CALIFORNIA (July 10) – The California (PA) athletic department announced its annual year-end awards this week on social media. The yearly awards were introduced during the 2016-17 academic year and are presented annually following the conclusion of the athletic season and majority of the award season.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Loreena Manser (Track & Field)
Manser enjoyed a standout sophomore season in both track and field events. She earned NCAA All-America recognition during both the indoor and outdoor seasons and was selected as the PSAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. In the spring, Manser claimed Most Valuable Athlete and Outstanding Track Athlete honors at the outdoor league championships. Manser captured a combined six PSAC titles (five individual) and set school records in the indoor and outdoor long jump during the 2026 campaign while ranking as the top performer in the Atlantic Region in multiple sprint and jump events throughout the year.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Bryson Lucas (Basketball)
Lucas capped one of the most complete seasons in recent program history by helping guide the Vulcans to their first PSAC Championship since 2008 and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was a consensus first-team all-region selection by both the NABC and D2CCA and was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year for the second time in his career. The PSAC Tournament MVP, Lucas ranked among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks while recording 14 double-doubles.
FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Rosalyn Perozzi (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Perozzi was recognized for her outstanding work in the classroom after maintaining a 3.99 undergraduate cumulative GPA while earning a degree in communication science disorders. She also holds a 3.98 GPA while pursuing a graduate degree in speech pathology. She earned CSC Academic All-District honors and was recognized on the PSAC Academic All-Conference Team in both cross country and track & field while also receiving USTFCCCA All-Academic accolades in cross country.
CO-MALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Michael Valente (Baseball) and Jordan Wiedman (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Valente and Wiedman shared the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award after both completed bachelor's degrees with perfect 4.00 grade-point averages. Valente maintained a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade-point average through 121 credit hours and was recognized as the PSAC Champion Scholar for a consecutive year while earning a degree in management with a minor in marketing. Wiedman also compiled a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA while completing 124 credit hours and finishing with a degree in criminal justice with a minor in criminology. He earned PSAC Champion Scholar honors during the cross country season and added CSC Academic All-District and PSAC Academic All-Conference recognition during the academic year.
FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Olivia Weiseman (Volleyball)
Weiseman quickly emerged as one of the top freshmen in the nation while playing a key role in one of the most improved teams in the conference. She earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention recognition and was named the AVCA Atlantic Region Freshman of the Year. Weiseman also collected PSAC West Freshman of the Year and All-PSAC West First-Team laurels. The Ohio native recorded 18 double-doubles and helped the Vulcans improve by 16 wins from the previous season.
MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Charlie Nigut (Baseball)
Nigut made an immediate impact in 2026, earning PSAC West Freshman of the Year honors after helping California return to the conference tournament for the sixth time in seven seasons. He appeared in 47 games with 40 starts and ranked among the team leaders in batting average, on-base percentage and runs scored. Nigut committed only one error in 110 defensive chances while starting every conference game.
FEMALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Rosalyn Perozzi (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Perozzi elevated herself into one of the conference's top distance runners during the 2025-26 campaign. After steady improvement throughout her collegiate career, she earned All-PSAC First-Team honors in cross country with a third-place finish at the league championships after placing outside the top 60 at the conference meet the previous two years. Perozzi then captured the conference title in the 5,000-meter run during the outdoor track & field season.
MALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Kendrick Agenor (Football)
After beginning the 2025 season as a reserve, Agenor developed into one of the league's top offensive playmakers. He rushed for 975 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 28 receptions to earn All-PSAC West Second-Team honors. Agenor scored multiple rushing touchdowns in each of the final three regular-season games before recording back-to-back 100-yard efforts in the NCAA Playoffs to help the Vulcans advance to the second round.
FEMALE TOP TEAM CUMULATIVE GPA – Tennis
The tennis team recorded a department-best 3.810 cumulative GPA among the women's programs. Eight student-athletes compiled cumulative GPAs of at least 3.50, all 10 members of the roster maintained at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA and five players earned a perfect 4.00 GPA during at least one semester of the 2025-26 academic year.
MALE TOP TEAM CUMULATIVE GPA – Golf
The men's golf program posted a 3.425 cumulative team GPA to earn the department's highest academic honor among the men's teams for a second-straight year. Six golfers finished the academic year with at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA, while eight golfers maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
Note, student-athletes must have completed 72 credit hours to be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
