HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Archibald MacIntosh Award was presented to Jackson Sgro '28 on the evening of Thursday, September 18 during an on-campus ceremony in the Bryn Mawr room of the dining center. The MacIntosh Award honors the Haverford College sophomore who, during their first-year on campus, emerged as the top scholar-athlete in the class.
 
Sponsored by the Societies (formerly presented by Beta Rho Sigma and the Triangle Society), the award honors "Archie Mac," Class of 1921, who served the College as coach, Director of Athletics, Professor of Psychology, Director of Admission, Vice-President, and twice Acting President during his long tenure at Haverford. Now in its 61st year honoring academic and athletic excellence at Haverford, the award was first presented in 1964.
 
President of the Societies of Haverford College Dan Gordon '90 P'29 served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. President of Haverford College Wendy Raymond, Director of Athletics Danielle Lynch, and Bill MacIntosh (grandson of Archibald MacIntosh) also spoke during the ceremony. The evening concluded with Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach Dave Beccaria introducing Sgro with some remarks before Jackson accepted his award and gave a short speech of his own.
 

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Jackson D. Sgro '28  (Baseball)
Hopewell, N.J. |  Lawrenceville/Peddie School
 
In his first season with Haverford baseball, first-year shortstop Jackson Sgro established himself as one of the premier talents in Division III. His debut was not simply impressive, it was historic.

Sgro led the Centennial Conference with a .442 batting average, delivering power, consistency, and production that made him one of the most feared hitters in the league. His résumé from 2024 included 50 hits, 30 runs scored, 11 doubles, 11 home runs, and 43 RBI. He also posted a .504 on-base percentage and an .832 slugging percentage, numbers that placed him among the top 20 players nationally in batting average, home runs per game, and RBI per game.
 
That performance earned Sgro the title of D3baseball.com National Rookie of the Year and a spot on the All-America Second Team. Just as importantly, it arguably set a new standard for what a first-year student-athlete at Haverford can achieve. Sgro made his impact felt immediately. In only his second collegiate game, he launched a two-run home run against an Arcadia team coming off an NCAA tournament berth. Over the course of the spring, he tallied 19 multi-hit games, highlighted by a four-hit outing at Ursinus and a six-RBI day against Washington College.

He saved his best for the postseason, homering in each of his last three games during the Centennial Conference Tournament as the Fords made a run to the Centennial Conference Championship series. From February through May, he paired steady poise with explosive production.
 
Yet the numbers alone do not explain why Sgro is this year's recipient of the Archibald MacIntosh Award, one of Haverford College's most distinguished honors. Presented annually to a first-year student who exemplifies the ideals of the scholar-athlete, the award recognizes academic achievement, integrity, and character, as well as athletic excellence.
 
Head coach Dave Beccaria recognized those traits from the moment Sgro arrived on campus. "From the first time he stepped foot on campus, Jackson demonstrated maturity beyond his years, consistently strong work habits, and a sense of purpose in all of his pursuits as a student-athlete," Beccaria said.
 
"Those traits led to one of the all-time great first years in D3 baseball and the honor of being named D3baseball.com National Rookie of the Year. The MacIntosh Award is a terrific honor and a fitting testament to all of Jackson's hard work and ability."
 
For Sgro, the award reflects more than individual recognition. It is a testament to the support around him, both on campus and at home. "Finding balance when you are trying to do anything at a high level is a challenge," he said. "At Haverford, I think the most important thing is that you lean on the resources of the community that you are in. The professors, coaches, and students are always there to support you where they can. Asking for help when you need it can go a long way when it comes to getting you on the right path quicker. It's another way of working smarter so that you can get some time back, to accomplish what you need to do, and do it as well as possible."
 
He is quick to share credit with those who have guided him along the way. "I definitely need to shout out to my Mom and Dad," Sgro said. "They have both made countless sacrifices and given relentless effort to help me get where I am today. I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates last year, especially the seniors. They were a remarkable influence. On-field success is not possible without an incredible team behind you in a sport like this."
 
The MacIntosh Award reflects the balance and foundations of resilience that define the Haverford student-athlete experience. For Sgro, it marks the celebration of an extraordinary first year while opening the door to the continued growth, challenges, and opportunities that lie ahead during his time at the College.