Worcester State Athletics Celebrates at 2025-26 Athletics Awards Ceremony

Worcester, MA- On Monday, May 4th the Worcester State University Athletic Department held their annual 2025-26 Athletic Awards Ceremony on the campus of Worcester State in the Gene J. & Julianne DeFeudis Wellness Center on the Brissette Competition Court.

The Department of Athletics honored players, teams, coaches, and support staff over the course of the evening. The featured speaker of the evening was a combo production of seniors Jack Lasbury-Casey from Men’s Basketball and Erin Condon, from Women’s Soccer, Basketball and Track and Field..

The ceremony kicked off by celebrating all of this year's graduating seniors as they received their awards and cords from Deputy Director of Athletics John Meany and Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students Julie Kazarian. President Barry Maloney was then welcome to the stage to provide remarks on the success of the student-athletes over the 2025-26 season and careers at Worcester State.

The Chi Alpha Sigma, National College Athlete Honor Society, student-athletes were celebrated for their induction into the athletic honor society at the start of the awards celebration that would honor not just on field but off field achievements from the program's student athletes. The multitude of all-conference student athletes were celebrated for their accolades over this year's athletic season. Also highlighted were those spring 2025 all-conference selections who had not been selected by last year's ceremony. Seth Boudreau, Jenna Lopez and Janine Betcher were also honored for their 2026 MASCAC Outdoor Track and Field championships in the 100m, Shot Put and 400m. Boudreau came away with a victory in the 100m at the Outdoor Meet, Lopez as the winner of the Shot Put and Betcher would claim the title at the Outdoor Championship in the 400m

The major athletic department award winners included,

Rich Korzec Athletic Service Award: Denzel Valera (Sports Information) and Bob Condon (Media/Photography)

Male Rookie Athlete of the Year: Joe Okla (Men’s Basketball)

Female Rookie Athlete of the Year:  Janine Betcher (Track & Field), Jenna Lopez (Track & Field) and Fallon Lozano (Women’s Lacrosse)

Male Athlete of the Year: Joe Okla (Men's Basketball) and Lance Williams (Football)

Female Athlete of the Year: Kelsey Czerniawski (Women’s Ice Hockey) 

Male Senior Lancer Award: Jack Lasbury-Casey (Men’s Basketball)

Female Senior Lancer Award: Erin Condon (Women’s Soccer, Basketball and Track & Field)

Margaret "Peg" Nugent Scholar Athletes: Cam Ayotte (Football), Emma LaPoint (Softball), Cailey Ryan (Women’s Ice Hockey) and Hannah Lomonaco (Women’s Basketball)

and the Robert Devlin Senior Athlete Award for honoring an outstanding athletic performance by an athlete throughout the course of their career at Worcester State,

Male Robert Devlin Senior Athlete: Seth Boudreau (Men’s Track and Field)

Female Robert Devlin Senior Athlete: Mckayla Fisher (Women’s Lacrosse)

The department also recognized that the spring sports (Women's Lacrosse, Softball, Baseball and Outdoor Track and Field) are still competing, and their all-conference and other athletic awards are yet to be announced. It was a celebratory night for all student-athletes.

Learn more about the major award recipients:

Rich Korzec Athletic Service Award: is someone who has exemplified outstanding service to the Athletic Department. This award is in memory of Rich Korzec, a former golf coach at Worcester State.

Valera has spent the last four years going above and beyond, and behind the shield, in the athletics department to help cover the Lancers Sports teams. He has been a constant presence on the sideline and in the Wellness Center taking pictures, interviewing athletes and covering major sporting events either behind the microphone, lens or computer screen. Started initially on the Work Study Staff before taking a more active presence learning stat entry and graphics to help promote and support Worcester State Athletics.

Condon has been a noticeable and active presence on the sidelines over the last four years, be it as a parent or top notch distance running photographer at a wide array of games, international trips and championships. Most identifiable for his constant motion and speed while having numerous cameras strapped around, he has become an important part of Worcester State history with photos being used to commemorate numerous conference championships, school events and leaving lasting impressions on the sidelines on the road and at home.

The Rookie Athlete of the Year awards a student- athlete for outstanding athletic performance and achievement by a male & female, freshman student-athlete:

Okla was a standout on the Basketball team this year. He was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week 9x before being named MASCAC Rookie of the Year and was named to the MASCAC First Team. He played in 28 games with 27 starts, recording 413 points, 247 rebounds, 48 assists, 42 steals and four blocks in his first season.

Betcher was named a MASCAC Rookie of the Week during her indoor track and field season. She claimed two MASCAC Championships, the first in the 600m for Indoor Track and Field and the second in 400m in Outdoor Track and Field. She was a two time All Conference selection in two seasons.

Lopez was named a conference Rookie of the Week during her indoor season. She won Two MASCAC Championships in the Shot Put, one in Indoor and in Outdoor. She was a two time All Conference selection.

Lozano has just wrapped up her conference post season where they entered the tournament as regular season champions and a 2026 MASCAC Conference Champion. She has been named a MASCAC Rookie of the Week 3x this season. She finished the season with  33 Goals, 22 Assists for 55 points with 14 ground balls in her first year with the Lancers.

The Athlete of Year Award is given to a male and female student-athlete for their outstanding athletic performance and achievement over the course of the 2025-26 academic year. 

Okla claimed his first MASCAC Championship this winter and was named to the MASCAC First Team after being named Rookie of the Year. He finished 35th in the NCAA in Rebounds and 29th in double-doubles, recording 11 on the season.

Williams was named to the MASCAC Offensive First Team. He recorded 88 Receptions for 855 yards, 6 touchdowns with a season long of 33 yards. He rushed 16 times for 50 yards and a touchdown, with a season long rush of 17 yards and he was a force on the punt returns, returning 8 for 111 yards and a season long 31 yards.

Czerniawski  was named the  MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second time and selected to the First Team All-Conference. She was a 9x MASCAC Goalie of the Week, appearing in 20 games allowing just 26 goals for a 1.33 GAA, a new record, recording 574 saves on the season for a .957 save percentage. She finished ranked third nationally in save percentage.

The Senior Lancer Awards recognizes a female & male, senior student-athlete who exemplifies dedication to their program, leadership qualities and good sportsmanship that may or may not have translated into superior statistics and accolades

Lasbury-Casey  is a four-year member of the Men’s Basketball Team. Over his career helped his team to three MASCAC Championships, serving as captain this last season. He was actively involved in pregame prep and film breakdown. He attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum. He is a member of  Chi Alpha Sigma and is a MASCAC All Academic team honoree.

Condon is a co-captain of the Women’s Soccer team that claimed the regular season championship this past fall. She is also a member of the Track and Field team and Women’s Basketball team. She was named the MASCAC Rookie of the Year in Soccer in 2022. She serves as a Presidential Student Ambassador, member of the Honors Program, serves as the Region 3 Chair of the Massachusetts Students Nurses Association, is a member of the Athlete Mentor Program and was named to the CSC Academic All District Team. Over her four years of Soccer, recorded 16 career goals with 14 assists for 46 points, appearing in 70 games with 58 starts

Ayotte is a leader both on the field and in the classroom. He is a four year member of Football and has been named to the Dean’s List. He appeared in 27 games as quarterback, recording 221 completions on 423 attempts for 2,749 yards, 16 touchdowns with a career long of 66. He was named to the MASCAC All-Academic Team and has maintained a 3.895 GPA over his time at Worcester State as a Business Administration Major.

LaPoint was a member of the 2025 Championship MASCAC Softball team and was named to the MASCAC First Team in 2024 and 2025. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and the TriBeta Biological Honor Society and has been named CSC Academic All District. She also Serves as a Member of AMP. So far in her career has recorded 180 hits, 95 RBIs with 22 doubles, two triples and a home run. Over her time at Worcester State she has registered a 3.68 GPA as a Biology Major.

Ryan finished up her career as a member of the Worcester State Women’s Ice Hockey team where she was a member of three conference championship winning teams, serving as Captain on the Women’s Ice Hockey team. Named to the MASCAC First Team, over her four years at Worcester State she has recorded 19 goals, 33 assists for 52 points with nine game winners. Over her academic career she has registered a 3.978 GPA as an Environmental Science major.

Lomonaco was a two year member of the Women’s Basketball team, serving as a Captain of the team as a senior. She was named to the MASCAC Second Team this past March and was selected to play in the NEWBA Senior All Star Game. She was also named to the CSC Academic All District Team and MASCAC All Academic Teams. During her time at Worcester State, she has tallied 467 points, 226 Rebounds, 205 Assists, 68 Steals and 11 blocks. Over her career in Worcester she has registered a 3.951 GPA as a Biology major.

The Robert Devlin Senior Athlete Award is presented for outstanding athletic performance and achievement by a female & male, senior student-athlete throughout the course of their career at Worcester State; in 2009, the award was named after former athletic director Robert Devlin 

Boudreau was a pivotal member of the Worcester State Track and Field Team. Has Claimed Three MASCAC Championships, setting a Meet Record in the Championships in the 100m in 2024, and Winning the 60m in Indoor this past February and his second 100m Conference Championship at this year's MASCAC Outdoor Championship. He is a 3x MASCAC All-Conference selection.

Fisher served as Captain of the women’s Lacrosse team, being named MASCAC Offensive, Defensive Player and Rookie of the week multiple times over her career . Member of the 2025 and 2026 Women’s MASCAC Championship Winning teams. Named to the MASCAC Second Team in 2023 and 2024 and the First Team in 2025. Was the Worcester State Female Rookie Athlete of the Year. She has been named CSC Academic All District team. She has started all 77 Games in her career, accumulating 121 goals, 79 Assists and 200 points. She has achieved all of these statistics while maintaining a 3.527 GPA as a Nursing Major.

 View the 2026 Athletics Award Ceremony here .