Central Michigan University Athletics
Maroon & Gold Gala Finalists Announced
4/22/2026 11:12:00 AM | General, Our Stories, Student-Athlete Leadership & Development
Annual gala is scheduled for Monday, April 27 at 6 p.m. ET at McGuirk Arena; Event will be livestreamed on www.cmuchippewas.com.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and CMU Athletics have revealed finalists for 13 awards to be announced at next Monday's Maroon & Gold Gala. Presented by Enterprise, the evening kicks off with photos and dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the formal ceremony at 7 p.m. in McGuirk Arena.
The awards, nominated and voted upon by Central Michigan's student-athletes, recognize achievements from the 2025, fall 2025, and winter 2026 sports seasons.
The annual celebration shines a spotlight on Central Michigan Athletics and its 400-plus student-athletes. Dinner will be served to the student-athletes, who dress up for the formal event. Only Chippewa student-athletes, coaches, and CMU athletics department members get to attend in person.
A live stream of the event will be available for members to 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 soccer player Caitlin Gill. Additional awards will be announced during the event.
Following is a list of nominees for each respective award:
Student-Athlete Cup
Team winners announced at event
Male Newcomer of the Year
Mason Lucas (Cross Country), Nathan Claerbaut (Basketball), Angel Flores (Football), Hudson Vedder (Men's Golf), Archer Anderson (Wrestling)
Female Newcomer of the Year
Mora Rulli (Field Hockey), Kyah Hoffman (Cross Country), Teagan Braman (Lacrosse), Taylor Cripe (Volleyball), Lilah Turnbull (Basketball)
Moment of the Year:
Gymnastics winning both the MAC regular season and MAC championship, Three pole vaulters make podium at MAC Championships, Field Hockey earns first MAC Tournament berth since 2009, Logan McIntire sets school-record for most 3-point field goals in a game, Ella Zanatta wins the Dolores Black Invitational, Football becomes bowl eligible for the first time since 2021 after defeating Buffalo
Spring Impact Player of the Year
Mia Bradley (Lacrosse), Harrison Bowman (Baseball), Linnearia Richards (Track & Field), Rachel Niskanen (Women's Golf), Cierra Laska (Softball), Philippe Yturralde (Men's Golf)
Male Teammate of the Year
Clay Kuiper (Cross Country), Simon Lato (Wrestling), Greg Guzik II (Baseball), Orlando Coons (Golf), Martin Koivisto (Football)
Female Teammate of the Year
Victoria Chesson (Lacrosse), Kylee Weed (Soccer), Lexi Schulman (Golf), Grace Koenig (Softball), Gracie Merrick (Track & Field)
Spark Player of the Year
Bryson Webb (Baseball), Taylor Anderson (Women's Basketball), Wyatt Ferguson (Wrestling), Zoie Pelfrey (Gymnastics), Dakota Cochran (Football)
Dave and Sue Keilitz Male Chippewa Legacy Award
Jimmy Nugent (Wrestling), Hong Bing Tang (Cross Country), Jordan Kwiatkowski (Football), Nicholas Kilgore (Golf), Spencer Verburg (Baseball)
Dave and Sue Keilitz Female Chippewa Legacy Award
Paige Sayler (Softball), Shannon Dwyer (Field Hockey), Alina Anderson (Volleyball), Avah Bootz (Gymnastics), Emily McLean (Track & Field)
Coach of the Year
Christine MacDonald (Gymnastics), Matt Drinkall (Football), Jenny Swieton (Cross Country/Track & Field), McCall Salmon (Softball), Kristin Haynie (Women's Basketball)
Team of the Year
Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Football, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Softball
Male Athlete of the Year
Michael Heldman (Football), Mason Shrader (Wrestling), Keith Hunter (Golf), Tamario Adley (Basketball), Ayden Wright (Baseball, 2025)
Women's Athlete of the Year
Ava Regitz (Lacrosse), Luciana Alvarado-Reid (Gymnastics), Mackenzie Langan (Softball, 2025), Natalia Rejment (Volleyball), Mallory Camryn (Field Hockey)
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
Outstanding Team Grade Point Average Award
Winners announced at event
Best Dressed Award
Winners announced at event
Community Impact Award
Winners announced at event
The awards, nominated and voted upon by Central Michigan's student-athletes, recognize achievements from the 2025, fall 2025, and winter 2026 sports seasons.
The annual celebration shines a spotlight on Central Michigan Athletics and its 400-plus student-athletes. Dinner will be served to the student-athletes, who dress up for the formal event. Only Chippewa student-athletes, coaches, and CMU athletics department members get to attend in person.
A live stream of the event will be available for members to 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 soccer player Caitlin Gill. Additional awards will be announced during the event.
Following is a list of nominees for each respective award:
Student-Athlete Cup
Team winners announced at event
Male Newcomer of the Year
Mason Lucas (Cross Country), Nathan Claerbaut (Basketball), Angel Flores (Football), Hudson Vedder (Men's Golf), Archer Anderson (Wrestling)
Female Newcomer of the Year
Mora Rulli (Field Hockey), Kyah Hoffman (Cross Country), Teagan Braman (Lacrosse), Taylor Cripe (Volleyball), Lilah Turnbull (Basketball)
Moment of the Year:
Gymnastics winning both the MAC regular season and MAC championship, Three pole vaulters make podium at MAC Championships, Field Hockey earns first MAC Tournament berth since 2009, Logan McIntire sets school-record for most 3-point field goals in a game, Ella Zanatta wins the Dolores Black Invitational, Football becomes bowl eligible for the first time since 2021 after defeating Buffalo
Spring Impact Player of the Year
Mia Bradley (Lacrosse), Harrison Bowman (Baseball), Linnearia Richards (Track & Field), Rachel Niskanen (Women's Golf), Cierra Laska (Softball), Philippe Yturralde (Men's Golf)
Male Teammate of the Year
Clay Kuiper (Cross Country), Simon Lato (Wrestling), Greg Guzik II (Baseball), Orlando Coons (Golf), Martin Koivisto (Football)
Female Teammate of the Year
Victoria Chesson (Lacrosse), Kylee Weed (Soccer), Lexi Schulman (Golf), Grace Koenig (Softball), Gracie Merrick (Track & Field)
Spark Player of the Year
Bryson Webb (Baseball), Taylor Anderson (Women's Basketball), Wyatt Ferguson (Wrestling), Zoie Pelfrey (Gymnastics), Dakota Cochran (Football)
Dave and Sue Keilitz Male Chippewa Legacy Award
Jimmy Nugent (Wrestling), Hong Bing Tang (Cross Country), Jordan Kwiatkowski (Football), Nicholas Kilgore (Golf), Spencer Verburg (Baseball)
Dave and Sue Keilitz Female Chippewa Legacy Award
Paige Sayler (Softball), Shannon Dwyer (Field Hockey), Alina Anderson (Volleyball), Avah Bootz (Gymnastics), Emily McLean (Track & Field)
Coach of the Year
Christine MacDonald (Gymnastics), Matt Drinkall (Football), Jenny Swieton (Cross Country/Track & Field), McCall Salmon (Softball), Kristin Haynie (Women's Basketball)
Team of the Year
Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Football, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Softball
Male Athlete of the Year
Michael Heldman (Football), Mason Shrader (Wrestling), Keith Hunter (Golf), Tamario Adley (Basketball), Ayden Wright (Baseball, 2025)
Women's Athlete of the Year
Ava Regitz (Lacrosse), Luciana Alvarado-Reid (Gymnastics), Mackenzie Langan (Softball, 2025), Natalia Rejment (Volleyball), Mallory Camryn (Field Hockey)
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
Outstanding Team Grade Point Average Award
Winners announced at event
Best Dressed Award
Winners announced at event
Community Impact Award
Winners announced at event
—CMU—
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