Blue Devils Honor Rutz And Gladstone Winners At Fourth Annual Blue Devil Choice Awards

The annual Senior Awards for the Central Connecticut Department of Athletics were announced on Monday during the Fourth Annual CCSU Blue Devil Choice Awards held in Alumni Hall. The awards program included the presentation of the major athletic and academic awards, while integrating a slate of awards chosen by the Blue Devils' student-athletes to recognize their peers and teams.

The Frederick M. Gladstone and Gail Rutz Awards are presented to honor the top male and female athletes in the senior class and are among the most prestigious a student-athlete can win in their CCSU career. Past winners of these awards include CCSU Hall of Famers, professional athletes, and successful businessmen and women.

The Gail Rutz Award was presented to Maegan Desmarais (cross country/track and field) and Grace Lawton (softball).  On the men's side, Elijah Howard (football) and James Sullivan (cross country/track and field) were presented with the Frederick M. Gladstone Award.

Desmarais helped the Blue Devils cross country and track & field teams to eight NEC titles over the course of her career. She capped that run by being named the MVP and Most Outstanding Performer – Distance in leading the blue Devils to the 2026 Outdoor Championship. Desmarais earned four cross country team championships and three indoor crowns and earned 10 NEC All-Conference honors. Lawton will leave Central as one of the program's most prolific offensive players, ranking in the top 10 for career leaders in multiple categories. She is tied for the single-season homerun mark and two RBI shy of that single-season record as well. Lawton is sixth all-time in homeruns, with 22 and is eighth in career slugging. She has helped the Blue Devils to four consecutive postseason appearances, a first in program history, and the program has recorded 20 or more wins in each of her campaigns.

Howard led the Blue Devils to consecutive NEC Championships and the football program's first-ever back-to-back FCS Championship appearances. He finished his career with 3,037 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, the third highest total in program history in both categories. Howard was named the NEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025. Sullivan helped the Blue Devils to seven NEC championships over the course of his career and the 2024 New England Cross Country team crown. He was named the MVP of the 2026 NEC Indoor Track and Field Championship, where he won his third Most Outstanding Performer – Distance accolade. Over his CCSU career, Sullivan won seven individual gold medals and 13 total medals.

Along with the Gladstone and Rutz awards, seniors Marina Perry (track & field) and Nicholas Fusco (cross country/track and field) were honored with the Kevin Oliva Memorial Academic Awards for having the highest-grade point averages among graduating female and male senior student-athletes, respectively. The women's soccer team was recognized for having the highest team GPA among CCSU's 16 Division I sports. The academic awards are given in honor of the former Director of the Academic Center for Student-Athletes. Kevin Oliva was a beloved and loyal Blue Devil with a deep-rooted connection to the University. He was beloved by staff and student-athletes at CCSU for his devotion to their well-being and his mantra of "Be nicer to one another," serves as a reminder that everyone matters.

In addition, all senior student-athletes from the sports teams, the dance and cheerleading squads, and athletic training program were recognized for graduating and for their commitment to Blue Devil Athletics. Student-athletes with a GPA above 3.20 over the past two semesters were also recognized with the Academic Award.

The Blue Devil Choice Awards included 10 awards voted on and presented by CCSU student-athletes recognizing the accomplishments of their peers. The award winners were:

Unsung Hero Award (Given to the male and female student athletes who brings positivity, excitement and good vibes to the locker room, practice and competition.): Ellie Gusitsch (lacrosse) and Shin Tanaka (football)

Hype Man and Woman of the Year (Given to the male and female student athletes who brings the hype for their teammates.): Ciarra Adu-Addo (track & field) and Wayne Coleman (football)

Most Supportive Team Award (Given to the one team that voluntarily showed up to support their fellow Blue Devils many times throughout the year.): Football

Win of the Year Award (Awarded to the moment that will go down in history books and last in our student athletes' memories forever.): Men's and Women's indoor track and field winning the NEC Championships in the same season for the first-time

Record Breaking Performance Award (Given to individuals or team accomplishments that have been solidified in the record books.): Lucas Figueiredo (men's track and field) breaking his own 400m outdoor school record to open the 2026 outdoor season

Play of the Year Award (Given to the most impactful play of the year.) Darin Smith, Jr.'s game-winning basket at Boston College, giving the Blue Devils the lead with :03 on the clock

Iron Devil Award (Given to one male and one female student athlete who is always on time for their training, demonstrating leadership by pushing their teammates. Chosen by Sports Performance Staff): Ellie Gusitsch (lacrosse) and Navon Mitchell (football)

Rookies of the Year (Given to one male and one female freshman student athlete who displayed athletic excellence in their sport this past year.): Stella Gasper (softball) and Roddy Jones (men's basketball)

MVP Award (Presented to one male and one female student athlete who positively impacted their program this year—whether it was in competition or behind the scenes, or both.): Maegan Desmarais (cross country/track & field) and Darin Smith, Jr. (men's basketball)

SAAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award: Track and Field coaching staff

The Blue Devils have posted another successful season, winning six NEC team championships thus far (men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men's indoor track and field, women's indoor track & field and women's outdoor track & field) with softball set to compete for a championship this weekend. Since 2014-15, CCSU has won an NEC-best 52 team championships, including a single-season conference record seven in 2024-25.