BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. - The finalists for the 2025-26 Mountain East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year are set, the Mountain East Conference announced Wednesday. The annual league honor, awarded to the Female and Male Student-Athlete of the Year, will be announced Monday, June 29.

Each institution in the MEC selected one female and one male as finalists for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding academic and athletic performance for the previous academic year. Each finalist will receive a plaque. The criteria to be nominated are: (1) a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average; (2) participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests in a MEC-sponsored sport; (3) minimum of one year in residence at the institution.

The female finalists are: Hannah Goes (Charleston, Soccer), Abbie Smith (Concord, Basketball), Daphne McCann (Davis & Elkins, Swimming), Joey Borelle (Fairmont State, Volleyball), Genna Rippeon (Frostburg State, Swimming), Kylie Burdick (Glenville State, Softball), Cassondra O’Connor (Point Park, Cross Country/Track and Field), Ashley Cudnik (West Liberty, Volleyball), Autumn Hall (West Virginia State, Softball), Bhrooke Axe (West Virginia Wesleyan, Volleyball), Trinity Rose (Wheeling, Lacrosse).

The male finalists are: Omar Elsamahy (Charleston, Tennis), Erik Lotysz (Concord, Soccer), Filippo Buffo (Davis & Elkins, Tennis), Colton Stoneking (Fairmont State, Wrestling), Doug Pruim II (Frostburg State, Football), Gabe Onarato (Glenville State, Wrestling), Fridolin Gefrorer (Point Park, Soccer), Parker Bentley (West Liberty, Wrestling), Aidan Paulsen (West Virginia State, Baseball), Steven Niland (West Virginia Wesleyan, Cross Country), Gavin Harper (Wheeling, Wrestling).

The Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners are determined by a vote of the administrators in the Mountain East Conference and the league office.

Additionally, the MEC will also be announcing several of its annual awards over the coming weeks, including Male Sports Coach of the Year, Female Sports Coach of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year as well as the 2025-26 Commissioner’s Cup winner.