Christendom Athletics Honors Senior Class and Closes Banner Year with National Titles and Record Success

As the 2024–2025 academic year comes to a close, Christendom College Athletics has two major reasons to celebrate: the legacy of its graduating senior class and the remarkable achievements of one of the most successful seasons in program history. On May 9, Christendom honored 30 senior student-athletes whose impact has reshaped Crusader Athletics through excellence on the field, dedication in the classroom, and leadership in the community.

“These seniors have helped change the landscape of Christendom Athletics,” said Athletic Director Patrick Quest. “They’ve proven that you can be a champion on the field and a scholar in the classroom—and they’ve set a powerful example for every class that follows.”

A Class That Raised the Bar

The Class of 2025 leaves behind a legacy defined by both individual and team success. Among the highlights:

• 20 Academic All-Americans demonstrating the balance of academic rigor and athletic excellence.
• 9 USCAA and NCR All-Americans representing Christendom at the highest levels of collegiate competition.
• 9 ESAC All-Conference selections showcasing top-tier performance within the Eastern States Athletic Conference.

Their teamwork translated into big wins:

• 3 National Championships, including women’s basketball’s historic season.
• 9 Conference Championships across multiple sports.
• 14 National Tournament Appearances, putting Christendom in the national spotlight.
• 2 Presidents Cups for academic achievement, including a collective athletic GPA of 3.51.

Year in Review: 2024–2025 Season Highlights

The 2024–2025 season was a turning point for Christendom Athletics, with milestones across nearly every sport.

Cross Country

Under coaches Sydney Binette and Margaret Kolesar, the men’s and women’s teams exceeded expectations. Despite small rosters, both squads showed tremendous growth and finished strong at Nationals. Mary Noble and Alex Girata earned USCAA Second Team All-American honors, placing 12th and 13th respectively.

Volleyball

The Crusaders, led by first-year head coach Michaela Pennefather and seniors Claire Dotson and Fiona Briggs, finished 9-11, showing promising momentum with key wins over PSU Beaver, PSU Shenango, and MACU. Freshman Lucy Stahl earned USCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors for her standout play.

Women’s Soccer

With an 11-3-3 record, an ESAC title, and a USCAA National Runner-Up finish, this season was nothing short of historic. Catherine Thomas, the team’s star midfielder, earned USCAA First Team All-American and Player of the Year honors—just one of her two national awards this year. She was joined by Miranda Keller (1st Team), Theresa Luckey, and Colleen Kosten (Honorable Mentions). Five players made the All-Conference First Team, and Coach Erly Moya was named ESAC Coach of the Year.

Men’s Soccer

With a 7-6-3 record, the team delivered impressive wins against ranked opponents PSU New Kensington and PSU Mont Alto. Standout Sean Corcoran was named USCAA Second Team All-American and First Team All-Conference, while Andrew Snyder and Niall Maguire added further strength to the roster with All-Conference nods.

Rugby

Christendom’s rugby tradition continued to thrive. The 15s team secured its 6th conference title in eight years, while the 7s squad made its 8th consecutive appearance at the CRC 7s National Tournament—the longest active streak in the nation. Nick Ward and Jimmy Coffey earned First Team NCR All-American honors, and Charlie Ackla was named to the NCR DIII 7s All-Tournament Team.

Women’s Basketball

One of the most dominant runs in program history, the Lady Crusaders posted a 26-2 record, won the ESAC Championship, and captured the USCAA National Championship. Catherine Thomas, again, stood at the center of the success, earning Player of the Year honors. She was joined by Mary Pennefather (1st Team) and Regina Bonvissuto (Honorable Mention) on the All-American list. Head Coach Mary Minick earned ESAC Coach of the Year, and senior Miranda Keller was honored as the USCAA Student-Athlete of the Year for her leadership on and off the court.

Men’s Basketball

Led by interim coach Joe Dotson—now named permanent head coach—the men’s team earned first-ever wins over PSU Mont Alto and Johnson & Wales, finishing 9-13. Junior Bobby Vander Woude made history as the first USCAA All-American in 20 years, receiving Honorable Mention and First Team All-Conference honors.

Baseball

The baseball program opened with a 7-2 start, its best ever, and finished 12-19 overall. Wins over PSU Schuylkill and KSU Tuscarawas signaled continued growth. Sophomores Paul Amuso and Gus Coleman received USCAA Honorable Mention All-American recognition.

Champions in Every Sense

With three conference titles, a national title, a national runner-up, and dozens of individual accolades, Christendom’s athletic year reflected not just competitive excellence but a commitment to living out the college’s mission through sports.

The seniors, many of whom were part of multiple championship teams, also helped guide Christendom to two Presidents Cups—awarded for academic success across athletic programs. The cumulative 3.51 GPA of student-athletes this year highlights a culture of hard work and balance.

As Christendom Athletics looks toward the 2025–2026 season, the bar is higher than ever—but thanks to the leadership and legacy of the Class of 2025, the future looks even brighter.