BABSON PARK, Mass.—The Babson College Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the Class of 2024 with its 43rd Annual Senior Awards Ceremony on Friday night inside Knight Auditorium. A Night of Champions honored the individual and team success of 129 senior and graduate student-athletes.

The night was highlighted by the selection of two-time field All-America Brianne McGrath (Newmarket, Ontario) as the Judy Blinstrub Female Athlete of the Class and cross country and track & field standout Anthony Rodriguez (Prairie View, Ill.) as the Male Athlete of the Class. Kayleigh Hacker (Natick, Mass.) of women's lacrosse was selected as the recipient of the George S. Wilson Award, while Louis Gazo (Colchester, Vt.) was recognized with the Eric Dosal Award. 

Men's track & field's Eric Bottern (Saint Paul, Minn.), Brant Savage (Charlton, Mass.) of baseball and softball's Moira O'Reilly (Columbus, Ohio) were named as the Dr. Norm Govoni Scholar-Athletes of the Class. Catherine Shaw (Norwell, Mass.) of women's soccer received the Conlon Award, which is presented in honor of both Michael Conlon '96 and Michelle Conlon '94, Kate Karamouzis (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) of softball took home the Lori Vengrow Award and men's cross country and men's soccer's Mack Lemkau (Bedford, N.Y.) was the winner of the Colin "Chip" Brown Award.

In addition to the senior awards, Jack Diamond P'20 P'24 was chosen as the Paul C. Staake Award winner for outstanding contributions to Babson Athletics. 

One of just five two-time All-Americans in Babson field hockey history, McGrath collected first-team accolades this past fall after producing 16 goals and seven assists for 39 points as the Beavers advanced to the Division III Final Four. The NFHCA Region I Player of the Year, she ranks fifth in program history in points (127), eighth in goals (5) and ninth in assists (27) in 84 career games. 

The most decorated distance runner in school history, Rodriguez is the only male in school history to qualify for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships after earning three straight All-NEWMAC and all-region awards. On the track, he holds school records in both the 5000 meters (14:31.92) and 10,000 meters (29:43.61), is a three-time NEWMAC champion and was selected as the NEWMAC Track Athlete of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. 

The Dr. Norm Govoni Scholar-Athletes of the Class awards went to three individuals that have distinguished themselves on the field and in the classroom. The school-record holder in the shot put, discus and hammer throw, Bottern qualified for nationals in the shot put last spring. He is a two-time New England champion in the event and captured his first NEWMAC title in the shot put on the way to being selected as the NEWMAC Field Co-Athlete of the Year. 

O'Reilly has earned a pair of all-region honors in addition to twice being selected as the NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year, and ranks first in strikeouts (757) and shutouts (23), is tied for first in wins (60) and boasts a 1.70 ERA in 535.2 career innings pitched. An all-region and all-conference selection last season, Savage just broke the program's single-season record with his 19th double of the year, is tied for sixth in school annals with 18 home runs and has reached base safely in 72 of 77 starts over the last two seasons. 

The winner of the prestigious Wilson Award, Hacker is a three-time all-league and all-region defender who has produced career highs in both ground balls (32) and caused turnovers (22) this spring. In 64 career starts, she ranks 10th in program history with  74 forced turnovers while scooping up 98 ground balls. 

A transfer from the University of Vermont, Gazo earned a pair of all-league and all-region honors in addition to earning All-America recognition back in December. He totaled 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points in two seasons with the Beavers. 

The Class of 2024 has enjoyed tremendous success on the field and in the classroom over the last four years. The Beavers have made 37 national tournament appearances and won 15 regular season league titles and 17 conference tournament championships. Additionally, over 87 percent of the class will graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.