Men’s Swimmer Nolles, Women’s Runner Wolfrath are the Wildcat MVP’s
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University Athletic Department is proud to present the 2024-25 Wildcat Awards. The award show took place on Thursday night (April 24) at Vandament Arena.
All winners of the department and team awards will be highlighted on NMU Athletics’ social media channels on Thursday, April 25, and Friday, April 26.
Best Individual Record-Breaking Performance
Leo Nolles – Men’s Swim & Dive
At this year’s GLIAC Championship meet, Leo Nolles swam a 100 freestyle time of 42.72 to earn an individual gold en route to being named the GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year. After his final touch on the wall, Nolle’s swim was the top Division II time in the country, and he also broke the GLIAC record, the NMU team record, and the pool record.
Best Team Record-Breaking Performance
Women’s Soccer
This season, the Women’s Soccer team broke the program record for most goals scored in a single season, finding the back of the net 60 times. The ‘Cats scored 26 more goals than the next closest team in the GLIAC. Additionally, they had seven games this season where they scored at least four goals, and averaged an outstanding 2.73 goals per game, ranking them seventh in the country.
Moment of the Year
Volleyball defeats Michigan Tech in five sets
When the Volleyball team visited Michigan Tech on the eve of Halloween, the match went to a pivotal 5th set. Trailing 14-13 and on the wrong side of match point, a spike from Jacqueline Smith was initially called out of bounds. The Michigan Tech band started playing the fight song, and the Huskies were celebrating, thinking they had won. Then, Head Coach Mike Lozier pulled out the challenge card. After an official review overturned the call, the Wildcats were back in the game and would eventually go on to win a thrilling 20-18 fifth set to secure the match and a 2-0 record against the Huskies this season.
Play of the Year
Maggie Pietila – hole-in-one
One of the most thrilling feats in the game of golf, Maggie Pietila hit a hole-in-one at the ODU Champions of Women Golf tournament in September. Not only was it her first career hole-in-one, but it was just the second in program history. The moment was made extra special as her sister Abbie was on the same tee box in the group behind her, and her family was around the green to watch it all happen.
Brian Franks “Too Strong” Award (Male)
Leo Nolles – Men’s Swim & Dive
Leo Nolles sustained a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season and worked incredibly hard to rehab, rest, and strengthen to get back to full strength and finish the season. He returned mid-season and finished the year by earning three medals and six All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. In the GLIAC, he was named the conference Male Swimmer of the Year, backed by five gold medals and seven total medals at the conference championships in March.
Brian Franks “Too Strong” Award (Female)
Justina L’Esperance – Women’s Soccer
Justina L’Esperance was sidelined during the 2023 historic season for the Wildcats due to an injury. She watched her team win a GLIAC regular season and tournament championship without being able to contribute on the field. Back for the 2024 campaign, L’Esperance led the team in goals scored (15) and points (37) en route to tying the NMU record for most points in a single season. She garnered a plethora of awards, including two first-team All-Region honors, and was a member of the All-GLIAC First Team.
Humanitarian of the Year
Ahna Larson – Track & Field
Ahna Larson is heavily involved with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was the main organizer of the Make-A-Wish fundraiser that raised over $8,200 so far this athletic season, ranking 4th in the country among Division II schools. She attended every Make-A-Wish fundraiser unless it conflicted with competitions. Her passion and drive to help others stretches well beyond one organization, as she also helped start ‘Cats Connect, a mental health group for student-athletes, and is a coach with the Special Olympics.
Team Community Engagement Award
Hockey
The NMU hockey team accumulated over 680 hours of community service this year, the most of any athletic program. Some of their community activities included working with the South Shore Fishing Association, officiating the Stick it to Cancer hockey tournament, supporting the Marquette Marathon, and many, many more.
Gildo Canale Outstanding Senior (Male)
Payton Jacobson – Greco-Roman Wrestling
A graduating senior, Payton Jacobson represented the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In addition, He placed 5th at the U23 World Championships and has always been a great representation of Northern Michigan at his competitions across the world. Even with his rigorous practice and competition schedule, his impact goes beyond the mat as he helps with youth programs, is involved in the community, is a member of SAAC.
Gildo Canale Outstanding Senior (Female)
Brookie Pietila – Women’s Soccer
In her senior season, Brooke Pietila became the all-time leader in career games played (97) and started (95). She also set program records in career multi-game assists (5) and now holds the program record for most career assists (30). Pietila earned both athletic and academic All-America awards, was an All-Region selection, and earned the distinction of GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year. During her career at Northern, Pietila maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Female)
Mia Strazny – Women’s Swim & Dive
Mia Strazy has a perfect 4.0 GPA and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for the second time in her career. A GLIAC Commissioner’s Award recipient, Strazny was one of 11 ‘Cats to represent the team at the 2025 NCAA Championships. There, she was a three-time All-American in the 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, and the 200 Medley Relay. She also earned three silver medals and a bronze at the conference championships. Strazny has been accepted into the U.W Madison Medical School and plans on attending there this fall.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Male)
Jackson Dudek – Men’s Basketball
Jackson Dudek maintained a 3.72 GPA while helping lead the Men’s Basketball team to a GLIAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance this season. He was named the GLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 15.7 points while shooting 67.9% from the field over the three games, including a season-high 19 points against Lake Superior State in the title game. He was the game’s leading scorer in the Superior Dome Showdown vs. Michigan State with 14 points. For the season, he averaged 8.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 53.7% from the floor. He was honored on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and is also a SAAC representative, a group leader for Athletes in Action, and a youth basketball coach in the summer.
Newcomer of the Year (Female)
Katelyn Wozney – Lacrosse
Katelyn Wozney has started every game in her freshman season for Lacrosse, where she is an integral part of the Wildcats’ faceoff scheme. The Wildcats lead the conference
in draw controls, with a major part of that success running through Wozney, as the freshman is third in the GLIAC in individual draw controls.
Newcomer of the Year (Male)
Kyan Hopke – Men’s Alpine Skiing
Kyan Hopke was an integral part of the Alpine Ski team this season as he was named an All-American in the Slalom, Giant Slalom, and combined individual. He helped lead the Wildcats to a third-place finish at this year’s national championships. Hopke also earned a silver medal in the Slalom at the regional championships and had multiple podium finishes throughout the season.
Ironcat of the Year (Male)
Kalina Ceglinski – Women’s Swim & Dive
As a sophomore, Ceglinski made the cut to advance into this year’s NCAA championship, where she earned first-team All-America honors in the 3-meter diving, and second-team All-America honors in the 1-meter diving. Her success stems from her passion and dedication in the weight room, as her consistent hard work and eager attitude that she brought to every lifting session helped enhance her performance in the pool.
Ironcat of the Year (Male)
Jake Price – Football
Jake Price played in all 11 games along the defensive line for the Wildcats this season. He recorded 12 tackles, a QB hit, and a fumble recovery. In the weight room, he has consistently demonstrated a competitive drive, never missing a session and completing every workout to the best of his ability. He has a contagious energy that motivates others around him.
Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (Male)
Davian Gumbs – Men’s Soccer
After six appearances and only 97 minutes of play in his freshman season, Davian Gumbs appeared in every match as a sophomore and recorded 536 minutes of playing time. He earned a spot in the starting lineup in two matches and scored his first two career collegiate goals this season, coming against Lewis (9/12/24) and Purdue Northwest (9/27/24).
Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (Female)
Hannah Kastamo – Women’s Soccer
After landing on the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team as a sophomore, Hannah Kastamo reached the pinnacle as a junior, earning athletic and academic All-America honors to cap off a season that included First Team All-Region selections, GLIAC Defender of the Year honors, and a member of the All-GLIAC First Team and GLIAC All-Tournament Team. She scored five goals with seven assists for 17 points, all top conference ranks among defenders.
MVP (Female)
Ellyse Wolfrath – Women’s Track & Field
One of the most dynamic hurdlers in program history, Ellyse Wolfrath has claimed a GLIAC Championship title in the 60m hurdles, where she also qualified for the Indoor NCAA Championships, finishing 13th in the nation. Now in outdoor season, she again ranks inside the nation’s top-20 in the 100m hurdles. She has set new school records in both the 60m hurdles (8.46) and 100m hurdles (13.82). Wolfrath was named All-Region for the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season and has been recognized as a GLIAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week. In her career, she has been named a Second Team All-American (60m hurdles), has several All-Region accolades, and holds a 3.61 GPA with multiple academic honors.
MVP (Male)
Leo Nolles – Men’s Swim & Dive
An Olympian in Paris representing his home country of Uruguay, Leo Nolles had a historic season in the pool for the ‘Cats. Nolles is a six-time All-American from this season’s NCAA Championships, including two individual bronze medals, and a silver medal in the 200 Freestyle Relay that finished just 0.03 seconds back of first place. Nolles also had a stellar GLIAC Championships as well, being named the GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year thanks to five gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal. He posted the fastest time in the country and broke a GLIAC record with his 100 Freestyle finish of 42.72. Nolles, who carries a 3.69 GPA, has recently been named Academic All-America and Academic All-District, along with being the second male in program history to receive a GLIAC Commissioner’s Award.
Coach of the Year
Casey Thousand – Women’s Basketball
With three seasons under her belt as head coach of Women’s basketball, Casey Thousand has improved the Wildcats’ record each year. This past season, she led the Wildcats to a 23-9 overall record that earned them the No. 2 seed in the GLIAC Tournament, only behind national champion Grand Valley State. The 23 wins this season tied for the most since 2000. NMU also started the season 8-0, their best start since 2000. For the second year in a row, she took her team to the NCAA Tournament and won a game to advance to the Round of 32, defeating Hillsdale 61-56. In just three seasons, she has accumulated 60 wins, the second most in program history in a coach’s first three seasons.
Team of the Year
Men’s Alpine Skiing
The Men’s Alpine Skiing team has been named the Northern Michigan Team of the Year after an impressive season on the slopes. They placed third in both the Slalom and Giant Slalom to finish third overall of 27 teams at this season’s national championships. Aaron Grzelak earned bronze in the Slalom, and both Grzelak and Kyan Hopke earned All-America honors in both events. The men finished first at the regional championships this season with the trio of Reed Heathman, Anthony Petkov, and Andrew Truman sweeping the combined podium while the team controlled seven of the top ten finishes in the Giant Slalom and five of the top ten finishes in the Slalom.
Individual Sport Award Winners
| Sport | MVP | Newcomer | Breakthrough | Scholar-Athlete | Ironcat |
| Women’s Basketball | Jacy Weisbrod | Alyssa Hill | Abi Fraaza | Alyssa Nimz | Sydney Whitehouse |
| Men’s Basketball | Dylan Kuehl | Gerald Gittens Jr. | Cal Klesmit | Jackson Dudek | Michael McNabb |
| Cross Country | Gianna Hoving | Celia Wallace | Dani Van Lente | Lamar Gordon | Beverly Harper |
| Greco-Roman Wrestling | Payton Jacobson | Gunnar Hamre | Patrick Curran | Jimmy Hustoles | Mason Parsons |
| Football | Jax Hertel | Jahi Wood | Jax Hertel | Michael Karlen | Jake Price |
| Women’s Golf | Maddy Martens | Maddy Martens | Maggie Pietila | Olivia Brill | Payton Dube |
| Men’s Golf | Arthur Ylitalo | Levi Pennala | Walter Ylitalo | Joe Luke | Levi Pennala |
| Hockey | Ryan Ouellette | Jakub Altrichter | Tanner Latsch | Nicolas Ardanaz | Anthony Cliche |
| Lacrosse | Josie Lakosky | Katelyn Wozney | Maddi Bast | Dayna Carlson | Taylor Priestley |
| Women’s Alpine Skiing | Reagan Olli | Marisa Witte | Madalyn Stern | Reagan Olli | Maya Bubolz |
| Men’s Alpine Skiing | Aaron Grzelak | Kyan Hopke | Mitchell Forsberg | Colin Dehart | Reed Heathman |
| Women’s Nordic Skiing | Victoria Dybwad | Lena Kjelstrup | Jordan Parent | Victoria Dybwad | Ella Niznik |
| Men’s Nordic Skiing | Adrik Kraftson | N/A | Jonathan Clarke | Hendrik Peterson | Jonathan Clarke |
| Women’s Soccer | Brooke Pietila | Sally Patton | Hannah Kastamo | Brooke Pietila | Emily Whyte |
| Men’s Soccer | Alessandro Scialanga | Quint Van Roij | Davian Gumbs | Tommaso Lami | Davian Gumbs |
| Women’s Swimming and Diving | Becca Burrows | Elena Curti | Kalina Ceglinski | Mia Strazny | Kalina Ceglinski |
| Men’s Swimming & Diving | Leo Nolles | Benaiah Schnurstein | Daniel Khmara | Kyle Griswold | Andrew Tease |
| Track & Field | Ellyse Wolfrath | Alayna Vandegriff | Teiolla Harvey | Emma Sweeney | Teiolla Harvey |
| Volleyball | Jacqueline Smith | Madison York | Allie Barlow | Meghan Meyer | Lyvia Misegades |
| Women’s Wrestling | Yu Sakamoto | Sara Schroder | Alissa Caltagirone | Zhivanna Magdaleno | Ruby Joseph |
