Duffy, Souza Receive Patriot League Sportsmanship Awards
June 25, 2025 | General, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Two members of the Boston University swimming & diving Class of 2025 - Keegan Duffy and Sophia Souza - are the recipients of this year's Patriot League Sportsmanship Awards, as announced on Wednesday. Duffy and Souza were selected by administrators of the League's institutional Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Duffy and Souza are the first Terriers to claim the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award and are the second straight pair to sweep the honors from one institution.
"We are so excited for Sophia and Keegan to be recognized with the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award," said James Sica, BU's head coach of swimming & diving. "Both Sophia and Keegan set the standard for respect and integrity on the pool deck, creating best possible environment for everyone whether they were a teammate or a competitor. Their energy, excitement and example embody what sportsmanship is all about, and we are thrilled to celebrate this recognition of their contributions to our program and the Patriot League."
The Patriot League Sportsmanship Award is in its 20th year, created to honor student-athletes that uphold the principles on which the League was founded – fairness, equality, and excellence in academics and athletics, in addition to the NCAA's core principles of respect, fairness, civility, honesty and responsibility. The League's 10 full-member institutions are eligible to nominate one male and one female student-athlete. Patriot League teams from associate members are also eligible to nominate for the annual honor.
Patriot League Sportsmanship Award History
Keegan Duffy
Keegan Duffy's impact on Boston University's men's swimming and diving program goes far beyond the pool.
"He embodies many of the qualities that are associated with good sportsmanship," said Boston University head coach James Sica. "He is positive, hard-working, humble, empathetic, and represents Boston University swimming and diving with pride and integrity."
Duffy served as a team captain for the 2024-25 season, setting the standard for sportsmanship throughout the year with his impeccable conduct in practice, around campus, and at meets.
"Keegan was a fierce competitor, but never at the expense of his respect for the opposing team." Sica said. "He always wanted to win with class and used his vocal leadership to reinforce the respect that our team should show to our opponents. Win or lose, Keegan always kept a level head and focused on encouraging our team to stay focused on our attitude and effort and represent our team and Boston University with integrity."
Sica added, "At practice, Keegan was always focused on creating a positive competitive environment. Whether it was in the weight room or at the pool, Keegan could be counted on to be doing the right things in the right way, setting an excellent example for his teammates to follow."
Additionally, Duffy served as the SAAC representative for the team, a mentor in the Terriers Together program and always volunteering for community service initiatives through athletics, including events with Team Impact.
"He was always the first to volunteer and would rally his teammates to attend home events for other athletic teams," said Sica. "Keegan was a model for supporting his fellow student-athletes and the community that supports Boston University, setting an example for how to show pride in our athletics department and our team."
Despite setbacks that included missing much of his freshman season due to surgery, Duffy quickly established himself as a leader, someone whose outlook and conduct made fellow student-athletes around him better.
"During my time as a captain for the men's swimming and diving program, one of the most important goals I aspired to achieve was to demonstrate sportsmanship through example, hoping to inspire younger teammates to take on the same role and there was one member of the men's swimming and diving program who I believe took that to heart and has personified sportsmanship itself from the moment he stepped on the pool deck, and his name is Keegan Duffy," said former teammate Kyle Falkstrom (Boston University '23).
Duffy's leadership and humility have helped shape the culture of Boston University's men's swimming and diving program in ways that will last beyond his final meet.
"Simply put, Keegan helps make everyone around him better," Sica said. "He sets an excellent example for his teammates, brings a fierce competitive spirit that creates a positive environment for everyone, and leads with grace, class, and respect for his opponents. Keegan's love and respect for the sport of swimming and diving came through in everything he has done as a student-athlete at Boston University."
Sophia Souza
Few student-athletes have left a legacy as well-rounded as Sophia Souza has at Boston University.
A two-time Patriot League champion in the 3-meter dive and a three-time All-Patriot League selection, Souza is one of the most accomplished divers in Boston University history. However, what stands out more than her accolades in the pool is the way she carries herself, according to diving coach Brad Snodgrass.
"Sophia is known for cheering for everyone, her teammates, and competitors alike, at our competitions," said Snodgrass. "She organizes hot tub photos of all the divers from all the teams at our meets, and her teammates' parents at the Patriot League Championship remarked they had never seen a competitor bring everyone together at a competition like that before."
Despite the number of individual accomplishments, Souza's most exciting moments in her career were watching teammate Sumi Cameron win consecutive 1-meter dive titles at the 2023 and 2024 Patriot League Championships, according to Snodgrass.
While Souza's diving career has been outstanding, she also overcame tremendous adversity in the fall of her sophomore year. The Coconut Creek, Fla. native suffered a life-threatening injury while training on a trampoline, but returned to competition and ultimately won the 3-meter dive at that year's Patriot League Championship. Since then, Souza has taken Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and dedicated her studies to healthcare and becoming a physician assistant.
As a senior captain, Souza set a new standard for leadership within the program as she and her fellow captains implemented "Terriers of the Week," a new tradition celebrating individual contributions across the team.
When asked about the weekly honor, freshman MollyEllen Crowley said, "Sophia recognized my work on the first week. Straight off the bat, I saw that I had someone in my corner supporting me." Even as a diver, Souza made a conscious effort to discuss with the other captains which swimmers were making strides in and out of the pool.
Even at the conclusion of this season, Snodgrass and Crowley were complimentary of Souza's efforts to return and help coach returning student-athletes, which displayed how much Boston University swimming and diving meant to her.
"While a notably successful collegiate student-athlete, Sophia's unwavering loyalty and sportsmanship qualities are what I will continue to admire most as she moves on from her time here. I am beyond fortunate to have come across an individual like Sophia, and I am invested in watching her continue to persist, accomplish, and thrive," added Crowley.
Duffy and Souza are the first Terriers to claim the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award and are the second straight pair to sweep the honors from one institution.
"We are so excited for Sophia and Keegan to be recognized with the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award," said James Sica, BU's head coach of swimming & diving. "Both Sophia and Keegan set the standard for respect and integrity on the pool deck, creating best possible environment for everyone whether they were a teammate or a competitor. Their energy, excitement and example embody what sportsmanship is all about, and we are thrilled to celebrate this recognition of their contributions to our program and the Patriot League."
The Patriot League Sportsmanship Award is in its 20th year, created to honor student-athletes that uphold the principles on which the League was founded – fairness, equality, and excellence in academics and athletics, in addition to the NCAA's core principles of respect, fairness, civility, honesty and responsibility. The League's 10 full-member institutions are eligible to nominate one male and one female student-athlete. Patriot League teams from associate members are also eligible to nominate for the annual honor.
Patriot League Sportsmanship Award History
Keegan Duffy
Keegan Duffy's impact on Boston University's men's swimming and diving program goes far beyond the pool.
"He embodies many of the qualities that are associated with good sportsmanship," said Boston University head coach James Sica. "He is positive, hard-working, humble, empathetic, and represents Boston University swimming and diving with pride and integrity."
Duffy served as a team captain for the 2024-25 season, setting the standard for sportsmanship throughout the year with his impeccable conduct in practice, around campus, and at meets.
"Keegan was a fierce competitor, but never at the expense of his respect for the opposing team." Sica said. "He always wanted to win with class and used his vocal leadership to reinforce the respect that our team should show to our opponents. Win or lose, Keegan always kept a level head and focused on encouraging our team to stay focused on our attitude and effort and represent our team and Boston University with integrity."
Sica added, "At practice, Keegan was always focused on creating a positive competitive environment. Whether it was in the weight room or at the pool, Keegan could be counted on to be doing the right things in the right way, setting an excellent example for his teammates to follow."
Additionally, Duffy served as the SAAC representative for the team, a mentor in the Terriers Together program and always volunteering for community service initiatives through athletics, including events with Team Impact.
"He was always the first to volunteer and would rally his teammates to attend home events for other athletic teams," said Sica. "Keegan was a model for supporting his fellow student-athletes and the community that supports Boston University, setting an example for how to show pride in our athletics department and our team."
Despite setbacks that included missing much of his freshman season due to surgery, Duffy quickly established himself as a leader, someone whose outlook and conduct made fellow student-athletes around him better.
"During my time as a captain for the men's swimming and diving program, one of the most important goals I aspired to achieve was to demonstrate sportsmanship through example, hoping to inspire younger teammates to take on the same role and there was one member of the men's swimming and diving program who I believe took that to heart and has personified sportsmanship itself from the moment he stepped on the pool deck, and his name is Keegan Duffy," said former teammate Kyle Falkstrom (Boston University '23).
Duffy's leadership and humility have helped shape the culture of Boston University's men's swimming and diving program in ways that will last beyond his final meet.
"Simply put, Keegan helps make everyone around him better," Sica said. "He sets an excellent example for his teammates, brings a fierce competitive spirit that creates a positive environment for everyone, and leads with grace, class, and respect for his opponents. Keegan's love and respect for the sport of swimming and diving came through in everything he has done as a student-athlete at Boston University."
Sophia Souza
Few student-athletes have left a legacy as well-rounded as Sophia Souza has at Boston University.
A two-time Patriot League champion in the 3-meter dive and a three-time All-Patriot League selection, Souza is one of the most accomplished divers in Boston University history. However, what stands out more than her accolades in the pool is the way she carries herself, according to diving coach Brad Snodgrass.
"Sophia is known for cheering for everyone, her teammates, and competitors alike, at our competitions," said Snodgrass. "She organizes hot tub photos of all the divers from all the teams at our meets, and her teammates' parents at the Patriot League Championship remarked they had never seen a competitor bring everyone together at a competition like that before."
Despite the number of individual accomplishments, Souza's most exciting moments in her career were watching teammate Sumi Cameron win consecutive 1-meter dive titles at the 2023 and 2024 Patriot League Championships, according to Snodgrass.
While Souza's diving career has been outstanding, she also overcame tremendous adversity in the fall of her sophomore year. The Coconut Creek, Fla. native suffered a life-threatening injury while training on a trampoline, but returned to competition and ultimately won the 3-meter dive at that year's Patriot League Championship. Since then, Souza has taken Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and dedicated her studies to healthcare and becoming a physician assistant.
As a senior captain, Souza set a new standard for leadership within the program as she and her fellow captains implemented "Terriers of the Week," a new tradition celebrating individual contributions across the team.
When asked about the weekly honor, freshman MollyEllen Crowley said, "Sophia recognized my work on the first week. Straight off the bat, I saw that I had someone in my corner supporting me." Even as a diver, Souza made a conscious effort to discuss with the other captains which swimmers were making strides in and out of the pool.
Even at the conclusion of this season, Snodgrass and Crowley were complimentary of Souza's efforts to return and help coach returning student-athletes, which displayed how much Boston University swimming and diving meant to her.
"While a notably successful collegiate student-athlete, Sophia's unwavering loyalty and sportsmanship qualities are what I will continue to admire most as she moves on from her time here. I am beyond fortunate to have come across an individual like Sophia, and I am invested in watching her continue to persist, accomplish, and thrive," added Crowley.
Players Mentioned
Dive
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Dive
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Dive
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