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ST. PAUL, Minn. – Macalester Athletics hosted its year-end celebration on Sunday, April 28 in Kagin Ballroom. Seniors were escorted into Kagin by bagpipes and welcomed into the Macalester M Club by club president Steve Cox ’76. Macalester Vice President for Student Affairs Kathryn Coquemont addressed the student-athletes, while Director of Athletics Donnie Brooks served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Several awards were handed out, as Macalester Athletics celebrated the 2024-25 school year.

Doug Bolstorff M Club Student-Athlete of the Year Award

This award is given to a student-athlete from a men’s and a women’s sport at Macalester who has contributed the most to the team’s success through athletic achievement, leadership and academic excellence. 

Men’s Team Athlete – Arlo Heitler, track & field. Heitler had an outstanding indoor season this winter, setting school records in the 200 and 400 meters, and earning All-MIAC honors in the 400 with a third-place finish at the MIAC Indoor Championships. His school-record time in the 400 qualified him for his first NCAA Indoor Championships, where he placed 12th to receive All-American honorable mention. Also an honorable mention All-American outdoors a year ago, he has set school records in the 100 and 200 meters outdoors this spring. Heitler currently ranks 26th in the 400 in Division III heading into the MIAC Championships at Macalester Stadium May 9-10.

Co-Women’s Team Athlete – Peyton Starks, women’s basketball. This season, Starks became the first Macalester women’s basketball player to be named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year. A three-time All-MIAC selection, she averaged 18.6 points per game this year, nearly three points per game more than the second-leading scorer in the conference. Starks is the only women’s basketball player to lead the MIAC in scoring for three straight years since the 1999-2000 season. Also a two-time All-Region player, she wasn’t just a scorer, as she ranked third in the MIAC in steals and eighth in rebounding. In 101 career games as a Scot, Starks scored 1,652 points to finish as the program’s second-leading scorer.

Co-Women’s Team Athlete – Verity Wray-Raabolle, swimming & diving. Wray-Raabolle had an amazing senior season in the pool. At the MIAC Championships, she won the 100-yard backstroke, finished second in the 50-yard freestyle and took third in the 200-yard backstroke. She also swam on four All-MIAC relay teams, including three conference champions, to help the Scots finish second in the MIAC, their highest finish in the program’s history. Wray-Raabolle’s 100-yard backstroke time in the 400-yard medley relay qualified her for the NCAA Championships, where she competed in three events. She was the only women’s swimmer from the MIAC to swim at nationals this year. Wray-Raabolle leaves Macalester having set two individual school records and four more school records as a member of the Scots’ relay teams.  

Dorothy Michel Award – Peyton Starks, basketball and Livi Novello, soccer

This award honors the outstanding junior and a senior female student-athletes of the year at Macalester and was established by family, alumni and friends in memory of Dorothy Michel, chair of the women’s physical education department from 1946-1968. 

Junior – Jess Palmer-Sammons was named the CWPA Most Valuable Player this season after leading the Scots with 49 goals, 65 points and 65 steals in 19 games. In a win over Carthage, she tied the school record for goals in a match with nine. Outside of the pool, Palmer-Sammons has a perfect GPA and volunteers at La Clinica, a Minnesota Community Care clinic that provides medical care to public insured or uninsured patients, in a Spanish-speaking community.

Senior – At the MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships this winter, Caroline Chapon competed in seven events and earned All-MIAC in six of them while receiving honorable mention in the other. She helped the Scots win three MIAC titles in the relays while taking second in both the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. This year Chapon set individual school records in the 100- and 200-yard individual medleys, and she is a part of four relay school records. She’s also been on the Academic All-MIAC team twice.

David C. Primrose Endowed Prize – Tyler Edwards, cross country/track & field

This prize recognizes the outstanding junior male student-athlete of the year at Macalester and was established by family, friends and former students in memory of David C. Primrose, director of physical education and Macalester’s track and field coach from 1926-1954.

Tyler Edwards was the Scots’ top finisher at both the MIAC Championships and the North Region meet. He earned All-MIAC honors with a 10th-place finish at the conference meet, helping Macalester finish third for the team’s highest finish in 53 years. On the track, he finished eighth in the 5000 meters at the MIAC Indoor Championships in March. Also an excellent student, Edwards was on the Academic All-District team and was named an All-Academic Athlete by the USTFCCCA.

George E. Scotten Endowed Prize – Hans Haenicke, soccer

This prize recognizes the outstanding senior male student-athlete of the year at Macalester and was established anonymously by fellow class member of George E. Scotten, class of 1921, honoring the man who directed the Macalester Admissions Office for 30 years.

A forward for the Scots, Hans Haenicke terrorized opposing defenses for four years, racking up 35 goals to rank fifth all-time at Mac. The team’s leading scorer each season, he is just the 18th men’s soccer player in MIAC history to be named All-MIAC all four years. Haenicke also is the second Scot to earn All-Region honors three times. Also a standout academically, Haenicke is a two-time Academic All-American.

Rising Scot Award

The Rising Scot Awards were created to recognize a first year or sophomore from a men’s team and a women’s team who has made an immediate impact on their sport while performing at a high level. Sophomore and first year Rising Scots were honored.

Co-Rising Scot Men’s Team First Year – John Ihrke started his career at Macalester with a solid cross country season, helping the Scots take third at the MIAC Championships while finishing second among all first years in the conference meet. At the MIAC Indoor Championships, he was named the Rookie of the Year after winning the 800 meters and taking fourth in the 600 meters. Last week, Ihrke ran the fastest time in the MIAC in the 800 and currently ranks 24th in Division III.

Co-Rising Scot Men’s Team First Year – Kean Pajarillaga was named the MIAC Co-Rookie of the Year for swimming after winning the 200-yard backstroke and taking fifth in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke at the MIAC Championships. He also swam on three All-MIAC relays and two school-record relays.

Rising Scot Men’s Team Sophomore – Kasdan Blattman has been a walking highlight reel since joining the Scots’ men’s soccer team as a central midfielder, confounding his opponents with his speed and skill. This year he was named to the All-Region second team, one of a handful of sophomores to earn the honor. He is also a two-time All-MIAC selection.

Rising Scot Women’s Team First Year – Ariella Rogahn-Press started rewriting the Macalester record book almost immediately, breaking school records almost every time she raced. At the MIAC Indoor Championships, she was named the Rookie of the Year after placing second in the 200 meters and fourth in the 400 meters. Rogahn-Press qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400 and finished sixth to earn All-American honors. Outdoors, she has the nation’s second-fastest 400 time and is ranked 30th in the 200.

Rising Scot Women’s Team Sophomore – Tess Bojorquez has been a standout player for the softball team as both a pitcher and hitter, ranking among the MIAC leaders in both areas. She has the sixth-most runs batted in and the seventh-lowest earned run average in the conference this season. In Game 2 against St. Olaf last Sunday, Bojorquez pitched all eight innings and then delivered a two-out, walk-off single that scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning. The win clinched a spot in the MIAC Playoffs for the Scots.

Academic Team of the Year

This award honors the top male and female teams that achieve the highest cumulative grade point averages.

Men’s Soccer 

Women’s Tennis 

Kofi Kup

The award is presented to the winners of the annual Kofi Kup competition for student-athlete involvement. This year’s winning team is Women’s Basketball.

The Rider Cup – Nicole Norton, volleyball/basketball and Austin Mills, football/track & field

This award is presented in memory of Janis Rider to a male and female student-athlete who excels in two or more sports, is a talented scholar and involved in community service. 

Nicole Norton – As a setter for the volleyball team, Norton registered over 1,500 assists to rank sixth in the program’s history. During her career, she went from starter to role player and back to starter and, according to Coach Mary Johnston, accepted her role and always put the team first. Each winter Norton seamlessly made the transition to basketball, providing toughness and skill as a guard for the women’s basketball team. As a senior, she led the Scots in field goal percentage. Norton also earned Academic All-District honors in both sports.

Austin Mills – In the fall, Mills led the Scots’ football team in sacks and tackles-for-loss, displaying a complete recovery from an injury that cost him the 2023 season. He was a disruptive force on the defensive line after transitioning to the line from the linebacker position. As a thrower for the track & field team, Mills broke the school record in the weight throw this winter and placed fifth at the MIAC Indoor Championships. Outdoors, he has the fourth-best mark in school history in the hammer throw and currently ranks seventh in the MIAC in that event.

Shield of Strength Awards

This award is given to a male and a female senior student-athlete who has shown commitment, leadership, and a strong work ethic in the weight room throughout their four years as a student-athlete; a person who has demonstrated the ability to be successful and help the teammates around them reach their full athletic potential.

Men’s Sport Athlete – Shun Mizuno

Women’s Sport Athlete – Madeleine Kemper

Iron Scot Awards

These awards are presented to those student-athletes who have met or exceeded strength and conditioning standards for their respective sports.

Baseball

Niko Alexander

Tommy Ball

Aram Dombalagian

Nathan Gumagay

Amrit Joshi

Evan Kang

Brandon Kim

Braden LaChapelle

Haruto Mizuno

Shun Mizuno

Bobby Munoz

Jacob Posner

Ryan Przespolewski

Elliott Rowley

Men’s Basketball

Armando Akapo-Nwagbo

Tom Andreae

Logan Davis

Robert Grace IV

Kyle Jilla

Noah Shannon

Eric Wentz

Women’s Basketball

Mary Daley

Acacia Edmond

Sydnee Smith

Men’s Golf

Ben d’Entremont

Jerry Miao

Women’s Golf

Ava Austria

Kirstyn Hope Barsola

Mia Cluff

Bailey Lengfelder

Football

Diego Agustin

Deijon Feliciano

Christian Jones

Riley Pearce

Men’s Soccer

Kasdan Blattman

Michael Myers

Keane Palmer

Sam Price

Women’s Soccer

Ava Arrendondo

Abigail Birkey

Avery Ellis

Julia Hanson

Annelise McGee

Softball

Safiya Butler

Sophie Futchko

Callia Holland

Alli Johnson

Martha Miller

Renee Nicholson

Men’s Swimming & Diving

Boden Allen

Charles Batsaikhan

Isaac Kisker

Peter Simpson

Ramier Villarama

Women’s Swimming & Diving

Caroline Chapon

Julia Goh

Sonya Green

Nadia Lanz

Abbie Martinson

Olga Merkadeau

Natalie Pollock

Claire Stretanski

Zahra Wooden

Anna Wurtz

Men’s Tennis

Owen Lindstrom

Women’s Tennis

Rose Burrow

Berkeley Cox

Savannah Haugen

Mary Jacobson

Elizabeth Trevathan

Megan Twomey

Men’s Track & Field

Arlo Heitler

Riley Hodin

Ataa Mensah

Daniel Powell

Women’s Track & Field

Roen Boyd

Tessa Myatt

Ariella Rogahn-Press

Seneca Wilson

Water Polo

Kendall Coney

Hannah Fasi

Mak Kratz

Myles Kratz

Alana Nadolski

First Husker Volleyball Player to Receive Prestigious Honor; Third Volleyball Player in History

NEW YORK, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lexi Rodriguez, the electrifying libero for Nebraska Volleyball and one of the brightest stars in collegiate athletics, has officially been named the 95th recipient of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, honoring the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. With this historic win, Rodriguez became the first Husker volleyball player ever to receive the award, and just the third volleyball player in history to earn the prestigious honor.

The Sullivan Award, often referred to as the “Oscar of Amateur Sports,” has been awarded since 1930 to athletes who not only demonstrate elite athletic ability but also exhibit outstanding character, leadership, and sportsmanship. Past recipients include legends such as Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Peyton Manning—names that define excellence in sport. Now, Lexi Rodriguez joins this elite group, further cementing her legacy as a generational talent and role model.

In addition to the Sullivan Award, Rodriguez was recently named a LOVB Icon, one of the highest honors in professional volleyball. What makes the LOVB Icon selection truly meaningful is its unique voting system: 50% fan vote, 25% athlete vote, and 25% coaches vote—a comprehensive blend of public admiration, peer respect, and professional recognition. And Lexi? She shined in every category.

“Lexi is the kind of athlete who redefines what it means to lead with heart, grit, and humility,” said Christina Brennan, Lexi‘s manager. “Her accolades are well-earned, but what makes her special is how she uplifts everyone around her—whether that‘s teammates, fans, or young girls who see themselves in her. We couldn‘t be more proud of everything she‘s accomplished and what‘s still to come.”

Rodriguez is represented by Christina Brennan and Evan Morgenstein, powerhouse sports agents and the driving force behind The Digital Renegades, a premier talent and brand development agency. The agency is known for its work with elite athletes and digital creators who are making meaningful impacts both in their sport and in the community. Lexi exemplifies that mission perfectly.

With a legacy that‘s already transcending college athletics, Lexi continues to dominate on the court while using her platform to empower the next generation. As she adds the AAU Sullivan Award and LOVB Icon status to her growing list of achievements, one thing is clear: Lexi Rodriguez isn‘t just making history—she‘s shaping the future of the sport.

MIAMI – The academic accolades for FIU Athletics continued on Tuesday as eight Panthers’ programs registered perfect yearly APR scores and four had perfect four-year marks, as released in the NCAA’s annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) Report.
 
FIU’s eight programs with perfect single-year APR scores of 1,000 from the 2023-24 academic year:

• Women’s Basketball
• Men’s Cross Country
• Women’s Cross Country
• Softball
• Soccer
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball

 
FIU’s four programs with perfect four-year APR scores of 1,000 from the 2020-24 academic years:

• Men’s Cross Country
• Women’s Cross Country
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis

Furthermore, tennis – the reigning three-time Conference USA Champions – has now posted a perfect APR score for five-straight years.
 
The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.
 

FIU had all 16 of its teams (for the purpose of the APR report, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field is combined into one team) post well above the NCAA-required multi-year score of 930, and 10 were at 985 or higher.
 
Each academic year, every Division-I team across the country calculates its APR using a simple and consistent formula. Each term, scholarship student-athletes can earn one (1) point for remaining eligible and one (1) point for staying in school or graduating.
 
The Academic Performance Program has established an essential framework for academic excellence. The program provides measurable goals to ensure schools are fulfilling their commitment of equipping student-athletes with the tools and resources necessary to achieve academic success.
 
Below are FIU’s multi-year and 2023-24 APR scores by sport:
 

 
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Kansas City Women’s Tennis led the charge for the Roos, posting an APR of 1,000. Three other programs posted multi-year scores above the 980 threshold: women’s soccer at 986, women’s cross country at 986 and volleyball at 984.

Established in 2003, the APR system provides a metric for institutions to measure the progress of student-athletes, accounting for eligibility and retention through each academic term. It is a composite team measurement based upon individual academic success with a 1,000 point score representing the maximum.

As a Carnegie R1 institution, academic success is a point of pride at Kansas City Athletics and within the UMKC community, ensuring a promising future for student-athletes even after their time on the court, field or track comes to a close.