BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Erik Lotysz of the Concord University men's soccer team and
Abbie Smith of the Concord University women's basketball team have been announced as finalists for the Mountain East Conference Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the league office released Wednesday afternoon.
Lotysz, a native of Buenos Aries, Argentina, brings a prestigious resume as a finalist. He carried a perfect 4.0 GPA during his undergraduate career, and was the 2026 Concord Class Valedictorian. In December, Lotysz was selected as a College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-American—the first academic All-American in men's soccer program history. Lotysz was a two-time member of the All-Mountain East Conference Academic Team after transferring from fellow Division II school Northern Michigan prior to the 2024 fall semester.
On the pitch, Lotysz was crucial in the best two-year run for CU men's soccer to date. He appeared in 36 career games at Concord, starting 23 times. He was in the starting lineup for the 2024 NCAA Tournament game at Charleston. The Mountain Lion central defender was part of 28 wins in two years, and this past fall was tabbed All-MEC Second Team, scoring three goals and helping Concord to a single-season program record eight shutouts.
Wednesday's announcement adds to a growing list of accomplishments for Smith. The Little Hocking, Ohio native was also a CSC Academic All-American this past spring, earning a spot on the second team. She was All-MEC Academic all four years of undergraduate, appeared on the Concord Dean's List eight times, finishing with a 3.83 GPA in her career, and was honored with the Concord Inspire Award from the campus's business department in 2026. Smith was on the CSC Academic All-District Team three times.
Smith's on-court success is just as impressive as her academic laurels.
She wrapped up her career by being a D2CCA Second Team All-American as well as a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American. At the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, Smith was both the MEC Player of the Year and the D2CCA Atlantic Regional Player of the Year. Overall, Smith was All-MEC First Team twice and began her career by being placed on the All-MEC Second Team as both a freshman and sophomore. She finished third in program history in points (1,911) and rebounds (1,129) and was top five in field-goal percentage, blocks and free-throw percentage.
ABOUT THE MEC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD: Each institution in the MEC selected one female and one male as finalists for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding academic and athletic performance for the previous academic year. Each finalist will receive a plaque. The criteria to be nominated are: (1) a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average; (2) participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests in a MEC-sponsored sport; (3) minimum of one year in residence at the institution.
The female finalists are:
Hannah Goes (Charleston, Soccer),
Abbie Smith (Concord, Basketball),
Daphne McCann (Davis & Elkins, Swimming),
Joey Borelle (Fairmont State, Volleyball),
Genna Rippeon (Frostburg State, Swimming),
Kylie Burdick (Glenville State, Softball),
Cassondra O'Connor (Point Park, Cross Country/Track and Field),
Ashley Cudnik (West Liberty, Volleyball),
Autumn Hall (West Virginia State, Softball),
Bhrooke Axe (West Virginia Wesleyan, Volleyball),
Trinity Rose (Wheeling, Lacrosse).
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The male finalists are:
Omar Elsamahy (Charleston, Tennis),
Erik Lotysz (Concord, Soccer),
Filippo Buffo (Davis & Elkins, Tennis),
Colton Stoneking (Fairmont State, Wrestling),
Doug Prium II (Frostburg State, Football),
Gabe Onarato (Glenville State, Wrestling),
Fridolin Gefroren (Point Park, Soccer),
Parker Bentley (West Liberty, Wrestling),
Aidan Paulsen (West Virginia State, Baseball),
Steven Niland (West Virginia Wesleyan, Cross Country),
Gavin Harper (Wheeling, Wrestling).
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The Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners are determined by a vote of the administrators in the Mountain East Conference and the league office.
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