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Bronx, N.Y. - As the 2025-2026 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 92nd annual Block F Awards Dinner in the Rose Hill Gym on Wednesday night to honor Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments during the academic year.
 
Among those honored were football's James Conway, who was the recipient of the Vincent T. Lombardi Award as Fordham's top male student-athlete, women's tennis' Nevena Kolarevic, recipient of the Claire and Jack Hobbs Award as Fordham's top female student-athlete, and head water polo coach Brian Bacharach, who received the Iron Major Award as Fordham's Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year.
 
The Vincent T. Lombardi Award is presented to the Male Athlete of the Year for distinguished athletic achievements in the winning tradition of Vince Lombardi. The award honors the memory of one of Fordham's famed Seven Blocks of Granite, who is considered one of football's greatest coaches.
 
Conway, the heart and soul of the football program the last five years, just completed one of the most successful careers for any Ram, being named a consensus All-American and a finalist for both the William v. Campbell Trophy, also known as the academic Heisman, and the Buck Buchanan award, which goes to the NCAA FCS Defensive Player of the Year. He closed out his career not only with a school record but also a patriot league and NCAA division one record for career tackles.
 
The Claire & Jack Hobbs Memorial Award is presented to the Female Athlete of the Year who has achieved outstanding athletic accomplishments. The award is named in honor of the late Claire and Jack Hobbs.  Jack was a 1938 graduate of Fordham College and a 1941 graduate of Fordham Law, and he and his wife were avid Fordham followers. 
 
Kolarevic, arguably one of the best at her sport in Fordham history, was the 2024-2025 Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Performer as well as First Team All-Conference. This fall she qualified in doubles for the 2025 NCAA Division I individual championships, becoming the first Fordham player to compete in the NCAA individual championships, and one of only three in Atlantic 10 history. She also qualified in singles and doubles for the 2025 ITA All-American Championships, winning three singles matches at the prestigious tournament which features the nation's top NCAA Division I players.
 
Bacharach picks up his third straight Iron Major award as the Fordham Coach of the Year, fourth overall, after leading the water polo squad to its fifth straight MAWPC conference championship, with another undefeated conference slate, and fifth consecutive NCAA championship appearance. With another undefeated conference record. His charges entered the NCAA championship as a four-seed and proceeded to advance to the semifinals for the second straight year, falling to top-seeded USC. The Rams finished the season fifth in the national rankings, the lone water polo program to rank in the top five nationally in both athletic accomplishment and academic success.
 
The night opened with a special recognition for three Academic Counselors for Student-Athletes: Matt DeMeo, Danielle Gray, and Ryan Signorino. The three helped Fordham student-athletes to an overall average GPA of 3.517, an all-time high. Seven teams set all-time best GPA marks last fall while Fordham student-athletes graduate at an amazing 97 percent clip. 
 
Below is a list of the other award winners:

Patrick Kenneally Award – Charlie Dino (Sr., Men's Basketball Head Manager): The Patrick Kenneally Award is presented to a Fordham student who serves the Athletic Department in capacities other than athletic participation.  The award honors the memory of Pat Kenneally, equipment and business manager for 54 years.
 
Dino has been a mainstay with his program over the past four years. To call him a manager would be a gross understatement to his importance to the program. He has done an incredible job at leading the staff of managers, ensuring all his fellow managers understand their responsibilities so that everything run smoothly. He also played a key role in providing a smooth transition for a new coaching staff this year. His leadership has been an inspiration for managers, players, and coaches now and for the future.
 
 
Terence O'Donnell Award (Sportsmanship & Dedication) – James Conway (Gr., Football): The O'Donnell Memorial Award is presented to the Fordham athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, loyalty, dedication and self-discipline.  The award is in memory of Terry O'Donnell, a 1955 graduate who died in a military plane crash shortly after graduation.
 
Conway is one of the most dedicated and loyal members in the history of the Fordham football program. He could routinely be found after practice, taking extra reps to hone his game and would offer his guidance to the younger members of the team. When he was afforded the chance for a fifth year he never hesitated on his decision to return to Fordham and continue to be a role model for his teammates.
 

Jack Coffey Award – Aidan Gomes (Assistant athletic Trainer):  The Jack Coffey award is presented to a Fordham administrator, alumnus or coach for outstanding contributions and dedication to the athletic program.  It is named for the late Jack Coffey, long-time baseball coach and graduate manager of Athletics.
 
Gomes, who has been a member of the Fordham Athletic Department since 2022, had a full dance card this year. He moved effortlessly from the pool to the gridiron to the Rose Hill Gym, all without skipping a beat. His teamwork and dedication to each of his sports helped those programs enjoy successful seasons, highlighted by the water polo squad winning its fifth straight conference title.
 
 
Benedict T. Harter Award – Balazs Berenyi (Sr., Water Polo): The Benedict T. Harter award is presented to the Gabelli School of Business senior athlete who has made significant academic and athletic contributions.  The award honors Ben Harter, Gabelli School of Business Class of 1939, a former dean of both Fordham's undergraduate and graduate schools of business, who was an avid follower and supporter of Fordham Athletics. 
 
Berenyi, a four-year member of the Water polo squad, leading the team to four straight conference titles. A Finance major with concentrations in Information Systems and Credit, he is a four-time Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-Academic honoree.
 
Kieran Award – Eliza Collins (Sr., Rowing): The Kieran Award, presented to the Fordham College senior athlete who has made significant academic and athletic contributions.  The award honors the memory of John Kieran, Fordham College Class of 1912, and a famous radio broadcaster, sports editor of the New York Times and a member of Baseball's Hall of Fame.
 
Collins is a four-year member of the rowing program. A double major in Political Science and English, she is a member of the Varsity 8, a boat that won gold at both the Kerr Cup and Jesuit Invitational this spring. She was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic team last spring and is a three-year CRCA Scholar Athlete honoree.
 
 
Kiwanis Community Service – Tatiana Waxman (Sr., Dance): Fordham Kiwanis is part of a worldwide service organization that is committed to improving the quality of life through volunteer action.  The members of Fordham Kiwanis, comprised of university faculty, staff, and administrators, wish to recognize student-athletes who not only excel in academics and in their respective sports, but who are also committed to working in community service activities.
 
Waxman, a four-year member of the dance program, has been involved in numerous community service projects during her time at Fordham. These include serving as a community service volunteer for Global Outreach New York, working with Part of the Solution (POTS), serving as a Bronx public school literacy volunteer, and as a youth engagement volunteer with Our Lady of Mount Carmel. She also was event founder & organizer of "Ram Fan for a Day", a program that brought 75 children and families from the Bronx to a Fordham basketball game at no cost.
 
 
Ram Rising Award – Rose Dara (Assistant Athletic Director for Events, Intramurals, and Club Sports): The Rising Star Award recognizes an emerging leader at Fordham Athletics who demonstrates a passion for their work, Fordham Athletics, and the Fordham tradition. The recipient shows promise in their field and is making a large impact on the Fordham community in the short time that they have been a part of the Fordham Athletics staff.
 
Dara took on multiple added responsibilities in 2025-26, assisting with event management as well as intramural and recreation programming for the entire campus community. She also manages all club programs and assists with managing the master athletics facilities schedule.
 
 
Marty Glickman Award – Joe Henry: Presented to the WFUV student play-by-play announcer who best follows the examples taught by Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman.  The award honors the memory of Marty Glickman, who was the broadcast coach at WFUV from 1987-99.
 
Henry, a senior, worked his way up the ranks to become one of the main play-by-play voice for the Fordham men's basketball Rams, even announcing a few games solo this year. He has also been kept busy serving as the sports manager at WFUV for the past year and can also be heard calling Fordham baseball and softball games in the little spare time he has.
 
 
National Strength and Conditioning All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year – James Conway (Football), Allison Julve (Cheerleading), Kate McGuire (Softball), Luca Silvestri (Water Polo)
 
 
Athlete Academic Achievement Awards: (Presented to senior student-athletes who have been selected for outstanding athletic and academic achievement with a 3.5 GPA or better):
 
Fordham College at Rose Hill
Celeste Batres, Rowing
Quincy Biddle, Track & Field
Ben Borchers, Track & Field
Sarah Burns, Rowing
Anna Calendrillo, Rowing
Eliza Collins, Rowing
Mackenzie Colvin, Volleyball
Brandon Cortes, Swimming & Diving
Samantha Duane, Dance
Seneca Farhy, Rowing
Allison Julve, Cheer
Kyla King, Soccer
Eva Koratsis, Softball
Nicole Lytle, Track & Field
Alexandra Manetovic, Track & Field
Kate McGuire, Softball
Kate Meeks, Track & Field
Noe Messer, Soccer
Kylie Ritz, Track & Field
Leia Ruvo, Track & Field
Nicki Sudall, Softball
Zoe Talabong, Volleyball
Patrick Torres, Track & Field
Tatiana Waxman, Dance
Alexandra Williams, Track & Field
Alex Zaneski, Rowing
 
Gabelli School of Business
Zoe Arakelian, Track & Field
Holly Beeman, Softball
Balazs Berenyi, Water Polo
Miranda Bonitatebus, Swimming & Diving
Kevin Callaghan, Track & Field
Peter Chalhoub, Football
Ileana Chlorou, Track & Field
Daniel D'Ippolito, Soccer
Therese Enriquez, Swimming & Diving
Oliver Fontaine, Track & Field
Ede Gramberg, Soccer
Ella Guth, Soccer
Julie Holton, Soccer
Andre Insalaco, Soccer
John Kaiser, Football
Alex Kemper, Football
Duke Leonard, Football
Kevin Loughlin, Football
Tommy McAndrews, Baseball
Crispinano McCarthy, Squash
Joe Mikol, Football
Patrick Nichols, Football
Olivia Pacitti, Rowing
Nick Pasquarella, Football
Ruben Russwurm, Tennis
Tanicha Saintigene, Track & Field
Bailey Scherdorf, Rowing
Jack Sias, Soccer
Sofie Siem, Tennis
Yariv Simhony, Track & Field
Gina Valente, Cheer
Theo Vandenberg, Swimming & Diving
Liam Volz, Track & Field
Joseph Walsh, Squash
Christian Weddington, Track & Field
 
Team MVPs
 
Baseball: Tommy McAndrews
Men's Basketball: Dejour Reaves
Women's Basketball: Alexis Black
Cheerleading: Allison Julve
Men's Cross Country: Bradford Duchesne
Women's Cross Country: Meredith Gotzman
Dance: Samantha Duane
Football: James Conway
Golf: Luke Brower
Rowing: Eliza Collins
Men's Soccer: Daniel D'Ippolito
Women's Soccer: Ella Guth
Squash: Nicholas Gilman
Men's Swimming & Diving: David Vargas
Women's Swimming & Diving: Hayley Clark
Men's Tennis: Will Lokier
Women's Tennis: Nevena Kolarevic
Men's Indoor Track & Field: Sam Freeman
Women's Indoor Track & Field: Alexandra Williams
Volleyball: Audrey Brown
Water Polo: Andras Toth
 
Note:  Softball, and Men's and Women's Outdoor Track will name an MVP at the conclusions of their seasons.