Division Hosts Annual Ever True Celebration
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Brown Division of Athletics and Recreation recognized its 2025-26 season with the Ever True Celebration on Monday, April 27 in the Pizzitola Sports Center.
Division Hosts Annual Ever True Celebration
4/28/2026 2:24:00 PM | General
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Brown Division of Athletics and Recreation recognized its 2025-26 season with the Ever True Celebration on Monday, April 27 in the Pizzitola Sports Center.
The Bears presented division awards and several Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) awards throughout the evening and celebrated years of success in competition, in the classroom, and the community.
Mencoff Family Brown Athletics Impact Award – Sergio Gonzalez
Given since 1995 to individuals who contribute to the success of the Division of Athletics and Recreation in impactful ways, this award was renamed in 2024 to honor Samuel M. '78 and Ann S. Mencoff.
Gonzalez has served as Brown's Senior Vice President for Advancement for nearly a decade. He leads an outstanding team which works tirelessly alongside Athletics and Recreation Division administrators to ensure that it has all the resources necessary to give each student-athlete a first-class experience.
He relentlessly supports Athletics and Recreation, alongside his colleagues David Keeffe, Pam Woodward, Stacie Grant, Matt Altum, and our terrific Sports Foundation team. Their work has been transformational for the Division, and the Penner Field House wouldn't be standing today without their partnership.
On his rare days off, Sergio and his wife Patricia, and their daughter Sabrina can be found in the stands rooting for the Bears.
First Year Male Student-Athlete Award – Isaiah Langham, Men's Basketball
Awarded to the most outstanding first-year varsity male athlete
Langham was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week five times which is more than 25 percent of the season. He averaged nine points per game as a freshman which is the most since Brown basketball great Kino Lilly Jr.
In just the third game of his career, he scored a career-high 20 points at Boston University giving everyone a glimpse into what is certain to come from him over the next three seasons.
He played in all 27 of the team's games with 13 starts, and projects to be a big key to the future success of the men's basketball program.
Kate Silver '86 Award – Isabella Dieffenthaller, Women's Swimming and Diving
Awarded to the most outstanding first-year varsity female athlete
Dieffenthaller set two program records in her first season at Brown and was a two-time Ivy champion.
She found great success in dual meet competition but put together her best performance at the Ivy League Championship contributing as a member of the 800 freestyle relay, resulting in a final ranking of 16th in the country for the 2025-2026 season - the highest relay ranking by any women's program in the Ivy League since 2019-2020 season.
Additionally, she added another Ivy League title with her teammates in the 400 freestyle relay.
Dave Zucconi '55 Award – James Snaith, Men's Soccer
Presented to the male varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. The award is named in honor of Dave Zucconi, Brown Class of 1955 - the former Executive Director of the Brown Sports Foundation, who was often called "Mr. Brown." Our varsity weight room is also named in his honor.
Snaith was a key contributor to our men's soccer team this season, playing in all 15 of the team's games while starting 14 of them.
He was recognized for his excellence on the field by being named First Team All-Ivy this season as a sophomore.
In addition to his outstanding performance on the field, he excelled in the classroom as well and was recognized for his academic and athletic achievement by being named CSC Academic All-District.
He received the team's Britton Chichester Award, which is given to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship through dedication, perseverance, fair play, leadership, spirit, and support of his teammates and coaches.
Arlene Gorton '52 Cup – Lily Berlinger, Softball
Awarded to the female varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. It is named in honor of former Brown Assistant Athletic Director Arlene Gorton in recognition of her development of women's athletics here at Brown.
Berlinger was a key member of last year's team which had a historic season culminating with an Ivy League Tournament Championship at Princeton and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Both on and off the field, this year's winner embodies the qualities listed in the description of this award as she prioritizes team success, supports her teammates unconditionally, and contributes to a culture built on trust, accountability, and mutual respect.
Her leadership is rooted in her actions, as she consistently demonstrates fairness, humility, and selflessness in both practice and competition. She has been a four-year starter who made an impact right away as a first-year when she received All-Ivy honors.
Cliff Stevenson Award – Austin McBurney, Wrestling
Named in honor of former Brown men's soccer and lacrosse coach, Cliff Stevenson, who retired in 1990 after directing the men's soccer program for 31 years. It is presented to the male varsity athlete who best exemplifies Cliff's boundless enthusiasm, indomitable spirit, and devotion to the quality of life at Brown and the community.
Earlier in his career, McBurney served as a backup and finished with a 2–14 record on the mat, yet he remained EVER TRUE, fully invested in his teammates and his own development, showing up every day with consistency, discipline, and a team-first mindset.
His persistence paid off this year as he earned the starting role and transformed his season, avenging previous losses against nationally ranked opponents at both the Ivy League and NCAA Championships.
He ultimately qualified for NCAAs where he went 2-2, becoming the first Brown wrestler since 2019 to win a match at the national tournament.
Bessie H. Rudd Award – Shoshana Gevelber, Women's Soccer
Presented to the female varsity athlete who displays enthusiasm, spirit, and leadership, and is devoted to the quality of life at Brown and the surrounding community. The award is named in honor of Bessie Rudd, the former Director of Physical Education at Pembroke College from 1930-1961.
Gevelber has been part of two consecutive Ivy League championship teams, undefeated conference seasons, three Ivy League Tournament appearances, and two NCAA Tournament appearances. But that doesn't even come close to telling her story.
While beginning to emerge as a key contributor in 2023, she suffered a devastating knee injury that sidelined her for the entire fall season.
While rehabbing her torn ACL, she poured herself into her teammates from the sideline doing whatever she could to help the team.
This past season, after earning a starting opportunity, she suffered another ACL tear during warm-ups, yet after going to the training room, she returned to the sideline on crutches to cheer on her team as they went on to earn a 4-0 victory over Penn, once again putting the team ahead of herself and inspiring everyone around her.
Frederick W. "Doc" Marvel 1894 Award – Jade Iginla, Women's Hockey and Davis Kelly, Men's Crew
Awarded to one male AND one female senior varsity athlete who has best represented Brown over his/her career by embodying excellence in scholarship, athletic performance, integrity, leadership and community outreach.
Named the ECAC Rookie of the Year to kick off her career, Iginla never looked back by changing the competitive culture of the program by providing both scoring and belief.
A two-time captain as voted by her teammates, she joined the program when Brown was at the bottom of the ECAC having missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years.
She leaves Brown with 56 goals and 43 assists for 99 points, which ranks 21st in program history, helping lift the team to multiple national rankings and bringing the Bears to within one goal of making the ECAC's Final Four.
On the men's side, Kelly helped the men's crew team in achieving wins over both Harvard and Yale and to a fifth-place finish at the National Championships last year. This year, he has helped the Brown Varsity to victories over Stanford, Yale and Northeastern and to a ranking of No. 6 nationally.
He has competed internationally for both the Under 19 and Under 23 U.S. National teams at the World Championships and was recently accepted to attend a Master's Program at Oxford University.
He worked with Women's Refugee Care in Providence during his time at Brown, did an internship with Eleison Foundation, an anti-human trafficking organization and has served as copy editor for the Brown Political Review.
Marjorie Brown Smith Award – Jessie Golden, Volleyball
Presented to the outstanding female varsity athlete of the year. It is named in honor of the former Director of Athletics at the Women's College of Brown University, Marjorie Brown Smith, in recognition of her generous support of athletics.
Golden was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year for a third consecutive time last fall – a feat that had never been accomplished before.
The best libero in the history of the league, she led the conference in total digs and digs per set for three consecutive seasons.
A four-time Ivy League Tournament participant, her class is the first class to graduate from Brown having been to the Ivy Tournament in all four years.
She is the only libero with 20 or more digs in six matches in conference play, with three of those matches coming against the top three seeds in the Ivy League. In addition, her service line performance was also among the best in the league where she ranked seventh in aces per set.
Frederick "Fritz" Pollard '19 Award – Andrew Reall, Wrestling
Awarded to the outstanding male varsity athlete of the year. The trophy is named in honor of Frederick "Fritz" Pollard, Brown Class of 1919, one of our nation's true African-American pioneers, one of the greatest football players in Brown history, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Pollard is recognized as the first African-American to do the following things: play in the Rose Bowl, earn All-American honors, play quarterback at the professional level, and become a head coach in the NFL.
Reall was one of the most dominant wrestlers, not just on the Brown team, but across the entire country this season. He captured the program's first Ivy League Championship at 197 pounds and finished top 12 in the country at his first NCAA Tournament, earning three wins in Cleveland.
He tied the program record of 37 wins and only lost six matches the entire year - all to opponents ranked within the top 15 of the NCAA. Among his wins are several ranked victories and he was perfect across all Ivy competition.
He will enter his junior season ranked top 15 in the country and will be a serious contender as both an All-American & national champion.
In addition to his tremendous season on the mat, Reall earned Academic All-America honors this year and was unanimously voted team captain.
Joukowsky Scholar-Athletes – Lucy Adams, Field Hockey and Tom Griffin, Men's Crew
This award was established by Artemis and Martha Sharp Joukowsky and is awarded annually to one male AND one female athlete who embody the best qualities of the scholar athlete by achieving success in both the classroom and in athletic competition—a reflection of Brown's commitment to the totality of individual accomplishment.
These awards will be presented at a ceremony on campus on May 22.
SAAC Awards
Presented by SAAC Co-Presidents Hannah Flannery and Matt Purcell
Top Performance (Female) – Morgan Lukinac, Women's Swimming and Diving: Watch Here
Top Performance (Male) – Andrew Reall, Wrestling: Watch Here
Top Play (Female) – 400m Relay Team, Women's Swimming and Diving: Watch Here
Top Play (Male) – Trevor Foley, Football: Watch Here
Gallery: (4-27-2026) 2025-26 Ever True Celebration, 4/27/2026
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
The Bears presented division awards and several Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) awards throughout the evening and celebrated years of success in competition, in the classroom, and the community.
Mencoff Family Brown Athletics Impact Award – Sergio Gonzalez
Given since 1995 to individuals who contribute to the success of the Division of Athletics and Recreation in impactful ways, this award was renamed in 2024 to honor Samuel M. '78 and Ann S. Mencoff.
Gonzalez has served as Brown's Senior Vice President for Advancement for nearly a decade. He leads an outstanding team which works tirelessly alongside Athletics and Recreation Division administrators to ensure that it has all the resources necessary to give each student-athlete a first-class experience.
He relentlessly supports Athletics and Recreation, alongside his colleagues David Keeffe, Pam Woodward, Stacie Grant, Matt Altum, and our terrific Sports Foundation team. Their work has been transformational for the Division, and the Penner Field House wouldn't be standing today without their partnership.
On his rare days off, Sergio and his wife Patricia, and their daughter Sabrina can be found in the stands rooting for the Bears.
First Year Male Student-Athlete Award – Isaiah Langham, Men's Basketball
Awarded to the most outstanding first-year varsity male athlete
Langham was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week five times which is more than 25 percent of the season. He averaged nine points per game as a freshman which is the most since Brown basketball great Kino Lilly Jr.
In just the third game of his career, he scored a career-high 20 points at Boston University giving everyone a glimpse into what is certain to come from him over the next three seasons.
He played in all 27 of the team's games with 13 starts, and projects to be a big key to the future success of the men's basketball program.
Kate Silver '86 Award – Isabella Dieffenthaller, Women's Swimming and Diving
Awarded to the most outstanding first-year varsity female athlete
Dieffenthaller set two program records in her first season at Brown and was a two-time Ivy champion.
She found great success in dual meet competition but put together her best performance at the Ivy League Championship contributing as a member of the 800 freestyle relay, resulting in a final ranking of 16th in the country for the 2025-2026 season - the highest relay ranking by any women's program in the Ivy League since 2019-2020 season.
Additionally, she added another Ivy League title with her teammates in the 400 freestyle relay.
Dave Zucconi '55 Award – James Snaith, Men's Soccer
Presented to the male varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. The award is named in honor of Dave Zucconi, Brown Class of 1955 - the former Executive Director of the Brown Sports Foundation, who was often called "Mr. Brown." Our varsity weight room is also named in his honor.
Snaith was a key contributor to our men's soccer team this season, playing in all 15 of the team's games while starting 14 of them.
He was recognized for his excellence on the field by being named First Team All-Ivy this season as a sophomore.
In addition to his outstanding performance on the field, he excelled in the classroom as well and was recognized for his academic and athletic achievement by being named CSC Academic All-District.
He received the team's Britton Chichester Award, which is given to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship through dedication, perseverance, fair play, leadership, spirit, and support of his teammates and coaches.
Arlene Gorton '52 Cup – Lily Berlinger, Softball
Awarded to the female varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. It is named in honor of former Brown Assistant Athletic Director Arlene Gorton in recognition of her development of women's athletics here at Brown.
Berlinger was a key member of last year's team which had a historic season culminating with an Ivy League Tournament Championship at Princeton and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Both on and off the field, this year's winner embodies the qualities listed in the description of this award as she prioritizes team success, supports her teammates unconditionally, and contributes to a culture built on trust, accountability, and mutual respect.
Her leadership is rooted in her actions, as she consistently demonstrates fairness, humility, and selflessness in both practice and competition. She has been a four-year starter who made an impact right away as a first-year when she received All-Ivy honors.
Cliff Stevenson Award – Austin McBurney, Wrestling
Named in honor of former Brown men's soccer and lacrosse coach, Cliff Stevenson, who retired in 1990 after directing the men's soccer program for 31 years. It is presented to the male varsity athlete who best exemplifies Cliff's boundless enthusiasm, indomitable spirit, and devotion to the quality of life at Brown and the community.
Earlier in his career, McBurney served as a backup and finished with a 2–14 record on the mat, yet he remained EVER TRUE, fully invested in his teammates and his own development, showing up every day with consistency, discipline, and a team-first mindset.
His persistence paid off this year as he earned the starting role and transformed his season, avenging previous losses against nationally ranked opponents at both the Ivy League and NCAA Championships.
He ultimately qualified for NCAAs where he went 2-2, becoming the first Brown wrestler since 2019 to win a match at the national tournament.
Bessie H. Rudd Award – Shoshana Gevelber, Women's Soccer
Presented to the female varsity athlete who displays enthusiasm, spirit, and leadership, and is devoted to the quality of life at Brown and the surrounding community. The award is named in honor of Bessie Rudd, the former Director of Physical Education at Pembroke College from 1930-1961.
Gevelber has been part of two consecutive Ivy League championship teams, undefeated conference seasons, three Ivy League Tournament appearances, and two NCAA Tournament appearances. But that doesn't even come close to telling her story.
While beginning to emerge as a key contributor in 2023, she suffered a devastating knee injury that sidelined her for the entire fall season.
While rehabbing her torn ACL, she poured herself into her teammates from the sideline doing whatever she could to help the team.
This past season, after earning a starting opportunity, she suffered another ACL tear during warm-ups, yet after going to the training room, she returned to the sideline on crutches to cheer on her team as they went on to earn a 4-0 victory over Penn, once again putting the team ahead of herself and inspiring everyone around her.
Frederick W. "Doc" Marvel 1894 Award – Jade Iginla, Women's Hockey and Davis Kelly, Men's Crew
Awarded to one male AND one female senior varsity athlete who has best represented Brown over his/her career by embodying excellence in scholarship, athletic performance, integrity, leadership and community outreach.
Named the ECAC Rookie of the Year to kick off her career, Iginla never looked back by changing the competitive culture of the program by providing both scoring and belief.
A two-time captain as voted by her teammates, she joined the program when Brown was at the bottom of the ECAC having missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years.
She leaves Brown with 56 goals and 43 assists for 99 points, which ranks 21st in program history, helping lift the team to multiple national rankings and bringing the Bears to within one goal of making the ECAC's Final Four.
On the men's side, Kelly helped the men's crew team in achieving wins over both Harvard and Yale and to a fifth-place finish at the National Championships last year. This year, he has helped the Brown Varsity to victories over Stanford, Yale and Northeastern and to a ranking of No. 6 nationally.
He has competed internationally for both the Under 19 and Under 23 U.S. National teams at the World Championships and was recently accepted to attend a Master's Program at Oxford University.
He worked with Women's Refugee Care in Providence during his time at Brown, did an internship with Eleison Foundation, an anti-human trafficking organization and has served as copy editor for the Brown Political Review.
Marjorie Brown Smith Award – Jessie Golden, Volleyball
Presented to the outstanding female varsity athlete of the year. It is named in honor of the former Director of Athletics at the Women's College of Brown University, Marjorie Brown Smith, in recognition of her generous support of athletics.
Golden was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year for a third consecutive time last fall – a feat that had never been accomplished before.
The best libero in the history of the league, she led the conference in total digs and digs per set for three consecutive seasons.
A four-time Ivy League Tournament participant, her class is the first class to graduate from Brown having been to the Ivy Tournament in all four years.
She is the only libero with 20 or more digs in six matches in conference play, with three of those matches coming against the top three seeds in the Ivy League. In addition, her service line performance was also among the best in the league where she ranked seventh in aces per set.
Frederick "Fritz" Pollard '19 Award – Andrew Reall, Wrestling
Awarded to the outstanding male varsity athlete of the year. The trophy is named in honor of Frederick "Fritz" Pollard, Brown Class of 1919, one of our nation's true African-American pioneers, one of the greatest football players in Brown history, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Pollard is recognized as the first African-American to do the following things: play in the Rose Bowl, earn All-American honors, play quarterback at the professional level, and become a head coach in the NFL.
Reall was one of the most dominant wrestlers, not just on the Brown team, but across the entire country this season. He captured the program's first Ivy League Championship at 197 pounds and finished top 12 in the country at his first NCAA Tournament, earning three wins in Cleveland.
He tied the program record of 37 wins and only lost six matches the entire year - all to opponents ranked within the top 15 of the NCAA. Among his wins are several ranked victories and he was perfect across all Ivy competition.
He will enter his junior season ranked top 15 in the country and will be a serious contender as both an All-American & national champion.
In addition to his tremendous season on the mat, Reall earned Academic All-America honors this year and was unanimously voted team captain.
Joukowsky Scholar-Athletes – Lucy Adams, Field Hockey and Tom Griffin, Men's Crew
This award was established by Artemis and Martha Sharp Joukowsky and is awarded annually to one male AND one female athlete who embody the best qualities of the scholar athlete by achieving success in both the classroom and in athletic competition—a reflection of Brown's commitment to the totality of individual accomplishment.
These awards will be presented at a ceremony on campus on May 22.
SAAC Awards
Presented by SAAC Co-Presidents Hannah Flannery and Matt Purcell
Top Performance (Female) – Morgan Lukinac, Women's Swimming and Diving: Watch Here
Top Performance (Male) – Andrew Reall, Wrestling: Watch Here
Top Play (Female) – 400m Relay Team, Women's Swimming and Diving: Watch Here
Top Play (Male) – Trevor Foley, Football: Watch Here
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
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