FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason Athletics annual banquet was held on Monday afternoon at EagleBank Arena to recognize the academic, athletic, and civic achievements of its student-athletes.
 
The Green and Gold Celebration brought together the student-athletes and coaches from Mason's 22 intercollegiate sports along with department staff and Mason supporters.
 
Awards bestowed upon the Patriots on Monday included the Aimee Willard Commemorative Award, Susan Collins Leadership for Women in Sport Award, President's Cup, Dr. Pettrone Student-Athlete of the Year and a series of other awards which honor athletic excellence in a variety of categories. The 120 seniors received their George Mason Award, a hand-sculpted artwork of George Mason designed as a permanent remembrance of both the institution and the student-athlete's legacy. This year, SAAC also introduced superlatives, voted on by student-athletes from each team.
 
The prestigious Aimee Willard Commemorative Award was established in 1997 to remember former Mason soccer and lacrosse athlete Aimee Willard, whose life was tragically taken by a brutal act of violence in her hometown of Philadelphia in 1996. The award assures that Aimee's legacy and contributions live on through another Mason student-athlete who mirror the standards of quality set by Aimee in her two-sport career: intensity, consistency of purpose, achievement and teamwork. 
 
This year's recipient was women's lacrosse student-athlete Lauren Distad. Presented by Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis, seven other student-athletes were nominated by their head coaches for the award: Jared Billups (Men's Basketball), Jack Bolz (Men's Volleyball), Lauren Distad (Lacrosse), Malachi Duvall (Wrestling), Marisa Santamauro (women's Track & Field), Jordan Smith (Baseball), Sonia Smith (Women's Basketball) and Henry Wachsman (men's Soccer).
 
In the words of her coach, Distad exemplifies the standards that Aimee set forth through their consistently high standards of love, integrity, enthusiasm and work ethics in all aspects of lie. She invariably leads from the front regardless of what is asked of them and has been an integral part of the team's success this season, solidifying herself as a leader. The reach positive influence extends well beyond our team and into her community, where she continues to mirror Aimee's legacy.
 
Faculty athletics representative Dr. Dominique Banville then presented the Susan Collins Leadership Award for Women in Sport to women's track and field student-athlete Marisa Santamauro. Two other student-athletes were nominated for the award: Lauren Distad (women's lacrosse) and Haviland Cobb-Colston (women's rowing).

The award recognizes the student-athlete who best exemplifies the leadership qualities set by former George Mason Senior Associate Athletic Director Sue Collins, who dedicated more than 40 years in NCAA Division I athletics and 34 years with the Patriots. Her leadership, integrity, innovation, mentoring, and service to the NCAA, George Mason and the local community has created a legacy that will keep Mason athletics a leader in college sports for years to come.
 
Santamauro is a senior on the women's track and field team pursing a degree in kinesiology and serves as a George Mason Kinesiology Ambassador. On the track, she is a member of the 2023 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championship team. Off the track, she is a model student and is a three-time Provost Scholar with a cumulative GPA of 3.87, making the Dean's List every semester. Santamauro has been a member of SAAC for three years and is currently the SAAC President where she has implemented the most SAAC events and activities of any SAAC president. Marisa was selected as a 2022 Ortho Virginia Student Achiever. She is also actively involved as an ambassador of Morgan's Message, an organization that advocates for open conversations about mental health and amplifies the voices of student-athletes.
 
The final individual award of the celebration named men's volleyball Omar Hoyos and women's basketball Sonia Smith as the Dr. Pettrone Student-Athletes of the Year. 
 
Hoyos was named to the EIVA first team this season after being a two-time second team honoree the last two seasons, while also being named to the EIVA All-Academic team. He led the Patriots to a No. 2-seed in the EIVA tournament and an appearance in the Championship game last weekend. Hoyos finished in the top-5 in several major categories among both the Patriot squad and the EIVA conference, including kills, service aces and points scored. In his four-year collegiate career, he surpassed the impressive 1,000 kill milestone. This week, he was named Honorable Mention All-American by the AVCA. Outside of George Mason, Hoyos also represents Puerto Rico on their men's volleyball national team.
 
After an immensely successful season, Sonia Smith was voted the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player and to the Atlantic 10 First Team. She led the Patriots to a No. 4 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament, a program best, and to a bid to the WBIT Postseason Tournament. The Patriots top offensive player all season, she averaged a team and career-high 15.2 points per game in scored in double-figures in all but four games this season, with eight 20-point scoring performances, including a career-high 30 points at Duquesne. Smith ranked in the top-10 in scoring in the conference all season and was in the top-5 of the team in assists, steals and rebounding.
 
GREEN & GOLD CELEBRATION AWARD WINNERS
 
Aimee Willard Commemorative Award 
Lauren Distad (Women's Lacrosse)

Susan Collins Leadership for Women in Sport Award
Marisa Santamauro (Women's Track & Field)
 
President's Cup
The award is presented to the Mason team that has earned the highest cumulative team GPA by the end of the Fall academic term.  
Women's Team: Softball
Men's Team: Wrestling
 
Iron Patriot Award
The Iron Patriot Award is presented to the senior student-athlete who through their dedication, commitment and sacrifice in the weight room has been a positive influence in their role as a teammate and on their competitive performance. Student-athletes are selected for the award by members of the strength and conditioning team at Mason.
Women's Team Iron Patriot: Morgan Gunn (Lacrosse)
Men's Team Iron Patriot: Colin Heath (Men's Volleyball)
 
Women's Team Dr. Pettrone Student-Athlete of the Year: Sonia Smith (Women's Basketball)
Men's Team Dr. Pettrone Student-Athlete of the Year: Omar Hoyos (Men's Volleyball)
  
Women's Team Sportsmanship: Regan Bestick (Women's Lacrosse)
Men's Team Sportsmanship: South Trimble (Baseball)

Women's Team Most Improved: Paula Suárez (Women's Basketball)
+ Averaged career-highs in scoring, three-pointers made, free throw percentage, three point percentage
+ Started all but one game for the Patriots, and led the team in assists, assist/turnover ratio and three point percentage

Men's Team Most Improved: Evan Maag (Wrestling)
+ Improved from 11 wins last season to 27 wins in 2024 and ranked in the top-10 in the country in pins across all weight classes
+ Won the MAC Championship, punching his ticket to the NCAA Tournament 
 
Women's Team Rookie of the Year: Zahirah Walton (Women's Basketball)
+ Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, Atlantic 10 Third Team, Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, Six-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week (school record)
+ Led the team in rebounding and blocks and was second in scoring
 
Male Rookie of the Year: DJ McGee (Wrestling)
+ MAC Conference Rookie of the Year
+ Runner-up at MAC Championships to earn an at-large bid to NCAAs
+ Finished the season with a 26-7 record 

Women's Team of The Year: 2023 Softball
+ 2023 Atlantic 10 Softball Champions
+ Set school records in home runs, doubles, RBIs, stolen bases, walks and strikeouts

Men's Team of The Year: 2023 Baseball
+ 2023 Atlantic 10 Baseball Champions
+ Advanced to NCAA Regional Final for first time in program history
+ Set school records in stolen bases and strikeouts
 
GREEN & GOLD CELEBRATION SUPERLATIVE WINNERS
 
PATRIOT SPIRIT
Men's Team: South Trimble (Baseball)
Women's Team: Marisa Santamauro (Women's Track & Field)
 
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Men's Team: Walter Bannerman (Men's Track & Field)
Women's Team: Nina Wilson (Women's Soccer)
 
BEST HAIR
Men's Team: Sam Peters (Men's Volleyball)
Women's Team: Camille Larkin (Women's Volleyball)
 
BEST DUO
Lauren Distad and Olivia Scott (Women's Lacrosse)