The UMBC Department of Athletics held its 15th Annual Gritty Awards on Monday, May 12, inside the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
Matt Skalsky Outstanding Scholar-Athletes
Jayo Adegboyo (men's track & field) is majoring in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with a 3.959 GPA.
Ally Clearfield (women's soccer) has a 4.00 GPA in Biological Sciences & Psychology.
Liz Willman (women's cross country) has a 4.00 GPA in Biological Sciences.
Leon Upshur Memorial Award
Since joining the New Media Studio, Matt Baker has excelled not only in video production, encompassing camera operation, editing, directing, and producing live events, but has also become an integral part of the campus. Whether working with Athletics staff, coaches, or student-athletes, Matt takes significant pride in his work, and it is evident in the consistently high-quality results he delivers.
Retriever Impact Award
DJ Sole's dedication elevated UMBC Athletics and the gameday atmosphere. His commitment to UMBC Athletics has been nothing short of extraordinary, from being the first DJ in the conference for volleyball and basketball to an in-game host and simply a fan favorite. He got the Peake jumping in a way we had not experienced before.
Female Rookie of the Year
Emily Knapp burst onto the scene in 2025 after earning a redshirt in 2024. She paced the America East Conference with 66 total points, was fourth with 46 goals, and was named the Rookie of the Year. She also added 20 assists, 23 ground balls, and 11 caused turnovers. Knapp is the third Retriever named Rookie of the Year and first since 2022.
Male Rookie of the Year
Danny Orr is hitting .316 with six homers and 24 RBI in his initial season. Orr has enjoyed 13 games with multiple hits, including a four-hit day against Georgetown on March 28.
Newcomer of the Year
Isaac Poole was named the Most Outstanding Diver at the 2025 America East Conference Swimming & Diving Championships. Poole swept both men's diving events and competed at the NCAA Zones at Rutgers.
Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Connor McMahon was sensational in his first season in the Retrievers' cage. He led the America East with a 9.67 goals against average (20th in NCAA) and was fifth with a .484 saves percentage.
Athletic Event of the Year
Men's Lacrosse at UAlbany, March 22. Junior Tyler Barnett's goal with 1:11 remaining in overtime capped an incredible 13-12 comeback win for the Retrievers on the road. UMBC trailed 12-7 with just seven minutes remaining in the contest before ripping off five straight tallies to force overtime.
Play of the Year
Emigdio Tormo Lopez made a pair of highlight-reel saves against Vermont, the eventual NCAA National Champion. ESPN Sports Center featured the saves in its nightly top-ten segment.
Female Performance of the Year
Marie Abongwa picked up 10 points by winning the shot put with an effort of 13.68 meters (44'10.75") at the 2025 America East Outdoor Championships. In addition, she placed third in the hammer with a school-record toss of 55.20 meters (181'1"). Abongwa was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer after the event.
Men's Performance of the Year
Boris Milev broke Olympic legend Michael Phelps' 21-year UMBC pool record in the 100-yard Freestyle against Frostburg State and Mount St. Mary's. Milev was part of three pool records, including a new 100-yard freestyle record in 44.74, which also broke Michael Phelps' 21-year-old pool record.
Retriever of the Year (Female)
Alyssa Clearfield is a five-time Dean's List student with a perfect 4.00 GPA in psychology and biological sciences. The Chi Alpha Sigma
member earned America East All-Academic Team honors for the last three seasons. The Columbia, Maryland native finished her career with 65 starts in the back/midfield.
Retriever of the Year (Male)
Oliver Gassmann was named the America East Men's Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. An 8-time individual America East Champion with two conference records, the senior business technology administration major has a 3.83 GPA, and was named Most Outstanding Swimming at the 2025 Swimming & Diving Championships.
Dr. Charles R. Brown Outstanding Athlete Award (Female)
Mia Bilusic completed the career sweep of first-team accolades, having earned the honor all four years of her career. She is the first player in America East history to be named First Team All-Conference four times. Bilusic, who recorded 1,414 career kills, averaged 3.65 kills and 2.35 digs per game in 2024.
Dr. Charles R. Brown Outstanding Athlete Award (Male)
Jordan Galloway finished fifth on the circuit in points per game (3.27) and was sixth in goals per game (1.73). The First Team tri-captain scored 78 career goals along with 36 assists.
Highest Team GPA Award
Women's Soccer, 3.726
Men's Lacrosse, 3.501
Chi Alpha Sigma (National College Athlete Honor Society)
Spring 2025 Inductees
Men's Cross Country: Thomas Foulkes
Baseball: Leewood Molessa, Derek Paris
Men's Lacrosse: Nick Guiterrez, Zachary Johnson, Dante Marinello, Alex Steers
Men's Soccer: Ricky Schissler, Aidom Tadesse
Men's Swimming & Diving: Brendan Hanlon
Men's Track & Field: Scott Gersten
Softball: Mikayla Bryant, Emily Riggs, Catelyn Thrush
Women's Cross Country: Diana Pukys
Women's Lacrosse: Grace Bruce, Emily Renehan, Mikaela Staranko, Lily Strelecki
Women's Soccer: Sara Gavagan, Misa Kasparcova, Madeline Schepers, Ava Schreiber
Women's Swimming & Diving: Elze Bielskute, Alicia Buteau, Bruna De Padua, Isabella Evers
Women's Track & Field: Lily Strelecki
