WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, May 14, 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 14.

The four nominees for this year's Harris Cup are Ben Ciesielski, Brian Herbert, Roman Tozzi, Mason Zajac. 

BEN CIESIELSKI

Hailing from Orchard Park, New York, Ciesielski is a four-year member of the Catholic football team. The offensive lineman played in 27 games, making 26 starts. He has received two All-Landmark Second team honors and made his debut at the New England Bowl Game at Bridgewater State.

"Ben defines the word toughness," said Coach Gutelius. "Throughout his career, he has played through incredible injuries that would have sidelined most athletes, yet his performance never dipped. Whether healthy or battling through significant physical adversity, he remained our most consistent performer, ultimately earning the reputation as the premier offensive lineman in our conference."

Off the field, Ciesielski is earning a degree in biology and holds a 3.96 GPA. He is a Dean's List student, a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Psi Chi honor societies, and received a CSC Academic All-District selection in 2024 and 2025. He also earned the title of Landmark Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete in 2025, becoming the first Cardinal to receive this honor in program history. He has volunteered his time with the Nickel City Canine Rescue for two years and served at the MLK and Mother Teresa Days of Service. 

"Beyond the accolades and statistics, Ben is held in the highest regard as one of the most positive and dedicated men I have ever known in my coaching career," said Gutelius. "He is the heartbeat of the offensive line—a leader who cares deeply for his unit and the team as a whole. Whether he is studying to be a future doctor, coaching young athletes, or leading a critical drive on a Saturday afternoon, Ben elevates everyone around him."

BRIAN HERBERT

A four-year member of the Catholic men's basketball program, Herbert is a native of Robbinsville, New Jersey. Herbert played in 107 games, making 86 starts. He has made 398 field goals and 343 free throws, boasting a .831 career free throw percentage. He has also logged 540 rebounds, 173 assists, 68 blocks and 73 steals. Herbert was named captain as a senior, where he became a 1,000-point scorer and earned a First Team All-Landmark honor. He is 20th on the all-time scoring list with 1,218 points and seventh in single-season free-throw percentage at 0.858 in his senior season.

"Brian was also our best defender, our physically toughest kid, and played extremely hard," said head coach Aaron Kelly. "The only time he would come off the floor was to rest, and then I would immediately put him back.  He was incredibly valuable to our team, and his impact on winning goes well beyond his statistics."

Off the court, Herbert is majoring in biology and is on pre-med track, holding a 3.94 GPA. He is a three-time CSC Academic All-District selection and was named Landmark Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete. Herbert is a two-year member of SAAC and is working towards his dream of becoming a doctor.

"In four years of coaching Brian, he literally never once complained to me," said Kelly. "Often, Brian would spend his entire day in class and the lab, he would come straight to the gym without eating, and he would practice incredibly hard. He never appeared tired, he never had a bad practice and he never made an excuse."  

ROMAN TOZZI

The three-year member of the Catholic baseball program, Roman Tozzi hails from Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania. He has started in 31 games, recording 194.2 innings pitched, 174 strikeouts, and 18 career wins. In his debut season as a Cardinal, Tozzi etched his name in the record books, tying for third in single-season wins with eight, eighth in single-season strikeouts at 76, and 10 in single-season ERA at 2.45. In 2024, the two-time team captain was named Landmark Conference, D3baseball.com Region 5 and ABCA Region 5 Pitcher of the year. Tozzi has also earned D3baseball.com and ABCA Second Team All-American honors, as well as an All-Landmark First and Second Team nod.

"A team captain as both a junior and senior, Roman has set the standard of excellence for our pitching staff," said head coach Ross Natoli. "He is a fierce competitor who sets the tone every time he takes the mound, while also mentoring younger pitchers and building a culture of accountability through his exemplary work ethic and diligent preparation to succeed."

Off the field, Tozzi holds a 3.71 GPA and is pursuing a degree in business. Tozzi has earned a spot on the Dean's List all three years at Catholic. He is a three-time CSC Academic All-District Selection and a member of the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll. Tozzi was named the Most Consistently Excellent Sales Student by the Busch School of Business. He has also dedicated his time volunteering for the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, Special Olympics DC, and the MLK and Mother Teresa Days of Service.

"Roman has earned multiple CSC Academic All-District honors and recognition on the Landmark Academic Honor Roll," said Natoli. "Roman Tozzi represents everything the Harris Cup stands for—elite performance, leadership, competitiveness, and a remarkable commitment to excellence across all areas of his student-athlete endeavors."

MASON ZAJAC

A native of Factoryville, Pennsylvania, Zajac is a four-year member of the Catholic men's rowing program. As a freshman, Zajac was selected as an All-MARC Novice and has since raced as a spare for the Varsity 8 after returning from a back injury. During his time as a Cardinal, the team made their third appearance at the IRA National Championship and earned a Gold at the Skidmore Springs and St. Mary's Dual.

 "It would be remiss not to highlight how especially deep Mason Zajac's athletic involvement is intertwined with his academic career, and how well he manages his time between the two, selflessly," said assistant coach Declan Waters. "If help is needed, Mason is there. When accountability is needed, Mason is an example for his teammates on how to fulfill all obligations."

In the classroom, Zajac holds a 3.7 GPA and is earning a degree in nursing. He has earned on the Dean's List for three years as a Cardinal and earned MARC Academic All-Conference honors as a freshman. He is also a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Sigma Theta Tau honor societies. Zajac serves as a Conway School of Nursing ambassador and peer tutor. He is a student representative for the Conway Baccalaureate Curriculum committee, and has served on Conway's committees for Grade Appeals and Failing Grades.

"Mason has embraced leadership and community engagement across Catholic," said Waters. "As a Conway Ambassador, he welcomes prospective students. He helps them envision what is possible at CUA, and he contributes as the student representative to the Baccalaureate Curriculum Committee's monthly meetings."