Columbia Athletics Hosts 103rd Varsity C Celebration
5/6/2026 12:03:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Wrestling, Fencing, Heavyweight Rowing, Lightweight Rowing, Softball
Tierna Oxenreider & Michael Zheng Receive Maniatty Awards; Riley Weiss and Zheng Named Campbell Performers of the Year
For the second straight year, the event was hosted by NFL Insider for the NFL Network and ESPN, Ian Rapoport '02CC.
Held each spring, the Varsity C Celebration is Columbia's signature event honoring the achievements of its varsity student-athletes. The evening featured highlight videos and the presentation of the department's most prestigious awards, spotlighting excellence on the field, in the classroom, and within the community.
Fencing's Tierna Oxenreider and men's tennis standout Michael Zheng were named recipients of the Connie S. Maniatty Award, presented to the top male and female senior student-athletes.
Oxenreider is a four-time All-American in women's epee. She earned back-to-back silver medals at the NCAA Championships in 2024 and 2025 and won the Ivy League individual crown in 2025. Zheng a two-time individual NCAA Champion and won three consecutive Ivy League Player of the Year honors.
The William V. Campbell Performer of the Year Award went to women's basketball's Riley Weiss and Zheng.
Weiss was the Ivy League Player of the Year, earned AP All-America honorable mention status and led Columbia to the WBIT Championship. Zheng won his second straight NCAA Individual Championship in November, guided the Lions to an Ivy League Championship and a NCAA Team Tournament appearance.
Two first-year athletes were recognized with the Rookie of the Year Award. Mads Lawson (softball) was named Ivy League Pitcher and Rookie of the Year, and helped Columbia reach the Ivy League Tournament. Conor Igoe (basketball) was also the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and averaged 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
The long-standing watch presentations for the Columbia senior student-athletes earning the highest cumulative grade point averages with at least two varsity letters were presented to Lucy Roberts of heavyweight rowing, who earned the Marion R. Philips Watch, and Andrew Blelloch of lightweight rowing, who earned the Dwight D. Eisenhower Watch. Named after former U.S. President and Columbia University President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the award has been presented every year since 1948. Named for Marion R. Philips, who was a major force in founding Barnard's Intercollegiate Athletics Program which served as the foundation for today's Consortium, the women's scholar watch has been awarded every year since 1984.
Fencing's Tamar Gordon earned the Karen Blank Award, recognizing the top senior female student-athlete from Barnard College who demonstrates excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and service.
The women's basketball team earned the Paul E. Fernandes Community Service Award, which is presented to the varsity sports program which achieves the most significant contributions and notable service to the University and local communities during each academic year. The Lions Cup, which honors the most outstanding team on the basis of points in several categories including academic, athletic, personal and social responsibility was given to the women's fencing team.
The event also featured awards for Game of the Year, Top Performance of the Year, and Play of the Year. The finalists for these awards were determined by a vote on social media. Women's golf's Ivy League Championship and wrestling's victory over No. 22 Cornell won the Games of the Year. Maia Tabion's set piece to Dema Elder for a go-ahead header and Caesar Alvan's reverse pin at the NCAA Championships took home the Plays of the Year. Weiss' 40 point game against Dartmouth and Samarth Kumbla's run to the NCAA Men's Foil Championship were the Performances of the Year.
To support the 103rd Annual Varsity C Celebration and our student-athletes, please consider making a gift HERE.
