LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East has announced its Senior Scholar Athlete Award winners for the winter season. This award recognizes a senior who truly represents the student-athlete model by performing in competition, in the classroom and around the community.

This season, seven student-athletes from six different member institutions were recognized.
 

Student-Athlete	Sport	Institution
Briana Smith	Softball	Penn State Berks
Hunter Merritt	Baseball	Penn State Harrisburg
Hannah Gorel	Women's Tennis	St. Mary's College of Maryland
Devon Clemmer	Men's Tennis	Lancaster Bible College
Kyle Farrell	Men's Lacrosse	SUNY Morrisville
Lily Davison	Women's Lacrosse	St. Mary's College of Maryland
Patrick DeMareo	Men's Golf	Rutgers University-Camden

Briana Smith

Much like her utility on the softball field, Briana Smith has excelled in all aspects of Division III student-athlete life. The four year starter for the Penn State Berks has been tremendous on the diamond, collecting All-Conference honors in her last three years including a Pitcher of the Year nod in 2021. In the circle, Smith has piled up 41 victories, tossing 324 strikeouts on a career- ERA of just 1.54. Producing on offense too, the righty has also registered 54 career hits and 40 RBI on a .333 batting average. Smith was also named the Conference Championship MVP in both 2022 and 2023.

Her success on the field bled into her success off it as the York, Pa. native holds a 3.95 GPA while majoring in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and minoring in Special Education. That GPA has helped her earn United East Scholar Athlete honors four times. In the community, Smith has been an important part of the Berks SAAC group as she served as President the last two years. Over that time she has helped with numerous food drives on campus and has been a liaison to the conference-wide SAAC projects.
 

 

Hunter Merritt

Merritt has been a staple on the bump for the Penn State Harrisburg baseball team, ranking in the program’s top-10 in numerous statistical categories. The hurler has amassed a 13-3 record over 120.0 innings pitched, totaling 89 strikeouts along the way. He twice named the Conference’s Pitcher of the Week this year as well. 

Majoring in Civil Engineering, Merritt has been able to maintain a GPA of 3.80 throughout his years on the Harrisburg campus. THat academic success has led him to an College Sport Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District nod in 2023 while he was also coined Harrisburg’s Senior Scholar Athlete. When not on the diamond or in the classroom, the Etters, Pa. native can be found volunteering at Ruhl’s United Methodist Church where he has pitched in with landscaping and other tasks. On campus, Merritt is often pitching in with the athletic department’s Food Pantry.

 

 

Hannah Gorel

Gorel has produced excellence all over St. Mary’s City, Md during her four years in a Seahawk uniform. On the court, she has been tabbed All-Conference twice in both singles and doubles play while helping her squad win back-to-back Conference Championships. Slotted in primarily the first or second flights for both, Gorel has 16 singles wins and 20 doubles victories.
 

In the classroom, the Jessup, Md. native was brilliant as she recently graduated the Valedictorian for the class of 2023. She did this by holding a perfect 4.0 GPA while double-majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. This year she was tabbed the United East’s Elite 14 winner (which is awarded to the Player in the Championship who holds the highest GPA) while finishing her collegiate career earning Dean’s List every possible time. She capped the year as the program’s (and conference’s) first-ever Women’s Tennis Academic All-American, earning a spot on the First Team. Gorel also gave back to the community in numerous ways, including the “Best Buddies” program which pairs her with a student to provide mentorship. Alongside that she also was an Orientation Leader and Student Ambassador for St. Mary’s College.

 

Devon Clemmer

Clemmer has been a stalwart of student-athlete success in both the conference and on the campus of Lancaster Bible College. Accruing 29 career wins in the top singles flight (program record) and 27 wins in the top doubles flight, Clemmer has earned All-Conference honors twice in his Charger career. In 2021, Clemmer also helped lead the Chargers to a Conference Championship and a spot in the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship.

Resting on a cumulative GPA of 3.84 while studying in Pastoral Ministry, the Intercourse, Pa. native has been named a Conference Scholar Athlete every time he was able to. He was also entered in as a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Fraternity which is home to those student-athletes that are successful on and off the court. In his community, Clemmer was consistently assisting in the Young Adult Ministry at Grace Point Church. He was also tabbed the Lancaster Bible Student Leader of the Year for his work in creating and implementing the “Chargers for Christ” group which led a Bible Studies Program.

 

 

Kyle Farrell

Farrell embodies the Division III student-athlete model, excelling in two sports for SUNY Morrisville (Men’s lacrosse & Football) all while performing well in the classroom and in his community. A consistent starter on the backline for the men’s lax team, Farrell has compiled 133 groundballs and 80 caused turnovers in his four years. Those statistics have helped earn the long pole All-Conference nods three times, all three being First Team accolades. 

Captaining both the football and lacrosse teams, Farrell has held a GPA of 3.56 while double-majoring in Criminal Justice and Business Administration. His efforts have placed him on the Conference Scholar Athlete list all three times and have earned him a spot in the Chi Alpha Sigma fraternity. Outside of that, the Holtsville, N.Y. native was also an active SAAC member. With that group, Farrell helped organize benefit drives for non-for-profts, a “Be A Match” bone marrow program and a mental health awareness 5K.

 

 

Lily Davison

Davison defined what a Division III women’s lacrosse player could do as she led the St. Mary’s College team by example both on and off the field. On the turf, Davison was an offensive threat as she posted 83 goals and 33 assists over her 50 games played. Her efforts led to back-to-back All-Conference nods in 2022 and 2023 and also helped propel her squad to two conference titles. 

Majoring in Political Science and Public Policy (and minoring in Art), Davison maintained a GPA of 3.67. A four-time Dean’s List honoree, the Phoenix, Md. native also is a member of Chi Sigma Alpha and Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society). In 2021, Davison backed her findings as her work was published in the St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Political Science Journal. In her community, Davison was always willing to help beginning with her aid in the One Love Foundation which works to educate the campus on Title IX issues. She also interned at Cool Kids Campaign which was a childhood cancer charity.

 

 

Patrick DeMareo

DeMareo has been a key part of the Rutgers-Camden men’s golf team for four seasons, but has also managed to spread that success into all aspects of his life as a Division III student-athlete. On the course, the West Deptford, N.J. native has averaged a 77.7 over 31 rounds of golf played. That has earned him a spot on the All-Conference First Team twice (4th place in 23, 2nd place in 22) and the Second Team once (7th place in 21). He was also tabbed the Conference’s Rookie of the Year in 2021. 

He’s paired his great golf game with a 3.66 GPA in Business Administration. That has led to three appearances on the conference’s Scholar Athlete list and four appearances on the RUC Dean’s List. In the community, DeMareo volunteered his time at a “Bring Your Own Putter” event that benefited the Fox Chase Cancer Center. He also contributed time to the Eagle Scouts, helping a pair of scouts complete their final Eagle Scout project this year.

 

These seven student-athletes join the fall and winter award winning student-athletes as the first to win the awards in their respective sports. Find them all here: SENIOR SCHOLAR ATHLETES

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The United East has nine NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wells College. The United East also includes three associate members in the sport of men’s golf including Clarks Summit University, Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. Clarks Summit University is also an associate member in the sport of men’s tennis. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com