WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross softball senior Anna Brait has been selected as the 2025-2026 winner of the Honorable John P. Cooney Memorial Award. Presented by the Holy Cross Varsity Club in memory of Judge John P. Cooney (Class of 1923), the Cooney Award goes to a senior letterwinner who performed beyond all expectations with courage, loyalty and dedication.

Brait is the first softball player to receive the Cooney Award in its 44-year history. She concluded her illustrious four-year career tied for ninth all-time in hits (151), sixth in doubles (34), fourth in RBI, and sixth in walks (54). Defensively, Brait served as the cornerstone of the Crusaders' infield at shortstop, posting a .946 career fielding percentage.

Brait also etched her name into the record book for multiple single-season achievements during her freshman campaign. She posted the second-most hits in a season with 55 in 2023 while also ranking fourth in both RBIs (29) and walks (22) that same year. 

As a junior in 2025, Brait slashed .299/.375/.358 with 40 hits and 13 RBI, earning a Second Team All-Patriot League selection.

In October 2025, Brait was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma, requiring immediate chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Throughout her battle, she continued taking classes remotely while working toward graduating alongside the rest of her teammates. The senior also expressed her goal of returning to the field, not allowing cancer to stop her.

Brait would be declared cancer free in February 2026 and was cleared to play. In her final season on the Hill, she started 37 games, while tallying 24 hits and 13 RBI. Brait's late game heroics helped power the Crusaders to multiple marquee wins during the 2026 season. On Apr. 4 at Lehigh, she laced a game-tying double to right field in the top of the sixth inning, sparking a three-run rally for Holy Cross. Later that month on Apr. 29 at New Haven, Brait led the Crusaders' offense with a 2-for-4 performance, driving in three runs, including the go-ahead RBI double. 

Brait became just the 11th player in program history to reach 150 career hits on May 2 against Army, doing so with a line-drive single to center field. 

Off the field, Brait has participated in community service initiatives such as BCH Pediatric Transplant Center's Family Day, the Holy Cross Team Impact Football Game, Crusader Community Festival, Holy Cross Softball Fall and Winter Clinics, Halloween Charity 5k, Healthy Minds Survey, and helped facilitate a visit from the 12U Team VooDoo softball team.

Complete List of Cooney Award Winners

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