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 Men's Outstanding Senior Athlete. This award is presented to the male 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 five nominees for this year's award are Sammy Burman, Charles Connolly III, Diego Romo, CJ Ruoff and Holden Woodings. 

SAMMY BURMAN

Hailing from Wallingford, Pennsylvania, Burman is a three-year member and two-year captain of the Catholic baseball program. He has played in 128 games, making 125 starts. Burman has logged 159 hits during his time as a Cardinal, including 36 doubles, 7 triples, and 19 home runs. He has also stolen 19 bases, scored 110 runs, and logged 125 RBI.

"Sammy Burman has been one of the most consistent and productive players in the Landmark Conference over the course of his career," said head coach Ross Natoli. "His impact on our program has been a major factor in one of the most successful stretches in team history."

In his junior season, Burman had 61 hits, solidifying his spot in the record books, tying the 10th-most in a single season in program history. He collected an All-Landmark Second Team honor as well as a ABCA Third Team All-Region 5 selection during his second year at Catholic. Burman is currently fifth in program history in single-season home runs with 10 and seventh in single-season slugging percentage at .704. 

"He has developed into one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup while maintaining a disciplined and consistent approach at the plate," said Natoli. "A fierce competitor, Sammy sets the tone offensively and brings energy and focus every day. His preparation and consistency have made him a leader within the program and a model for younger players."


CHARLES CONNOLLY

A native of Huntington Station, New York, Connolly is a four-year member of the Catholic men's swimming and diving program and also participated on the men's track and field team. He was an integral part of the Cardinals winning four straight Landmark championships during his career as a diver with eight All-Landmark honors, six first team and two second team. 

"CJ has been the cornerstone of the CUA diving program for the last 4 years and has helped continue the standard of excellence that the program garners," said Kevin Robinson, Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. "CJ was not only just a standout diver for CUA, he was able to be one of the most successful divers in CUA history while also being a dual sport athlete."

Connolly was consistently the top diver in the Landmark throughout his career as he was named the Landmark Diver of the Year three times in 2025, 2024 and 2023. He has also been named to the CSCAA Scholar All-American team in all four of his years and is a three-time CSC Academic All-District selection.

"CJ has been front and center of one of the most impressive and dominant runs in the history of the Landmark across all sports," said Robinson. "He has helped set a standard among the divers that will carry on past his career with the program."

DIEGO ROMO

A native of Laredo, Texas, Romo is a four-year member and two-time captain of the Catholic men's tennis program. He has the most wins in program history in both doubles and singles, and is the first men's player to reach 100 career wins. 

"Oftentimes a player with such success can fall into the trap of entitlement and self motivation. This is the complete opposite with Diego," said Head Coach Nate Farlow. "This year alone he has competed in five different singles positions and two doubles positions. Due to some team injuries he has had to be our swiss army knife and not once has complained or questioned why he was asked to play higher or lower."

For the third time in his career, Romo landed a spot on the All-Landmark First Team in doubles, and earned a spot on the Second Team in singles. Romo is also four-time Landmark Athlete of the Week, receiving the honor in his freshman, junior and senior seasons.

"As a two year captain, he has had a large responsibility in building the culture that we have now achieved. A leader by example and supporter one on one, he has shown everyone how they are important to our program!"

CJ RUOFF

A four-year member of the Catholic men's basketball program, Ruoff hails from Monmouth Beach, New Jersey. He played in 93 games throughout his career and totaled 967 points, 226 rebounds and 196 assists and led the charge for the Cardinals during his senior season where he scored the seventh-most points in a single season in program history with 547. He was a member of three teams that reached the NCAA Tournament and was a part of five wins, including the Sweet 16 in 2-25 when he scored 36 points to help propel Catholic to its third Elite Eight in program history. 

"CJ will graduate as one of the most decorated seniors in Catholic Basketball history," said head coach Aaron Kelly. "CJ is easily one of the most talented offensive players I have ever coached.  In all my years of coaching I have never relied on one player to create as much offensive production for a team than I did with CJ this season."

Ruoff collected an impressive haul of awards during his senior season that included Landmark Conference Player of the Year, D3hoops.com and NABC First Team All-Region V to go along with becoming the seventh player in program history to earn NABC All-American honors with a spot on the second team. His 19.5 points per game during his senior season was the highest total in a decade for the program and he had 13 games with 20 or more points scored. 

"CJ worked tirelessly throughout his career to improve, all the while his personality never changed," said Kelly. "CJ is humble and unassuming, shying away from individual attention and accolades, and is a fantastic teammate."

HOLDEN WOODINGS

A two-year member of the Catholic men's soccer program, Woodings hails from Bethesda, Maryland. Woodings made an immediate impact with the Cardinals in his first season with the program when he scored 15 goals to lead the conference which was tied for the third most goals in a single season in DIII program history. Woodings finished with 25 goals in his career which was tied for the seventh-most in program history and perhaps the biggest came against Amherst in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament when he buried a penalty in extra time to defeat the defending national champs. 

"Holden Woodings had one of, if not the most impactful run as a Catholic Men's Soccer player during his short, 2-year career with the program," said head coach Connor Keenan.  "Holden helped bring the program multiple conference championships, record-breaking unbeaten runs, and game-winning goals that included the game-winner in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament v. defending National Champions Amherst College in 2025."

Woodings piled up the accolades during his time with the program, highlighted by becoming a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American with a spot on the first team his senior year, making him just the second two-time all-American in program history. In addition, he was a two-time USC First Team All-Region V selection and also earned Landmark Offensive Player of the Year in both his seasons with the program. Woodings also helped extend the Cardinals unbeaten run against Landmark opponents to 38 games. 

"Overall, the impact made by Holden Woodings during his time with the program will be felt long after he has gone as he has set a new standard with his actions both on and off the field as a leader," said Keenan. "Our program would not be where it is today without the contributions he made from the time he was a mid-year transfer in 2024, graduating as one of the most decorated players in Catholic University Men's Soccer program history."