LATHAM, N.Y. – Devon Gorel '25 (Jessup, Md./Hammond) garnered the United East Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete Award for Men's Tennis as announced by the league office Thursday morning (June 5). This award recognizes a senior who truly represents the student-athlete model by performing in competition, in the classroom and around the community.
 
"Devon truly puts the student in student-athlete. A captain for two years and always happy to help however he can, I could not be prouder that he earned this honor on top of his other accomplishments, including valedictorian. His hard work on and off the court is what St. Mary's College tennis is all about," third-year Head Coach Sona Brymer said.
 
Criteria for the award is as follows:

1. A student-athlete must have a senior or graduate student class standing.
2. A student-athlete must be at least in his or her second year of competition at their current institution in any sport.
3. Must be a leading contributor to a team's success throughout the duration of his or her career.
4. Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
5. Evidence of active leadership and community service involvement throughout collegiate career.

 
The United East Senior Scholar-Athlete Award is in its third year of existence and St. Mary's College has had 12 Seahawks earn the award during that time.
 
A two-year team captain, Gorel graduated as the College's valedictorian with a 4.0 cumulative GPA as a computer science and mathematics double major. He is the first SMCM men's tennis player to pick up the United East Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, but Gorel follows in his sister's footsteps, Hannah Gorel '23, who collected the honor for women's tennis in 2023.
 
He made the Dean's List every semester, which awards those students who earn a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.50 or better on all courses attempted with at least 12 credit hours taken for a letter grade. Gorel is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national collegiate student-athlete honor society for juniors and seniors.
 
Gorel is a two-time United East Scholar-Athlete (2022 and 2023) while landing on the United East Winter/Spring All-Academic Team in his last two seasons. He also racked up three straight Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete awards as well as three consecutive United East Elite 20 Awards.
 
On the court, he collected 10 wins in singles action while notching his first doubles victory as a senior.
 
Gorel served the community as well, joining the team in teaching local kids the basics of tennis.
 
Past United East Senior Scholar-Athletes from SMCM

• Giselle Harris '25 – Women's Tennis (2025)
• Devon Gorel '25 – Men's Tennis (2025)
• Quinnten Hatfield '25 – Men's Lacrosse (2025)
• Michael Wade '25 – Men's Cross Country (2024)
• Ariana Lecouras '25 – Women's Cross Country (2024)
• Betsy Robey '24 – Women's Outdoor Track & Field (2024)
• MC Mortimer '24 – Women's Lacrosse (2024)
• Quentin Pastore '24 – Men's Cross Country (2023)
• Stacie Lally '24 – Women's Cross Country (2023)
• Hannah Gorel '23 – Women's Tennis (2023)
• Lily Davison '23 – Women's Lacrosse (2023)
• Liam deLone-Bellsey '23 – Men's Soccer (2022)

 
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