Courtesy: Pittsburghpanthers.com
PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP) – On Monday April 14, 2025, The University of Pittsburgh hosted their eighth annual Panther Choice Awards at the Carnegie Music Hall. The event is an opportunity to celebrate the school’s student athletes with their achievements on and off the field. The awards were presented by PNC.
The award ceremony started at 9 p.m., but the University of Pittsburgh’s Broadcasting Club hosted a Red Carpet show that started at 8 p.m and gave athletes, staff, and coaches the chance to say how they were feeling and answer any questions surrounding the night.
Among the people who were interviewed, but not limited to, Athletic Director Allen Greene, Volleyball player Cat Flood, Volleyball Head Coach Dan Fisher, Lacrosse player Kendall Barnes, and Mac Stout, Wrestling.
Below is a list of the full awards and winners presented on Monday.
Top Overall Academic Teams of the Year
- Men’s Soccer
- Women’s Cross Country
Bridge Builder Award
- Lacrosse
Heart of a Panther Award
- Gracie Kahoun (Lacrosse)
Gold Standard Teammates of the Year
- Jayden Melendez (Baseball)
- Papa Amadou Kante (Men’s Basketball)
- Brandon George (Football)
- Jah’Liyah Bedminster (Gymnastics)
- Khadija Faye (Women’s Basketball)
- Jill French (Lacrosse)
- Jackson Gilman (Men’s Soccer)
- Olivia Lee (Women’s Soccer)
- Quintin Gatons (Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country)
- Sydney Nowicki (Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country)
- Eric Camden (Men’s Swimming and Diving)
- Jess Vega (Women’s Swimming and Diving)
- Emmy Klika (Volleyball)
- Mac Stout (Wrestling)
- Tieley Vaugh (Softball)
- Angelina Brown (Cheer)
- Emma Racunas (Dance)
Gold Standard Administrator of the Year
- Gunar Geyer (Baseball)
- Mike Farabaugh (Men’s Basketball)
- E.J. Borghetti (Football)
- Shawn Mueller (Gymnastics)
- Kiera Molloy (Women’s Basketball)
- Riley Newell (Lacrosse)
- Joe Wellwood (Men’s Soccer)
- Mandy Matson (Women’s Soccer)
- Colby Wilson (Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country)
- Darryl Weston (Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country)
- Casey McAlpine (Men’s Swimming and Diving)
- Dom Gallo (Women’s Swimming and Diving)
- Christina Sheets (Volleyball)
- Chris Byland (Wrestling)
- Devin Young (Softball)
- Katie Stumpp (Cheer)
- Katie Stumpp (Dance)
James Conner Comeback of the Year
- Rashad Battle (Football)
David Sandberg Champion Award
- Emmy Klika (Volleyball)
Male and Female Performance of the year
- Sophie Yendell (Women’s Swimming and Diving)
- Nigel Hussey (Men’s Track and Field)
Newcomer of the Year
- Casper Svenby (Men’s Soccer)
Team Moment of the Year
- Volleyball team sweep against Penn State
Male and Female Athlete of the Year
- Mac Stout (Wrestling)
- Olivia Babcock (Volleyball)
Script Writer Award
- Abby Thorne (Lacrosse)
Blue-Gold Award
- Ellie Coffield (Women’s Soccer)
- Valeria Vazquez Gomez (Volleyball)
- Cameron Cash (Swimming and Diving)
Panther Award
- Rachel Fairbanks (Volleyball)
- Ilse Steigenga (Women’s Track and Field)
- Ben Sauls (Football)
Herb Douglas Mentorship Award
- Dontez Ford