HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College Department of Athletics celebrated the Class of 2026 at its annual Senior Student-Athlete Award Ceremony, held in Marshall Auditorium at Roberts Hall on the Haverford College campus Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Interim Director of Athletics Jason Rash and Haverford College President Wendy Raymond each welcomed everyone in attendance, as well as those watching online via the Centennial Conference Digital Network.

Always one of the highlights of the awards ceremony, the SquirrelCenter Top moments from the 2025-26 season were profiled as the video was unveiled prior to the rest of the award announcements. A link to that video is available at the top of this release.

Senior Addie Sapirstein of the softball team started the night with a reflection of lessons learned and memories made over her career as a Haverford athlete, giving the keynote speech of the evening as is customary for a graduating senior student-athlete. Before her time was up, Sapirstein unveiled a senior tribute video that captivated the audience with both funny and heartfelt memories.

Before the Senior Student-Athlete Awards were presented, seniors who had broken a significant career, single-season, or single-game Haverford College record during their time with the Fords were highlighted.

Senior record holders from the Class of 2026 were Lauren Anderson (women's lacrosse), Eliana Brown (volleyball), Olivia D'Aulerio (women's track & field), Mauro DeCillis (baseball), Brooke Epstein (women's lacrosse), Micah Lachman (men's track & field), Carly Priest (women's track & field), Addie Sapirstein (softball), Savannah Shaw (women's track & field), Ishpuneet Singh (cricket), and Sarah Wilcher (women's track & field).

Annie Keneally and Sam Cohen then closed out the night with the unveiling of the 2026 senior student-athlete award winners, as determined by the athletic department staff and presented to the senior athletes by their respective coaches.

The first award given on the night was the A.W. "Pop" Haddleton Award, presented by Simon Bank of men's soccer, which is given for perseverance, leadership, sportsmanship, dedication and loyalty, named in honor of A.W. "Pop" Haddleton, longtime track coach at Haverford. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to an athletic team by a person who epitomizes those qualities.

Kolin Brandeis of men's lacrosse, Audrey Carter of women's track & field, and Henry Fedonchik of men's fencing were recipients of the 2025 A.W. "Pop" Haddleton Award.

Brandeis served as the heartbeat of Haverford's midfield unit throughout his career, appearing in 59 contests with 45 starts across four seasons. A dependable two-way presence for the Scarlet and Black, Brandeis totaled four goals and seven assists for 11 career points while adding 110 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers to anchor the Fords' transition game and defensive midfield efforts. The Johns Creek, Ga. native posted career highs with 39 ground balls during the 2025 campaign and added 31 more during his final season in 2026, consistently providing leadership and stability in the middle of the field. In addition to his impact on the turf, Brandeis excelled in the classroom as a three-time Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll selection.

Carter provided leadership and consistency for the Haverford women's cross country and track & field programs throughout her career, competing across distance events in all three seasons. The senior captain posted personal bests of 5:24.72 in the 1,500 meters, 11:45.58 in the indoor 3,000 meters, 19:43.03 in the outdoor 5,000 meters, and 42:15.91 in the 10,000 meters, with several of her top performances coming during the 2026 campaign. She also contributed to Haverford's relay efforts, helping the Fords record a 13:40.32 in the outdoor distance medley relay and a 14:19.14 mark indoors. 

During cross country season, the Concord, Mass. product recorded personal bests of 26:22.6 over 6K and 21:40.2 in the three-mile race, while also posting a 21:06.6 mark in the 5K during the 2025 Haverford Invitational. Carter consistently served as a valuable contributor across multiple championship seasons. Away from competition, Carter excelled academically as a three-time Centennial Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll selection in cross country, a three-time Winter Academic Honor Roll honoree in indoor track & field, and a Spring Academic Honor Roll selection during outdoor season. She also earned CSC Academic All-District recognition in both cross country (2023-24) and track & field (2024).

Fedonchik played a vital role in the continued success of Haverford's men's foil squad throughout his four-year career, emerging as both a key competitor and respected leader within the fencing program. A NCAA Regional Championships qualifier during the 2024-25 season, Fedonchik helped guide the Fords to three consecutive second-place finishes at the MACFA Championships from 2024 through 2026 while qualifying for the Mid-Atlantic South Regional Championships each season beginning with his sophomore campaign.

Although the New York, N.Y. native entered Haverford as a talented first-year competitor, his impact on the program extended far beyond his performances on the strip. His collegiate career was significantly disrupted by multiple injuries, forcing him to miss at least half of both his sophomore and junior seasons. Despite those setbacks, Fedonchik remained deeply committed to the success of the team, focusing on supporting and developing teammates throughout his rehabilitation process.

While sidelined, Fedonchik regularly conducted independent video analysis outside of practice, preparing detailed scouting and tactical breakdowns to help teammates improve and prepare for opponents. He also dedicated himself to developing as a strip coach, learning how to best provide both tactical guidance and emotional support during competition. Through his perseverance, loyalty, and leadership, Fedonchik became an invaluable presence within the program and exemplified a commitment to growth as a fencer, athlete, and teammate, even when physically unable to compete.

The Stephen G. Cary '37 Award was presented by Zach Miano of men's tennis. The award is given to the senior who has made the greatest overall impact on the Haverford athletic program through a combination of athletic achievement, leadership, sportsmanship, and off-field involvement. The award was presented to Addie Sapirstein of softball.Sapirstein concluded one of the most accomplished careers in Haverford softball history as a cornerstone of the program both offensively and defensively. A senior captain, she finished her career as the program's all-time stolen base leader with 67 career steals while also setting the single-season school record with 27 stolen bases during her standout rookie campaign in 2023. A two-time All-Centennial Conference selection, the Kirkland, Wash. native earned First Team honors in 2026 after previously earning Second Team recognition in 2025. 

Across 145 career games and 143 starts, Sapirstein compiled a .358 career batting average with 164 hits, 105 runs scored, 55 RBI, 20 doubles, four triples, and a .404 on-base percentage. She capped her career with a strong 2026 season, batting .402 with 49 hits, 34 runs scored, 23 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases while helping lead the Fords to the Centennial Conference tournament for the first time since 2019. Away from the diamond, Sapirstein excelled academically as a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honoree, and a three-time Centennial Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll recipient.

The Gregory Kannerstein '63 Award was presented by Cam Hamilton of women's lacrosse. The honor is awarded to the individual(s) whose combination of outstanding athletic accomplishments and leadership has significantly elevated their team's competitive success. This year's Kannerstein '63 Award winner is Lauren Anderson of women's soccer and women's lacrosse.

Anderson established herself as one of the premier multi-sport student-athletes at Haverford College, serving as a leader for both programs throughout her career. A standout defender in both sports, the Bala Cynwyd, Pa. native combined elite defensive play, durability, and leadership while excelling academically.

On the soccer pitch, Anderson started all 69 matches she appeared in, anchoring the Haverford back line for nearly 6,000 career minutes. A three-time All-Centennial Conference selection, she earned Second Team honors in 2022 before adding Honorable Mention recognition in 2023 and 2025. She contributed offensively in 2024 with a career-best six points on one goal and four assists while helping guide the Fords through multiple postseason-caliber seasons.

On the lacrosse field, Anderson developed into one of the conference's top defensive players, culminating in First Team All-Centennial Conference honors during her senior season in 2026. A team captain, she concluded her career as the program record holder in both games played (79) and games started (78). Across her career, she totaled 113 ground balls, 59 caused turnovers, and 17 draw controls. Her 2026 season featured career highs with 54 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers, earning Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors on March 24, 2026.

Away from competition, Anderson distinguished herself as one of Haverford's top scholar-athletes, earning the Archibald McIntosh '21 Award as a sophomore. She was also a three-time CSC Academic All-District selection in soccer, a three-time Centennial Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll honoree, and a two-time Spring Academic Honor Roll selection in lacrosse.

Now in its third year, the Tom Donnelly Award, named after legendary men's cross country and track & field coach Tom Donnelly, is presented to the senior varsity student-athlete(s) who have shown continual improvement and exemplify strong character, integrity, and dedication. The award, presented by Grace Leverton of women's fencing, was presented  to Niki Lavu of men's tennis.

Lavu, a native of Bryn Mawr, Pa., concluded an outstanding 2025-26 campaign as the leader of Haverford's lineup, earning First Team All-Centennial Conference honors in singles. From walk-on to No. 1 singles, he steadily climbed the lineup over four years. He began at No. 12 singles as a first-year, moved to No. 5 and No. 6 as a sophomore, and anchored the No. 4 position as a junior. During his senior season, Lavu competed primarily at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, posting a 13-7 record, including a 9-4 mark at No. 1 singles, while adding a 9-13 doubles record.

He collected key victories over nationally and regionally ranked opponents from Christopher Newport, Carnegie Mellon, Stevens, and Franklin & Marshall, helping guide the Fords to another Centennial Conference Championship match appearance. Away from the court, Lavu excelled academically as a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete, two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, and two-time Centennial Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll honoree.

Brooke Epstein of women's lacrosse was the final award winner of the evening, earning the Varsity Cup as the most outstanding athlete of the senior class.

Epstein concluded one of the most decorated careers in Haverford women's lacrosse history as the program's all-time leader in points (292), goals (219), free-position goals (46), and game-winning goals (13). A premier offensive player in Division III, she added another record-setting senior campaign in 2026, setting a new single-season program record with 99 draw controls.

Across 78 career appearances and 73 starts, Epstein compiled 219 goals and 73 assists while shooting over 50 percent for her career. A three-time First Team All-Centennial Conference selection and two-time First Team IWLCA All-Metro Region honoree, the Hillsborough, N.C. product also earned US Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-America recognition in 2025.

She produced three consecutive 60-goal seasons, including 67 goals and 87 points in 2026 after 66 goals and 89 points in 2025. She also totaled 225 career draw controls. Away from the field, Epstein excelled academically as a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, a PhillySIDA Academic All-Area honoree, an Ambler Scholar Athlete, and a two-time Centennial Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll recipient