Cranford, NJ - The 2025 Athletic Awards took place this month on the Cranford Campus. This year’s theme was NOLA Night—celebrating the relentless grit and determination it takes to succeed, both on and off the field. The evening was a celebration of our student-athletes and their exceptional achievements throughout the year. Their hard work and dedication were front and center all night long.
Director of Athletics and Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Marbely Montas, opened the evening by welcoming everyone and sharing words of encouragement with the student-athletes. She then introduced Dr. Demond Hargrove, UCNJ’s Vice President for Student Development, who addressed the crowd and shared one of his favorite poems, Invictus by William Ernest Henley. The poem, which explores themes of resilience and overcoming adversity, resonated with the spirit of our student-athletes—strong, determined, and unconquerable.
Following Dr. Hargrove, UCNJ alumnus Patrick Murray took the stage to reflect on his time as a student-athlete. Patrick, a standout golfer for the Owls in 2023 and 2024, was a two-time All-American, two-time Region XIX Champion, and two-time GSAC Champion. Now continuing his athletic and academic career at Kean University, Patrick shared heartfelt insights and encouragement for current student-athletes.
The evening continued with the presentation of the Most Outstanding Owl Awards, which went to Christina Amazan and Skye Davis. Christina, Executive Assistant to the VP for Student Development, has been an invaluable part of the athletics community this year. Skye, Student Services Generalist for College Life, is a passionate supporter who cheers on every team and embodies the spirit of UCNJ.
The Beyond the Playing Field Award was presented to Professor John Arezzi of UCNJ and Jay Sgaramella, Associate Director of Athletics at Kean University. Both have provided extraordinary support to UCNJ Athletics and continue to impact the student-athlete experience in meaningful ways.
Each coach then had the opportunity to recognize a student-athlete with the Coach’s Award. This year’s recipients were:
- M/W Cross Country: Camille Geurand
- Men’s Soccer: Nadir Salazar
- Women’s Soccer: Jaden Linton
- Women’s Volleyball: Mia Bonilla
- Esports: Paulo Matias
- Women’s Basketball: Sumaya Judd
- Men’s Basketball: Nicolas Acosta
- Wrestling: Joshua Baeza
- M/W Track & Field: Thomas Lance
- Golf: Michael Fernandez
- Men’s Volleyball: Bryan Carrillo
- Baseball: Greg Ayube
The 2024-25 Student-Athletes of the Year were also announced:
- Yasmeen Brightwell (Women’s Basketball)
- Roger Fortunato (Esports)
These athletes exemplified excellence, leadership, and commitment throughout the year.
GSAC and Regional Champions
The following teams and student-athletes were crowned GSAC & Regional Champions this year:
National Championship Representation
Esports, Wrestling, Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, and Men's Volleyball all went to compete in national championship tournaments this year.
This year's Athletic Awards, NOLA Night, was a powerful reminder of the strength, passion, and perseverance that define UCNJ Athletics. We are incredibly proud of every student-athlete, coach, and supporter who contributed to another unforgettable year. Here’s to continuing the legacy of excellence in the upcoming year and beyond!
GO OWLS!