University of Northern Colorado Athletics
NCBWA Announces Tony Gwynn Community Service Trophy 'Starting 9'
5/7/2025 2:15:00 PM | Baseball
Tony Castonguay Named Finalist for Tony Gwynn Trophy
WACO, Texas – A nine-member finalist group has been announced for the inaugural Tony Gwynn Trophy, honoring NCAA baseball student-athletes who exemplify the Gwynn legacy. The Gwynn Trophy winner will be selected from this group of nine finalists, in a vote by NCBWA board members, select college baseball coaches and national media members.
The Gwynn Trophy, conceptualized for the 2025 season, is intended to honor collegiate baseball student-athletes who are active in their community and represent their programs with integrity, while exceling in the classroom and on the field.
Nominees were solicited this spring through college baseball publicists and the NCBWA membership.
The finalists include a decorated list of elite student-athletes, including four combined from the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference, in addition to standouts from Northern Colorado, Winthrop, Columbia, San Diego and Louisiana-Lafayette.
"We are honored to continue Tony's legacy of service through the naming of this award in his honor," his wife, Alicia Gwynn, said when the Gwynn Trophy was announced in the preseason. "Throughout his life, Tony was a man that exuded selflessness and that showed through his commitment to supporting the communities around him. His consistent quest for service and his unyielding love for college baseball make this award a great fit in honoring his legacy. We are excited to shine a spotlight on the young men who represent their schools with such grace and are committed to serving their communities."
Gwynn was nationally recognized throughout his life for his unyielding commitment to philanthropy. He and Alicia, established the Tony Gwynn Foundation to help fund charities supporting children in need, including supporting the Casa de Amparo Child Abuse Shelter, the Neighborhood House, YMCA and the Police Athletic League. In 1995, Gwynn earned the Branch Rickey Award as the top community activist in MLB, and in 1999, he was named the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year. He was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame and won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, presented to the MLB player who best exemplified the character and leadership of the Hall of Fame first baseman.
The Gwynn family has maintained Tony's commitment to the community, including coordinating the Tony Gwynn Community All-Star Program, which recognizes local youth who support the San Diego community.
Gwynn was a 15-time MLB All-Star, including won eight batting titles – the most in National League history – and finished his decorated, 20-year career with a .338 batting average. He played his entire career with the San Diego Padres, after playing collegiately at San Diego State, where he also played basketball. A 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, Gwynn saw the SDSU baseball facility named in his honor, Tony Gwynn Stadium, and served as the head coach of the Aztecs, from 2003-14, winning three Mountain West Conference Championships and earning 2014 MWC Coach of the Year honors. The Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament, held each February at Gwynn Stadium and featuring some of the top teams in the nation, has quickly become one of the best nonconference, early-season tournaments in the college baseball calendar.
Gwynn passed away in 2014 after a long bout with cancer. He is survived by Alicia, son Tony Jr. and daughter, Anisha Nicole. His brother Chris attended SDSU and played for the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals. Tony Jr. also played collegiately at SDSU, earning all-league honors in 2003 before the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the second round. He played eight seasons in MLB, including time with the Brewers, Padres, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.
Gwynn Trophy Starting 9
Michael Brooks, R-Sr., INF, Kansas
Evan Byers, Gr., LHP, Kentucky
Tony Castonguay, Sr., C/OF, Northern Colorado
Grant Cunningham, Jr., RHP, Texas A&M
Connor Harris, Gr., RHP, Winthrop
Joe Sheets, Sr., RHP, Columbia
Austin Smith, Sr., LHP/OF, San Diego
Chris Stanfield, Jr., OF, LSU
Jose Torres, Sr., C, Louisiana
Tony Castonguay, Sr., C/OF, Northern Colorado
Academic/Athletic Accomplishments: Castonguay is in his first year as a key player for Northern Colorado, after spending the 2023 season at UNC Asheville and two seasons at Kansas … He has played in 37 games with 31 starts in 2025 with 11 doubles, three homers and 32 RBI … Hit .257 in 2023 at UNC Asheville with two homers and 25 RBI … Played in 31 games with three starts over his KU career … Owns a 3.84 cumulative GPA with a major in natural health and sciences … Was named to the 2021 All-Big 12 Academic Rookie Team.
Community Engagement: Has been active in the community throughout his collegiate career and has shown great resilience to recover from an off-the-field injury … Runs his own non-profit, "WeAreOneMovement", where he raises scholarships for students with special needs … In the community, has volunteered with The Arc of Northeast Colorado, an advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities … In 2023, coached The Arc unified basketball team … Suffered a major injury as a pedestrian victim of a hit-and-run in Tennessee, which required operations to repair damage to his hips but still volunteered to coach The Arc basketball team while in a wheelchair and later on crutches … He later interned at The Arc while finishing his undergraduate degree.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the baseball team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsBSB) and Instagram (@UNC_BearsBaseball).
The Gwynn Trophy, conceptualized for the 2025 season, is intended to honor collegiate baseball student-athletes who are active in their community and represent their programs with integrity, while exceling in the classroom and on the field.
Nominees were solicited this spring through college baseball publicists and the NCBWA membership.
The finalists include a decorated list of elite student-athletes, including four combined from the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference, in addition to standouts from Northern Colorado, Winthrop, Columbia, San Diego and Louisiana-Lafayette.
"We are honored to continue Tony's legacy of service through the naming of this award in his honor," his wife, Alicia Gwynn, said when the Gwynn Trophy was announced in the preseason. "Throughout his life, Tony was a man that exuded selflessness and that showed through his commitment to supporting the communities around him. His consistent quest for service and his unyielding love for college baseball make this award a great fit in honoring his legacy. We are excited to shine a spotlight on the young men who represent their schools with such grace and are committed to serving their communities."
Gwynn was nationally recognized throughout his life for his unyielding commitment to philanthropy. He and Alicia, established the Tony Gwynn Foundation to help fund charities supporting children in need, including supporting the Casa de Amparo Child Abuse Shelter, the Neighborhood House, YMCA and the Police Athletic League. In 1995, Gwynn earned the Branch Rickey Award as the top community activist in MLB, and in 1999, he was named the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year. He was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame and won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, presented to the MLB player who best exemplified the character and leadership of the Hall of Fame first baseman.
The Gwynn family has maintained Tony's commitment to the community, including coordinating the Tony Gwynn Community All-Star Program, which recognizes local youth who support the San Diego community.
Gwynn was a 15-time MLB All-Star, including won eight batting titles – the most in National League history – and finished his decorated, 20-year career with a .338 batting average. He played his entire career with the San Diego Padres, after playing collegiately at San Diego State, where he also played basketball. A 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, Gwynn saw the SDSU baseball facility named in his honor, Tony Gwynn Stadium, and served as the head coach of the Aztecs, from 2003-14, winning three Mountain West Conference Championships and earning 2014 MWC Coach of the Year honors. The Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament, held each February at Gwynn Stadium and featuring some of the top teams in the nation, has quickly become one of the best nonconference, early-season tournaments in the college baseball calendar.
Gwynn passed away in 2014 after a long bout with cancer. He is survived by Alicia, son Tony Jr. and daughter, Anisha Nicole. His brother Chris attended SDSU and played for the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals. Tony Jr. also played collegiately at SDSU, earning all-league honors in 2003 before the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the second round. He played eight seasons in MLB, including time with the Brewers, Padres, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.
Gwynn Trophy Starting 9
Michael Brooks, R-Sr., INF, Kansas
Evan Byers, Gr., LHP, Kentucky
Tony Castonguay, Sr., C/OF, Northern Colorado
Grant Cunningham, Jr., RHP, Texas A&M
Connor Harris, Gr., RHP, Winthrop
Joe Sheets, Sr., RHP, Columbia
Austin Smith, Sr., LHP/OF, San Diego
Chris Stanfield, Jr., OF, LSU
Jose Torres, Sr., C, Louisiana
Tony Castonguay, Sr., C/OF, Northern Colorado
Academic/Athletic Accomplishments: Castonguay is in his first year as a key player for Northern Colorado, after spending the 2023 season at UNC Asheville and two seasons at Kansas … He has played in 37 games with 31 starts in 2025 with 11 doubles, three homers and 32 RBI … Hit .257 in 2023 at UNC Asheville with two homers and 25 RBI … Played in 31 games with three starts over his KU career … Owns a 3.84 cumulative GPA with a major in natural health and sciences … Was named to the 2021 All-Big 12 Academic Rookie Team.
Community Engagement: Has been active in the community throughout his collegiate career and has shown great resilience to recover from an off-the-field injury … Runs his own non-profit, "WeAreOneMovement", where he raises scholarships for students with special needs … In the community, has volunteered with The Arc of Northeast Colorado, an advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities … In 2023, coached The Arc unified basketball team … Suffered a major injury as a pedestrian victim of a hit-and-run in Tennessee, which required operations to repair damage to his hips but still volunteered to coach The Arc basketball team while in a wheelchair and later on crutches … He later interned at The Arc while finishing his undergraduate degree.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the baseball team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsBSB) and Instagram (@UNC_BearsBaseball).
Players Mentioned
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