The Grove City College athletic department has selected cross country/track and field performer Lydia Bennett (Bethel, Maine/Gould Academy) and lacrosse player Zachary Hougan (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) as its Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year, respectively, for the 2024-25 academic year.
Previously, the College and athletic department announced and recognized the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year prior to the end of the spring semester.
However, changes to the College's academic calendar, the addition of three spring sports programs in recent years and increased postseason award opportunities necessitated this shift.
Bennett concluded her decorated career in May by earning national runner-up in the 1500 meters at the NCAA Division III Championships. She also earned All-America honors in the mile at the 2025 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships by finishing seventh last March.
Bennett qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships during her senior season. She earned All-Region honors after placing second individually at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Championships last November.
Bennett set several indoor and outdoor track records during her four seasons at the College. Her indoor 500-meter time of 1 minute, 20.69 seconds ranks first in programs history, as do her times in the indoor 800 (2:15.14), mile (4:52.30) and indoor 3000 (10:07.87). She also set outdoor Grove City records in the 800 (2:12.72), 1500 (4:25.17) and 5000 (16:56.35).
She won indoor Presidents' Athletic Conference titles this year in the 800, mile, 3000 and 1600 relay. Bennett then won league titles in the outdoor 800, 1500 and 5000.
Bennett achieved All-Region three times in cross country and also received First Team All-PAC honors three times.
"Lydia's athletic prowess over her entire career has been a direct reflection of hard work, willingness to be coached, and an inner competitive drive," vice president for athletics Todd Gibson said.
"Although her performances have showcased Grove City College track and field and cross country repeatedly on the national stage, those who have shared the campus with her know that her character, leadership and unwavering faith have strengthened our campus daily, and that is what we will talk about when describing Lydia in the future."
College Sports Communicators (CSC) named Bennett as a Third Team Division III Academic All-American in July. She earned United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic recognition following the 2024 cross country campaign.
Bennett graduated from Grove City in May with a bachelor's degree in communication arts. Bennett earned Dean's List and PAC Academic Honor Roll placement.
Bennett also captured the College's Sportswoman of the Year award for the 2023-24 academic year.
Hougan helped Grove City's men's lacrosse team to four straight conference titles and four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.
He earned United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Second Team All-America at midfielder after the 2025 season, along with All-Region honors from the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA).
Hougan led Grove City with 50 goals, 38 assists and 88 points this year. He recorded four assists in Grove City's NCAA Tournament second round game at Christopher Newport, giving him a program-record 116 career assists.
Hougan ranks third in program history with 143 goals and third with 259 career points.
Hougan earned Presidents' Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, along with First Team All-PAC honors. He earned Honorable Mention USILA All-America in 2024.
The conference also honored Hougan as its Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. He received Second Team All-PAC recognition as a sophomore in 2023.
"Zach earned All-American this year while playing against the best programs in NCAA Division III lacrosse week after week," Gibson said. "He has set the bar for future Grove City lacrosse players extremely high.
"Not only is Zach one of the best lacrosse athletes in the nation, more importantly to us, he is a tremendous student, a caring and charismatic person, and someone who plays and acts in ways that inspire others to grow closer to Christ in their own lives.
"Zach exemplifies the qualities we seek in a Wolverine student-athlete."
Hougan graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He earned Dean's List and PAC Academic Honor Roll recognition while at Grove City.
Hougan is the first Grove City men's lacrosse player to earn Sportsman of the Year since the program began varsity play in 2018.