The Benjis To Celebrate 2024-25 In Buffalo State Athletics Set For May 4

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Buffalo State Athletics will hold the annual Benji Awards show on Sunday, May 4 at 4:30 p.m. in the Rockwell Hall Performing Arts Center to celebrate the outstanding team and individual accomplishments of the 2024-25 seasons.

The annual Buffalo State Athletics Banquet will be a theater-style awards show ala the ESPY’s and the Oscars.  In addition to paying tribute to the 77 seniors in the Class of 2025, Buffalo State will hand out nine “Benjis” to the evening’s top honorees.

All student-athletes are expected to attend.  The event is free and open to the public. 

A private senior reception will start promptly at 3:15 p.m. in the Rockwell Hall main foyer for seniors and their guests.

The event will also be STREAMED LIVE.

The finalists for the 2025 Benjis are:

Male Senior Scholar-Athlete Award:
Connor Bizal – Hockey

Julian Maloney – Football

Sebastian Sierra – Football

Shae Wirt – Soccer

David Wozniak – Soccer

Female Senior Scholar Athlete Award:
Jessica Auge – Hockey

Eden Harrison – Volleyball

Eve DiCarlo – Soccer

Sam Kaufman – Soccer

Cam O’Hara – Softball

Male First-Year Athlete of the Year:
Drew Bowman – Volleyball

Jalil Coppedge – Track & Field

Xzavier Goodman – Track & Field (2024)

Austin Micale – Hockey

Zee Johnson – Basketball

Don Powell – Hockey

Female First-Year Athlete of the Year:
Emma Ball – Acrobatics & Tumbling

Olivia Kilmer – Soccer

Kaydence Kemp – Hockey

Izzy Pezdek – Softball (2024)

Brooke Tarshis – Wrestling

Male Athlete of the Year:
Xzavier Goodman – Track & Field

Vadim Kiriakov – Hockey

Malachi Jackson – Volleyball

Manu Prieto – Soccer

Diego Rivera – Soccer

Alex Vega – Volleyball

Female Athlete of the Year:
Sarah Congelosi – Softball (2024)

Makhia Laster – Track & Field

Natalia Sawyer – Track & Field

Kaylee Valentic – Soccer

Ella Wittman – Volleyball

Vanessa Willick – Lacrosse (2024)/Hockey

Hube Coyer Award (Outstanding Career):
Joe Glamos – Hockey

Malachi Jackson – Volleyball

Manu Prieto – Soccer

Alex Westcott – Football

Shae Wirt – Soccer

Ruth Houston Award (Outstanding Career):
Samantha Coakley – Volleyball

Sarah Congelosi – Softball

Makhia Laster – Track & Field

Anastacia Wells – Lacrosse

Team of the Year:
Men’s Hockey

Men’s Soccer

Softball (2024)

Men’s Volleyball

Women’s Volleyball