Szpylman Named SUNY Scholar Athlete of the Year

SUNY Erie sophomore pitcher Grace Szpylman has been named the SUNY Scholar Athlete of the Year for softball, recognizing her outstanding achievements both in the classroom and on the field.

The award is presented annually to the top scholar-athlete in each sport at every level of SUNY competition. Among SUNY Community Colleges, Szpylman was selected as the top softball student-athlete for her excellence as a student and competitor.

An Early Childhood Education major from Lancaster, NY, Szpylman maintained a 3.80 GPA while helping lead the Kats to one of the most successful seasons in program history. She earned First Team All-Region III honors and played a pivotal role in guiding SUNY Erie to a Region III Championship and a sixth-place finish at the NJCAA Division III National Championship.

In the circle, Szpylman was one of the region's most dominant pitchers. She led Region III with a 2.37 ERA and ranked second in the region with 167 strikeouts. Her performance throughout the season helped propel the Kats to their first regional championship since 1989 and a berth in the national tournament.

Szpylman becomes the third SUNY Erie student-athlete to earn SUNY Scholar Athlete of the Year honors during the 2025-26 academic year, joining men's swimmer Tristen Madden and men's basketball standout Taesyn Slating.

The recognition adds another accolade to an impressive sophomore campaign and highlights SUNY Erie's continued commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics.

Congratulations to Grace on this well-deserved honor!