NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Northeast 10 Conference recognized seven student-athletes from the winter season as Sport Excellence Award winners on Thursday afternoon, honoring their outstanding athletic and academic achievements.
Among the 101 student-athletes named to the NE10 Academic All-Conference teams, the Sport Excellence Award is given to one top individual from each of the league's seven winter sports. Four different institutions were represented in the announcement, with Bentley having a league-high three selections.
One of the Conference's most prestigious awards, the Sport Excellence Award was highlighted by Adelphi's Ryan Kakimseit (men's swimming & diving) and Southern Connecticut's Molly Kennedy (women's swimming & diving), who win the award for the second time in their careers.
Bentley is represented by Cash McClure (men's basketball), Stephen D'Alessandro (men's indoor track & field) and Lily Tedford (women's indoor track & field). When factoring in fall sports, Adelphi and Bentley are tied with a league-high four recipients of the Sport Excellence Award this academic year.
A pair of NE10 Defensive Players of the Year - Adelphi's Lauren Beberman (women's basketball) and Assumption's Shane McElhaney (ice hockey) - complete the list of winter sport winners. Beberman is Adelphi's first-ever women's basketball player to earn the honor.
To be eligible for Sport Excellence honors, a student-athlete must have been named to the All-Conference team in their respective sport, spent at least two consecutive full-time semesters at their institution and have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better (for both undergraduate and graduate work).
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Name: Cash McClure
School: Bentley
GPA: 3.88
Major: Economics/Finance
Notes: First Team All-Conference...NABC First Team All-District...D2CCA Second Team All-Region...Helped lead Bentley to NCAA East Regional selection...Fifth in NE10 in points per game (16.8) and eighth in rebounds per game (7.0)...Academic All-Conference for three straight years...Academic Distinction on NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester...2024-25 CSC Third Team Academic All-America...2024-25 First Team All-Conference...Over 1,400 career points and over 600 career rebounds.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Name: Lauren Beberman
School: Adelphi
GPA: 3.93
Major: Nursing
Notes: NE10 Defensive Player of the Year...NE10 All-Defensive Team...Led NE10 in blocks (45) and steals (72), while ranking in the Top 50 in both categories in Division II...Academic Excellence on NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester...Overall a five-time selection to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll.
ICE HOCKEY
Name: Shane McElhaney
School: Assumption
GPA: 3.67
Major: Biology
Notes: NE10 Defensive Player of the Year...First Team All-Conference...Led all NE10 defensemen this season in goals (10), assists (20) and points (30), while tying for second in blocked shots (46)...Joe Concannon Award semifinalist, which honors the best American-born NCAA Division II/III hockey player in New England...NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester.
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Name: Ryan Kakimseit
School: Adelphi
GPA: 3.86
Major: Marketing
Notes: Tallied seven total medals at the 2026 NE10 Championship, including gold medals in the 200 Back, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Medley Relay...Set new NE10 records in the 200 Medley Relay and 400 Medley Relay...20-time medalist at NE10 Championships in his career, including 17 gold medals...Academic Excellence on NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester...2025 CSC Academic All-America...Two-time NE10 Swimmer of the Year.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Name: Molly Kennedy
School: Southern Connecticut
GPA: 3.8
Major: Health Science
Notes: NE10 Swimmer of the Year...Won gold in six events, while coming in second in her seventh race, at the 2026 NE10 Championship...Two-time NE10 Championship Swimmer of the Meet...Qualified for the NCAA Championship...Academic Excellence on NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester...In 21 career events at the NE10 Championship, she has won 20 championships...2025 NE10 Sport Excellence Award winner...2024 NE10 Rookie of the Year.
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Name: Stephen D'Alessandro
School: Bentley
GPA: 3.94
Major: Actuarial Science
Notes: Silver medalist in the 3000 meter and 5000 meter at the NE10 Indoor Track & Field Championship...Earned All-Region honors in both events...Academic Distinction on NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester.
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Name: Lily Tedford
School: Bentley
GPA: 3.87
Major: Marketing
Notes: Gold medalist in the Mile at the NE10 Indoor Track & Field Championship...All-Region honors in the Mile and 800 meter...Academic Distinction on NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester...2025 NE10 Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Year...Individual qualifier for the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 10 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
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