WORCESTER, Mass. – Seniors Liam Lyons of the Holy Cross men's track and field team and Kaitlyn Flanagan of the basketball team have been selected as the 2025-26 winners of the Crusader of the Year award. The Crusader of the Year is the most prestigious award presented to a Holy Cross student-athlete each year; it is given to the student who has excelled as a varsity athlete (60 percent), in the classroom (20 percent) and in campus and community activities (20 percent).

Lyons has established himself as one of the region's top runners over the course of the 2025-26 season. He has ranked as high as third in the nation in the 1,500m and is currently 10th in the East Division with a time of 3:38.38. He holds school records in the 1,000m, 1,500m, mile, and 3,000m. Lyons secured a top 15 finish at the 2025 Patriot League Cross Country Championships and earned two medals at the 2026 Patriot League Indoor Championships. He would be named second team All-Patriot League and Academic All-Patriot League in both cross country and indoor track.

Flanagan capped off an incredible four-year career with the Crusaders, winning her third Patriot League Championship and being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The two-time team captain holds the program record for career starts with 131, starting every game of her collegiate career. Flanagan is just the third player in program history to record 1,000 career points and 500 assists. She would be named second team All-Patriot League, Academic All-Patriot League, and CSC Academic All-District.

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FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross women's basketball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
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Instagram - @hcrosswbb | @goholycross
Facebook - Holy Cross Women's Basketball | Holy Cross Athletics
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