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From NCAA champion to mental health advocate: Grace Shirley’s journey beyond the ice

Story Links Grace Shirley still gets chills thinking about it.  The moments she and her Wisconsin teammates stormed the ice in celebration of their National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championships in 2021 and 2023 were unforgettable. Winning those championships alongside her older sister, Sophie, added another meaningful layer to the accomplishments.  “It […]

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Grace Shirley still gets chills thinking about it. 

The moments she and her Wisconsin teammates stormed the ice in celebration of their National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championships in 2021 and 2023 were unforgettable. Winning those championships alongside her older sister, Sophie, added another meaningful layer to the accomplishments. 

“It was amazing. It happened a few years ago, but I still can’t put it into words,” said Shirley, whose alma mater won another NCAA title in March. “We won both national championships together, and it was just a phenomenal experience. The relationships I made with my teammates and all the staff at Wisconsin, it was such a great experience, and it’s one I’ll be proud of and take with me for the rest of my life.”

But while her success on the ice was undeniable, the pressures of college sports revealed a side of the game that doesn’t often make the highlight reel. 

The pressure to perform

While competing for Providence as a graduate transfer in 2023-24, Shirley pursued a master's degree in counseling to become a licensed mental health counselor. (Photo courtesy of Providence)
While competing for Providence as a graduate transfer in 2023-24, Shirley pursued a master’s degree in counseling to become a licensed mental health counselor. (Photo courtesy of Providence)

From the outside, Shirley had everything a student-athlete could hope for. She was thriving at a powerhouse program, where she scored 21 points in four seasons and earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors three times. But internally, she was struggling with self-doubt.

“There was a lot of just pressure that I was putting on myself,” she admitted. “That was taking a toll.” 

Shirley’s experience is shared by many student-athletes, according to NCAA research data, especially those in women’s sports. In the most recent NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study, 44% of participants in women’s sports reported feeling overwhelmed constantly or most every day.

Shirley said this weight led her to make one of the most important decisions of her life and reached out to a sports psychologist at Wisconsin — a step supported by the growing presence of mental health services outlined in the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices and  Division I core guarantees. 

For Shirley, the impact of this support far exceeded her expectations.

“Initially it was just for hockey, but I think ultimately the impact that it had on all areas of my life was pretty outstanding,” she said. “The small tips about gaining confidence and being able to remain composed in tough situations helped pretty fast, but I think more of the long-term stuff was the level of gratitude and being able to wake up every day and go about your life and really care about the relationships and the people behind you are what’s stuck with me.”

Shirley’s sessions helped her rediscover balance in her life. As she navigated the challenges of balancing academics, athletics and her personal life, she found herself embracing a broader perspective on her identity.

“For many student-athletes, attempting to find a healthy balance between the academic, athletic and social domains of life can be difficult. During my time in college, utilizing the resources available and working with sports psychologists have had such a positive impact, not only on my athletic performance, but my overall levels of happiness and well-being,” she said. “Obviously it’s important to be performing well, but there’s so many aspects of life that are just as important to foster and take care of as well. I’m really grateful for all those resources that college hockey has provided me.”

Developing her passion at the Emerging Leaders Seminar

As Shirley embraced the impact that mental health counseling had on her own life, she felt drawn to help others in the same way. That passion led her to Providence, where she competed as a graduate transfer during the 2023-24 season and began pursuing a master’s degree in counseling with the goal of becoming a licensed mental health counselor. 

This pursuit also led her to attend the 2025 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, a three-day event in February designed to help young professionals develop leadership skills and explore career paths in college athletics?.

“I’m really passionate about mental health counseling,” she said. “It’s always been something that I’ve really found interesting and enlightening. Being at the Emerging Leaders Seminar has really helped with this.”

The seminar, themed “Lead Like a Superhero: Unleash Your Superpowers,” challenged participants to identify their values and understand their unique abilities. Shirley, who had already begun her journey toward becoming a mental health professional, found herself drawn to discussions on how counseling and leadership intersect in college sports. 

“We were able to talk through careers within the field of counseling and how that relates to collegiate athletics, which is definitely a growing field,” she said. “A lot of athletes are seeking mental health services, and I hope to contribute and help the lives of upcoming student-athletes.”

Shirley attended the 2025 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, where she explored how mental health counseling intersects with leadership in college athletics. (Photo courtesy of Shirley)
Shirley attended the 2025 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, where she explored how mental health counseling intersects with leadership in college athletics. (Photo courtesy of Shirley)

Being the person she needed

Shirley knows firsthand how intimidating it can be to ask for help, but she also understands how important it is.

“I’ve definitely been there where I’ve kind of been scared to talk about things,” she said. 

“It’s important to be reminded that you have people in your corner, you have people that care about you. Whether it’s a mental health counselor, your family or friends, people are there for you. You owe it to yourself to ask for help because at the end of the day nobody deserves to go through those battles on their own.” 

As she prepares to graduate with a master’s degree, Shirley is looking not just to the future of her career but to the impact she hopes to make. She wants to be a resource for student-athletes struggling with the same pressures she experienced and to help them learn to embrace life beyond sports.

“I just want to demonstrate a level of empathy and understanding,” she said. “I was once in that seat. I was someone who was seeking additional services or resources, so I understand. And I want to be that person that can really help and just kind of change your outlook or maybe some of those patterns of thinking. I just really want to demonstrate that I’m there for you, that I care about you and then I want to be with you as you start this process.”

As Shirley reflects on her journey — the championships, the struggles, the growth — she said her biggest win has been learning who she is beyond the game.

“There’s a lot more to life than just sport and there’s more to me than just a hockey player. I’m a daughter and a sister and a really good friend,” she said, before reflecting on her journey more broadly. “Hockey has impacted my life in so many ways, and I have nothing but positive things to say about Wisconsin and Providence. They provided me the resources and support needed for me to reach my full potential as both a hockey player and as a person.” 



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Dartmouth Hosts Annual Celebration of Excellence

Story Links HANOVER, N.H. — On Tuesday night inside Thompson Arena, the Dartmouth College Department of Athletics and Recreation hosted its annual Celebration of Excellence. Luke Carroll (baseball) and Kellie Sutton (women’s soccer) served as masters of ceremony for the event. KENNETH ARCHIBALD PRIZE The Kenneth Archibald Prize is awarded to a […]

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HANOVER, N.H. — On Tuesday night inside Thompson Arena, the Dartmouth College Department of Athletics and Recreation hosted its annual Celebration of Excellence.

Luke Carroll (baseball) and Kellie Sutton (women’s soccer) served as masters of ceremony for the event.

KENNETH ARCHIBALD PRIZE

The Kenneth Archibald Prize is awarded to a member of the graduating class, who has been four years in attendance, and who in the judgment of the Athletic Council has been the best all-around athlete with regard being had to moral worth and high standing in scholarship.

Winners: Billy Bender – Men’s Heavyweight Rowing and Jasmine Drolet – Women’s Nordic Skiing

Bender has been a valuable member of the Big Green since coming to Dartmouth. He competed for the United States in the summer of 2024 at the Paris games. Bender has earned First Team All-America honors in 2022 and 2023. This season, Bender has sat in the stroke seat while leading the varsity eight to an unbeaten dual season while also being ranked as high as third in the county.

Drolet raced in three EISA Carnivals this season: the Bates Carnival, St. Lawrence Carnival, and UNH Carnival. She finished in the top ten in both races at St. Lawrence and UNH. Drolet won two races, both 7.5k distances, placing first in the UNH Freestyle race and the St. Lawrence classical race. At the national championship, Drolet finished third in the 7.5K classic race, earning First-Team All-America status. She finished 13th overall in the 20K freestyle.

ALFRED E. WATSON TROPHY

The Alfred E. Watson Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding Dartmouth athlete on a men’s team during the year.  Nominations for the Watson Trophy are submitted by the coaches of the men’s varsity teams and voted on by the head coaches of the men’s teams.

Winner: John Steel Hagenbuch – Men’s Nordic Skiing

Hagenbuch competed in five of the six EISA Carnivals this season. He finished on the podium in all ten races, including winning eight races across both classic and freestyle disciplines and various distances. At the end of the EISA season, Hagenbuch was named the Classic Leader, earning the most points in classic races throughout the season. He was also named a First Team All-American twice at the 2025 National Championship. Hagenbuch finished first in the 7.5K classic race, the second straight year he has won an individual national championship. He also finished second in the 20K freestyle race.

CLASS OF 1976 AWARD

The Class of 1976 Award is given to the most outstanding athlete from a women’s team during the year. The winner is determined by the head coaches of the women’s varsity teams and the Dean of Students.

Winner: Cassidy Exner – Equestrian

Exner was the most consistent rider for the Big Green in 2024-25 as she notched eight regular season wins while also winning three out of four matchups at the National Championship. Following the season, the sophomore was named Second Team All-American for fences. She is currently the program leader for career wins while also being tied for the most postseason wins. During the season, Exner had a +16 average score differential in fences, which was the best of the team.

CLASS OF 1948 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS

The Class of 1948 Scholar-Athlete Award is given annually to one member of a men’s team and one member of a women’s team in the junior class who have combined outstanding performance in athletics and significant achievement in academics, as nominated by the head coaches of the varsity sports and selected by the Athletics Director.

Winners: Cooper Flinton – Men’s Hockey and Maya Kendall – Women’s Lacrosse

Flinton skated in 32 games for the Big Green while scoring 11 goals and adding 13 assists. Four of his goals came on the power play; he also scored a pair of shorthanded goals as he was a valuable member of the Dartmouth penalty kill. He was named to the All-Ivy Second Team this season. In his Dartmouth career, he skated in 89 games while scoring 32 goals and adding 32 assists. Following the season, the Auburn, N.H. native signed an NHL Entry Level Contact with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Kendall was dominant on draw controls this season as she ranked second in the country in draw controls per game. She also set an Ivy League single game record with 22 in a game while also setting the Ivy League season record with 188 draw controls. Following the season, Kendall was named All-Ivy First Team and was Dartmouth’s first All-American since 2019. The junior is currently second in program history in career draw controls with 293.

CLASS OF 1950 AWARD

The Class of 1950 Award is presented annually to the varsity student-athlete who has demonstrated the most extraordinary commitment to community service. Nominations are submitted by the head coaches and captains of varsity sports, and the winner is selected by the Dean of the College, the Director of Athletics, and the Dean of the Tucker Foundation.

Winner: Micah Green – Football

Green was named a member of the All-State Good Works Team, an initiative to recognize and honor student-athletes who demonstrate levels of volunteerism and civic engagement that are above and beyond their success and achievements in the classroom and competition. Green currently serves as the co-president of the Dartmouth Black Student Athlete Alliance (DBSAA), after previously holding the position of professional development chair. Green has attended the National Black Student Athlete Summit in Los Angeles for the past two years, where he served as a keynote speaker to over 1,200 attendees. Green has served as the secretary for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., coordinating philanthropic events with other Greek organizations and collaborating with Dartmouth Civics to promote local voting and voter knowledge. On the field, Green was an honorable mention All-Ivy honoree, leading the Big Green in tackles (76) as a senior.

AGNES B. KURTZ AWARD

Aggie Kurtz was the first woman appointed to the athletic staff when co-education arrived at Dartmouth in 1972. She coached field hockey, squash and lacrosse, and also taught physical education classes.  She was later appointed assistant athletic director. The award named in her honor is nominated and voted on by the captains of the women’s teams and given to that person who best combines proficiency in athletics with dedication to the furthering of women’s sports.

Winner: Lauren Messier – Women’s Hockey

Captain Lauren Messier played in all 29 games for the Big Green. She scored eight goals and nine assists, both career highs, to lead the team in both categories. Messier had a hand in all three goals vs. the Princeton Tigers, scoring a goal and adding two assists. In the middle of the season, she rode a three-game scoring streak, scoring the game winning goal and adding two assists in an overtime win over Harvard, the lone goal in a tie with the Crimson, and an assist at St. Anselm, helping Dartmouth to a seven-game undefeated streak. She also scored the game winning goal in a shutout win over No. 7 St. Lawrence, the Big Green’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2022

TIMOTHY WRIGHT ELLIS 1955 MEMORIAL AWARD

The Timothy Wright Ellis 1955 Memorial Award is nominated and voted on by the captains of the men’s teams. It is given to a member of a men’s team showing the extra-curricular and scholastic drive, spirit, loyalty and amiability which made Tim such a well-known part of this community.

Winners: Wyatt Ellison – Men’s Lightweight Rowing and Conor Shaheen – Men’s Heavyweight Rowing

Ellison was extremely loyal and committed to the team when the team’s roster was capped. He volunteered his roster spot to allow younger athletes to compete, continuing to train with the team as a “team manager” without being able to compete. After the team’s roster cap was raised his senior year, he continued his peer leadership and emerged as a stellar athlete. Beyond the team, Ellison is an extraordinary computer engineering student and early-induction member of Pi Beta Kappa and Vice President of Tau Beta Pi (the Engineering Honor Society). This winter, Ellison single-handedly created a community “Lapapalooza” backcountry skiing event, supporting two dozen students attempting to maximize their skiing vertical in 24 hours.

Shaheen has incredible drive in both academics and athletics, which is only matched by his humility.  Despite being one of the best coxswains in the country, Shaheen has swallowed his pride and coxed the second varsity boat for all four years of his career at Dartmouth without a single complaint, leading it to great success. That includes a third-place finish nationally last season. He is always at the boathouse with a smile to lift up his teammates.

MOMENT OF EXCELLENCE

The Moment of Excellence, the newest addition to the Celebration of Excellence, recognizes top plays, performances, and acts of character over the past year. The winner is determined through live polls on social media, so friends, family, fans, student-athletes, and coaches all have the opportunity to cast their votes for which moment stood out amongst all others.

Jada Jones won a pair of Ivy League titles in 2025 as she won the 200 meter at the Ivy League Indoor Track & Field Championship with a time of 23.77 after being fourth after preliminaries. Jones notched her second Ivy title at the Outdoor Championships with a time of 23.55 in the final after placing first in preliminaries.



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Tommies men, women to open new rink versus Providence – Twin Cities

In making the relatively recent move to Division I athletics across the board, officials at the University of St. Thomas made it clear that they were looking to forge their own path among nationally-prominent Catholic schools, and were not trying to emulate what Notre Dame, Villanova, Boston College or others have done. Still, when the […]

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In making the relatively recent move to Division I athletics across the board, officials at the University of St. Thomas made it clear that they were looking to forge their own path among nationally-prominent Catholic schools, and were not trying to emulate what Notre Dame, Villanova, Boston College or others have done.

Still, when the Tommies christen Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in October, their first guests on the opposite bench for the facility’s inaugural hockey games have shown much about the right way a faith-based school can excel at top-level college athletics.

On Friday, Oct. 24, the Tommies will open their new home base with men’s and women’s hockey games versus Providence College, which has an established reputation as one of the top Catholic College hockey programs in the nation. Construction on the new on-campus arena, which will seat upwards of 4,000 for hockey and 5,000 for basketball, began in January 2024 and is on schedule for completion in time for the 2025-26 season opener for the Tommies.

“This is a monumental day for the University of St. Thomas and Tommie athletics, and we are excited to welcome one of college hockey’s well-established programs in Providence College to open the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena,” said St. Thomas athletic director Phil Esten, in a statement released by the school. “This opening series is a culmination of four years of hard work by many and a seminal moment as we continue our Division I journey.”

It will be the first meetings between the Tommies and Friars, who are based in Rhode Island’s largest city. St. Thomas men’s hockey coach Rico Blasi spent the 2020-21 season as an associate athletics director for the Providence men’s and women’s hockey programs prior to being hired to run the Tommies men’s program.

Blasi and Friars men’s coach Nate Leaman had been working to get games between the two schools on their future schedules, and are happy for the opportunity to open the new arena.

“When you look at the institutions that are like-minded and similar across the country, Providence certainly comes to mind,” Blasi said. “Nate and his staff have done a great job in finding their niche in a very tough conference with the likes of BC and BU, no different than what we have to do — find our niche and recruit the players that are St. Thomas kind of players, to our identity and our culture.”

Blasi also praised the Andersons for their gift of $75 million which, along with other generous donations, made the state-of-the art arena a reality.

While neither team could compete in the NCAA tournament per the agreement they made to transition directly from D-III to D-I athletics, both the Tommie men’s and women’s programs had successful runs last season. Blasi’s team went 15-3-1 in the second half of the season and advanced to the CCHA tournament’s title game for the first time. The women’s team rebounded after a slow start and a November coaching change to pull off an unexpected sweep of nationally-ranked Minnesota Duluth in the second half of the season as well.

The NCAA has agreed to take a year off the Tommies’ probationary period for full Division I membership, and the school anticipates it “will have completed all of the required steps for the NCAA to review by this summer,” Esten said. If approved, St. Thomas will be a full Division I member starting this fall.

The Providence men won their first NCAA title in 2015 and have made six trips to the national tournament in the past decade, including in March when the Friars received an at-large invite. In 2024-25 the Providence women finished 20-12-3 overall and finished third in Hockey East.

Season tickets for men’s and women’s hockey at St. Thomas are currently available through the school’s athletic department. Season ticket packages include the grand opening for the new arena.



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Minnesota gymnasts find success prioritizing mental health

Elle Mueller and Lily Pederson led Oklahoma to a national gymnastics title, emphasizing mental health. MINNESOTA, USA — For gymnasts, athletic success is often defined by strength, precision and discipline. But for two Minnesota natives now competing at the University of Oklahoma, the path to a national championship was shaped just as much by mental […]

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Elle Mueller and Lily Pederson led Oklahoma to a national gymnastics title, emphasizing mental health.

MINNESOTA, USA — For gymnasts, athletic success is often defined by strength, precision and discipline. But for two Minnesota natives now competing at the University of Oklahoma, the path to a national championship was shaped just as much by mental resilience as physical training. 

Elle Mueller, from Blaine, and Lily Pederson, from White Bear Lake, have been in leotards since they were toddlers. Once competitors, the two became teammates this year at Oklahoma, where they helped lead the Sooners to a national gymnastics title in 2025.

“It’s always been my dream to do college gymnastics,” Pederson said. “To actually be here now — I don’t ever want to stop.”

Mueller, who once competed for Team USA alongside future Olympians, was on an elite track throughout high school. She took online classes to accommodate her intense training schedule, but in her senior year, she made the difficult decision to step away from elite competition — a move driven by her need to prioritize mental health.

“I would do my routines for my coaches, not for myself,” Mueller said. “I’ve learned to do things out of love, for myself — and to finally have confidence in who I am.”

Her mother said she could sense the emotional toll gymnastics was taking.

“I wasn’t going to tell her she needed to change,” she said. “But I knew she was hurting. I knew she wasn’t happy. When she finally said she wanted to step back, I was so thankful.”

Mueller and Pederson’s willingness to prioritize mental well-being reflects a broader shift in the culture of elite sports — a shift catalyzed, in part, by Olympic legend Simone Biles. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Biles stunned the world by pulling herself from competition after experiencing the “twisties,” a dangerous loss of air awareness. Her openness about mental health struggles helped dismantle long-standing stigmas in the gymnastics community and beyond.

“I think I’ve found my confidence,” Mueller said. “Just to do everything for myself, from a place of love — that’s something I didn’t have before.”

Pederson shared a similar path — one marked by stepping away from pressure and stepping into her own identity as an athlete and person.

“Getting to do this all together, makes it better,” Pederson said.

As the two prepare to return to Oklahoma for another season, both athletes say they’re not just following a path — they’re owning it.

“Mental health matters,” Mueller said. “Don’t push it under the rug. You have to take care of it.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available:

  • National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 — free, 24/7, confidential support for people in distress.

  • The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text ‘START’ to 678-678.

  • NCAA Mental Health Resources: www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/mental-health

  • Athletes for Hope: Offers mental health resources for athletes at all levels — www.athletesforhope.org



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Nilson Named Head Coach of Illinois Women’s Gymnastics

Story Links CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced on Tuesday the hiring of Josh Nilson as head women’s gymnastics coach. Nilson has agreed to a five-year contract, pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees at its July meeting. Nilson takes over the reins after serving as Illini associate head coach the […]

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced on Tuesday the hiring of Josh Nilson as head women’s gymnastics coach. Nilson has agreed to a five-year contract, pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees at its July meeting.

Nilson takes over the reins after serving as Illini associate head coach the past two seasons, helping lead the program to back-to-back NCAA Regional Round 2 appearances while having four gymnasts compile All-Big Ten honors. 

“For the last two years, Josh Nilson has been a highly influential presence in our gym, and he received an outpouring of support throughout this process from team members, recruits, and others across the national gymnastics community,” Whitman said. “From our first conversation, Josh’s enthusiasm for our program and bold vision for its future were immediately apparent. I want to thank Josh, his wife, Amanda, and their family for trusting us and believing in the University of Illinois.”

“First and foremost, I want to thank Athletics Director Josh Whitman, Chief Sports Officer and Senior Woman Administrator Sara Burton, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Cassie Arner for their trust in me and belief in my vision for this program,” Nilson said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Fighting Illini Women’s Gymnastics team.

“My family and I have fallen in love with this community, and we proudly bleed orange and blue. This program has all the tools to become a national contender and dominant force in the Big Ten. I consider this both a tremendous responsibility and a true honor. I’m energized, motivated, and ready to get to work.”

Nilson arrived in Champaign in May 2023 after serving five years as head women’s gymnastics coach at Temple University. While at Temple, Nilson led the Owls to three straight conference titles – the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship in 2019 and 2020 and the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) championship in 2021. The lone coach in Temple history to win a conference title in women’s gymnastics, Nilson was named ECAC coach of the year in both 2019 and 2020.

On the heels of its third consecutive league title, and first as a member of the EAGL, Temple qualified for NCAA Regionals in 2021 for the first time in 29 years, achieving its highest ranking in program history at No. 30. For his efforts, Nilson was named 2021 Northeast Region Coach of the Year by the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association. 

Prior to his first head coaching stint at Temple, Nilson spent the 2017-18 season as assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy, helping guide the Falcons to their highest USA Gymnastics Collegiate National finish in seven years. That followed a 2016-17 season at Penn State, where Nilson began as assistant coach before serving as co-interim head coach in the final months of the season. 

He returned to his alma mater in 2013 to begin a three-year term as assistant coach at Utah State. During that time, the Aggies made three consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, and Nilson was recognized as the two-time North Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

Nilson spent two seasons from 2011-13 as an assistant coach at Texas Woman’s University, where he was named the 2012 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Assistant of the Year and Midwest Independent Conference Assistant Coach of the Year.

During his time as an undergraduate at Utah State, Nilson was a student coach for women’s gymnastics from 2005-08. He then spent three years as the second assistant coach before heading to Texas.

A native of Cache Valley, Utah, Nilson graduated from Utah State in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in law and constitutional studies with a minor in family finance. He and his wife, Amanda, have five sons: Tristan, Ezekiel, Remington, Liam, and Asher.



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Soffer Named ITA Northeast Region Senior Player of the Year

Story Links BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College senior Olivia Soffer (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) added her awards haul on Monday when she was selected as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Northeast Region Senior Player of the Year.  The most accomplished player in program history, Soffer is 26-4 on the year in singles […]

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BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College senior Olivia Soffer (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) added her awards haul on Monday when she was selected as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Northeast Region Senior Player of the Year. 

The most accomplished player in program history, Soffer is 26-4 on the year in singles play and boasts a 25-2 record in doubles. She has won 16 consecutive matches in both singles and doubles and earned her fourth consecutive New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Year honor earlier this month. 

A three-time ITA All-American in singles and two-time All-America selection in doubles, Soffer is the Beavers’ all-time leader in singles (98), doubles (93) and combined victories (191). She also holds the program’s single-season record for singles wins with 31 back in 2022-23 and paired with junior Matia Cristiani (San Salvador, El Salvador) to go 32-2 on the way to capturing an NCAA national championship in doubles last May. 

Soffer became Babson’s first NCAA Singles Championship qualifier and All-America selection as a rookie during 2021-22 before putting together a historic 2022-23 campaign. She captured the program’s first ITA New England Championships singles crown and advanced to the ITA Cup where she reached the semifinals in singles and finished as the runner-up in doubles alongside Cristiani. 

That spring, Soffer helped lead the Beavers to their first NCAA Tournament regional final before finishing as the runner-up in both the singles and doubles brackets at the individual championships. 

Soffer made more history last season by pairing with Cristiani to earn the program’s first doubles title at the 2023 ITA New England Championships in the fall, which was followed by the duo capturing Babson’s first women’s national championship last May with a three-set victory over Nikolina Batoshvili and Alisha Chulani of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the NCAA doubles final. 

Soffer, who is currently third in the ITA Division III singles ranking and third alongside Cristiani in doubles, is set to compete in both the NCAA singles and doubles championships beginning Saturday in Claremont, Calif.



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Middlebury Recognizes 12 Panthers At Senior Athletic Award Ceremony

Nine of the 12 recipients were present to accept their awards. Story Links The Middlebury Athletics Department recognized 12 Panthers during the annual Senior Athletic Department Awards ceremony on Tuesday afternoon in Dana Auditorium. Middlebury College Interim President Stephen B. Snyder, Director of Athletics Erin Quinn ’86 and Assistant Athletic Director Katharine […]

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Nine of the 12 recipients were present to accept their awards.

The Middlebury Athletics Department recognized 12 Panthers during the annual Senior Athletic Department Awards ceremony on Tuesday afternoon in Dana Auditorium. Middlebury College Interim President Stephen B. Snyder, Director of Athletics Erin Quinn ’86 and Assistant Athletic Director Katharine DeLorenzo gave remarks at the event. Leah Poorman of the women’s basketball team and Marco Motroni of the football and men’s track and field teams were chosen as the student speakers.

The following were the 2025 award winners:

A. Bayard Russ ’66 Memorial Athletic Award

  • Cece Ziegler (Women’s Ice Hockey, Softball)

    • A two-sport athlete, Ziegler excelled in women’s ice hockey and softball throughout her time at Middlebury.
    • She was a part of the 2022 NCAA Championship team in women’s ice hockey and was a member of two NESCAC Championship teams and four NCAA Tournament squads. 
    • Ziegler earned All-NESCAC Second Team honors and was tabbed a New England Hockey Writers Association (NEHWA) All-Star this winter.  
    • In the classroom, she was a seven-time All-NESCAC Academic and both a two-time Krampade/AHCA All-American Scholar and Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.

  • Dave Filias (Football, Men’s Track & Field)

    • Filias is a four-year member of the football and men’s track and field teams.
    • On the gridiron, Filias was a two-time All-NESCAC and D3football.com All-Region honoree. He was lauded as the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week three times during his career.
    • Filias was a member of the 2023 squad that claimed the NESCAC Championship.
    • During the spring, the Panther is a three-time NESCAC Champion and a three-time Division III New England Champion in the hammer throw. The school-record holder in the discipline, he has claimed a trio of spots in the NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing 15th and 13th and garnering All-American laurels last spring. 
    • Filias will compete in the national event later this week.

  • Bradshaw Underhill (Alpine Skiing, Men’s Golf)

    • Underhill was a three-year captain of the alpine skiing program.
    • On the mountain, he was a two-time All-American and four-year NCAA Qualifier.
    • Last winter, he finished in fourth place during the giant slalom (GS) and sixth in the slalom at the NCAA Championships. 
    • Underhill was selected as the EISA Slalom Bib Leader and EISA GS Bib Leader in 2025. 
    • He was a three-time EISA All-East honoree and the EISA Rookie of the Year. He secured 13 podium finishes, including 10 last winter with four event wins (four GS and three slalom). Underhill tallied his first All-NESCAC honor in golf. He posted three top-20 efforts this year.
    • The Panther is a five-time All-NESCAC selection for his academic efforts and a USCSCA All-Academic honoree. 

Deborah Parton ’76 Memorial Award

  • Alexa Mustafaj (Women’s Basketball)

    • Mustafaj rewrote the program record books, becoming the all-time leader in points (2,180), field goals (815) and free throws made (397). 
    • Mustafaj became the first NESCAC women’s basketball player to eclipse 2,000 points and sits among the top-five places across both genders in career points. 
    • The Panther sits second in career scoring average (22.5) and free-throw percentage (79.2), while scoring the third (589 in 2024), fourth (563 in 2023) and fifth-most (552 in 2025) points in a season.
    • A captain this winter, she earned her fourth All-NESCAC honor with a spot on the first team. Mustafaj garnered recognition from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) with an Honorable Mention All-American nod.
    • She was named a New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) All-Region First Team honoree and tabbed to the D3hoops.com All-Region squad for the fourth time.
    • Mustafaj was named the first College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America selection in the program’s history and a CSC Academic All-District honoree for the third-consecutive season.

Hazeltine-Klevenow Memorial Trophy

  • Neel Epstein (Men’s Tennis)

    • Epstein is a two-year captain for the men’s tennis team.
    • He was selected as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American in doubles last year.
    • As a part of a duo, he posted 75 career triumphs.
    • The Panther played primarily at #3 singles throughout this spring, amassing a 13-6 record and concluding his career with 77 victories.
    • He garnered CSC Academic All-District accolades in each of the last two years and was a CSC Third Team Academic All-America honoree last spring.
    • Epstein is a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and has been tabbed NESCAC All-Academic in three-consecutive years.

  • Thomas Perry (Football)

    • Perry was invited to a pair of National Football League (NFL) Rookie Minicamps as an offensive lineman. 
    • He earned All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) with first-team accolades and D3football.com garnering a fourth-team nod. Perry was named to the All-NESCAC First Team Offense for the third-straight campaign.
    • The senior became the first player in program history to be invited and participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl and was named to the inaugural Walter Camp Division III All-America Team.
    • Perry garnered his second-consecutive CSC Academic All-America First Team national honor. The senior was named a NESCAC All-Academic honoree in each of the last three campaigns.

  • Bea Parr (Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Track & Field)

    • Parr served as a captain this year for the women’s cross country and women’s track and field programs.
    • She has earned USTFCCCA All-Region laurels three times in cross country and was an Indoor Division III All-New England award winner in the 3,000 meters.
    • During the cross country seasons, she raced to a trio of All-NESCAC finishes, highlighted by a pair of first-team all-conference efforts.
    • Parr is a six-time NESCAC All-Academic selection and a USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete.

  • Hope Shue (Women’s Lacrosse)

    • Shue is a captain this spring for the women’s lacrosse team.
    • One of the most decorated players in program history, the senior was the 2024 IWLCA National Player and Attacker of the Year. She is a four-time IWLCA All-American, IWLCA All-Region and All-NESCAC recipient with three first-team all-league nods. 
    • She became the first person to earn NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year twice.  
    • The senior paces the conference in points with 107, a single-season program record she established in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal. Shue also became the program’s record holder this spring in career points and goals.
    • The attacker is a two-time CSC Academic All-America At-Large recipient, been the winner of the Elite 90 Award twice and earned NESCAC All-Academic praises three times.

John P. Stabile ’40 Memorial Trophy

  • Kyle McCausland (Baseball)

    • McCausland sprinkled his name throughout the program’s records both in a single season and a career. He became the second player in conference history to earn NESCAC Player of the Year praise twice in their career after winning the award in 2023. The senior tallied his third consecutive All-NESCAC First Team honor. 
    • He ranked first this spring among league peers in total bases (108), runs batted in (RBI) (48) and home runs (13). The Panther also led the team with 52 hits and 30 walks.
    • McCausland became the all-time leader in career hits with 202 and has top marks in runs scored (156) and doubles (45). The outfielder is also the program’s home run leader, blasting 41 in a Panther uniform.
    • He was tabbed just the program’s second All-American honoree with a third-team nod, while he is a three-time ABCA First Team All-Region selection.
    • In the classroom, McCausland has twice been recognized as a CSC Academic All-America and three-time All-NESCAC Academic recipient, respectively.  

Mike Wilson ’57 Trophy

  • Carolyn Kelley (Women’s Soccer)

    • Over her career, Kelley appeared in 24 games in front of the Panther goal with 19 starts.
    • The netminder owned a 1.03 career goals against average (GAA), 81 saves, an 8-6-7 record and five shutouts.
    • She tallied a 4-1-4 mark last fall with eight starts in 11 matches played and ranked third in the conference with a 0.59 GAA to go alongside a trio of clean sheets. 
    • The goalie earned United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-New England Region praise.
    • Kelley is a four-time NESCAC All-Academic honoree and a CSC Academic All-District award winner last fall. 

  • Jake Oblak (Men’s Ice Hockey)

    • Oblak concluded his career serving as an assistant captain last winter for Middlebury.
    • He skated in 68 games in the navy and white uniform with six goals and five assists, including three tallies and two helpers in 26 contests as a senior.
    • The forward tallied the game-winning goal during a 2-0 triumph over in-state foe Norwich.  
    • Oblak earned NESCAC All-Academic accolades twice, garnered a Krampade/American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Scholar award and was named to the NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Murphy Roberts ’17 Memorial Award

  • Isaiah Izzo Lizardi (Football, Men’s Track & Field)

    • Lizardi is a four-year member of the football and track and field teams.
    • On the football field, the running back appeared in 15 career games. He carried the ball 58 times for 165 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown last fall against Hamilton.
    • Lizardi was a member of the NESCAC Championship team during his junior year and a contributor on the track and field team that claimed the league title this spring.
    • He ran a leg of the USTFCCCA All-Region 4×400 Relay quartet and earned outdoor All-NESCAC praises.
    • Lizardi has been selected to the All-NESCAC Sportsmanship teams in football and track and field.
    • He is a four-time NESCAC All-Academic recipient, garnering the praise twice in each sport.

 A full description of each award, including previous winners, can be found here.



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