The College of Southern Maryland celebrated the achievements of 127 student athletes at its annual athletics banquet on Wednesday, April 29, recognizing the hard work and dedication required to excel both on the field and in the classroom.
The event at the La Plata campus highlighted the commitment of athletes who balance rigorous academic schedules with competitive sports. CSM offers eight athletic programs — women’s and men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s and men’s basketball, golf, softball and baseball — that compete in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference.
CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson opened the evening by acknowledging the athletes’ commitment.
“You have chosen a demanding path,” Dr. Wilson said. “You keep showing up, and that is one of the most important lessons athletics teaches us: success is built by what we are willing to do consistently, even when no one is watching.”
Athletic staff and coaches presented team awards, highlighting resilience and improvement across the season. Women’s basketball head coach Davon Muhammad noted his team’s 9-15 record represented a 900 percent improvement from its first year.
“We understood that winning doesn’t happen overnight,” Muhammad said. “It comes from doing the right things every single day. What I’m most proud of is that we were in a fight all the way until our final game, and that says a lot about the heart of this group.”
Softball head coach Keith Sanderson praised his team’s resilience and multiple comeback victories. Assistant Athletic Director Jack McDowell highlighted the men’s soccer team’s growth and representation of the college.
Among the honorees, Shamir Taylor was named Male Athlete of the Year for his dominant basketball season, averaging 26 points per game and earning two regional Player of the Month awards. Sara Allwine received Female Athlete of the Year after an outstanding soccer season that earned her MD JUCO First Team and All Region 20 First Team honors, along with Second Team All-American recognition. Zion Abdullah was named Scholar Athlete of the Year for his dedication on the soccer field and in the classroom.
The Iron Hawk award went to James Hans for his relentless dedication in the gym and response to adversity. The Wings of the Hawk awards recognized individuals who provide behind-the-scenes support to CSM athletics. Student Life Coordinator TJ Reim was honored for mentoring the men’s soccer team, and Learning Support Services program manager Laurie Cangelosi was recognized for academic support.
Team awards highlighted standout performers across all sports. In women’s soccer, Abby May earned Offensive MVP and Baylee Copsey took Defensive MVP. Men’s soccer recognized Matthew Knapp as Offensive MVP and Josky Densie as Defensive MVP. Volleyball named Amelie Lancioni Rookie of the Year and Mia DeCarlo the Coaches Award winner. Women’s basketball honored Amoni Taylor as MVP and Cailyn Samuel with the Coaches Award. Men’s basketball gave MVP to Shamir Taylor and the Coaches Award to Donnie Stafford. Golf recognized Luke Deters as MVP and Koen Cryster for Spirit of the Team. Softball awarded Offensive MVP to Carrie Hayden, Defensive MVP to Miranda Twigg, and MVP to Brooke Colliflower. Baseball gave Hawk Awards to Mason McReynolds and Gabriel Rodriguez.
The banquet reflects CSM’s commitment to student-athlete success. The college serves more than 20,000 students annually across campuses in La Plata, Prince Frederick and Leonardtown, providing opportunities to compete while pursuing degrees that prepare them for transfer or the workforce. Southern Maryland’s student athletes benefit from the region’s strong community support and proximity to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, where many pursue careers in defense, engineering and public service.
