowell, 80-79)
Women's Cross Country (Winning the America East Championship)
Football (Scored 21 straight points during the 4th quarter to defeat No. 16 Stony Brook, 31-30)
Women's Soccer (Trailing 2-1 vs. Holy Cross, the 'Cats scored two late goals by Delaney Lappin to win 3-2)
Swimming & Diving (Winning the America East Championship)
Volleyball (Defeating UAlbany to win the America East Championship)

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2025 WESPYs Finalists Announced

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