Maroon & Gold Gala Award-Winners Announced

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Jordan Kwiatkowski of the football team and Luciana Alvarado-Reid of the gymnastics team received the Central Michigan Male and Female Athlete of the Year Awards, respectively, on Monday evening during the annual 2024-25 Maroon & Gold Gala at McGuirk Arena.

Each year, the event serves as the end-of-the-year celebration of Central Michigan University athletics and its 400-plus student-athletes.

The other award winners:

Male Newcomer of the Year: Luke Cochran, wrestling.
Female Newcomer of the Year: Grace Thomas, volleyball

Spark Player of the Year: DeCorion Temple, football.

Moment of the Year: gymnastics winning the MAC Championship at home.

Community Impact Award: softball.

Outstanding Team GPA Award: Men's cross country; gymnastics.

Male Teammate of the Year: Jonathan Decker, football.
Female Teammate of the Year: Caitlin Gill, soccer.

Coach of the Year: Christine MacDonald, gymnastics.

Spring Impact Player of the Year: Carly Sleeman, softball.

Dick Enberg Team Leadership Award: cross country/track & field.

Game of the Year: Football winning the Victory Cannon Trophy over Western Michigan.

Chippewa Impact Award: Marita Hatten-Schiffman and Randy Schiffman

Stafflete Award: Joel Welsh, Gabrielle Lathrop.

Male Chippewa Legacy Award: Michael Heldman, football.
Female Chippewa Legacy Award: Sadie Hinkle, lacrosse.

Best Dressed Award: Jamari Allen, football; Jenna Germond, gymnastics.

Pat Podoll Outstanding Academic Achievement Award: Emma Potter, lacrosse; Jozy Allen, lacrosse; Ryan Peluso, football.

Athletic Director's Leadership Award: Johnny Lovett, wrestling; Natalie Newcombe, women's cross country/track & field.

Academic Achievement Award: AJ Kostic, baseball; Lisa Tesson, women's basketball.

Team of the Year: gymnastics.

Top Scholar-Athlete (by team)
Jared Hanson, baseball
Ryan Peluso, football
Orlando Coons, men's golf
Jeff Sager, men's golf
Hong Bing Tang, men's cross country
Colyn Wesseldyk, men's cross country
Lia Kmiaciak, gymnastics
Emma Potter - Lacrosse
Jozy Allen - Lacrosse
Gabriella Sapia, soccer
Meachie Prewitt, women's basketball
Keira Tolmie, softball
Samantha Souva, softball
Shannon Dwyer, field hockey
Emma Janesek, women's cross country/track & field
Alexis McMurray, women's golf
Gabrielle Olin, volleyball
Alex Cramer, wrestling

Dick Enberg Scholar-Athlete Award nominees
Spencer Verberg, baseball
Ethan Leitner, men's cross country
Jessie Gibbins, women's cross country
Mallory Camryn, field hockey
Jordan Kwiatkowski, football
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, gymnastics
Ava Regitz, lacrosse
Cierra Laska, softball
Emily McLean, track & field
Abby Olin, volleyball

Bill Boyden Leadership Award nominees
Cole Prout, baseball
Hong Bing Tang, men's cross country
Kate Jenkins, women's cross country
Amelia Lane, field hockey
Michael Heldman, football
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, gymnastics
Gianna Leontini, lacrosse
Paige Saylor, softball
Grace Jenkins, track & field
Allie Korba, volleyball

2025 Spring & Summer Graduation Awards (by sport)
Baseball: Greg Guzik, Elijah Henning, Quinton Konuszewski, AJ Kostic, Nate Ross
Men's Basketball: Jakobi Heady, Anthony Pritchard
Women's Basketball: Karrington Gordon, Jeff Lawson, Lisa Tesson, Tiana Timpe
Men's Cross Country: Steven Porter, Carson White
Women's Cross Country: Annie Bennett
Field Hockey: Kaitlyn Bowker, Isabella D'Alessandro, Carly Kubacka, Simone Potgieter
Football: David Chapeau, Michael Collier, Cade Graham, Bruno Gubernich, B.J. Harris, Davis Heinzen, Michael Heldman, Danny MacLean, Alec Palella, Ryan Peluso, Benjamin Pratt, Aakeem Snell, Caleb Spann, Jaree Turner-Kinsler
Gymnastics: Avah Bootz, Alexis Garcia, Kia Kmieciak, Ariana Light, Quinn Skrupa
Women's Golf: Hailey Katona
Lacrosse: Emma "Jozy" Allen, Skye DePrado, Celia Dow, Sadie Hinkle, Alyssa Lowe, Alexa Martel, Reagan Martinsen, Maggie Merrill, Hanna Wenger
Soccer: Dani Barzowski, Addie Brown, Kerry Northcott, Ashley Scesniak, Lauren Walker
Softball: Allyssa Hollo, Samantha Souva, Madi Springer, Madelyn Wallace
Women's Track & Field: Amelia Rose Gouin, Grace Williamson
Volleyball: Alyson Gurtiza, Krystina Kasson, Allie Korba, Lauren Schrock, Linnea Willer
Wrestling: Chandler Amaker, Alex Cramer, Simon Lato, Vince Perez, Trenton Wachter, Cameron Wood

—CMU—

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