University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Honors & Accolades 

• 2025 Outdoor Honorable Mention All-American in the Discus
• 2025 America East Champion in the Discus
• 2025 IC4A Champion in the Discus
• SIlver Medalist in the Discus at the 2024 America East Outdoor Championships
• America East Field Performer of the Week (4/30/24)
• America East Field Performer of the Week (4/9/24)
• The 2023 IC4A Champion in the Discus
• Captured the 2023 America East crown in the Discus
• Earned bronze in the Discus at the 2023 Penn Relays 
• Named UMBC’s Male Rookie of the Year the 2022-23 Gritty's 

UMBC ALL-TIME RANKS

• 1st - Outdoor - Discus - 59.12m (193'11"
• 6th - Indoor - Shot Put - 15.73m (51'7.29")

2025 OUTDOOR

• Recorded the best throw in the America East and broke the school record in the Discus with an effort of 59.12m (193'11") at the Maryland Invitational
• Had his best effort in the Shot Put (12.99m, 42'7.5") at the JMU Invitational
• Won the IC4A Championship in the Discus (54.38m, 178-05)
• Won the America East Championship in the Discus (59.12m, 193'11)
• Placed 17th in the Discus at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (56.98m, 186-11)
• Finished 9th in the Discus at the 2025 NCAA East Regionals (58.02m, 190-4) to qualify for the NCAA Championships

2024-25 INDOOR

• Did not compete

2024 OUTDOOR

• Silver Medalist in the Discus (52.60m, 172-07) at the America East Championships
• Finished 31st of 48 participants in the Discus (52.14m, 171-1) at the NCAA East Regionals.
• Recorded the top throw in the America East in the Discus (58.88m, 193'2") at the George Mason Ebanks Invitational
• Was 4th in the Discus at the Penn Relays with a throw of 55.62m (182-5)
• Had the 8th best AE result in the Shot Put (15.73m, 51'7.25") at the Ramapo College Opener

2023-24 INDOOR

• Recorded the 8th-best AE result of the season in the Shot Put (15.73m, 51'7.25") at the Ramapo College Opener.
• Placed sixth in the Shot Put (15.03m (49'3.73") at the America East Championships

2023 OUTDOOR

• Capped his initial campaign by finishing 28th in the country with a discus toss of 53.36 meters at NCAA East Regionals  
• The IC4A Champion in the discus, with a throw of 52.27m
• Captured the America East crown in the discus with a throw of 53.15m
• Earned bronze in the ultra-competitive Penn Relays with a discus throw of 51.78m
• Captured his fourth gold medal in as many weeks with a discus throw of 54.07m in the Bison Classic. It was the second-best effort of the season in the conference
• Won the discus at Mason’s Dalton Ebanks Invitational, the Towson Invitational and the Weems Baskin Invitational 

• Recorded his best effort in the Shot Put (13.35m, 43'9.75") at the Navy Invitational

• Finished 15th in the discus (55.06m) at the 2022 U-20 World Athletics Championships in Cali, Columbia
• Started competing in track & field at age 13
• Majoring in Financial Economics
• First name is pronounced “Joseph”
• Son of Ioannis & Rita Papa
• Has one sibling, Chris
• His career ambition is to compete at the Olympics
• A fan of Panathinaikos FC (Greece) and the movie Project X
• Lists favorite musical artist as Biggie Smalls