Matty Awards Honor CSUN Student-Athletes in Year-End Celebration

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – CSUN celebrated the best of Matador Athletics in 2024-25 on Monday night (May 5) as CSUN student-athletes and staff gathered at Pinstripes in Woodland Hills for the second annual Matty Awards and Senior Sash Ceremony.

The Matty Awards, preceded by the annual Senior Sash Ceremony, opened with remarks from SAAC Co-Presidents Erica Adams and Jackie O’Neill. Acting Director of Athletics Mary Beth Walker then shared her thoughts before turning the podium over to CSUN President Erika D. Beck. Adams and O’Neill then returned to the stage and thanked members of the Athletics Department who have impacted their collective experience as CSUN student-athletes.

Each graduating student-athlete was then presented his/her CSUN Athletics sash for graduation by the Matador Achievement Center staff. The annual ceremony celebrated 80 senior and graduate student-athletes on Monday.

The evening then returned to the Matty Awards, an event that honors student-athletes in several informal categories, including Team Hype Man/Woman, Most Likely to be Late to the Team Bus, Team Comedian, Most Likely to Win the Squid Games, and Unsung Hero.

The awards were handed out by various Matador student-athlete emcees; Marin Byers (Water Polo), Kim Turgut (Women’s Golf), Lorenzo Bertozzi (Men’s Volleyball), Tasha Mae (Beach Volleyball), and Madison Shepperson (Tennis) as student-athletes in each sport were honored in five categories as voted upon by their fellow student-athletes.

Awards were also handed out by the CSUN Sports Performance Team (Iron Matador Award), CSUN Acting Director of Athletics Mary Beth Walker (Matador of the Year), and CSUN Deputy Director of Athletics Sonia Hahn (Champions Cup).

2025 MATTY AWARD WINNERS

Team Hype Man/Woman Award Winners

Baseball – Andrew Gauna

Softball – Gizella Vargas Sandoval

Beach Volleyball – Layla Cederlind

Men’s Volleyball – Braden Pool-Harris

Women’s Volleyball – Jan Marie Duhaylungsod

Men’s Soccer – Siddiq Lezzar

Women’s Soccer – Angelica Claiborne

Men’s Track & Field/XC – Ja’Patrick Smith

Women’s Track & Field/XC – Camryn Harris

Men’s Basketball – Festus Ndumanya

Women’s Basketball – Laini Dahlin

Men’s Golf – Bryson Barnes

Women’s Golf – Gracie Piar

Women’s Tennis – Jackie O’Neill

Water Polo – Marin Byars

Most Likely to be Late to the Team Bus Award Winners

Baseball – Royce Clayton, Jr.

Softball – Elisa Gulfin

Beach Volleyball – Julia Bazylevych

Men’s Volleyball – Malcolm King

Women’s Volleyball – Julia Bazylevych

Men’s Soccer – Michael Blevins

Women’s Soccer – Paige Califf

Men’s Track & Field/XC – Logan Davis

Women’s Track & Field/XC – Elin Markarian

Men’s Basketball – Marcus Adams Jr.

Women’s Basketball – Sincere Hardwick

Men’s Golf – Bryson Barnes

Women’s Golf – Kim Turgut

Women’s Tennis – Annette Robertson

Water Polo – Jessica Matkovich

Team Comedian Award Winners

Baseball – Tyler Mejia

Softball – Tiara Westbrook

Beach Volleyball – Kinley Lindhardt

Men’s Volleyball – Shane Nhem

Women’s Volleyball – Iye Okolo

Men’s Soccer – Kike Pineda

Women’s Soccer – Jackie Victorio

Men’s Track & Field/XC – Shamil Youngblood

Women’s Track & Field/XC – Leann Hamilton

Men’s Basketball – Festus Ndumanya

Women’s Basketball – Nnenna Orji

Women’s Golf – Ariya Soldwisch

Men’s Golf – Nick Fry

Women’s Tennis – Emma Moratalla Sanz

Water Polo – Kate Cornejo

Most Likely to Win the Squid Games Award Winners

Baseball – Logan Miller

Softball – Kaylee Escutia

Beach Volleyball – Tasha Mae

Men’s Volleyball – Chris Karnezis

Women’s Volleyball – Katie Kolar

Men’s Soccer – Siddiq Lezzar

Women’s Soccer – Yoshi Rubalcava

Men’s Track & Field/XC – Gabe Martinez

Women’s Track & Field/XC – Brianna Kelpis

Men’s Basketball – Keonte Jones

Women’s Basketball – Erika Aspajo

Men’s Golf – Yuo Torii

Women’s Golf – Nicole Tanoue

Women’s Tennis – Nicole West

Water Polo – Jessica Matkovich

Unsung Hero Award Winners

Baseball – Angel Cortez

Softball – Mia Cortez

Beach Volleyball – Jill Rodig

Men’s Volleyball – Joao Pedro Avila

Women’s Volleyball – Paige Sentes

Men’s Soccer – Jake Shaked

Women’s Soccer – Ashly Torres

Men’s Track & Field/XC – Jayden Smith

Women’s Track & Field/XC – Audrie Reuss

Men’s Basketball – Robert Thibiant

Women’s Basketball – Erica Adams

Men’s Golf – Dillon Jonke

Women’s Golf – Meghan Paracuelles

Women’s Tennis – Sofia Dermenjyan

Water Polo – Valeria Martinez

Iron Matador Award

Elijah Ignacio, Men’s Track & Field

Kinley Lindhardt, Beach Volleyball

Male and Female Matadors of the Year Award

Mahmoud Fofana, Basketball

Dodi Telek, Water Polo

Champions Cup Award – Community Service

Baseball

Water Polo

 

Gallery: (5-7-2025) 2025 Matty Awards/Senior Sash Ceremony

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