6-week competition among ecoathletes student-athlete champions from 49 colleges and universities that converts exercise into funding for vital beach and waterways cleanups
The fourth annual EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup Powered by Protect Where We Play kicked off yesterday. The competition, which concludes on April 22/Earth Day, converts exercise – running, walking, swimming, cycling, rowing/ERG sessions, and gym workouts – into an environmental currency which funds vital beach/waterways cleanup efforts through the International Coastal Cleanup Project.
EcoAthletes student-athlete Champions from 49 US and Canadian colleges/universities, have spent the last month urging their teammates, friends, family, and climate-actionsupporters to sign up for their school’s team on the free, easy-to-use Climategames app, which then makes the conversion and funds the beach and waterways clean up. Click here for the list of competing teams and captains.
The squad that exercises the most on aggregate during the six weeks wins the CollegiateCup. Cornell University, led by basketball player Emily Pape (Class of ‘26), is the defending champion This year’s contest, with 20 more teams than competed in 2025, is poised to reach new heights when it comes to environmental benefits.
That cause is enhanced by the continued support of returning title sponsor Protect Where We Play, the groundbreaking initiative from Ocean Conservancy that engages athletes and entertainers to rally millions of fans to protect the future of the planet by protecting the oceans. Thanks to their support, the Collegiate Cup will fund dramatically more environmental good this year than ever!
Participation in the Collegiate Cup is open to the general public with registration openthroughout 6-week competition. Anyone, no matter where they are in the world, can register, sign up for a team, track their exercise and reduce beach/waterways pollution.
Comments from EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup Powered by Protect Where We Play Team Captains
Emily Pape, Cornell basketball player (’26), major in Environment and Sustainability on what has most excited her about Cornell going for back-to-back Collegiate Cup titles in 2026:
“Repeating as champions would demonstrate that Cornell University’s commitment to climate leadership isn’t temporary — it’s part of our identity. It’s also been fun talking a little smack and being challenged by other schools in this year’s competition — especially our friends over at Ithaca College. But what’s really rewarding is knowing that regardless of what the leaderboard shows at the end, we’re all helping make a positive impact in the climate comeback.”
Sophia Philipp, University of Miami (FL) rower (’27) on joining forces with fellow small D-III school Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) in California to compete against big ‘Power 4’ D-I schools like NC State, Rutgers, and Tennessee:
“Co-leading the Miami team with my teammate and fellow EcoAthletes Champion Maria Mastrando in the Collegiate Cup is an indescribable privilege. Making a difference and being able to give fellow Canes, friends, and family the opportunity to effortlessly help our oceans has already been so rewarding leading up to the start of the competition.“
Comments from Jenna DiPaolo, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Ocean Conservancy, Title Sponsor, EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup Powered by Protect Where We Play on what attracted Ocean Conservancy to its partnership with EcoAthletes, and in particular the title sponsorship of the EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup, Powered by Protect Where We Play:
“Protect Where We Play’ leverages the power of sports and entertainment around a shared responsibility: safeguarding the ocean that makes so many of the experiences we love possible. College athletes are tomorrow’s leaders and changemakers with deep roots in communities across the country. That’s why partnering with EcoAthletes is such a powerful way to recruit the next wave of advocates so that Ocean Conservancy can continue protecting our ocean for generations to come.”
Comments from EcoAthletes CEO Lew Blaustein on the EcoAthletes Student-Athetes Champions leading the Collegiate Cup charge:
“At EcoAthletes our mission is to inspire and coach athletes to lead climate action. Thanks to our partners at Ocean Conservancy, the EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup Powered by Protect Where We Play provides 80 current EcoAthletes student-athlete Champions and 40+ recent alums with a powerful tool to express real climate leadership. They’re already doing so, with the result being a record-breaking pre-Collegiate Cup recruitment period which foreshadows a record-breaking Cup. And the environment will be the real beneficiary.
