ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell men's lacrosse standout CJ Kirst has been nominated for ESPN's Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award (ESPY) in the men's Best College Athlete category. The 2025 ESPY Awards ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, and airs live on ABC on Wednesday, July 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
 
He is nominated alongside Cooper Flagg of Duke basketball, Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State wrestling, and Travis Hunter of Colorado football.
 
The nomination caps a historic senior season for Kirst, who led Cornell to its first NCAA lacrosse championship in 48 years and became the third Big Red player to win the prestigious Tewaaraton Trophy as college lacrosse's top player.
 
Kirst tied the NCAA Division I single-season record with 82 goals while setting school and Ivy League marks with 115 points this past season. The two-time Ivy League Player of the Year scored six goals in Cornell's championship game victory over Maryland, earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
 
The consensus first-team All-American finished his career as the NCAA's all-time leader in goals scored with 247, breaking the previous record of 224. His 345 career points rank 10th in Division I history.
 
Kirst becomes the third Cornell athlete ever nominated for an ESPY Award in the Best College Athlete category, joining Kyle Dake '13 and Rob Pannell '13. Kirst is also one of two Ivy League student-athletes nominated for an ESPY award in 2025 as Harvard's Gabby Thomas was nominated for Best Athlete on the women's side after winning three gold medals in last year's summer olympics. 
 
The senior attackman was named the USILA's Lt. Raymond J. Enners Outstanding Player of the Year and earned both Ivy League and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. He was selected No. 1 overall in the Premier Lacrosse League Draft by the Philadelphia Waterdogs and is set to make his debut against the Maryland Whipsnakes at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 19 after missing the first six games due to injury.
 
In his four seasons at Cornell, Kirst helped lead the Big Red to four Ivy League titles, three NCAA Tournament appearances, two national championship games and one NCAA title. The team posted a 52-15 overall record during his tenure.
 
Kirst was a four-time All-American, including first-team honors in each of his final three seasons. He was twice named Ivy League and ECAC Player of the Year (2023, 2025) and was a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist in both seasons.
 
The ESPY Awards recognize outstanding achievements in sports performance over the past year. Winners are selected through a combination of fan voting and a panel of experts.