Maroon & Gold Gala Finalists Announced
4/22/2025 7:04:00 AM | General, Our Stories, Student-Athlete Leadership & Development
Annual gala is scheduled for Monday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. ET at McGuirk Arena; event will be livestreamed on www.cmuchippewas.com.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.— The Central Michigan Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and CMU Athletics Department announced finalists for 14 awards that will be unveiled at next Monday's 2025 Maroon & Gold Gala presented by Enterprise. The annual gala is scheduled for Monday, April 28 at McGuirk Arena, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The awards are nominated and voted upon by Central Michigan's student-athlete population and take into account the spring 2024, fall 2024, and winter 2025 seasons.
Each year, the gathering serves as a celebration of Central Michigan Athletics and its 400-plus student-athletes. Dinner will be served to the student-athletes, who dress up for the formal event. The evening is open only to Chippewa student-athletes, coaches and members of the CMU athletics department.
A live stream of the event will be provided for members of the general public, family members, and friends. That link will be available on the front page of the www.cmuchippewas.com website one day prior to the event.
Nearly 30 awards will be announced during the evening. Voice of the Chippewas Adam Jaksa will serve as the event's Master of Ceremonies, along with Kristina Fusco. Additional awards will be announced during the event.
Following is a list of nominees for each respective award:
Male Newcomer of the Year:
Jaion Jackson (Football), Luke Cochran (Wrestling), Nick Cockerel (Cross Country), Joe Labas (Football), Elijah Henning (Baseball)
Female Newcomer of the Year:
Ayanna Darrington (Women's Basketball), Ava Wellmeier (Gymnastics), Mallory Camryn (Field Hockey), Grace Thomas (Volleyball), Ava Regitz (Lacrosse)
Moment of the Year:
Gymnastics winning MAC Championship at home, Rumble & Tumble, Baseball walk-off home run vs. Western Michigan, Emily Paupore finishing fourth at NCAA Regionals and qualifying for nationals
Spring Impact Player of the Year
Hailey Katona (Women's Golf), Jozy Allen (Lacrosse), Carly Sleeman (Softball), Cole Prout (Baseball), Keith Hunter (Men's Golf)
Male Teammate of the Year
Jonathan Decker (Football), Hong Bing Tang (Cross Country), Cam Wood (Wrestling), Orlando Coons (Men's Golf), Jared Hanson (Baseball)
Female Teammate of the Year
Linnea Willer (Volleyball), Alexis Garcia (Gymnastics), Caitlin Gill (Soccer), Amelia Lane (Field Hockey), Grace Williamson (Track & Field)
Spark Player of the Year
Mason Shrader (Wrestling), Claudia Muessig (Soccer), Hannah Appleget (Gymnastics), DeCorion Temple (Football), Kaitlynn Rush (Track & Field)
Game of the Year
Volleyball defeating Bowling Green at the Stroh Center, Softball ending Miami (OH) 26-game win streak, Football winning the Victory Cannon Trophy, Soccer beating Cincinnati, Field Hockey's 2-overtime win over Hofstra
Male Chippewa Legacy Award
Steven Porter (Men's Cross Country), Michael Heldman (Football), Alex Cramer (Wrestling), Jeffrey Andrus (Men's Golf), Ely Stuart (Baseball)
Female Chippewa Legacy Award
Lauren MacDonald (Cross Country/Track & Field), Sadie Hinkle (Lacrosse), Lisa Tesson (Women's Basketball), Allison LaPoint (Soccer), Lia Kmieciak (Gymnastics)
Coach of the Year
Kristin Haynie (Women's Basketball), Christine MacDonald (Gymnastics), Ben Bennett (Wrestling), Emilia Ward (Lacrosse), Jenny Swieton (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Team of the Year
Lacrosse, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Women's Basketball
Male Athlete of the Year
Johnny Lovett (Wrestling), Anthony Pritchard (Men's Basketball), Jordan Kwiatkowski (Football), Phillip Yturralde (Men's Golf), Blake Chipman (Cross Country)
Women's Athlete of the Year
Emily Paupore (Cross Country/Track & Field), Luciana Alvarado-Reid (Gymnastics), Allie Korba (Volleyball), Madi Morson (Women's Basketball, Alexa Martel (Lacrosse)
AD's Leadership Award (Male and Female)
Winners announced at event
Pat Podoll Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (Male and Female)
Winners announced at event
Academic Achievement Award (Male and Female)
Winners announced at event
Top Scholar-Athlete Award (winner for each sport)
Winners announced at event
The awards are nominated and voted upon by Central Michigan's student-athlete population and take into account the spring 2024, fall 2024, and winter 2025 seasons.
Each year, the gathering serves as a celebration of Central Michigan Athletics and its 400-plus student-athletes. Dinner will be served to the student-athletes, who dress up for the formal event. The evening is open only to Chippewa student-athletes, coaches and members of the CMU athletics department.
A live stream of the event will be provided for members of the general public, family members, and friends. That link will be available on the front page of the www.cmuchippewas.com website one day prior to the event.
Nearly 30 awards will be announced during the evening. Voice of the Chippewas Adam Jaksa will serve as the event's Master of Ceremonies, along with Kristina Fusco. Additional awards will be announced during the event.
Following is a list of nominees for each respective award:
Male Newcomer of the Year:
Jaion Jackson (Football), Luke Cochran (Wrestling), Nick Cockerel (Cross Country), Joe Labas (Football), Elijah Henning (Baseball)
Female Newcomer of the Year:
Ayanna Darrington (Women's Basketball), Ava Wellmeier (Gymnastics), Mallory Camryn (Field Hockey), Grace Thomas (Volleyball), Ava Regitz (Lacrosse)
Moment of the Year:
Gymnastics winning MAC Championship at home, Rumble & Tumble, Baseball walk-off home run vs. Western Michigan, Emily Paupore finishing fourth at NCAA Regionals and qualifying for nationals
Spring Impact Player of the Year
Hailey Katona (Women's Golf), Jozy Allen (Lacrosse), Carly Sleeman (Softball), Cole Prout (Baseball), Keith Hunter (Men's Golf)
Male Teammate of the Year
Jonathan Decker (Football), Hong Bing Tang (Cross Country), Cam Wood (Wrestling), Orlando Coons (Men's Golf), Jared Hanson (Baseball)
Female Teammate of the Year
Linnea Willer (Volleyball), Alexis Garcia (Gymnastics), Caitlin Gill (Soccer), Amelia Lane (Field Hockey), Grace Williamson (Track & Field)
Spark Player of the Year
Mason Shrader (Wrestling), Claudia Muessig (Soccer), Hannah Appleget (Gymnastics), DeCorion Temple (Football), Kaitlynn Rush (Track & Field)
Game of the Year
Volleyball defeating Bowling Green at the Stroh Center, Softball ending Miami (OH) 26-game win streak, Football winning the Victory Cannon Trophy, Soccer beating Cincinnati, Field Hockey's 2-overtime win over Hofstra
Male Chippewa Legacy Award
Steven Porter (Men's Cross Country), Michael Heldman (Football), Alex Cramer (Wrestling), Jeffrey Andrus (Men's Golf), Ely Stuart (Baseball)
Female Chippewa Legacy Award
Lauren MacDonald (Cross Country/Track & Field), Sadie Hinkle (Lacrosse), Lisa Tesson (Women's Basketball), Allison LaPoint (Soccer), Lia Kmieciak (Gymnastics)
Coach of the Year
Kristin Haynie (Women's Basketball), Christine MacDonald (Gymnastics), Ben Bennett (Wrestling), Emilia Ward (Lacrosse), Jenny Swieton (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Team of the Year
Lacrosse, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Women's Basketball
Male Athlete of the Year
Johnny Lovett (Wrestling), Anthony Pritchard (Men's Basketball), Jordan Kwiatkowski (Football), Phillip Yturralde (Men's Golf), Blake Chipman (Cross Country)
Women's Athlete of the Year
Emily Paupore (Cross Country/Track & Field), Luciana Alvarado-Reid (Gymnastics), Allie Korba (Volleyball), Madi Morson (Women's Basketball, Alexa Martel (Lacrosse)
AD's Leadership Award (Male and Female)
Winners announced at event
Pat Podoll Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (Male and Female)
Winners announced at event
Academic Achievement Award (Male and Female)
Winners announced at event
Top Scholar-Athlete Award (winner for each sport)
Winners announced at event
—CMU—
Chippewa Check-In
Friday, September 12
CMU Athletics Meet & Greet
Wednesday, June 11
CMU Athletics Connection with Amy Folan
Thursday, May 22
Maroon and Gold Gala 2025 Sights and Sounds
Wednesday, April 30