Syracuse Sun

The Syracuse University Sport Analytics program has achieved a significant milestone with undergraduate student Jonah Soos winning the individual championship in the undergraduate business analytics division at the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship. The event took place in Nashville, Tennessee, where Soos outperformed competitors from various institutions.

Reflecting on his victory, Soos stated, “It was awesome. Any time you can win a national event of this caliber against steep competition, it’s an incredibly validating feeling for the work you put in.” He expressed pride in representing Syracuse and acknowledged the support from the Sport Analytics program.

Syracuse University's undergraduate team narrowly missed securing a third consecutive team title, finishing second to the University of Iowa. The team included students Piper Evans, Madelyn Forster, and Hunter Geise. Graduate students Andrew Odnoralov and Owen B. Brown also participated in the competition.

Rodney Paul, Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor at Syracuse University, praised Soos for his performance: “Jonah, as always, was incredible; calm and poised in the heat of competition. He’s truly a superstar as he makes it look so easy.”

Soos is pursuing minors in economics and sport management and has gained experience through internships with Wasserman and Syracuse University's men's basketball team. Recently, he joined the Cincinnati Reds as a baseball analytics trainee for the 2025 season.

In an interview about his experience at the championship, Soos explained that participants were tasked with analyzing social media data from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) to generate insights for brand growth. He noted that presenting data effectively within limited time frames played to his strengths.

Discussing how his education prepared him for success at this level, Soos said: “The Sport Analytics program is revolutionizing education in sport... I’ve learned so much from everyone around me–my peers, mentors, professors, and industry professionals–and without that experience, there is no way I would be where I am.”

For more details on academic programs related to sport analytics at Syracuse University’s Falk College Department of Sport Management, visit their website.