TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State Department of Athletics celebrated the 2025-26 academic year at its annual STANYS awards ceremony, held Wednesday afternoon at Snider Hall on campus. The event recognized Warrior student-athletes for excellence in competition, the classroom, and community engagement, while also honoring graduating seniors ahead of May commencement.

During the ceremony, Stan State also recognized its graduating student-athletes, presenting each with their commemorative stoles to be worn at commencement ceremonies later this month. In addition, the department honored the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society Class of 2026, recognizing student-athletes for their academic achievement. The full list of honorees can be found on WarriorAthletics.com.

Throughout the afternoon, Warrior Athletics highlighted a year filled with championships, record-breaking performances, and academic success across its programs.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD
This year's Community Engagement Award was presented to men's basketball, under the guidance of head coach Paul Trevor, recognizing the program's commitment to service and leadership beyond competition. The team consistently represented Stan State throughout the Turlock community, participating in youth camps and clinics, reading programs at local elementary schools, and major community events such as the Bee Run and I Love Turlock.

The group also played an active role in campus initiatives, helping foster stronger connections between student-athletes and the surrounding community while embodying the department's mission of service, leadership, and engagement.

DR. HAL CHARNOFSKY AWARD
The Dr. Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award was presented to Samuel Villanueva of men's soccer and Makeila Yancey of women's soccer. Villanueva completed one of the most accomplished careers in program history, earning Academic All-America honors while finishing second in NCAA Division II with 13 assists. He set both the single-season and career assists records at Stan State, earned multiple All-America and All-Region honors, and was named the CCAA Tournament Offensive MVP. His leadership helped guide the Warriors to a program-record 17 wins, a conference tournament championship, and the deepest NCAA postseason run in school history.

Yancey, a senior defender and two-time team captain, was the cornerstone of a back line that recorded eight shutouts and limited opponents to just 19 goals all season. She started all 20 matches, earned All-CCAA honorable mention honors, and was recognized on multiple academic teams, including United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region. She was also named the CCAA/FloCollege Defensive Player of the Week during the season, further highlighting her impact and consistency as one of the conference's top defenders.

WILL KEENER SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
The Will Keener Sportsmanship Award recipients were Christopher Ruiz of men's track and field and Emma Yu of women's tennis. Ruiz demonstrated outstanding character throughout the season, consistently supporting teammates while competing with integrity and respect in every meet. His approach to competition and team-first mentality made him a respected presence within the program.

Yu represented the women's tennis program with class both on and off the court, competing with composure and professionalism in every match. She consistently displayed respect for opponents and officials while maintaining a positive attitude that set the tone for her teammates, embodying the true spirit of sportsmanship.

TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD
The women's tennis program earned the Team Academic Award with an outstanding 3.83 team GPA. Under head coach Verek Visaraga, the program continues to set the benchmark for academic excellence, capturing the award for the seventh consecutive year and eighth overall. The team's consistent success in the classroom reflects its discipline, commitment to balancing academics and athletics, and dedication to achieving excellence in all areas.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year was Teagan Irish of volleyball and the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year was Jared Sawyer of baseball. Irish, a Public Health Promotion major, was also the recipient of the Stan State Dean's Award of Excellence, recognizing her as the top student in her program. She earned multiple honors including CCAA All-Academic Team, D2ADA Academic Achievement Team, and department honor roll recognition while also contributing on the court in helping lead the Warriors to another CCAA Tournament appearance.

Sawyer, an Exercise Science major, excelled in the classroom as a member of the CCAA All-Academic Team and multiple academic honor rolls. On the field, he showed steady development throughout his career, appearing in 21 games while recording 23 strikeouts and providing depth and reliability for the Warriors' pitching staff. His commitment to both academics and athletics exemplifies the true meaning of a student-athlete.

BREAKOUT WARRIORS OF THE YEAR
The Female Breakout Warrior of the Year was Christallynn Tate of volleyball and the Male Breakout Warrior of the Year was Logan Edwards of men's track and field. Tate put together a standout senior season, earning All-CCAA First Team honors while leading the team with 239 kills, 276 points, and 63 total blocks. Her emergence as the team's primary offensive option helped power a balanced attack and contributed to the program's best conference finish in several years.

Edwards had a true breakout campaign in the hammer throw, capturing the CCAA Championship with a mark of 184-0 (56.09m) to earn First Team All-CCAA honors. He consistently performed at a high level against elite competition, including top-six finishes at both the Kim Duyst Invitational and Stanford Invitational. His steady improvement throughout the season elevated him into the top tier of throwers in the West Region and played a key role in the success of the Warriors' throws group. Edwards' development highlights the impact of his dedication and work ethic in reaching a new level of performance.

NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR
The Female Newcomer of the Year was Katelyn Bridgeman of softball, and the Male Newcomer of the Year was Gerardo Flores of men's soccer. Bridgeman made an immediate and significant impact in her first season, earning All-CCAA First Team honors after hitting .409 with 61 hits, 36 runs, and 28 RBIs. She ranked among the conference leaders in batting average, hits, and on-base percentage while also excelling defensively with a .970 fielding percentage. During the season, Bridgeman was also named the CCAA/FloCollege Player of the Week, further highlighting her impact and consistency throughout the year.

Flores delivered one of the most dynamic offensive seasons in program history, earning First Team All-America honors and CCAA Forward of the Year recognition. He totaled nine goals, six assists, and five game-winning goals while leading the team in shots. Flores was also named the CCAA/FloCollege Offensive Player of the Week and earned United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Month honors for October, recognizing his dominant stretch during the season. His ability to stretch defenses and create scoring opportunities played a major role in the Warriors' championship run.

FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
The Female Freshman of the Year was Olivia Maragos of women's soccer, and the Male Freshman of the Year was Andrew Bishop of men's track and field. Maragos had an immediate impact in her debut season, earning CCAA Freshman of the Year honors after leading the Warriors with seven goals and 15 points while appearing in all 19 matches. She recorded three game-winning goals and quickly became a key contributor in the attack. Maragos also earned All-CCAA honors and finished among the conference leaders in goals scored by a freshman, helping lead Stan State to another competitive season in conference play. Her offensive presence, consistency, and ability to produce in key moments established her as one of the top young players in the CCAA.

Bishop enjoyed a standout freshman campaign, earning CCAA Freshman of the Meet honors while helping lead the Warriors at the conference championships. He was part of the record-breaking 4x100 relay team that captured the CCAA title and earned All-CCAA honors, while also posting one of the fastest 200-meter times in program history. He was also named the CCAA/FloCollege Track Athlete of the Week during the season, highlighting his immediate impact at the collegiate level.

MOMENT OF THE YEAR
The Moment of the Year was men's soccer capturing the 2026 CCAA Tournament Championship. The Warriors' title run served as a defining moment for the program, capping a season that included a school-record 17 wins and the deepest NCAA postseason run in program history. The championship showcased the team's resilience, depth, and ability to rise to the occasion against top competition.

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The Female Athlete of the Year was Annie Wild of women's cross country and track and field, while the Male Athlete of the Year was Ian Reis of men's soccer. Wild continued to build one of the most decorated careers in program history, earning First Team All-America honors in the mile at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships for her fifth career All-America award. She also earned All-America honors in cross country and as part of the distance medley relay, demonstrating excellence across multiple seasons and disciplines.

Reis anchored one of the nation's top defensive units, earning First Team All-America, All-Region, and All-CCAA honors. The senior played every minute of the season, helping limit opponents to just 11 goals while recording 12 shutouts. He was named the CCAA Tournament Defensive MVP and also earned CCAA/FloCollege Defensive Player of the Week honors during the season, highlighting his consistent impact.

WARRIOR SPIRIT AWARD
The Warrior Spirit Award recipients were Julian Sanchez and Pierce Sailer. Both student-athletes were honored for their resilience and perseverance through adversity, demonstrating unwavering determination in the face of personal challenges. Sailer also earned CCAA/FloCollege Pitcher of the Week honors during the season, reflecting his success on the field in addition to his strength off it. Their courage and commitment to their teams serve as an inspiration to the entire Warrior community and embody the true meaning of Warrior spirit.

The STANYS once again highlighted the well-rounded excellence of Stan State student-athletes, celebrating achievements across athletics, academics, and community engagement as the Warriors close out another memorable year.