North Attleboro, Mass. – The Northeast 10 Conference announced the winners of the annual Sports Excellence Award for the winter season on Thursday afternoon, and Adelphi University had two Panthers honored. Men's swimming and diving's Ryan Kakimseit and women's basketball's NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, Lauren Beberman, were recognized for their accomplishments in both the classroom and on the field of play.
Among the student-athletes named to the NE10 All-Academic Team, the Sport Excellence Award is given to one top individual from each of the league's seven winter sports. This is the third year in a row that a Panther has won the award for men's swimming and diving, the second straight for Kakimseit, and the first time a Panther has ever won for women's basketball.
Earning a 3.86 grade-point average during the winter while pursuing a degree in marketing, Kakimseit had yet another excellent showing at the NE10 Championship.
The junior tallied seven total medals at the championship meet (four gold, three silver) while setting new NE10 records in the 400-yard medley relay and the 200-yard individual medley.
Beberman wrapped up her junior year with the best season of her career so far, earning a 3.93 GPA in nursing while becoming the second Panther ever to be named NE10 Defensive Player of the Year.
Leading the conference in blocks (45) and steals (72), Beberman ranked among the top 50 in the nation in both categories. She set an NE10 single-game high of nine steals in Adelphi's win over Franklin Pierce on Jan. 28.
To be eligible for Academic All-Conference and Sport Excellence honors, a student-athlete must have started at least half of their team's contests or played in two-thirds of them while making significant contributions and maintaining a 3.3 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.
Winter 2025 NE10 Sport Excellence Award Winners
Ice Hockey – Shane McElhaney, Assumption
Men's Basketball – Cash McClure, Bentley
Women's Basketball – Lauren Beberman, Adelphi
Men's Swimming & Diving – Ryan Kakimseit, Adelphi
Women's Swimming & Diving – Molly Kennedy, SCSU
Men's Indoor Track & Field – Stephen D'Alessandro, Bentley
Women's Indoor Track & Field – Lily Tedford, Bentley
