PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the graduating student-athlete Class of 2026 at its annual Senior Banquet on Thursday, May 14, honoring the group's accomplishments, dedication, and lasting impact on Pace Athletics.

The evening brought together student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff, and families for a celebration of another memorable year for the Setters. The program opened with a moment of reflection in memory of Stevie Marie DeLuca, a beloved member of the Pace community and Setters Cheerleading team, before Director of Athletics Mark Brown welcomed the crowd to the 2026 Pace Athletics Senior Banquet presented by Northwell Health.

Pace also recognized two historic coaching milestones during the evening. Softball head coach Claudia Stabile was honored after reaching her 900th career NCAA victory this spring, adding another accomplishment to one of the most decorated careers in Pace Athletics history. Men's lacrosse head coach Tom Mariano was also celebrated after becoming the all-time wins leader in Pace Men's Lacrosse history, passing longtime head coach, Hall of Famer, and program founder Dan Mulholland.

Graduate men's basketball student-athlete and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President Jaden Kealey delivered the student-athlete address, reflecting on the Class of 2026's journey, the pride of competing as Division II student-athletes, and the relationships built through Pace Athletics.

Following the opening remarks, Pace Athletics presented its annual department awards, recognizing recipients across academics, athletics, strength and conditioning, perseverance, leadership, and service.

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Faculty Award - Michelle Pulaski-Belling
The SAAC Faculty Award honors an institutional faculty member who has demonstrated dedication, support, and guidance to student-athletes and the institution's athletics program. This year's recipient, Michelle Pulaski-Belling, serves as an associate professor and assistant chair of the Media, Communications, and Visual Arts Department in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. Through her work in the classroom, including courses in public speaking, professional communication, sports broadcasting, sports media, public relations, and mass media, Pulaski-Belling has helped students develop confidence and perspective beyond Pace.

Male Scholar Award - Trevor Lamoureux, Men's Lacrosse
The Scholar Awards are presented to the graduating senior female and male student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point averages. Lamoureux earned the Male Scholar Award after recording a 3.92 cumulative GPA as a finance major in the Lubin School of Business while contributing to the men's lacrosse program.

Female Scholar Award - Ann Punnoose, Swimming and Diving
Punnoose earned the Female Scholar Award after achieving a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA as a nursing major in the College of Health Professions. She balanced the demands of competition and the classroom while representing Pace Athletics with outstanding commitment.

Barry Moriarty Medal of Perseverance Award - Allison Carr, Women's Soccer
Named after Pace's longtime head athletic trainer, the Barry Moriarty Medal of Perseverance Award is presented to a student-athlete who has overcome an injury or disability and given a superb extra effort to perform above expectations. Carr received this year's honor after battling through multiple injuries during her career and returning for a strong final season, leading Pace Women's Soccer with seven goals and 16 total points.

NSCA All-American Strength & Conditioning Award - Kaylee Matsuda, Softball; Molly Paterson, Field Hockey; Chris Butler, Men's Lacrosse; Ciara Collins, Women's Basketball; Anna Fiore, Women's Soccer; Jaden Kealey, Men's Basketball; Benjamin Tullo, Baseball
The National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year Award recognizes collegiate athletes whose athletic accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning. These student-athletes also receive recognition for their academic and personal accomplishments and their integrity as members of Pace University.

Pace Strength & Conditioning Heart & Hustle Award - Sophie Valle, Softball; Sydney Sims, Field Hockey; Aidan Clifford, Men's Lacrosse; Bryce Aierstok, Men's Basketball; Lennyn Fulgencio, Football; Abigail O'Connor, Women's Lacrosse
The Pace Strength & Conditioning Heart & Hustle Award recognizes student-athletes who best embody the values, spirit, and traditions of athletics and strength training. The honor celebrates work ethic, grit, and the positive energy that helps elevate others.

Pace Athletics also individually recognized graduating senior student-athletes from each varsity program and presented student-athlete graduation stoles. The department then honored recipients of the Northeast 10 Conference President's Award for Academic Excellence, which recognizes senior student-athletes graduating with at least magna cum laude honors while participating in at least two seasons of NE10 competition.

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Jaden Kealey, Men's Basketball
Kealey earned Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors after excelling in the classroom, on the court, and through service to the Pace community. A communications major in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Kealey posted a 3.57 cumulative GPA and earned Northeast 10 Second Team All-Conference honors and All-Met Basketball Second Team recognition during the season. Finalists for the award included Kealey, Justin Federico of football and Benjamin Tullo of baseball.

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Ciara Collins, Women's Basketball
Collins was named Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year after demonstrating excellence on the court and in the classroom. As a member of Pace Women's Basketball, Collins earned First Team All-Northeast 10 honors and All-Met Basketball First Team recognition while continuing to represent the Blue and Gold with commitment and leadership. Finalists for the award included Sasha Kulo of women's lacrosse, Collins, and Andrea Flores of women's soccer.

Male Athlete of the Year - Chris Butler, Men's Lacrosse
Butler earned Male Athlete of the Year after continuing to establish himself as one of the top defensive players in the country. A captain for Pace Men's Lacrosse, Butler started every game this season and led the Setters in caused turnovers while helping guide the program to the NCAA Quarterfinals. His career resume includes All-NE10 honors, USILA Second Team All-Region recognition, and USILA All-American Honorable Mention honors. Finalists for the award included Jabari Nurse of men's basketball, Butler, and Cristian Rodriguez of baseball.

Female Athlete of the Year - Mackenzie Carita, Women's Lacrosse
Carita earned Female Athlete of the Year after serving as one of the top offensive players for Pace Women's Lacrosse. She led the Setters in points, tied for the team lead in goals, and ranked second on the team in assists while starting every game. Her career includes First Team All-NE10 honors, USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention recognition, IWLCA First Team All-Region honors, and IWLCA Second Team All-American honors, while helping lead Pace back to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Finalists for the award included Willa Poplawski of softball, Carita and Ciara Collins of women's basketball.

Darrell Halloran Memorial Letterwinners of the Year Award - Jaden Kealey, Men's Basketball, and Alexandra Witucki, Women's Lacrosse
For the first time, Pace Athletics recognized both a male and female recipient of the Darrell Halloran Memorial Award. The award, named after Pace's former men's basketball coach from 1983-98, is presented to senior student-athletes who have contributed the most to Pace University and the Athletics Department through athletic and scholastic achievement, leadership, and team spirit.

Kealey represented Pace Athletics at the highest level as a student-athlete, teammate, and leader, making an impact on the court while serving as SAAC President and advocating for the student-athlete experience. Witucki served as a tremendous representative of Pace Athletics as a member of Pace Women's Lacrosse, contributing to one of the department's most successful programs while demonstrating leadership, community service, and team-first character. Finalists for the award included Witucki, Lamoureux, Morgan Strecker of field hockey, Kealey, and Samantha Tanguay of women's lacrosse.

The evening concluded with a senior video and a final message to the Class of 2026, thanking the graduating Setters for their hard work, dedication, and lasting impact on their teams, the department, and the Pace community. As the celebration closed, the message remained clear: "Once a Setter, Always a Setter".

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