After receiving dozens of nominations from NCSA teams across the country, the NCSA has awarded Kassidy Pratt from Sacred Heart University the 2023 Savannah Ahrens Sportsmanship Award.  The Savannah Ahrens Sportsmanship Award, given yearly, is an honor bestowed to a student-athlete who has distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

The first ever Sportsmanship Award was given out in 2020 to Mikayla Kea from Northern Arizona University then in 2021 to Jackie McNulla from the U.S. Naval Academy.  Claudia Rea from Michigan State won the award in 2022 and Kassidy becomes the newest awardee and well deserving of such an honor.

Sacred Heart’s Head Coach, Ray Mencio, nominated Kassidy, saying, “I have had the unique opportunity to be around a lot of young women who are deserving of being recognized for their sportsmanship but none more so than Kassidy Pratt. Kassidy recently completed her undergraduate degree in 3 years and will moving on to the doctoral program for physical therapy at Sacred Heart in the fall. I believe Kassidy is worthy of the Savannah Ahrens Award as she has shown outstanding sportsmanship throughout her entire career. Kassidy is constantly seen chatting with opponents on the bases or in the field letting them know they had a good hit or making sure that they are okay after a collision and extending her arm to help them up. That exemplifies exactly who Kassidy is as a person. When someone is down, whether it’s a teammate or opponent, she will extend her arm to lift them up. It’s not often that a group is better because of one person but I have seen our team be better because of her attitude and leadership. She will never get down on a teammate who makes a mistake, but she will lift them up. She never takes for granted the game of softball and plays her out each and every play. At Sacred Heart, we run a softball camp over the summer. Each young girl that was in her group as a camper last year, is returning to camp just because of Kassidy. They look up to her as a mentor and someone they want to be like. She has consistently volunteered to represent Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Club Sports at Open Houses, admissions events, virtual Q&A’s or anything that is asked of her, she has shown up and had a smile on her face. I am extremely proud of everything Kassidy has accomplished and everyone that has been around her is better off because of her.