GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Department of Athletics hosted the third annual Tommys Sunday night at the William A. Passavant Center.
 
Recognizing individual and team athletic achievements, as well as academic success and service in the community, eight major awards were voted on and distributed by members of Thiel's SAAC.
 
The following is a list of Tommy award winners:
 
Newcomer of the Year
 
Men: Joey Fell – football/baseball
Freshman quarterback Joey Fell helped the Tomcats win three games in 2023. He completed 67 passes for 540 yards. He threw three touchdown passes. He also ran for 298 yards and scored four touchdowns on 120 carries. On the diamond, Fell has appeared in 16 games and owns a .235 batting average.
Women: Arin DeLattre – volleyball
A freshman middle blocker, Arin DeLattre earned All-PAC Honorable Mention accolades. She led the team in blocks (64) and ranked sixth in the conference in blocks per set average (0.78). She also registered 132 kills and 72 digs.
 
Dual Sport Athlete
 
Men: Chase Lawler – football/lacrosse
Chase Lawler led the football team in 2023 in catches (40), receiving yards (382) and touchdown receptions (2). In lacrosse, Lawler was an All-PAC Honorable Mention pick in 2023. He led the team in points (52) and goals (40) this season.
Women: Taylor Susany – golf/basketball
Taylor Susany earned All-PAC Honorable Mention Accolades in 2023-24 with a four-round score of 391 during play in the PAC Golf Championships. She was also an honorable mention honoree in 2022-23. On the floor, she has led the Tomcats in three-point field goals the last three seasons, including 53 in 2023-24.
 
Moment of the Year
 
Football team's 15-14 homecoming win over Waynesburg on Sept. 30, 2023. Freshman quarterback Joey Fell scored the game-winning touchdown for the Tomcats with 2:08 remaining in regulation.
 
Adversity Award
 
Madison Liggett – After missing the 2023 season due to surgery, Liggett helped the women's lacrosse team earn the fifth seed in this week's PAC Championship Tournament. She currently ranks second in the PAC in goals-against average (7.87) and save percentage (.546). She was honored as the PAC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.
 
MVP
 
Men: Jared Curcio
Jared Curcio won his second PAC title at 184 pounds in February. On the gridiron, Curcio led the Tomcats in tackles (74) in 2023. He tied for the team lead in tackles (50) in 2022.
Women: Ashlyn Wightman
A three-time All-PAC First Team selection, Ashlyn Wightman was named a USA Lacrosse Magazine Division III Preseason All-American in 2024. Named to the Third Team, Wightman ranked second in Division III in 2023 in goals (102) and tied for 11^th in points (110). She took over as Thiel's career leader in points (297) and goals (266) this season.
 
SAAC Special Recognition
 
Thiel Counseling Center
Melanie Broadwater, Director of the Counseling Center
Jodie Witherite, Counselor
 
Coaching Staff of the Year
 
Cheer
Head Coach – Randall Burnett
Assistant Coach – McKenna Mizer
The Tomcats placed third earlier this month at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was Thiel's third appearance at the NCA College Nationals. The Tomcats were runners-up in 2022 before winning the national title in 2023.
 
Team of the Year
 
Men's Volleyball
Under the direction of head coach Dylan Lasher, the Tomcats earned the third seed in the AMCC Championship Tournament. The Tomcats went 13-13 overall and 6-3 in league play on the season. Thiel defeated Geneva (3-1) at Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium in the first round of the AMCC Championship Tournament before falling to second-seed Hiram in the semifinals. Kaleb Proudfoot and Cameron Long earned AMCC All-Conference Second Team recognition.