GRAND FORKS, N.D. – It was an evening of celebration on Wednesday night, as student-athletes, coaches, administrators and special guests gathered at the historic Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks for the 2025-26 Night of Champions.
A red carpet arrival and interviews from UND track and field student-athlete and communication major Jerzie Horner greeted guests while various desserts and more photo opportunities awaited inside.
The show featured opening remarks from UND President Dr. Andy Armacost and Director of Athletics
Bill Chaves before Master of Ceremonies Darrin Looker kicked off the event with a monologue that gave a quick glimpse of what was to come.
Alongside special student-athlete presenters Caleb Olson (football), Henry Theobald (football), Mikayla Aumer (women's basketball) and Walker Demers (women's basketball), awards were presented to multiple student-athletes and teams to celebrate very best of UND Athletics in the classroom, community and competition.
The night closed with one final look back at the 2025-26 athletic season with a highlight
video produced by UND Insider.
Nominations for each award were submitted from consultations with each team's head coach, their athletic communications contact and student-athlete support services staff. All award winners were voted upon by UND head coaches, athletics support staff, members of the student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) and local media members.
A description of the award as well as the finalists are listed below, with the winner marked in
bold.
Female Scholar Team of the Year:
Presented to the female team with the highest cumulative grade point average during Spring 2025 and Fall 2025:
Women's Cross Country (Winner)
Women's Golf
Women's Track & Field
Male Scholar Team of the Year:
Presented to the male team with the highest cumulative grade point average during Spring 2025 and Fall 2025:
Men's Cross Country
Men's Golf (Winner)
Men's Tennis
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year:
Presented to a female student-athlete who displayed great distinction in both the classroom and in competition
Walker Demers (Basketball)
Frida Giersdorff (Track & Field/XC)
Taya Hopfauf (Softball) (Winner)
Alva Norberg (Tennis)
Lauren Perugini (Volleyball)
Avery Toms (Soccer)
Emersyn Walker
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year:
Presented to a male student-athlete who displayed great distinction in both the classroom and in competition
Christos Alex (Tennis)
Kagan Kollar (Golf)
David Neuberger (Football) (Winner)
Abram Wiebe (Hockey)
Shane Zierden (Track & Field/XC)
Spirt Squad Scholar Award:
Presented to a spirit squad member who displayed great distinction in both the classroom and in competition
Jillian Carabello (Cheer)
Grace Crawford (Cheer)
Bella Golomb (Hockey Cheer) (Winner)
Ava Karl (Dance)
Megan Lee (Dance)
Kalyn Voightman (Dance)
Female Team Community Service Award:
Presented to the female team with the highest team impact score
Women's Golf (Winner)
Softball
Women's Tennis
Male Team Community Service Award:
Presented to the male team with the highest team impact score
Football
Men's Golf
Men's Tennis (Winner)
Female Individual Community Service Award:
Presented to a female student-athlete for outstanding community service efforts, based on total hours
Alyssa Giupponi (Tennis)
Hanna Miller (Basketball)
Madelyn Trapnell (Golf)
Mallory Uselman (Golf)
Emersyn Walker (Golf) (Winner)
Male Individual Community Service Award:
Presented to a male student-athlete for outstanding community service efforts, based on total hours
Christos Alex (Tennis) (Winner)
Darrshan Suresh Kumar (Tennis)
Henry Theobald (Football)
Kaden Vig (Football)
Cole Wilber (Tennis)
Spirit Squad Individual Community Service Award:
Presented to a spirit squad member for outstanding community service efforts, based on total hours
Kiara Lloyd (Cheer) (Winner)
UND LEADS Cup:
Awarded to the team that earns the most points in the following areas: team semester GPA over the last calendar year, community service team impact scores and leadership/involvement opportunities
Women's Golf (Winner)
Women's Tennis
Women's Track & Field/XC
Female UNDPROUD Award:
Recognizes a female student-athlete who showed great school spirit by supporting their fellow student athletes at various home competitions. The winners of this award tallied the most check-ins throughout the academic year.
Alyssa Giupponi (Tennis)
Eucabeth Kivikangas (Track & Field/XC)
Addison Klosterbuer (Basketball)
Alva Norberg (Tennis)
Avery Toms (Soccer) (Winner)
Male UNDPROUD Award:
Recognizes a male student-athlete who showed great school spirit by supporting their fellow student athletes at various home competitions. The winners of this award tallied the most check-ins throughout the academic year.
Christos Alex (Tennis)
Caleb Olson (Football)
Erick Paye (Football)
Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson (Football)
Kaden Vig (Football) (Winner)
Spirit Award:
Given to one spirit squad member who best represents and exudes their pride for UND through community/campus involvement, academic excellence and dedication to their team
Adyson Hauert (Cheer)
Riley Scott (Hockey Cheer)
Kalyn Voightman (Dance) (Winner)
Female Unsung Hero Award:
Presented to the female student-athlete who made significant contributions to their teams, yet did so without receiving the accolades or spotlight
Makenna Alexander (Softball)
Alyssa Giupponi (Tennis)
Alisha Maake (Soccer)
Marta Marksa (Track & Field/XC)
Izzie McCormick (Volleyball (Winner)
Male Unsung Hero Award:
Presented to the male student-athlete who made significant contributions to their teams, yet did so without receiving the accolades or spotlight
Carter Byron (Track & Field/XC)
Kotaro Matsumura (Tennis)
Nathan Peyerl (Golf)
Simon Romfo (Football)
Reggie Thomas (Basketball)
Bennett Zmolek (Hockey) (Winner)
Play of the Year:
Awarded to the student-athlete who provides the best highlight moment of the season
Makenna Alexander (Softball) – Grand Slam vs. Crown College
Eli King (Men's Basketball) – Steal and game winner at St. Thomas (Winner)
Carson Skarperud (Men's Golf) – Hole-in-one at Jackrabbit Invitational
Kaden Vig (Football) – Scoop-and-score touchdown at Northern Iowa
Abram Wiebe (Hockey) – Overtime goal vs. No. 20 Miami
Best Individual Performance:
Given to the student-athlete that provided the best individual performance during the season
Paige Barber (Volleyball) – 26-kill, 23-dig performance at Kansas City
Louis-Lys Fanucchi (Men's Track & Field/XC) – Runs sub-4-minute mile in Boston
Jadyn Keeler (Women's Track & Field/XC) – Wins distance triple crown at SL Indoor Champs (Winner)
Lance Rucker (Football) – Three sacks, three forced fumbles and blocked extra point at Tennessee Tech
Jan Špunar (Hockey) – Back-to-back shutouts in NCAA Tournament to earn Most Outstanding Player honors
Greysen Uelmen (Men's Basketball) – 41-point performance to break SL freshman record against Denver
Female Newcomer of the Year:
Awarded to a female freshman, redshirt freshman or first-year transfer student-athlete who made an immediate contribution to the success of their team
Sophie Cook (Golf)
Cora Ellermann (Soccer)
Mackenzie Hughes (Basketball) (Winner)
Emma Roberts (Tennis)
Katie Rogers (Track & Field/XC)
Jaedyn Valdez (Softball)
Male Newcomer of the Year:
Awarded to a male freshman, redshirt freshman or first-year transfer student-athlete who made an immediate contribution to the success of their team
Carver Larson (Golf)
Grant Noland (Football)
Darrshan Suresh Kumar (Tennis)
Cole Reschny (Hockey) (Winner)
Tyler Thoreson (Track & Field/XC)
Greysen Uelmen (Basketball)
Grace Rhonemus Female Athlete of the Year:
Presented to the top female student-athlete of the year
Paige Barber (Volleyball)
Jadyn Keeler (Track & Field/XC) (Winner)
Tegan Livesay (Softball)
Grace Miller (Soccer)
Jule Schulte (Tennis)
Glenn "Red" Jarrett Male Athlete of the Year:
Presented to the top male student-athlete of the year
Louis-Lys Fanucchi (Track & Field/XC)
Leo Galliano (Tennis)
Eli King (Basketball)
Jake Livanavage (Hockey) (Winner)
Lance Rucker (Football)
For more information on North Dakota Athletics, follow on social media @UNDsports or visit FightingHawks.com.
