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. Over the coming days, the nominees for these will continue to be rolled out. Today's award is the Women's Outstanding Senior Athlete. This award is presented to the female student-athlete who has made significant contributions to their respective sport and team, taking into account the student-athlete's aggregate career at Catholic.

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 six nominees for this year's award are Sam Cesario, Anne Mountcastle, Bella Mugno, Katie Scolese, Tanya Sichling, Brooke Smith and Tori Wilsey.

SAM CESARIO

Hailing from Rumson, New Jersey, Sam Cesario is a four-year member of the Catholic women's soccer program. She played in 47 games as a Cardinal, making 44 starts. She logged a total of 3,347 minutes of game action, scoring seven goals and making three assists. In her senior season, Cesario was named team captain.

"The numbers don't lie, we were a better team every day she was able to compete," said head coach Casey Sommers. "When she was healthy she was recognized as an All-Conference and All-Region player. Her presence on the field wasn't just seen, it was felt."

During her senior season, Cesario led the squad in game-winning goals with three and was tied atop the leaderboard with six goals during the 2025 season. She recorded a career shot on goal percentage of 0.615. Cesario has received two All-Landmark honors in her career, receiving a First Team nod as a freshman, then earning a Second Team honor in her senior year. She was named Athlete of the Week in 2023, and was selected for the United Soccer Coaches All-Region V Second Team.

"In her final season I moved her to forward. We started the season 4-6-1 and then went 7-1-2 with her back," said Sommers. "She finished tied for most goals and led the team in game winning goals.  I had to monitor her return to play time, with her often scoring or making an assist within the 15 mins she was allowed to play."

ANNE MOUNTCASTLE

A native of Dallas, Texas, Anne Mountcastle is a four-year member of the Catholic women's rowing team. She is a member of the six-seat, varsity 8. In her senior season, she recorded the fastest 2K erg time and 5K time in program history. Mountcastle is a member of the first-ever Dad Vail champion team in program history, and became a Head of Schuylkill champion and MARC champion during the 2025-26 campaign. 

"Anne Mountcastle is -hands down- the most decorated Catholic Rower in our history," said head coach Katie O'Driscoll. "Rowing isn't a sport where there are many individual accolades, but when you're as hard working as Anne is, those accolades find their way to you."

Mountcastle is the program's first All-American and a three-time MARC All-Conference honoree. She is also a two-time captain of the team. She is a member of the first nationally-ranked team in program history and will be headed to the NCAA Championships at the end of May.

"It takes a tremendous amount of determination and commitment to do this grinding work when no one is watching," said O'Driscoll. "It's a work ethic of a champion, and one that serves as an example to every current and future Catholic oarswomen that will don a cardinal splash jacket."

BELLA MUGNO

A four-year member of the women's swimming and diving program from Crestwood, New York, Mugno is the only female swimmer in Landmark Conference history to win three consecutive Landmark Swimmer of the Year awards. She was a part of six championship swims for the Cardinals during her senior season and overall has won 16 gold medals at the conference championships. 

"Bella Mugno has captured the true essence of one of our athletic departments most important expectations, competitive excellence," said Kevin Robinson, Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. "Bella has distinguished herself as one of the top swimmers in the history of the program as well as Landmark Conference history."

Mugno has set several program records in her career and was also a member of the conference record breaking relay team in the 200 medley. In addition, all three of her individual performances at the championships place in the top 10 in conference history in the 400 IM, 100 breaststroke, and 200 breaststroke. She was also a member of the team that won the Landmark Conference championship in the 2022-23 season during her freshman year.

"Bella has been one of the driving forces to a lot of success for the program during her time here and absolutely deserves the recognition for outstanding senior athlete," said Robinson. "She leaves a legacy that will be remembered within the program for many years to come."

KATIE SCOLESE

Hailing from Alexandria, Virginia, Scolese is a four-year member of the Catholic softball program. Over 164 games played in her career, Scolese is hitting .325 with 174 hits, 51 doubles, 22 homers and 129 RBIs while primarily playing shortstop for the Cardinals. Her name is in the single-season record book several times, including being tied for the most home runs in a single season with 10 (2026) as well as two of the top six RBI seasons in program history (2026 - 39, 2025 - 38).

"Katie exemplifies the ideal student-athlete and one of the best players to be a part of the Catholic University Softball team," said head coach Sophie Maccarone. "Her offensive prowess has been remarkable, consistently leading the team in critical categories including hits, RBI, and runs scored."

Scolese has been named to the All-Landmark Team three times in her career with second team selections in 2024 and 2023 and honorable mention honors in 2025. She earned a spot on the NFCA All-Region V Third Team in 2024. She has been selected as the Landmark Athlete of the Week four times in her career and has also been a CSC Academic AllDistrict honoree twice.

"Katie's four-year career represents everything the Outstanding Senior Award stands for: consistent excellence, team leadership, academic achievement, and unwavering dedication to the program," said Maccarone. "Her statistical achievements, clutch performances, and numerous accolades, combined with her commitment to academic excellence, make her an exemplary nominee who has left an indelible mark on the softball program."

TANYA SICHLING

A four-year member of the volleyball program, Sichling is from Brentwood, Tennessee. A versatile player throughout her career, Sichling played in 98 matches and 330 sets and tallied 646 digs, 379 kills, 64 aces and 55 blocks in her career. She totaled career-highs in her senior season in digs with 225 and in service aces with 26.

"Tanya Sichling has been an invaluable member of the Catholic University volleyball program, exemplifying leadership, dedication, and consistency throughout her four-year career," said assistant coach Kristin Lough. "As a team captain, she has played a critical role in fostering a positive and competitive team culture, leading by example through her work ethic, accountability, and commitment to her teammates."

Sichling was a part of the program's first 20 win season since 2016 during her sophomore season and her three trips to the Landmark Conference tournament. She was also a key contributor to wins in back-to-back conference tournaments in 2024-25, the first time the program had done so since 2012-13. 

"Tanya's willingness to adapt to different roles and put the needs of the team first has been instrumental to the program's success," said Lough. "She embodies what it means to be an outstanding senior student-athlete, and her lasting impact on the program makes her highly deserving of this recognition."

BROOKE SMITH

A Morrisville, North Carolina native, Smith is a four year member of the Catholic women's golf program. She is one of just two players in program history to be a four-time First Team All-Landmark selection and she has finished in the top five at the Landmark championship in all four of her years. She was a member of the first ever four-peat in Landmark history as the Cardinals won the title in each of her four seasons.

"Brooke Smith is the winningest player in our program's history, and has elevated our team's performance and has contributed to making Catholic a dominant team in the Landmark Conference," said head coach Ed Dolan. "Brooke has played in the NCAA National Championship every year of her career and that will continue in 2026."

Smith holds six of the of the program's nine lowest scoring rounds in her career, including the career low round of 70 (-2) at the Cardinals Fall Classic in 2024. She is also a nine-time Landmark Athlete of the Week winner and took home Landmark Rookie of the Year honors in 2023. 

"A fierce competitor and a clutch performer, Brooke has led her team in many pressure packed moments," said Dolan. "She will go down as one of the most decorated players in the history of the program."

TORI WILSEY

A four-year member of the Catholic women's lacrosse team, Tori Wilsey hails from Stratford, New Jersey. Wilsey played in 69 games, making 27 starts. The midfielder has scored 57 goals as a Cardinal, logging 22 assists. The Cardinals have appeared in the Landmark title game every year during Wilsey's career and traveled to the NCAA Second Round in her freshman season.

"From playing in just over half the games her freshmen year to starting almost every game her senior year, she is just a consistent threat and stable presence on the field," said head coach Meghan McDonogh.

Wilsey has recorded 130 draw controls during her tenure and has recorded 45 caused turnovers. She has scooped up 71 ground balls. As a senior, she received her first Landmark All-Conference honor, landing a spot on the Second Team. Wilsey finished her 2026 campaign at 12th in the conference in draw controls per game, averaging 3.06.

"She is a more-than dependable defender, a true threat between the restraining lines in transition and can serve as a threat on the attacking end," said McDonogh. "She is a true two-way middie in a sport that continues to move away from that role. Additionally, she is a steady player on the field and always leading by example on the field and in the classroom as a nursing student."