As the end of the school year draws near, the San Diego City College Department of Athletics celebrates the 2025-26 season by commemorating the student-athletes, coaches and staff on Thursday, May 14.
Men’s cross country coach Philip Dunn honored the student athletes’ commitment to the program as well as their continuous efforts in their studies.
“As a coach, I know I am speaking for the other coaches,” Dunn said. “I think we’re proudest when we have an athlete who not only achieves the most they can as an athlete, but they come out of the program, they get a full scholarship, they have a conversation with the coach of the program that they’re going to and everybody’s excited about moving on.”
Women’s tennis player Thi Dang and men’s basketball player Micah Brickner both earned the James Swinson Scholar-Athletes of the Year award.
This award is given to a male and female student athlete who have a minimum 3.3 GPA and 24 units earned during their seasons. Each athlete receives a $1,000 scholarship to continue their higher education journey.
Many of student-athletes were presented with their own white and red sash to wear at commencement that will be taking place on Thursday May 21 at 5 p.m. at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
Chris Brown, the baseball team’s head coach, took the time to publicly appreciate the Knights administration, as well as athletic director and dean Aaron Detty, for his efforts for the program.
Brown watched Detty as he grew as an athlete during his time here at City College, later becoming assistant coach Brown’s associate head coach for 12 years, and moving on to the athletic director.
“We wouldn’t have any of the opportunities without the administration,” Brown said.
The event continued as each coach presented the student-athletes with their conference awards before ending with the Knights Athletic Training department giving out superlative awards to each team.
The Knights cheered loudly and laughed as superlatives like “Most likely to make a TikTok in the training room” to “Most likely to have a match on the hottest day of the year” were used as a closer for the annual banquet.
City College Athletic Department Awards:
- The James Swinson Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Thi Dang (tennis) and Micah Brickner (basketball)
- The Ed Ruffa Sophomores of the Year: Hunter Lynch (tennis) and Dhalia Blake (basketball)
- Harry West Scholarship Award: Angie Palmerin (tennis) and Pharaoh Amadi (basketball)
Team Awards:
- Men’s Soccer
- All PCAC First Team: Jamesley Exantus, Mateja Hadzibabic, Alexander Torres
- 3C2C All- Regional Team: Jamesley Exantus
- Women’s Soccer
- PCAC All Conference Team: Abril Majia Ruiz
- Women’s Volleyball (Indoor)
- All PCAC Honorable Mention: Cassie Stevens, Aliyah Lucas
- Beach Volleyball
- All PCAC: Diana Ramirez, Isis Medal
- Men’s Basketball
- PCAC Champions
- PCAC Coach of the Year: Mitch Charlens
- PCAC Athlete of the Month: Dylan Griffin (Dec.)
- PCAC Athlete of the Month: Micah Brickner (Feb.)
- All PCAC First Team: Dylan Griffin, Junior Camacho
- All PCAC Second Team: Micah Brickner, Matin Madadkar
- All PCAC Honorable Mention: Pharaoh Amadi, Cyprian Hyde
- Women’s Basketball
- All PCAC First Team: Dhalia Blake
- PCAC Athlete of the Month: Dhalia Blake (Jan.)
- All PCAC Honorable Mention: Elissa St. Julien, Maddox Weisskopf, Laylah Castro
- Softball
- All PCAC Second Team: Nicole Fonti, Savannah Turner
- All PCAC Honorable Mention: Dakota Chazaro, Savannah Ganzler, Rylee Leon, Avery Mah, Francessa Tapia
- PCAC Athlete of the Month: Nicole Fonti (March)
- Baseball
- All PCAC First Team: Aidan Kuei
- All PCAC Honorable Mention:Andres Johnson, Jovin King, Chris Marquez, Eli Montgomery, Daniel Tatis
- PCAC Athlete of the Month: Aidan Kuei (Feb.)
- Women’s Tennis
- PCAC Champions
- PCAC Coach of the Year: Jami Jones
- PCAC Doubles team of the Year : Angie Palmerin, Betty Gezahegne
- PCAC Athlete of the Month: Angie Palmerin (March)
- Men’s Tennis
- PCAC Champions
- IEAC Coach of the Year: Brandon Lupian
- 3C2A All Americans: Thomas and Hunter Lynch
- PCAC Athlete of the Week: Hunter Lynch (Feb. 22)
- PCAC Athlete of the Week: Jacques Allende (March 1)
This story was edited by Angela Galan Martinez and Briana Bush.
