GENERAL: 10 GNAC Female Student-Athletes Named Nominees For 2025-26 Athlete Of The Year For Women's Sports

GENERAL: 10 GNAC Female Student-Athletes Named Nominees For 2025-26 Athlete Of The Year For Women's Sports
July 22, 2026

WINTHROP, Mass. – 10 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women’s student-athletes were nominated finalists for the 2025-26 GNAC Athlete of the Year award for women’s sports. It recognizes graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

This year’s finalists, who are also their respective school’s institutional nominees for are:

  • Amy Stevens, Albertus Magnus
  • Sydnee Ramos, Dean
  • Jackie Cronin, Elms
  • Annebel Balogh de Galantha, Emmanuel
  • Madeline Caro, Lasell
  • Reilly Laitala, Norwich
  • Jonnie Charest, Regis
  • Sadie Tirrell, Saint Joseph’s (Maine)
  • Piper Kinney, Simmons
  • Alana Picard, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

The GNAC Athlete of the Year for women’s sports will be announced on Tuesday, July 28th and will be submitted as the conference nominee for the Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA) Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.

ABOUT THE NOMINEES

Amy Stevens | Albertus Magnus | Women’s Soccer

Major: Mathematics/MBA

Stevens graduated from Albertus Magnus with a 3.99 GPA in Mathematics/MBA. Her academic efforts led her to being named President of honors program, GNAC All-Academic team, CSC Academic All-District (3X), and United Soccer Coaches D-III Women's Scholar All-East Region Third Team. On the field, she earned four All-Conference honors, including the Goalkeeper of the Year and first-team honors this past fall, which landed her a spot on the USC All-Region Team. Stevens is the program’s all-time leader in shutouts and saves. In the community, Stevens completed services such as tutoring, residential assistance, and teaching at a high school.

Sydnee Ramos| Dean | Field Hockey/Softball

Major: Sport Management

Ramos graduated from Dean with a 3.724 in Sport Management as a member of both the Field Hockey and Softball team. Ramos was named to the GNAC Academic team three times, was a two-time CSC Academic At-District At-Large honoree, and was named on the NFHCA All-Academic Squad all four years of her career. Ramos was a first team all-conference member this past season for the championship Bulldog Field Hockey team where she was named to the all-tournament team and led the GNAC in shots taken (171) while finishing second in goals (26) and points (62). She’s the Field Hockey program leader in games played (74), goals scored (35) and is also second in program history for points scored (89).

Jackie Cronin | Elms | Women’s Lacrosse

Major: Criminal Justice

Cronin graduated from Elms with a 3.5 GPA, collecting a degree in Criminal Justice in the process while being a member of the GNAC All-Academic Team two times in her career and collecting the Sr. Carol Allan Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Studies this past year at Elms. A 4x All-GNAC selection, Cronin was also named GNAC Player of the week and IWLCA National Offensive Player of the Week in 2025. She holds the program record for career and single season caused turnover records.

Annebel Balogh de Galantha | Emmanuel | Women’s Soccer

Major: Counseling & Health Psychology; Minor: Gender & Women's Studies

Balogh de Galantha graduated from Emmanuel with a 4.0 GPA, collecting a degree in Counseling & Health Psychology with a minor in Gender & Women’s Studies in the process while being a member of the CSC Academic All-District and GNAC All-Academic Team three times in her career and in the process, earning academic All-America honors twice by CSC, marking the first student-athlete in Women’s Soccer history and second in school history. She was a four-time All-GNAC selectee, three of which were first team and was named defender of the year this past season while collecting two GNAC titles in her career. Her efforts on the pitch made her a three-time all-region honoree as well.

Madeline Caro | Lasell | Women's Volleyball

Major: Psychology , Minor: Youth & Crime

Caro graduated from Lasell with a a 3.99 GPA, majoring in Psychology. A member of the Women's Volleyball team, Caro was a two-time first-team member of the GNAC All-Conference Team, won three GNAC Championships, was named Rookie of the Year in 2022 and was named the Libero of the Year two times in her career (2024, 2025 seasons). Caro finishes her career third in career digs at Lasell with 1,553 total. In the community, she was involved in youth leadership at a Boys/Girls Club, interned in social work, was part of Lasell’s DEI club, and volunteered for a youth mental health event.

Reilly Laitala | Norwich | Women's Swimming/Diving

Major: Nursing; Minor: Leadership Studies

Laitala graduated from Norwich with a 3.57 GPA and was a three-time selectee to the GNAC All-Academic Team and received numerous health certifications along the way. Laitala was excellent in the pool, earning Diver of the Year three times, collecting eight all-conference selections, seven individual championships, helped lead Norwich to four consecutive GNAC titles, and was named Diver of the Week 17 times in her career and was also the first NCAA Diving Regional qualifier in Norwich women's swimming & diving history in 2024. Laitala's service and leadership experiences reflect a sustained commitment to military leadership, health care, mentorship, student-athlete development, and service to others. Across the Corps of Cadets, Army ROTC, nursing clinical settings, international service, campus mentorship, and athletics, her involvement demonstrates a consistent willingness to lead in demanding environments while supporting the growth, safety, and well-being of those around her.

Jonnie Charest | Regis | Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field

Major: Interdisciplinary Studies, Minor: Criminal Justice/ Business Management

Charest graduated Regis with a 3.5 GPA, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice/Business Management. Charest was on the Dean’s list seven times in her academic career and athletically was named to the all-sportsmanship team twice. In the community, Charest was an orientation leader on campus as well as a tour guide and was a communications coordinator for the Hidden Opponent.

Sadie Tirrell | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | Field Hockey/Softball

Major: Health and Wellness Promotion Pre-Occupational Therapy; Minor: Exercise Science

Tirrell graduated from Saint Joseph's College of Maine with a 3.91 GPA, majoring in Health and Wellness Promotion Pre-Occupational Therapy with a minor in Exercise Science. She was also a two-time GNAC All-Academic member for her academic efforts as well as a three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree and was named to the NFHCA All-Academic squad all four years of her career. Tirrell was a dual-sport athlete for the Monks, competing in both Field Hockey and Softball as she finished her career as a three-time All-Tournament team member and all-conference member in both sports combined. Tirrell also earned all-sportsmanship team honors for each sport one year apiece. On campus, she was a health and wellness program intern on campus and was also active in high school prospect camps held on campus for both Field Hockey and Softball.

Piper Kinney | Simmons | Softball

Major: Neurobiology; Minor: Chemistry, Public Health

Kinney graduated from Simmons with a 3.99 GPA, earning her degree in Neurobiology and Minor in Chemistry, Public Health. Her academic efforts led her to earning a spot three times on the GNAC All-Academic team, collecting a few academic awards at Simmons, and she recognized nationally as a second team Academic All-America honoree this past season. On the mound, Kinney was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Year three times as she was a three-time first team All-GNAC honoree and was named a NFCA all-region honoree three times throughout her career. Kinney is the program’s all time strikeout record holder with 667. On campus and the community, she interned and did extensive research in the medical field at optometry offices, medical centers, teaching, and on campus research.

Alana Picard | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | Women's Lacrosse/Soccer 

Major: Nursing

Picard graduated from the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) with a 3.5869 GPA, earning her degree in Nursing and was named three times to both the GNAC All-Academic and CSC Academic All-District/At-Large teams. On the field, she was a three-time all conference honoree for each sport and was most notably the first-ever USJ Women’s Lacrosse player to become a DIII All-American after starting the sport on campus. Picard finished 6th in the nation in Caused Turnovers Per Game (3.89). On campus, she was a member of the student nursing association where she participated in community service, club hosted events, and fundraisers.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

Stay up to date with all the latest news from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)!
'Follow' us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and 'Like' us on Facebook!

 -#TheGNAC-