Winning a conference title as a college athlete is an impressive achievement. However, juggling the demands of athletics and academics reflects true dedication and perseverance.
For the first time in its history, Marymount University’s basketball teams swept the Atlantic East Conference’s Man and Woman of the Year awards in the same year. Graduate student Chandler Eddleton and senior Jack Bifano received the accolades this July.
The awards recognize one male and one female student-athlete who have demonstrated outstanding academic, athletic, community service and leadership achievement throughout their collegiate careers. Candidates must have competed in an Atlantic East-sponsored championship sport for a full-member institution and meet additional criteria.
Originally from Richmond, Va., Eddleton discovered her passion for basketball in middle school. For her, the game has always been about building connections, turning teammates into friends and competing at a high level. She was drawn to Marymount’s offerings beyond basketball while exploring colleges, but her connection to the team cemented her decision to become a Saint.
Bifano, a native of Bridgeport, W.V., has played basketball for as long as he can remember. While he also considered pursuing baseball in college, his focus shifted to basketball during his senior year of high school. The best part of the game, he says, is building relationships with teammates and coaches, and that aspect solidified his choice to attend Marymount.
“I chose to play for Marymount because the coaching staff did an excellent job during my recruitment,” Bifano explained. “They consistently showed an interest, and I was able to build a strong relationship with them before I even stepped foot on campus.”
Eddleton led the Marymount Women’s Basketball team to back-to-back Atlantic East titles in 2023 and 2024, while Bifano helped the Men’s Basketball team secure consecutive conference championships during those same years. He says the 2023 title was especially memorable, as it was the first one for the program in 23 years.
After first hearing about receiving the Atlantic East’s Man and Woman of the Year awards, they both remember the moment as “surreal” and it had them “smiling ear to ear.”
Off the court, both athletes have been committed to their studies and other extracurricular activities. Eddleton was a member of the Women’s Track and Field team and earned another Atlantic East title this past spring. She’s also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and spent time engaging in community service projects.
“Regardless of where you are in your journey, working hard for what you want will always produce solid and concrete results of your efforts,” Eddleton said.
Bifano served as a Resident Assistant at Lee Ostapenko Hall and also engaged in community service, including working alongside Dr. Susan Agolini in the Plot Against Hunger campus garden and making sandwiches for PathForward.
Eddleton graduated in May with a bachelor’s in Health Sciences and is continuing her studies in Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and will once again compete with the Women’s Basketball team this upcoming season. After earning her doctorate, she aims to become a sports physical therapist and help other athletes recover from injuries and achieve their full potential. Bifano, meanwhile, will graduate this fall with a Biology degree and plans to attend dental school.
