BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Point Park's Fridolin Gefrorer (men's soccer) and Cassondra O'Connor (women's cross country, track & field) have been named 2026 finalists for the Mountain East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, the league announced on Wednesday.
 
Gefrorer, a graduate student from Berlin, Germany, was a first team All-MEC selection as a midfielder for the Point Park men's soccer team this fall. He led the Pioneers in goals (5) and points (12) this season, while also chipping in two assists. He played and started in 19 games and helped Point Park host its first-ever MEC playoff game this past November.
 
In the classroom, Gefrorer has already obtained his undergraduate degree in Business and is currently persuing an MBA at Point Park. He has a 4.0 grade-point average.
 
O'Connor, a junior from Pittsburgh, was named the MEC Runner of the Year for the second-straight year in MEC cross country. She also won the MEC 6k Championship and earned first team All-MEC honors in the sport. On the track, O'Connor was a USTFCCCA All-Region standout, while also earning All-MEC track honors in the three events this season (Outdoor 10,000m, Indoor 5000m, and Indoor 3000m).
 
In the classroom, O'Connor has a 4.0 grade-point average as an Aviation Management major.