Drexel University Athletics
Lemongo and Smith Named Semanik Award Winners
5/21/2026 8:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Men's Rowing, Men's Golf, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Men's Tennis, Wrestling, Women's Basketball, Women's Rowing, Field Hockey, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Drexel Athletics, Men's Squash, Women's Squash, Spirit Team (Cheer), Spirit Team (Dance)
PHILADELPHIA – Lorie Lemongo of the Drexel women's tennis team and Sebastian Smith of the Drexel men's swimming and diving team have been named Drexel's 2026 Mary and John Semanik Award Winners. The awards are given to Drexel's top female and male senior student-athletes who best exemplify the scholarship and athletic ideals of the former Directors of Athletics, Mr. and Mrs. Semanik. The awards were presented at the Best of the Blue and Gold Awards on Thursday evening in the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
Lemongo graduates from Drexel as the all-time wins leaders in program history after passing Kendra Bunch's record of 65 wins in February. Lemongo has compiled an impressive record in her five years in University City, finishing 73-41 in singles action with 126 wins combined between singles and doubles matches. The graduate student earned All-CAA Teams eight times, including three All-CAA First Team Singles honors. Of the 222 matches Lemongo played, she appeared in the top spot 217 times. Lemongo represented Drexel at high-level events, qualifying for the ITA Women's All-American Regionals every season. A consistent team leader, she often stepped up in critical positions to help Drexel, playing key roles in the Dragons advancing to the CAA semifinals three times. Off the court, the Yaounde, Cameroon native was named to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll five years at Drexel and will graduate with an MBA in business analytics this summer.
Smith concluded his career at Drexel as a standout performer for the men's swimming and diving team, winning gold at the CAA Championships 11 times as a Dragon. He capped his career with a superb senior campaign, leading the team in points and ranking third in the conference overall. Smith qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 fly, joining Theo Andreopoulos as the first Drexel swimmers to qualify for the championships since Drexel joined the CAA. Overall, the Wappingers, N.Y., native earned six gold medals and one bronze at the CAA Championships this season. At the CAA's, Smith broke the Drexel school record in the 100 free and was part of a 400 free relay that set a CAA all-time record. In his junior season, Smith won three gold medals at the 2025 CAA Championships. At the 2025 CSCAA National Invitational Championship, Smith won the 100 IM (47.82). The Wappingers, N.Y. native will graduate with a degree in exercise science.
Drexel's Male Team of the Year award went to men's rowing team after securing five gold medals at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, winning the men's points championship for the fifth straight season, as well as the overall championship for the third straight season. The Varsity 8+, 2nd Varsity 8+, 3rd Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and 2nd Varsity 4+ all took the top spot as Drexel collected six medals overall. The five gold medals were the most in program history.
Field Hockey was named Female Team of the Year after capturing the CAA Championship for the first time since 2012, advancing to the NCAA Tournament by taking down top-seeded Monmouth in the championship game. The Dragons compiled a 13-8 record, including wins over the defending 2024 NCAA runner-ups No. 20 Saint Joseph's and Louisville. Valentine Van Hellemont was named CAA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and a NFHCA First-Team All-American, the first in program history. Natali Foster was also given CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors as six Dragons were selected to the All-CAA team.
The Coaching Staff of the Year was awarded to swimming and diving. Both programs combined for 12 gold medals at the CAA Championships, qualifiing three athletes for the NCAA Championships. Theo Andreopoulos was named CAA Co-Swimmer of the Year, capturing six medals at the CAA Championships. Andreopoulos and Smith were the first Dragon swimmers to advance to the NCAA Championships since joining the CAA, as diver Lada Volkov also advanced to the championships. Overall, 18 athletes received All-CAA recognition.
The Victory of the Year Award went to the field hockey team, which captured the CAA Championship with a 3–2 victory over top-seeded Monmouth, earning the program's first conference title since 2012.
Men's swimming and diving's Theo Andreopoulos won the Male Game Performance of the Year after being named CAA Swimmer of the Meet as he won a total of six gold medals, including the 200 back in 1:42.00, setting a school record and achieving an NCAA standard to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Valentine Van Hellemont of the field hockey team won the Female Performance of the Year. She was named CAA Tournament MVP after totaling four points across the semifinal and championship rounds.
The top Play of the Year was awarded to Nate Schon of the wrestling team, who pinned the No. 1 seed from Army at the EIWA Championships to punch his ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
I Am A Dragon Award: Grace O'Neill, Women's Basketball
SAAC Service Award: Mary Kubiak, Women's Swimming and Diving
Dragon Cup: Field Hockey and Men's Lacrosse
Spirit Team Performers of the Year: Faith Cruz (Cheer) / Sidni Tate (Dance)
National Strength and Conditioning Association All-Americans: Aboubakare Diaby (Wrestling), Maggie Hall (Women's Soccer), Marti Sanabria (Field Hockey), Ben Weller (Men's Soccer)
All-Dragon First Team
All-Dragon Second Team
All-Dragon Third Team
All-Mario Team
Lemongo graduates from Drexel as the all-time wins leaders in program history after passing Kendra Bunch's record of 65 wins in February. Lemongo has compiled an impressive record in her five years in University City, finishing 73-41 in singles action with 126 wins combined between singles and doubles matches. The graduate student earned All-CAA Teams eight times, including three All-CAA First Team Singles honors. Of the 222 matches Lemongo played, she appeared in the top spot 217 times. Lemongo represented Drexel at high-level events, qualifying for the ITA Women's All-American Regionals every season. A consistent team leader, she often stepped up in critical positions to help Drexel, playing key roles in the Dragons advancing to the CAA semifinals three times. Off the court, the Yaounde, Cameroon native was named to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll five years at Drexel and will graduate with an MBA in business analytics this summer.
Smith concluded his career at Drexel as a standout performer for the men's swimming and diving team, winning gold at the CAA Championships 11 times as a Dragon. He capped his career with a superb senior campaign, leading the team in points and ranking third in the conference overall. Smith qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 fly, joining Theo Andreopoulos as the first Drexel swimmers to qualify for the championships since Drexel joined the CAA. Overall, the Wappingers, N.Y., native earned six gold medals and one bronze at the CAA Championships this season. At the CAA's, Smith broke the Drexel school record in the 100 free and was part of a 400 free relay that set a CAA all-time record. In his junior season, Smith won three gold medals at the 2025 CAA Championships. At the 2025 CSCAA National Invitational Championship, Smith won the 100 IM (47.82). The Wappingers, N.Y. native will graduate with a degree in exercise science.
Drexel's Male Team of the Year award went to men's rowing team after securing five gold medals at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, winning the men's points championship for the fifth straight season, as well as the overall championship for the third straight season. The Varsity 8+, 2nd Varsity 8+, 3rd Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and 2nd Varsity 4+ all took the top spot as Drexel collected six medals overall. The five gold medals were the most in program history.
Field Hockey was named Female Team of the Year after capturing the CAA Championship for the first time since 2012, advancing to the NCAA Tournament by taking down top-seeded Monmouth in the championship game. The Dragons compiled a 13-8 record, including wins over the defending 2024 NCAA runner-ups No. 20 Saint Joseph's and Louisville. Valentine Van Hellemont was named CAA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and a NFHCA First-Team All-American, the first in program history. Natali Foster was also given CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors as six Dragons were selected to the All-CAA team.
The Coaching Staff of the Year was awarded to swimming and diving. Both programs combined for 12 gold medals at the CAA Championships, qualifiing three athletes for the NCAA Championships. Theo Andreopoulos was named CAA Co-Swimmer of the Year, capturing six medals at the CAA Championships. Andreopoulos and Smith were the first Dragon swimmers to advance to the NCAA Championships since joining the CAA, as diver Lada Volkov also advanced to the championships. Overall, 18 athletes received All-CAA recognition.
The Victory of the Year Award went to the field hockey team, which captured the CAA Championship with a 3–2 victory over top-seeded Monmouth, earning the program's first conference title since 2012.
Men's swimming and diving's Theo Andreopoulos won the Male Game Performance of the Year after being named CAA Swimmer of the Meet as he won a total of six gold medals, including the 200 back in 1:42.00, setting a school record and achieving an NCAA standard to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Valentine Van Hellemont of the field hockey team won the Female Performance of the Year. She was named CAA Tournament MVP after totaling four points across the semifinal and championship rounds.
The top Play of the Year was awarded to Nate Schon of the wrestling team, who pinned the No. 1 seed from Army at the EIWA Championships to punch his ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
I Am A Dragon Award: Grace O'Neill, Women's Basketball
SAAC Service Award: Mary Kubiak, Women's Swimming and Diving
Dragon Cup: Field Hockey and Men's Lacrosse
Spirit Team Performers of the Year: Faith Cruz (Cheer) / Sidni Tate (Dance)
National Strength and Conditioning Association All-Americans: Aboubakare Diaby (Wrestling), Maggie Hall (Women's Soccer), Marti Sanabria (Field Hockey), Ben Weller (Men's Soccer)
All-Dragon First Team
| Witt Crawford | Men's Lacrosse |
| Pat Lyman | Men's Lacrosse |
| Varsity 4+ | Women's Rowing |
| Theo Andreopoulos | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Sebastian Smith | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Nate Schon | Wrestling |
| Desmond Pleasant | Wrestling |
| Tarek Mo Erlewein | Men's Tennis |
| Amaris Baker | Women's Basketball |
| Valentine Van Hellemont | Field Hockey |
| Natali Foster | Field Hockey |
| Pili Lemoine | Field Hockey |
| Kate Quinn | Women's Lacrosse |
| Katie Maloney | Women's Lacrosse |
| Brittany Corbett | Women's Swimming & Diving |
| Lorie Lemongo | Women's Tennis |
| Varsity 8+ | Men's Rowing |
All-Dragon Second Team
| Shane Blakeney | Men's Basketball |
| Caleb Taylor | Golf |
| Brendan Donnelly | Men's Lax |
| Teddy Luthy | Men's Lax |
| Yuri Pelbart | Men's Squash |
| Emma Bartley | Women's Squash |
| Emi Falconi | Women's Squash |
| Petar Pavalic | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Will Burridge | Men's Tennis |
| Laine McGurk | Women's Basketball |
| Anna Castaldo | Field Hockey |
| Bea Buckley | Women's Lax |
| Liv Brocious | Women's Soccer |
| Kylah Reading | Softball |
| Megan Ehrnfeldt | Women's Swimming & Diving |
| Adva Dabah | Women's Tennis |
| Cody Walsh | Wrestling |
| Jack Nolan | Men's Lacrosse |
| 2nd Varsity 8+ | Men's Rowing |
All-Dragon Third Team
| Kevin Lydon | Golf |
| Finn Van Den Berg | Men's Soccer |
| Nico Serna | Men's Squash |
| Dimi Gkelis | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Deja Evans | Women's Basketball |
| Marti Sanabria | Field Hockey |
| Mary Claire Heubeck | Women's Lacrosse |
| Elise Duffy | Women's Soccer |
| Trent Layton | Men's Lacrosse |
| Liam Kammar | Men's Lacrosse |
| Victor Panov | Men's Basketball |
| Moa Bonnemark | Women's Squash |
| Harper Barrowman | Women's Swimming & Diving |
| Jasiah Queen | Wrestling |
| Lun Obrul | Men's Tennis |
| Anastasia Kavounov | Women's Tennis |
| Guido Lindner | Men's Squash |
| Youssef Bastawy | Men's Squash |
| 3rd Varsity 8+ | Men's Rowing |
| Varsity 8 | Women's Rowing |
All-Mario Team
| Lincoln Wall | Men's Lacrosse |
| Jack Shannon | Men's Soccer |
| Luhann Groenewald | Men's Squash |
| Luciana Castillo | Women's Squash |
| Matas Cinga | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| Molly Rullo | Women's Basketball |
| Fleur Hamers | Field Hockey |
| Florienne Bosdijk | Field Hockey |
| Annie Madden | Women's Lacrosse |
| Lucy Dailey | Women's Lacrosse |
| Reese Power | Women's Soccer |
| Courtney Kols | Softball |
| Olivia Sciulli | Softball |
| Christine Fourie | Women's Tennis |
| Lada Volkov | Women's Swimming & Diving |
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
G
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
/ Women's Squash
/ Men's Squash
G
/ Men's Basketball
/ Women's Squash
M
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Women's Soccer
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
/ Men's Tennis
F
/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Squash
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Spirit Team (Cheer)
/ Women's Tennis
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
157
/ Wrestling
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
F
/ Women's Soccer
Fly/Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
F
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Squash
F
/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Tennis
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Squash
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Field Hockey
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Women's Tennis
P
/ Softball
Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
D/M
/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Tennis
/ Men's Squash
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Men's Golf
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's Basketball
/ Men's Tennis
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's Basketball
/ Men's Tennis
F
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Squash
125
/ Wrestling
D
/ Women's Soccer
174
/ Wrestling
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
OF
/ Softball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F/M
/ Field Hockey
285
/ Wrestling
OF
/ Softball
/ Men's Squash
M
/ Men's Soccer
Fly/Free/Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Golf
D
/ Men's Soccer
F/M
/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
165
/ Wrestling
F
/ Men's SoccerCAA
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