This fall, the Stony Brook University women’s soccer team clinched its first-ever Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship while the men’s cross country team captured its third consecutive CAA title. On December 9, the campus community honored these championship-winning teams in a celebration of athletic and academic excellence.
“What a season!” said Interim President Richard McCormick, addressing the crowd in the administration building atrium. “You have not only brought conference championships to Stony Brook University, but you have also brought tremendous pride to this campus. Excelling in athletic competition — being the best of the best — is a major accomplishment to be proud of. So too is knowing that you are role models for your peers and Seawolves everywhere.”
The women’s soccer team entered the Stony Brook record books with 14 wins — the most in program history — and a .738 winning percentage. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time. “They weren’t going to be denied,” said Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron. “They gave everything, and they earned this trophy. It’s a sweet reward for an amazing season.”
Soccer Head Coach Tobias Bischof expressed his gratitude, saying, “This championship was the result of incredible effort from every player and coach involved. We’re proud to represent Stony Brook at this level.”
The men’s cross country team continued its legacy in the CAA with another conference championship. Under Head Coach Andy Ronan, a former Olympic cross country runner and the CAA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, the team advanced to the NCAA Regionals, finishing 13th overall and earning a 13th-place ranking in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Northeast Region.
“They love what they do. Some don’t understand how difficult it is to deal with many different things and keep competing in the elements, but that doesn’t stop them from coming in every day and doing what they love,” said Ronan.
Junior Michael Hawkes, captain of the men’s cross country team, said, “We’ve always talked about how every spot comes down to the very end. That’s not only about everything you do, that’s how you hold yourself academically, athletically, and with your family. And that’s exactly what we are all about. Every single person on this team committed 100 percent, every single day.”
“These young men are true champions,” Heilbron said. “They run for the love of their sport, their teammates, and Stony Brook. Their belief in one another and the hours of training have paid off tremendously.”
Women’s soccer captains Linn Beck, Reilly Rich and Kerry Pearson spoke to the assembled crowd. “Every single person on our team really embodied wanting more this season, and we called it in July that we were going to go all the way this year. We’re so proud of everybody on our team, and really excited to see what the program does going forward.” Reilly Rich and Linn Beck were two of the first three student-athletes in program history to take home CAA All-Conference awards.
The cross country team achievements also honored the memory of Noah Farrelly, a member of the men’s cross country team who tragically passed away in 2018.
President McCormick envisions this event as the start of a new tradition for Stony Brook. “Gathering as a campus community to commemorate our exceptional student-athletes and their coaches who absolutely crushed their seasons — I can’t think of any place else I’d rather be than Stony Brook, right here, and right now.”
The members of each team received certificates of achievement and applause from the gathered crowd.
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