WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, May 15, the Catholic University Athletic Department will hold its annual senior celebration in the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center. 

During the live event, the department will reveal the winners of its seven major awards. We continue to announce this year's award nominees, moving on to the Harris Cup. This prestigious award is presented to the male student-athlete who demonstrates excellence in four distinct areas over the senior's career at Catholic—academic, athletic, leadership and service.

Student-athletes are nominated for these awards by their head coach and all nominees voted upon by members of the department to decide a winner. The winners will be announced live on May 15.

The five nominees for this year's Harris Cup are Christian Di Nicolantonio, Mitchel Johnson, Sean Neylon, Ben Perks, and Mike Tayloe. 

CHRISTIAN DI NICOLANTONIO

A four-year member of the track & field program from Alexandria, Va., Di Nicolantonio is one of the most decorated individual athletes in Catholic history. At the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Di Nicolantonio prevailed to become the first individual national champion at Catholic since 1991. A two-time All-American, Di Nicolantonio continued to raise the bar, setting Landmark Conference and program records while becoming just the 13th Division III athlete to clear 5.25 meters during the indoor season. Di Nicolantonio is a five-time NCAA qualifier, a seven-time all-region selection, a two-time Landmark Field Athlete of the Year, and a four-time Landmark Champion. 

"Christian's qualifications for the Harris Cup are highlighted by his exceptional achievements in academics, athletics, leadership, and service," said head coach Steve Rahn. "As both a CSC Academic All-American and a USTFCCCA Academic All-America honoree, Christian has shown the ability to balance rigorous academics with athletic success."

A Mechanical Engineering major with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering, Di Nicolantonio is a 3.5 student who as noted above has earned a number of academic awards during his time at Catholic. He is a member of the University Honors Program and became just the 18 athlete in Catholic University history to earn CoSIDA/College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors. 

"Christian's leadership extends beyond athletics," said Rahn. "His has consistently participated in days of service, demonstrating his commitment to giving back to the community. He is a standout candidate for this award, honoring his all-around excellence during his time at Catholic."

MITCHEL JOHNSON

Hailing from Olney, Md., Johnson is a four-year member and three-year standout in the Catholic baseball program. One of the most accomplished hitters in the program's history, Johnson has racked up over 150 hits, scored more than 100 runs, hit 25 homers, and drove in 138 runs in 135 games and counting. The program's single-season leader in doubles with 21, set back in 2023, Johnson is the program's leader in the DIII-era with 45 two-baggers. Johnson was a 2023 Second Team All-Region selection by both D3baseball and the ABCA. He has been honored nationally multiple times with two appearances on the D3baseball Team of the Week and a NCBWA Honorable Mention National Hitter of the Week honor. 

"Mitch has the distinction of being one of the most feared hitters in the Landmark Conference while at the same time being one of the most beloved members of the Busch School of Business," said head coach Ross Natoli. 

An accounting major with a 3.87 GPA, Johnson is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District choice and a candidate for the Landmark Conference's Senior Scholar-Athlete award. Johnson is a Teagle Scholars Program and the Lambda Epsilon Society Treasurer. 

"Mitch epitomizes everything you would want in a player," said Natoli. "He is a true student-athlete that has a great deal of pride in his school while giving back to the community and setting an example for those around him."

SEAN NEYLON

A three-year member of the Catholic basketball program from Wilmington, Del., Neylon completed a highly-decorated career within the program. Despite playing his freshman season elsewhere, Neylon became the 49th player in Catholic program history to reach 1,000 career points and ranks in a tie for fifth in three-pointers made as a Cardinal with 188. The fifth NABC All-American in program history, Neylon had one of the best shooting seasons in the country and in program history. A career 40-percent three-point shooter, Neylon knocked down 46 percent of his triples in 2024-25, ranking in the top-10 nationally. A team captain and the Landmark Conference Player of the Year, Neylon helped lead the Cardinals to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2001. 

"A team captain and our most vocal, and positive leader, Sean will graduate as one of the most decorated seniors in program history," said head coach Aaron Kelly. "He served as a terrific mentor to our underclassmen and had a unique way of making everyone he interacts with feel good."

Off the court, Sean is an accounting major with a 3.64 GPA. The Landmark Conference's Senior Scholar Athlete, Neylon will pursue a graduate degree at Villanova. Earlier this year, Neylon was named the 19th CoSIDA/College Sports Communicators Academic All-American in Catholic Athletics history. Neylon runs his own basketball camp and also took a leadership role within Team Impact as a senior. 

"In 20 years of coaching collegiate athletics, I have never coached a player as nice or as grateful as Sean," said Kelly. "He ends just about every one of his sentences with thank you and will always engage people around the DuF with a big smile and a warm hello."

BEN PERKS

A four-year member of the men's tennis program and a native of Princeton, N.J., Perks has been a competitive player for the Cardinals for multiple seasons. Over the last 15 years, Perks ranks in the top-10 within the program in total wins, racking up 34 career victories on the court. Perks grew into a bigger role over the past two seasons, winning 27 matches between No. 4 singles and No. 2/3 doubles. 

"Ben is a well-rounded individual that has shown growth in every aspect of himself during my three years with him," said head coach Nate Farlow. He made a huge jump on the athletic front as a junior and continued to provide a valued role during his senior season."

An architecture major with a 3.45 GPA, Perks is a regular on the Dean's List and earned an architectural certification via the LEED Green Associate exam. Off the court he is a SAAC Team Leader and a coordinator of the Spirit and Events subcommittee. He is the first 3D Print LabTech in history, including being the first to give training to students and help with 3D print files. He has also accumulated over 100 hours of community service at an animal shelter and nearly 50 hours at a local church in their consignment store. 

"Outside of athletics and academics, Ben has gone above and beyond to provide leadership and service," said Farlow. "As the only senior on the men's team, he has been forced into the focus of many of our younger athletes and he has shown well as a role model in how he conducts himself and accomplishes tasks."

MIKE TAYLOE

A three-year member of the men's lacrosse program and local Washington, D.C. product, Tayloe is one of the most decorated defensemen in program history. A three-time all-conference selection, including a 2025 All-Landmark First Team selection, Tayloe is also the program's all-time leader in caused turnovers with 81. Tayloe holds two of the top-three seasons in caused turnovers in single-season history with 34 and 29. Tayloe also ranks in the top-10 all-time at Catholic with 154 ground balls. 

"Mike is deserving of this award because of his dedication in the classroom and the impact he has made as a leader within our program," said head coach Peter Donley. "After a junior season where he was the unquestioned leader of our defensive unit, Mike was voted a team captain by his peers and has been an extremely impactful leader as a senior."

Set to graduate with a Biology degree, Tayloe is a 3.8 student who plans to attend medical school in the future while pursuing a career as a doctor. Tayloe is also a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection and a Landmark Academic Honor Roll honoree. 

"While there is no doubt Mike has made a huge impact on our program with his play on the field, he has more importantly stepped into a major leadership role throughout my time as the head coach," said Donley.