WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 10) – The 8^th annual WUESPY awards will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, in the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The yearly event serves as a celebration of the accomplishments of the best and brightest in Waynesburg University Athletics in the arena of competition, in the classroom and on campus.
 
The 2026 WUESPYs cover the 2026 spring season, the 2025 fall season and the 2025-26 winter season. If you can't make it the event in person, you can follow a full multi-cam livestream provided by the talented students of the Waynesburg University Sports Network.
 
To get you ready for Sunday, here are this year's award categories and nominees:
 
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

• Zachary Johnson (Soccer / Tennis)
• Jackson Rhodes (Basketball)
• Jessie Orbin (Wrestling)
• Jacob Harker (Track & Field
• Trent Giraffa (Baseball)
• Carson Shriver (Football)
• Jacob Parks (Esports)

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

• Waverly Lorne (Soccer)
• Kalista Friday (Basketball)
• Abby Ngugi (Soccer)
• Reagan Mittendorf (Soccer)
• Grace Tanksley (Cross Country / Track & Field)
• Kristina Zadrozny (Volleyball)
• Julz Mohrbacher (Soccer / Basketball)
• Lex Greenlief (Soccer)

TEAM OF THE YEAR

• Women's Soccer
• Esports

MALE PLAY OF THE YEAR

• Jalen Goins game-winning three pointer against St. John Fisher
• Vincent Turner's 17-inning walk-off homerun against Chatham

FEMALE PLAY OF THE YEAR

• Mia Henkins crosses up Bethany defender
• Amanda Pepe beats Pitt Greensburg with an overtime goal
• Kalista Friday scores her 1,000^th collegiate point
• Lex Greenlief makes highlight reel save against Allegheny
• Emily Stutzman racks up six services in a win against La Roche
• Julz Mohrbacher tallies game-winning goal against Saint Vincent in the 90^th minute
• Miracle Hershey scores game-winning goal against Saint Vincent in the PAC semifinals
• Hailey Gilchrest tallies ECAC championship-winning goal against Keene State

MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• John Engel (Soccer)
• Braden Benke (Golf)
• Deven Patel (Soccer)
• Bobby Ballentyne (Esports)

FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• Mallory Boyd (Volleyball)
• Miracle Hershey (Soccer/Track & Field)
• Meysa Heitmann (Softball)
• Anastasai Curitti (Wrestling)
• Erin Belveal (Cross Country/Track & Field)
• Maggie Clair (Track & Field)
• Daniella Holley (Track & Field)

COACH OF THE YEAR

• George DeAugustino (Women's Soccer)
• Chris Davis (Esports)
• Chris Hardie (Cross Country/Track & Field)

MALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

• Zachary Johnson (Soccer/Tennis)
• Sam Norris (Soccer)
• Jalen Goins (Basketball)
• Grant Barnhart (Basketball)
• Jackson Rhodes (Basketball)
• Matt Karpeal (Golf)
• Kyle Casella (Cross Country/Track & Field)
• Trent Giraffa (Baseball)

FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

• Waverly Lorne (Soccer)
• Riley Ruffley (Volleyball)
• Anastasia Curitti (Wrestling)
• Grace Tanksley (Cross Country / Track & Field)
• Bella DeMark (Softball)
• Macee Cree (Volleyball)
• Reagan Mittendorf (Soccer)
• Julz Mohrbacher (Soccer / Basketball)
• Julia Corey (Tennis)

MALE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

• Zachary Johnson tallies a hat trick and a program-record seven points against Penn State Altoona
• Scott Bilovus named MVP of Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament after scoring 22 points against St. John Fisher
• Jackson Rhodes scores 29 points against Carlow
• Gavin Pratt logs seven scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts against Vermont State Lyndon
• Jacob Harker racks up three PAC shot put titles over the span of a calendar year
• Jacob Parks named MVP of Overwatch championship game after leading the team in damage and eliminations
• Jessie Orbin wins 174-pound PAC title and eclipses 100^th victory in the same year

FEMALE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

• Miracle Hershey logs a goal and an assist over 55 minutes during 2-0 win over Saint Vincent in the PAC tournament semifinals
• Ella Rishell breaks school record in the 400 meters during 2025 outdoor season
• Grace Tanksley wins 10,000-meter title at PAC outdoor championships in the middle of a rain storm
• Lex Greenlief named MVP of ECAC championship game after stopping all 14 shots on goal in a 1-0 win over Keene State
• Julz Mohrbacher tallies a goal and an assist over 89 minutes played during 2-0 win over Saint Vincent in the PAC tournament semifinals
• Amanda Pepe scores four goals in PAC win over Bethany

TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

• Men's basketball team wins the Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament
• Women's basketball upsets Saint Vincent on the road 77-68
• Women's soccer wins first ECAC title in program history
• Women's basketball upsets Bethany on the road 82-71
• Esports wins national championships in Rocket League and Overwatch
• Women's tennis beats Thiel for first PAC victory since the 2020-21 season

MALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

• Aiden Blake (Basketball)
• Jackson Rhodes (Basketball)
• Ethan Wilson (Cross Country / Track & Field)
• Gabe Bowman (Soccer)

FEMALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

• Larissa Howe (Volleyball)
• Julia Umshares (Tennis)
• Amanda Pepe (Soccer)
• Ja'Khia Matthews (Wrestling)
• Amanda Sweeney (Soccer)
• Jocelyn Stiffler (Soccer)

SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR

• Zach Stevens (Equipment Manager)
• Kara Sontag (Head Athletic Trainer)
• Allen Miller (Suicide Awareness and Prevention)
• Jen Gallagher (Athletic Department Administrative Assistant)
• Bobby Fox (Sports Information Director)
• Kayla Green (Student-Athlete Success Coordinator)

ESPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR

• Rocket League
• Overwatch
• Valorant
• Super Smash Bros.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AWARD

• Joshua Smith (Men's Soccer)
• Julz Mohrbacher (Women's Soccer / Basketball)
• Waverly Lorne (Women's Soccer)
• Amanda Sweeney (Women's Soccer)
• Noah Merrill (Men's Soccer)
• Gabe Bowman (Men's Soccer)
• Sarpong Kwabiah (Men's Soccer)
• Clara-Paige Miller (Women's Basketball)
• Lilly Ryer (Women's Cross Country / Track & Field)
• Riley Ruffley (Volleyball)
• Linzey Miller (Women's Soccer)

REPORTER OF THE YEAR

• Seth Adams
• Mo Kiger
• Mia Henkins
• Danny Flynn
• Sara Clegg
• Ethan Spozarski
• Brayden King
• Joe Chirillo
• Tyler Aaron