OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Mustang Athletics held its 9^th Annual Mustang Gala on Friday evening, highlighting the excellence of student-athletes in both academics and athletics throughout the 2025-26 school year. 
During the Gala, Mustang Athletics presented a new variety of awards to highlight student-athletes and contributors of the department including; the Mustang Senior Scholar-Athlete, Emerging Athlete of the Year, Mustang Athlete of the Year, and the Mustang Service award. All the award criteria can be found here. 

2025-26 Mustang Gala Award Winners:

Team Highest GPA: For the 2025-26 school year, the teams with the highest GPA were the men's ice hockey team and the women's beach volleyball team. 

Play of the Year: The Play of the Year was awarded to Matthew Berry of Stevenson football with his pick-six against Bridgewater College. After falling behind 14–0 early, the Mustangs rallied to take a 19–14 lead. Just before halftime, with Bridgewater driving, Berry intercepted a pass and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown as time expired—swinging the momentum and giving Stevenson a 26–14 lead at the break. The Mustangs would go on to win 32–27, with that play proving to be the difference.

Moment of the Year: The Moment of the Year was award to the Stevenson field hockey team's MAC Commonwealth Championship victory over Messiah in the fall. This championship title was the first in program history, as the team also earned the program's first ever win over Messiah, also earning the first ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Mustang Senior Scholar-Athletes: This year, the recipients were Maggie Sehnert of women's ice hockey and Kaden Snead of men's lacrosse. 

Rookies of the Year: The women's winner of this award was granted to Isabella Serano. A standout two-sport athlete, Serano started all 20 games in goal for the Mustangs, recording 141 saves, a .887 save percentage, and eight shutouts, while adding a career-high 17 saves against Messiah and even tallying an assist. On the basketball court, she appeared in 18 games as a rookie, contributing 22 points, 24 rebounds, 10 steals, and four blocks.

The men's rookie of the year was awarded to Shaun Rudick of baseball. A force at the plate, Rudick hit an impressive .408, tallying 40 hits, including 10 doubles, while driving in 20 runs and scoring 19 times. He posted a .510 on-base percentage, drew 15 walks, and added two stolen bases, while recording multiple three-hit games. Defensively, he added 43 putouts and 5 assists, finishing with a .919 fielding percentage.
 
Emerging Athletes of the Year: The women's Emerging Athlete of the Year was awarded to Gracyn Catalano. After spending her first two collegiate seasons at Lock Haven University, where she appeared in 28 games and recorded five goals and an assist, Catalano transferred to Stevenson and made an immediate impact in her first season with the Mustangs. Starting 21 of 22 games, she led the team with 27 points on 12 goals and three assists, quickly establishing herself as a key offensive contributor. Her standout year earned NFHCA All-Region V Second Team and All-MAC Commonwealth First Team honors, along with a selection to the MAC Academic Honor Roll, as she helped guide Stevenson to the 2025 MAC Commonwealth Championship and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

This year's men's honoree was Anthony Rodriguez of Mustang football. As a freshman in 2024, Rodriguez saw action in a pair of games for the Mustangs, beginning his collegiate career in limited action. He then took a step forward in his sophomore season in 2025, appearing in nine games and contributing more consistently at tight end. Rodriguez totaled 165 receiving yards on 11 receptions with one touchdown, highlighted by a strong performance at Delaware Valley with four catches for 55 yards. His lone score of the season came on a 21-yard reception against King's (Pa.), marking a productive second year for the Mustangs!

Senior Athletes of the Year: This year's women's Senior Athlete of the Year was awarded to Giulia Viglietta of women's volleyball and beach volleyball. Guilia is a student-athlete who has truly defined excellence on and off the court. She was named First Team All-MAC, MAC Tournament MVP, and helped lead her team to a MAC Championship season. She finished the year with 305 kills, 32 aces, 331 digs, 56 blocks, and 23 assists, ranking in the top five in every statistical category and totaling 368.5 points on the season.

Over her career, Guilia appeared in 361 sets across 105 matches, recording 722 kills, 528 digs, 48 aces, 164 blocks, and 862 total points, establishing herself as one of the most complete players in program history.

A Fall 2025 Academic Honor Roll selection, Guilia also competes as a dual-sport athlete on the women's beach volleyball team, where she played in the top pairs all season. She finished her most recent season with a 17-8 record. 

The men's Senior Athlete of the Year was awarded to Jack Karlsson. Named a CCM/AHCA Division III All-American two seasons in a row, MAC Senior Scholar-Athlete, MAC Player of the Year, and MAC Defensive Player of the Year twice, along with earning a spot on the MAC First Team for three years, Jack capped a decorated career with one of the most accomplished seasons in program history. 

Appearing in 27 games for the Mustangs this season, he totaled 24 points on four goals and 20 assists, including a three-assist performance against Alvernia on Nov. 8. Defensively, he recorded 16 blocked shots, highlighted by a season-high three blocks against Neumann on March 7, while consistently anchoring both ends of the ice throughout the year.
 
NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee: This year Stevenson University will put forth Meghan Croyle as the NCAA Woman of the Year nominee to represent Stevenson University and the Middle Atlantic Conference. 
In the words of her coach this year, "Meghan has had a profound impact on the Mustang Hockey Program and the Stevenson community as a whole."  

Athletically and on the ice, Croyle has led the team in points each of the past two seasons and has been in the top three on the team in point totals all four of her years as a Mustang. She played in all 100 games the team has played over the past four years and has been relied upon heavily in each of those four years.  She finishes in the top 10 of program history of goals, assists and point and is third all-time in short-handed goals. 
Croyle meets the community service parameter of this nomination through her dedication to our Stevenson community as a three-year member of SAAC.  She has also raised $1500 for the Mental Health Collaborative by running in the Falmouth Road race this past August. She has been a significant part of mental health initiatives around campus, volunteered and ran in the Autism Speaks walk and run this past fall.  And once again in the words of her coach, "Meg is always finding ways to make a difference and helps quietly, never looking for credit for her work." 

Academically, Croyle is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society and Sigma Beta Delta, which is the International Business Honor Society.  She has earned recognition as an AHCA / Krampade All-American Scholar, as a
member of both UCHC and MAC All Academic Teams, and the Stevenson Dean's List.  After graduation Meg will be attending the University of Florida for graduate school to pursue her Master's Degree.  

Mustang Service Award: This year's recipient of the Mustang Service Award was Director of Ticketing and Equipment Management, Casey Nelson. Over the last four years, Casey's impact on this department has been extraordinary. She has helped elevate the standard of our operations, brought stability and organization to an incredibly complex operational office, and played a critical role in enhancing the day-to-day experience for our student-athletes and coaches. 
Casey's ability to revamp and reorganize our ticketing and equipment operations and the culture she has helped to build in this department will have a lasting effect on Mustang Athletics for years to come.

Mustang Athlete of the Year: The largest award of the evening was the Mustang Athlete of the year. This award is a student-selected honor recognizing a student-athlete who best represents what it means to be a Stevenson Mustang. Chosen by their peers, the recipient is known for excelling in their sport, maintaining a strong academic commitment, and actively engaging with the broader campus and community. The winner of this award is a person who consistently represents Stevenson Athletics in a positive way and sets the standard through their actions, attitude, and impact on others. 

This year, Ava Treakle was named the Mustang Athlete of the Year. Treakle started in all 18 games in 2026, serving as a steady two-way presence for the Mustangs. She finished the season with 37 goals on 11 assists and 48 total points, consistently generating offense while facilitating play for her teammates. Treakle added 82 shots and 61 shots on goal while also contributing across the field with 23 ground balls, 93 draw controls, and 16 caused turnovers, rounding out a well-balanced and impactful all-around season. She also spends her time off the field, working with the Athletic Communications department on game days.