Shaffer, Hickey named 2025 Athletes of the Year
Cardinal Gibbons honored its top student-athletes during a special ceremony recognizing the finalists for Athlete of the Year on Thursday, May 15.
Seniors Hannah Rae Shaffer and Liam Hickey were named the 2025 Female and Male Athletes of the Year for their remarkable achievements, leadership, and embodiment of Gibbons' values both in competition and service.
Female Athlete of the Year: Hannah Rae Shaffer ’25
Hannah Rae Shaffer will leave Cardinal Gibbons as one of the most decorated distance runners in school history. A standout in both cross country and track & field, she is a 3-time cross country state champion, All-American, and 4-time All-State honoree. She led the Crusaders to back-to-back team state titles and earned top-10 finishes at the state meet every year, including a 6th-place finish at NXR Southeast and 26th at Nike Cross Nationals.
On the track, Hannah Rae played a crucial role in securing the 2025 Indoor State Championship, scoring in four events. At New Balance Nationals, she anchored relays that placed in the top 4 nationally, posting times that rank among North Carolina’s all-time top 3. She is also a New Balance Outdoor 5K National Champion and one of the fastest ever in NC history in the 1600m and 3200m.
Off the track, she gives back through regular volunteer work at a local soup kitchen. Hannah Rae will continue her academic and athletic journey at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Male Athlete of the Year: Liam Hickey ’25
A dominant presence on the mat and a respected leader among his peers, Liam Hickey is the 2025 Male Athlete of the Year. A 4-time varsity letter winner and 2-time All-American, he earned All-State honors and was named both Conference and North Carolina Wrestler of the Year.
As team captain and MVP, Liam guided Cardinal Gibbons to its first-ever Dual Team State Championship—an historic milestone for the wrestling program. He also received the NC Hall of Fame’s prestigious Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, honoring his combination of athletic success, academic achievement, and service.
Liam’s leadership and integrity reflect the very best of Gibbons athletics. He will continue wrestling and studying at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Athlete of the Year Finalists
Female Finalists
Rocky Phelps ’25 – Field Hockey | Lacrosse
Hannah Rae Shaffer ’25 – Cross Country | Track & Field
Genevieve Harris ’26 – Volleyball
Male Finalists
Cam Tarkenton ’26 – Baseball
Liam Hickey ’25 – Wrestling
Carter Lange ’25 – Swimming & Diving
Special Awards
Spirit of Sport Award
Emma Carmouche ’25 – Swimming & Diving | Lacrosse
Vincent H. Bode Award
Kelly Tarkenton