Omaha Athletics

The Maverick Awards were established in 2009-10 as a way to honor Omaha student-athletes who had distinguished themselves academically, athletically and in service to the community.  Since that time, awards have been added and now, 10 awards are handed out in an annual year-end event held at Baxter Arena.

Newcomer of the Year – Female
This award is presented to the female student-athlete who, in her first season of competition at UNO, has had significant impact on team success and/or measures favorably to her peers in-conference and nationally.  Any student-athlete who is a true or redshirt freshman or transfer student is eligible to receive this award.

2011-12:  Kat Barrow, SB
2012-13:  Allie Mathewson, SB
2013-14:  Mikaela Shaw, WBB
2014-15:  Stephanie Ahrens, TF
2015-16:  Gess Gdowski, VB
2016-17:  Carlie Cook, WSOC
2017-18:  Isabella Sade, VB
2018-19:  Margaret Lavigne, WSOC
2019-20:  Sami Clarkson, VB

Newcomer of the Year – Male
This award is presented to the male student-athlete who, in his first season of competition at UNO, has had significant impact on team success and/or measures favorably to his peers in-conference and nationally.  Any student-athlete who is a true or redshirt freshman or transfer student is eligible to receive this award.

2011-12:  Jayson Megna, HKY
2012-13:  Justin Simmons, MBB
2013-14:  Christian Garcia, MSOC
2014-15:  Tyler Vesel, HKY
2015-16:  Tra-Deon Hollins, MBB
2016-17:  Razvan Grigorsecu, MTEN
2017-18:  Stevie Siy, MSOC
2018-19:  Taylor Ward, HKY
2019-20:  Matt Hulme, MTEN

Athlete of the Year – Female
This award is presented to the female student-athlete who has individually shown strong leadership to her fellow student-athletes and has had significant impact on her team success and/or measures favorably to her peers in-conference and nationally.  Any female student-athlete , regardless of class, is eligible to receive this award.

2011-12:  Angie Reicks, VB
2012-13:  Sami Spenner, TF
2013-14:  Sami Spenner, TF
2014-15:  Mikaela Shaw, WBB
2015-16:  Kimberly Bailey, VB/Mikaela Shaw, WBB
2016-17:  Mikaela Shaw, WBB
2017-18:  Stephanie Ahrens, TF
2018-19:  Stephanie Ahrens, TF
2019-20:  Anna Blaschko, VB
2020-21: Sadie Limback, VB
2021-22: Sadie Limback, VB
2022-23: Kamryn Meyer, SB
2023-24: Kamryn Meyer, SB
2024-25: Regan Zimmers, WSOC
2025-26: Maddia Groff, SB

Athlete of the Year – Male
This award will be presented to the male student-athlete who has individually shown strong leadership to his fellow student-athletes and has had significant impact on his team success and/or measures favorably to his peers in-conference and nationally.  Any male student-athlete , regardless of class, is eligible to receive this award.

2011-12:  Mitch Albers, MBB
2012-13:  Ryan Walters, HKY
2013-14:  Josh Archibald, HKY
2014-15:  Ryan Massa, HKY
2015-16:  Cole Gruber, BSB
2016-17:  Fazlo Alihodzic, MSOC/Tra-Deon Hollins, MBB
2017-18:  Xavier Gomez, MSOC
2018-19:  Zach Jackson, MBB
2019-20:  Witchayapat Sinsrang, MGO
2020-21: Chris Esposito, MBB
2021-22: Brandon Scanlin, HKY
2022-23: Mike Boeve, MBB
2023-24: Simon Lotkoczy, HKY
2024-25: Marquel Sutton, MBB
2025-26: Owen Kipp, SD

Dr. John Langan Phoenix Award
This award will be presented to the male or female student-athlete who has overcome extreme hardship or challenge to excel on the field and in the classroom and who has added to the success of the Maverick Athletic program.

2009-10:  Ashley Nelson, WBB
2010-11:  Katie Kane, WBB
2011-12:  Molly Feichtinger, SB
2012-13:  Alex Tran, WTEN
2013-14:  Joseph Marinkovich, MSOC
2014-15:  Kat Barrow, SB
2015-16:  Kyler Erickson, MBB
2016-17:  Xavier Gomez, MSOC
2017-18:  Karo (Garcia) Leon, XC/TF
2018-19:  Mitch Hahn, MBB
2019-20:  Zach Thornhill, MBB
2020-21: Sydney Schneider, SD
2021-22: Sophie Johnston, WBB
2022-23: Hanna Johnston, XC/TF
2023-24: Jillian Altmaier, SD / Bryan Kuntz, MTEN / Sydney Ross, SB
2024-25: Colby Kelley, WTEN / Ja'Sean Glover, MBB / Brooke Robbins, SD
2025-26: Men's Basketball Team / Torrey Tkach, VB / Olivia Dendinger, SD

Bob Kruger Commitment Award
This award will be presented to the student-athlete who has had the most positive impact on the community this year through his/her service engagement.

2009-10:  John “Mike” Higgins, FB
2010-11:  (Not Awarded)
2011-12:  Brittany Hanssen, VB
2012-13:  Maja Mihalinec, TF
2013-14:  Monica Bosiljevac, WSOC
2014-15:  Kelley Wollak, VB
2015-16:  Sydney Hames, SB
2016-17:  Lia Mancuso, SB
2017-18:  Annie Catania, XC/TF
2018-19:  Ryan Galt, HKY
2019-20:  Kirby Proctor, HKY
2020-21: Nolan Sullivan, HKY
2021-22: Jacob Zerby, MGO
2022-23: Sydney Nuismer, SB
2023-24: Emily Treptow, XC/TF
2024-25: Keegan VanPelt, WTEN
2025-26: Lily Schwartz, XC/TF

Connie Claussen Award
This award will be presented to the female senior student-athlete who has throughout her four year career has exemplified exceptional community service, leadership, and has had a significant impact on Maverick Athletics.  It is named in honor of UNO Athletic Director amerita Connie Claussen.  This student-athlete embodies the essence of Maverick Athletics.

2009-10:  Ellen Thommes, VB
2010-11:  Dani Suponchick, WGO
2011-12:  Anja Puc, TF
2012-13:  Paige Frauendorfer, WBB
2013-14:  Sami Spenner, TF
2014-15:  Jenna Foiles, SD
2015-16:  Campbell Ditto, SB
2016-17:  Mikaela Shaw, WBB
2017-18:  Michelle Lo, WTEN
2018-19:  Stephanie Ahrens, TF
2019-20:  Rachel Morrow, SD
2020-21: Anna Blaschko, VB
2021-22: Sadie Limback, VB
2022-23: Sami Clarkson, VB
2023-24: Lynsey Tucker, SB
2024-25: Maggie O'Brien, SB
2025-26: Kali Jurgensmeier, VB

Don Leahy Award
This award will be presented to the MALE senior student-athlete who has throughout his four year career has exemplified exceptional community service, leadership, and has had a significant impact on Maverick Athletics.  It is named in honor of former UNO Athletic Director Don Leahy.  This student-athlete embodies the essence of Maverick Athletics.

2009-10:  Andrew Bridger, MBB
2010-11:  Tyler Bullock, MBB
2011-12:  Mitch Albers, MBB
2012-13:  John Faulkner, HKY
2013-14:  John Karhoff, MBB
2014-15:  Felipe da Silva, MSOC
2015-16:  Brian Cooper, HKY
2016-17:  Mark Moulton, MSOC
2017-18:  Joel Messner, HKY
2018-19:  Alex Woodward, MTEN
2019-20:  Ugo Tritz, MSOC
2020-21: Stevie Siy, MSOC / Matt Pile, MBB
2021-22: Joey Machado, BSB
2022-23: Davis Lawley, MTEN
2023-24: Nolan Sullivan, HKY
2024-25: JJ White, MBB
2025-26: Jackson Trout, BSB

Scholar-Athlete Award – Female
The female Scholar-Athlete award winner is chosen by Omaha Athletics as the department's finest senior student-athlete of that year.  The award is presented prior to the Maverick Awards at the Chancellor's Student Honors Convocation.

2009-10:  Jessica Powers, WSOC
2010-11:  Dani Suponchick, WGOLF
2011-12:  Brittany Hanssen, VB
2012-13:  Paige Frauendorfer, WBB
2013-14:  Melanie McCormick, WSOC
2014-15:  Jacqueline Baude, WTEN
2015-16:  Katie Kesti, WGOLF
2016-17:  Mikaela Shaw, WBB
2017-18:  Kayla Sabotin, XC/TF
2018-19:  Natalie Mostek, SB
2019-20:  Emma Dargy, SB
2020-21: Andrea Daves, WSOC
2021-22: Sadie Limback, VB
2022-23: Grace Thede, WSOC
2023-24: Lynsey Tucker, SB
2024-25: Maggie O'Brien, SB
2025-26: Emily Karmazin, WGO

Scholar-Athlete Award – Male
The male Scholar-Athlete award winner is chosen by Omaha Athletics as the department's finest senior student-athlete of that year.  The award is presented prior to the Maverick Awards at the Chancellor's Student Honors Convocation.

2009-10:  Jeremie Dupont, HKY
2010-11:  John “Mike” Higgins, FB
2011-12:  Coby McCord, BSB
2012-13:  Bryce Aneloski, HKY
2013-14:  Caleb Palensky, BS
2014-15:  Karl Krieser, MGOLF
2015-16:  Clayton Taylor, BSB
2016-17:  Mark Moulton, MSOC
2017-18:  Tyler Vesel, HKY
2018-19:  Lukas Buchta, HKY
2019-20:  Nate Reekie, MTEN
2020-21: Matt Pile, MBB
2021-22: Martin Sundberg, HKY
2022-23: Nolan Sullivan, HKY
2023-24: Matt Miller, HKY
2024-25: Jimmy Glynn, HKY
2025-26: Jackson Burrus, SD

ACE Award
This award was created to recognize the remarkable scholastic achievement of all Omaha student-athletes who achieve a 4.0 grade-point for the Maverick careers.

2012-15:  Haley Shelton, WSOC
2013-14:  Melanie McCormick, WSOC
2018-21: Kaitlyn Guhl, WSOC
2018-22: Sadie Limback, VB
2018-22: Sydney Haynes, SD
2019-22: Sami Clarkson, VB
2019-22: Grace Thede, WSOC
2019-23: Vanessa Gunderson, XC/TF
2020-24: Morgan Baker, SD
2020-24: Camille Lease, SD
2020-24: Matt Miller, HKY
2021-24: Margaret O'Brien, SB
2020-25: Katie Keitges, WBB
2022-26: Emily Karmazin, WGO

Maverick Muscle Award – Female (Discontinued)
This award was created to recognize the female student-athlete who demonstrates superior dedication and work ethic in the weight room.  The winner sets a good example for her teammates while showing consistent improvement throughout the year.

2011-12:  Kelsie Olson, WTEN
2012-13:  Jamie Nash, WBB
2013-14:  Amber Lutmer, SB
2014-15:  Diane Banderas, VB
2015-16:  Ava Doetsch, WSOC
2016-17:  Elise Brown, VB
2017-18:  Natalie Mostek, SB
2018-19:  Annika Clinton, SD
2019-20:  Lizzy Giese, SD
2020-21: Juliana Chagas, WBB
2021-22: Sydney Ross, SB
2022-23: Vanessa Gunderson, XC/T&F

Maverick Muscle Award – Male (Discontinued)
This award was created to recognize the male student-athlete who demonstrates superior dedication and work ethic in the weight room.  The winner sets a good example for his teammates while showing consistent improvement throughout the year.

2011-12:  Brent Gwidt, HKY
2012-13:  Alex Welhouse, MBB
2013-14:  Zahn Raubenheimer, HKY
2014-15:  Justin Parizek, HKY
2015-16:  Jake White, MBB
2016-17:  Joel Messner, HKY
2017-18:  Zach Jackson, MBB
2018-19:  Mason Morelli, HKY
2019-20:  Brett Bonar, BSB
2020-21: Kevin Conley, HKY
2021-22: Joey Machado, BSB
2022-23: Mike Boeve, BSB