Boston University athletic honorees at the annual Scarlet & White Honors banquet: (back row, from left) Ashley Waters, softball coach, Griffin Roach (Questrom’24), Eitan Rosen (Questrom’24), Lauren Keleher (Sargent’24), Allison Boaz (ENG’23, GRS’24), Kayla Roncin (Sargent’24), Sumi Cameron (Questrom’24), Caitlin Weimar (CAS’24), and Anna Dechantsreiter (CAS’24); (front row, from left) Macklin Celebrini (CAS’27), Sonja Dommen (Sargent’24), and Rayna Kuthiala (CAS’24, Sargent’24).

Awards

BU Student-Athletes Honored at 2024 Scarlet & White Awards Ceremony

Year-end review event is a celebration of students, coaches, officials

As Boston University’s 24 varsity athletic programs end their seasons—or prepare for Patriot League playoffs—athletes, coaches, University officials, and the women’s golf team were honored Monday night at the annual Scarlet & White Honors, a celebration of athletic, academic, and leadership achievement during the 2023-2024 school year. A total of 15 Athletics awards were conferred, alongside 9 student-athlete choice awards. 

The honors are as follows:

Mickey Cochrane Award

 Given to the top male athlete of the year

Macklin Celebrini (CAS’27), men’s hockey

Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, national Rookie of the Year, and 2024 winner of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the best male college hockey player in the country, Celebrini, here with men’s hockey coach Jay Pandolfo (CAS’96), was something special for the Terriers this year. The 17-year-old forward became the youngest player in history (and the fourth Terrier) to win college hockey’s most coveted individual honor. Celebrini follows teammate Lane Hutson (CAS’26) as winner of the Mickey Cochrane Award.

Mildred Barnes Award

Given to the female athlete of the year

Caitlin Weimar (CAS’24), women’s basketball, and Kayla Roncin (Sargent’24), softball

Sharing the University’s top honor for a female athlete for the second consecutive year, Weimar and Roncin have been phenomenal in their senior seasons at Boston University. Weimar, (above, with coach Melissa Graves) won Patriot League Player of the Year and her second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year. A PL First-Teamer, she helped the Terriers to their second consecutive appearance in the Patriot League tournament final. 

Roncin picked up her second straight Patriot League Player of the Year in 2023, and now she has two straight Barnes Awards to add to her accolades. Approaching the Patriot League playoffs, she is on track for yet another season with a batting average above .400, and she currently leads the PL in hits and RBI. The Terriers are looking to pick up their sixth consecutive regular season title this May, and their fourth with Roncin on the roster.

John B. Simpson Award

Given to male and female athletes who exemplify “enthusiastic senior leadership” 

Eitan Rosen (Questrom’24), men’s soccer

Rosen’s on-field heroics and impressive senior season (10 goals, 2 assists) helped guide the Terriers to their first Patriot League title this year. Rosen, above with men’s coach Kevin Nylen, is a two-time PL Academic Honor Roll member, and he has picked up several accolades, including PL Tournament MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, in his senior season at BU.

Rayna Kuthiala (CAS’24, Sargent’24), women’s lightweight rowing

The “A” Boat coxswain on the BU women’s lightweight rowing team, Kuthiala, above with women’s coach Mary Foster, was honored for enthusiastic leadership (and a good amount of steering) in many regattas and races. Most recently, Kuthiala’s Varsity 4+ boat beat out Harvard-Radcliffe and MIT in the annual Beanpot.

E. Ray Speare Award

Given to the top male scholar-athlete

Cade Webber (Questrom’23,’24) men’s hockey

Named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team in each of his first three years at BU, Webber is the definition of a student-athlete. An alternate captain for the Terriers NCAA Frozen Four bid, he set a single-season record for blocks (133) before being named the conference’s Best Defensive Defenseman.

Gretchen Schuyler Award

Given to the top female scholar-athlete

Allison Boaz (ENG’23, GRS’24), softball

Reigning two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Boaz colors each box score with as many Ks as she does her report card with As. A four-time PL Academic Honor Roll member, Boaz, above with softball coach Ashley Waters (Wheelock’22), returned as a graduate student for the 2023-2024 season. Currently, the Terriers are undefeated (12-0) in conference play, where Boaz has posted a 0.74 ERA in four starts.

Woman of the Year

Given to the female student-athlete who best exemplifies a commitment to service, leadership, athletics, and academics during her collegiate career

Sumi Cameron (Questrom’24), women’s swimming and diving

From atop the diving board, in the classroom, and throughout the broader Boston community, Sumi Cameron has made her mark during her four years at Boston University. She is the copresident of the BU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a cocaptain of the Terriers Swim and Dive Team IMPACT participation—a nonprofit that pairs children battling serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams. In the pool, Cameron, above with diving coach Brad Snodgrass (left) and women’s swimming and diving head coach James Sica (right), repeated as the Patriot League’s 1-meter diving champion and Diver of the Meet.

Paul Lewis Student-Athlete Service Award

Given to a senior student-athlete who has demonstrated a commitment to serving BU, the athletics department, and the larger Boston community over the course of his or her time at BU

Sonja Dommen (Sargent’24), women’s track and field and cross country

Dommen’s impact on BU athletics extends well beyond her prowess on the track. In addition to serving as a hockey strength and conditioning intern for BU, Dommen, with the late Paul Lewis’ daughter, Nicole (left), and wife, Andrea, has served the larger community as a member of the BU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Terriers Together Mentor Program. Dommen has also worked with Boston Public Schools and Newton Public Schools, helped organize the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Clinic, and partnered with BU’s Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center to promote its Sexual Violence Awareness programming on campus.

Aldo “Buff” Donelli Leadership Award

Presented to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership both on and off the field. The recipient is chosen by the Hall of Fame executive committee after nomination by the athletic department

Anna Dechantsreiter (CAS’24), women’s rowing, and Griffin Roach (Questrom‘24), men’s soccer

A 2023 Academic All-Patriot League Team member, Dechantsreiter earned her seat in the BU women’s rowing Varsity-8 boat this spring. She and the Terriers Varsity-8+ beat Cornell on March 30 and finished second behind Northeastern on April 13. 

Two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Roach held down the Terriers with stout defending and vocal leadership this season. He helped the men’s soccer team colead the Patriot League in goals conceded (5), and helped the team win their first Patriot League title in program history this season. 

The Donelli Leadership Award is conferred every other year. Recipients are honored at the biannual BU Hall of Fame dinner, held in the fall. Dechantsreiter and Roach will be invited to the event.

Harry Agganis Terrier Pride Award

Given by the director of athletics to a student-athlete or coach who “bleeds Scarlet and White while exemplifying the characteristics that define ‘Terrier Pride’: leadership, determination, citizenship, humility, and teamwork.” The award is named for Harry Agganis (Wheelock’54), BU’s first-ever football All-American and an elite baseball star, who went on to play for the Boston Red Sox. Agganis died from a pulmonary embolism at age 26. 

Lauren Keleher (Sargent’24), softball

This year’s Harry Agganis Terrier Pride Award honoree, Keleher currently leads all Patriot League players in extra-base hits and OPS (on base plus slugging) and is tied for the league lead in home runs. Keleher, above with Drew Marrochello, BU Athletics director, has been instrumental in leading softball to three PL regular season titles, and her bat leads the most offensive unit in PL play.

Team GPA Award

Given to the program with the top average GPA

Women’s Golf

With a team grade point average of 3.72, the women’s golf team leads all 24 Boston University programs.

Joseph P. Mercurio Campus Community Recognition Award

Given to an individual or group whose support has proven “invaluable and limitless.” 

Douglas Sears, vice president and chief of staff to the president of BU

A true friend of BU Athletics, Sears supervises the staff and operations of the president’s office. He came to Boston University in 1988 and has held various roles, including dean of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. He is also vice president and director of Military Education (ROTC) and a Wheelock professor. Sears, with Drew Marrochello (right), director of BU Athletics, is retiring at the end of June after 36 years of service to the University.

Bruce Lehane Coaching Award

Given to a head or assistant coach who best embodies a holistic, values-based caring approach

Ashley Waters (Wheelock’22), softball

A five-time Patriot League Tournament and regular-season champion and a four-time Patriot League Coach of the Year, Waters, above with Drew Marrochello, BU Athletics director, has built a modern dynasty in BU’s softball program. At present, the Terriers are eyeing their fifth PL title in six full seasons, and are undefeated (12-0) in Patriot League play.

Student-Athlete Choice Awards

Male Unsung Hero

Andrew Wike (Questrom’24), men’s soccer

A last line of defense for the 2023 Patriot League champion men’s soccer team, Wike (right), with teammates Griffin Roach (Questrom’24) (left) and Eitan Rosen (Questrom’24), earned the Unsung Hero award while playing behind two-time Patriot League Goaltender of the Year Francesco Montali (COM’24). Wike earned two PL Academic Honor Roll placements in his four years at BU.  

Female Unsung Hero

Ellen Monahan (Questrom’24), women’s lacrosse

A three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll recipient, Monahan, with with women’s lacrosse head coach Lauren Morton (CAS’08) (above), was chosen by her peers as this year’s unsung hero award winner. A starter in all 15 of her appearances this season, her sole goal to date this season was against Boston College on March 4.

Male Rookie of the Year

Macklin Celebrini (CAS’27), men’s ice hockey

A repeat honoree at the Scarlet & White Honors, Celebrini was chosen by fellow Terriers after winning the Hockey East and National Rookie of the Year awards. At 17, Celebrini is the youngest player in college hockey.

Female Rookie of the Year

Han Hoang (CAS’27), women’s swimming and diving

Hoang played a part in breaking multiple school records in the pool. Posting a 22.51 50-yard freestyle at the Patriot League Championships, she broke her own school record before clinching the school’s 400-yard medley relay record alongside Lara Mitchell (CAS’24), Clarissa Hoyt (CAS’24), and Haley Newman (CAS’26) (3:41.68).

Male Breakout Athlete

Eitan Rosen (Questrom’24), men’s soccer

Rosen was named the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Patriot League First Teamer in his senior season. He scored the winning goal in the Patriot League championship on November 11.

Female Breakout Athlete

Vera Sjöberg (CAS’25), women’s cross country and track and field

Sjoberg, a First Team All-Patriot Leaguer in both cross country and track and field, has set conference races ablaze this year. Most recently, she was named Track Athlete of the Week after setting the BU school record in the 1500m event (4:13.77) at the Wake Forest Invitational on April 19.

Upset of the Year

Men’s lacrosse earns first program win over #1-ranked team

On March 22, the Boston University men’s lacrosse Terriers stunned Army-West Point, earning their first win against the nation’s top-ranked team in program history. The team, among them Mario Hemann (CAS’24) (from left), Aden Johnson (CAS’26), and Will Delgarza (Questrom’26), handed then-undefeated Army its first loss of the season, shocking the Patriot League rival 14-9.

Highlight of the Year

Weimar’s AND1 vs. Holy Cross 

Facing defending PL Champion Holy Cross on Senior Day, Caitlin Weimar (CAS’24) earned the Highlight of the Year award by powering a layup to the hoop and drawing a foul with less than 22 seconds left, completing a 21-point comeback, on March 2. She went on to earn Patriot League Player of the Year and her second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Moment of the Year

Eitan Rosen goal leads to PL Championship

Already earning the John B. Simpson Award and the Athlete’s Choice Award for Male Breakout Athlete, Rosen’s name was called a third time during the 2024 awards ceremony when he was recognized for the biggest moment of his soccer career: scoring the Patriot League championship–winning goal against Lafayette on November 11.