Lights flashed. A vibrant red carpet glimmered. And Ursinus’s brightest stars swarmed the Floy Lewis Bakes Center, the building bursting with athletic talent.
The self-proclaimed “biggest show in Collegeville, Pennsylvania” took place this past Sunday night, as Ursinus Athletics hosted their sporting awards show, The URSPYS. The event occurs yearly, an opportunity for the school’s student-athletes to be recognized for their stellar achievements.
It’s an event which Athletic Director Marqus Hunter pointed to as incredibly special, reminding the students of the “special club” they place themselves in by competing in athletics.
“Only 5% of high school athletes who compete end up doing it at the collegiate level,” Hunter said. “That’s something you should never ever take for granted.”
Even within the “special club,” some athletes have gone above and beyond, and the ceremony looked to highlight them. Awards were handed out for various competitors who were key contributors both on and off the field, making a difference at the school in the process.
The evening began with a pair of awards that speak to Ursinus’s history in women’s sports. The Linda M. McIntyre and Olive Sergeant Hamm awards are given specifically to women who excel both on the field and in the classroom, something Ursinus has valued since it began offering women’s sports in the 1930s.
The McIntyre was awarded to Nadly in his weight class, while Ryan was named Most Outstanding Women’s Performer at this year’s indoor track championships. Gyapong ‘27, recognizing “a sophomore woman who demonstrates initiative in financing her education, proficiency and perseverance in intercollegiate athletics.” Gyapong was the top sprinter in the 100m this season for the track and field team.
Sophia Curtis ‘25 of the women’s lacrosse team received the Hamm award, for her ability to “exemplify the best in college life—athletically, socially, and scholastically.” Curtis has been a four-year starter for the Bears, ranking second on the team in ground balls.
The night’s big highlight was the announcement of multiple awards for athletic performance, voted on by a panel of coaches and athletic staff. With a plethora of records set and playoff appearances made by Ursinus sports teams this season, anticipation built for who would be honored.
Women’s swimmer Caelan Ladd ‘29 and baseball player Brett Barrett ‘29 were named the “rookies of the year” after strong first seasons as collegiate athletes. Ladd was a qualifier for Division 3 NCAA Championships, finishing with a pair of All-American honors. Barrett was not present to accept his award as he was returning from a double header at Johns Hopkins, where he broke Alex Mumme’s single-season record of 45 RBIs with a total of 46. He currently leads his team in RBIs and is second in hits.
Conversely, “senior MVP” awards were handed to Anthony Cerulli ‘26 and Kaelin Ryan ‘26. Cerulli won the Centennial Conference Championship
The “most outstanding athletes” were Mitchell Davis ‘28 and Erin Roe ‘26. Davis continues to reach new heights as a high jumper, named Centennial Conference Athlete of the week for the second consecutive week on Wednesday. Roe, a gymnast, accomplished the second-highest score in the all-around event in Division 3 history at the Regional Gymnastics Championships.
The award for “best overall athletic performance” was given to Cloe Charlesworth ‘27, after a historic season in 2026. Charlesworth attended the first ever women’s NCAA wrestling championships, finishing 1-2 at the meet.
The show closed with a tribute to Ursinus’s graduating seniors, a large class that certainly made its impact on the athletics program. With a large portion of the school’s all-conference athletes graduating, multiple programs will be looking to underclassmen to step up, easing the huge losses.
As for the seniors, Hunter stressed his belief that the school’s athletic programs had prepared the grads for success in the working world.
“The discipline it takes to compete at a high level carries over to every aspect of life,” Hunter said. “At Ursinus, we believe that something that simple can become powerful.”