2023-24 West Virginia University Intercollegiate Athletics Annual Report
WVU DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS MISSION
The mission of the West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to provide the means to empower student-athletes to develop as leaders and achieve their full potential academically, athletically and personally. As an integral part of WVU, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to supporting the broader mission of the University through the integration of athletics in the academic community.
In achieving this mission, the defining principles are reflected in Mountaineer P.R.I.D.E.
PEOPLE – WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THE FOUNDATION OF WVU ATHLETICS IS THE PEOPLE – STUDENT-ATHLETES, COACHES, STAFF AND THE GREATER MOUNTAINEER COMMUNITY.
RESPECT – WE WILL REPRESENT AND EMBRACE THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, SPORTSMANSHIP AND FAIRNESS.
INTEGRITY – WE WILL OPERATE WITH COMMITMENT TO FISCAL INTEGRITY, PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE RULES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF RESPECTIVE GOVERNING BODIES.
DEDICATION – WE WILL DEDICATE RESOURCES TO PROMOTE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACADEMIC, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF STUDENT-ATHLETES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF COACHES AND STAFF.
EXCELLENCE – WE WILL COMMIT TO COMPREHENSIVE EXCELLENCE BY POSITIONING SPORT PROGRAMS TO COMPETE WITH DISTINCTION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS ACADEMICALLY AND ATHLETICALLY.
A
MESSAGE FROM
WREN BAKER
VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
WOW - What a year for the Mountaineers!
It is with great honor that I present Mountaineer fans all over the world with this 2023-24 annual report. Our student-athletes turned in a great year in competition and in the classroom, and I am so proud of their effort.
Our student-athletes know how important it is to wear the West Virginia name on the uniform. They know what their success means to Mountaineer fans and the entire state, and trust me, they do not take that responsibility lightly. That’s why the 2023-24 season was so special as not only did our teams win, but our student-athletes represented West Virginia University with great sportsmanship and class.
These annual reports serve as a historical tool that documents the yearly results of our athletic program. Let me be the first to tell you that what you will see and read in the coming pages proves that Mountaineer athletics is re-energized.
Neal Brown and his football squad delivered a nine-win season and a bowl victory. Dan Stratford and his men’s soccer team were one of four left playing for the national championship in the College Cup. Women’s basketball collected 25 wins under first-year head coach Mark Kellogg. Baseball sent Randy Mazey off to retirement in style with its first-ever trip to the NCAA Super Regionals and golf qualified for the NCAA championships. Seven of our teams performed in the postseason and six finished nationally ranked. Those are just a few of our team accomplishments; there are plenty more in the upcoming pages.
Individually, 15 student-athletes qualified for NCAA postseason action while a total of 26 earned All-American recognition. All-conference honors were awarded to 60 of our Mountaineer student-athletes. JJ Quinerly, from our women’s basketball team, was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and another 14 earned postseason all-tournament honors.
On the academic side, football’s Zach Frazier and men’s soccer’s Marcus Caldeira were First-Team Academic All-Americans, while another 60 Mountaineers received academic honors and accolades throughout the season.
It’s also important to note that our department turned in its highest cumulative GPA ever among our 18 varsity sports at 3.32 as 357 student-
athletes made the honor roll and 108 graduated from the University. Every team finished with at least a 3.0 overall GPA and our graduation rate stands at 94%.
All that information and much more will be highlighted in the upcoming pages of this 2023-24 Annual Report. While we enjoyed many great moments, it’s only the beginning and there is more work to be done. As I mentioned above, there is a lot of new and positive energy in our department, and I want it to serve as a springboard for athletic and academic success for years to come.
We have many things left to accomplish like forming a competitive NIL plan, finishing our strategic, long-term vision for the department and a facility master plan, but as I complete year two as your director of athletics, I am pleased with the progress we have made in such a short time, and my energy will continue to be dedicated to making our department’s future stronger.
Let’s Go,
Wren Baker Vice President Director of Athletics.
West Virginia University
YEAR IN REVIEW
BASEBALL:
36-24, 19-11 Big 12; 4th in Big 12; NCAA Super regionals
CROSS COUNTRY:
4th at Big 12 Championship; 4th at NCAA mid-atlantic regionals
MEN’S BASKETBALL:
9 -23, 4-14 Big 12; 14th in Big 12
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:
25-8, 12-6 Big 12; 4th in Big 12; NCAA Second Round
FOOTBALL:
9-4, 6-3 Big 12; 6th in Big 12; Duke’s Mayo Bowl Champs
GOLF:
5th at Big 12 Championship; T-3rd at NCAA Regionals; 28th at NCAA Championship
GYMNASTICS:
8 -14, 0-4 Big 12; 5th at Big 12 Championship
ROWING: 8th at Big 12 Championship
RIFLE:
13-0, 6-0 GARC; GARC Regular Season and Tournament Champions; 2nd at NCAA Championships
MEN’S SOCCER:
17-3-4, 5-1-3 Sun Belt; 3rd in Sun Belt; NCAA College Cup Semifinals
WOMEN’S SOCCER:
7-8-4, 5-3-2 Big 12; 5th in Big 12
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING:
2-2, 1-0 Big 12; 5th at Big 12 Championships
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING: 2-3, 1-1 Big 12; 6th at Big 12 Championships
WOMEN’S TENNIS:
15-13, 3-10 Big 12; 11th in Big 12; UTR Sports NIT Semifinals
TRACK AND FIELD: 12th at Big 12 Indoor Championships; 14th at Big 12 Outdoor Championships
VOLLEYBALL:
9 -22, 2-16 Big 12; 13th in Big 12
WRESTLING:
10-5, 2-5 Big 12; 6th at Big 12 Championships; 17th at NCAA Championships
National Champions
Gavin Barnick, Rifle, NCAA Air Rifle Mary Tucker, Rifle, NCAA Smallbore
Conference Team Champions Rifle (Regular Season and Tournament)
Conference Individual Champions
Ty Watters, Wrestling, Big 12 Ceili McCabe, Mikenna Vanderheyden,Sarah Tait and Kishay Rowe, Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Big 12 Distance Medley Relay
MARY TUCKER
AWARDS AND HONORS
COACHING AWARDS/RECOGNITION
NCAA Division I Dave Williams Coach of the Year Finalist
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Dan Stratford Men’s Soccer TopDrawer Soccer National Coach of the Year
COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
CONFERENCE MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
CONFERENCE SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Justin Heimes Men’s Swimming Big 12 Winter ScholarAthlete of the Year (Men’s Swimming & Diving)
Griffin Lake Rifle
GARC Rookie of the Year
Matt Sanchez Rifle
GARC Shooter of the year and Senior of the Year
Marcus Caldeira Men’s Soccer
First Team
Sean Covich Golf
Molly McGhin Rifle GARC
Mary Tucker Rifle NCAA Smallbore
Gavin Barnick Rifle NCAA Air Rifle
Beanie Bishop Jr. Football
Zach Frazier Football
First Team
Mary Tucker Rifle
GARC Most Valuable Shooter
JJ Quinerly Women’s Basketball
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
BEANIE BISHOP JR.
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
CRCA-Smallbore
CRCA-Smallbore
CRCA-Smallbore/ Air Rifle/Combined
CRCA-Smallbore/ Air Rifle/Combined
NCAA - 149 Pounds
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
CRCA - Air Rifle/Combined
CRCA - Smallbore
NCAA - 3,000 Steeplechase
THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Zach Frazier Football Action Network
Gavin Barnick Rifle
Griffin Lake Rifle
Peyton Hall Wrestling NCAA -165 Pounds
Molly McGhin Rifle
Ceili McCabe Indoor Track & Field NCAA - Mile
Ty Watters Wretling
Matt Sanchez Rifle
Marcus Caldeira Men’s Soccer United Soccer Coaches
Gavin Barnick Rifle
CRCA - Air Rifle
Zach Frazier Football 6 Organizations
Tal Engler Rifle CRCA - Smallbore
Natalie Perrin Rifle
Griffin Lake Rifle
Mikenna Vanderheyden Outdoor Track & Field
Derek Clark Baseball NCBWA/D1 Baseball
Gavin Barnick Rifle CRCA - Combined
Yutaro Tsukada Men’s Soccer United Soccer Coaches
Zach Frazier Football AP/Phil Steele
JJ Wetherholt Baseball Perfect Game
AWARDS AND HONORS
PROFESSIONAL DRAFT PICKS & SIGNINGS
Jaydah Bedoya, Women’s Soccer, Carolina Ascent FC (USL Super League)
Julianne Vallerand, Women’s Soccer, Spokane Zephyr FC (USL Super League)
JJ Wetherholt, Baseball, St. Louis Cardinals (MLB Draft - Round 1, Pick 7)
NATIONAL AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Beanie Bishop Jr., Football (Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist)
Derek Clark, Baseball (ABCA/Rawlings
NCAA Division I Gold Glove Team
Zach Frazier, Football (Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist; NFF William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist; Jason Witten Award Man of the Year Semifinalist)
Garrett Greene, Football (Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP)
JJ Quinerly, Women’s Basketball (Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year (finalist); Naismith Defensive Player of the Year (finalist); WBCA Player of the Year Top 40)
REGIONAL AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region
Derek Clark, Baseball, ABCA All-East Region First Team; Most Outstanding Player (Tucson Regional)
Katherine Dowie, Cross Country, All MidAtlantic Regional Team
Max Green, Golf, Division I PING AllMidwest Region Team
Frederik Jorgensen, Men’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches Second Team AllSoutheast Region
Alexis Lamb, Cross Country, All MidAtlantic Regional Team
Jackson Lee, Men’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Southeast Region
Luke McCormick, Men’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region
JJ Quinerly, Women’s Basketball, WBCA Region 3 All-American
Sarah Tait, Cross Country, All Mid-Atlantic Regional Team
Yutaro Tsukada, Men’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region
JJ Wetherholt, Baseball, ABCA All-East Region Second Team
NCAA QUALIFIERS
Mia Cheatwood, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Brody Conley, Wrestling
Katherine Dowie, Cross Country
Peyton Hall, Wrestling
Alexis Lamb, Cross Country
Ceili McCabe, Indoor Track and Field
Jett Strickenberger, Wrestling
Abigail Sullivan, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Sarah Trait, Cross Country and Outdoor Track and Field
Jordan Titus, Wrestling
Mikenna Vanderheyden, Outdoor Track and Field
ZACH FRAZIER
Ty Watters, Wrestling
Cassandra Williamson, Outdoor Track and Field
HONORABLE MENTION
ALL-AMERICANS
Natalie Perrin, Rifle, CRCA (Combined)
JJ Quinerly, Women’s Basketball, Associated Press and WBCA
Wyatt Milum, Football, Phil Steele
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
Jahiem White, Football, The Athletic; Pro Football Focus (PFF), College Football News; ON3
ALL-CONFERENCE (LEAGUE ONLY)
FIRST TEAM
Gavin Barnick, Rifle (Smallbore)
Danny Berlitz, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Beanie Bishop Jr., Football
Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer
Mia Cheatwood, Women’s Swimming and Diving Justin Heimes, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Derek Clark, Baseball
Zach Frazier, Football
Griffin Lake, Rifle (Smallbore and Combined)
Molly McGhin, Rifle (Smallbore, Air Rifle, Combined)
Max Nielsen, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Braden Osborn, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Ivan Puskovitch, Men’s Swimming and Diving
JJ Quinerly, Women’s Basketball
Roanoke Shirk, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Christian Simpson, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Yutaro Tsukada, Men’s Soccer
Matt Sanchez, Rifle (Smallbore and Combined)
JJ Wetherholt, Baseball
SECOND TEAM
Gavin Barnick, Rifle (Combined)
Kate Beckish, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Danny Berlitz, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Austin Brinkman, Football
Malori Brown, Rifle (Smallbore and Combined)
Olivia Busch, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Mia Cheatwood, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Reed Chumley, Baseball
Lilly Culp, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Glenn Eloriaga, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Tal Engler, Rifle (Smallbore)
Sara Haggerty, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball
Frederik Jorgensen, Men’s Soccer
Miranda Kirtley, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Griffin Lake, Rifle (Air Rifle)
Jackson Lee, Men’s Soccer
Gabriela Martin, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Conner McBeth, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Luke McCormick, Men’s Soccer Ian
McKinney, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Wyatt Milum, Football
Natalie Perrin, Rifle (Air Rifle and Combined) Owen Recker, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Matt Sanchez, Rifle (Air Rifle)
Joe Schaefer, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Madeline Smutny, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Ada Szwabinska, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Kole Taylor, Football
THIRD TEAM
Lee Kpogba, Football
FOURTH TEAM
Garrett Greene, Football
HONORABLE MENTION
Gavin Barnick, Rifle (Air Rifle)
Malori Brown, Rifle (Air Rifle)
Tal Engler, Rifle (Combined)
Natalie Perrin, Rifle (Smallbore)
Aidan Major, Baseball
Kyle West, Baseball
Sam White, Baseball
FRESHMAN TEAM
Jordyn Wilson, Women’s Soccer
BIG 12 SPECIALITY TEAM
JJ Quinerly, Women’s Basketball, All-Big 12 Defensive Team
Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball, AllBig 12 Defensive Team
ALL-TOURNAMENT PERFORMERS
K iana Lewis, Gymnastics, Big 12 AllTournament Vault Team
Camilla Covas, Volleyball, Mountaineer
Invitational All-Tournament Team
Maddy McGath, Volleyball, Mountaineer
Invitational All-Tournament Team
Hailey Green, Volleyball, College of Charleston Classic All-Tournament Team
Bailey Miller, Volleyball, College of Charleston Classic All-Tournament Team
Hailey Green, Volleyball, Colgate Ellis
Rowland Memorial Tournament AllTournament Team
Luke McCormick, Men’s Soccer, All-Sun Belt Tournament Team
Sergio Ors Navarro, Men’s Soccer, All-Sun Belt Tournament Team
Derek Clark, Baseball, Tucson Regional AllTournament Team
Reed Chumley, Baseball, Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team
Logan Sauve, Baseball, Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team
Tyler Switalski, Baseball, Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team
JJ Quinerly
COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS
ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Ryan Baer, Men’s Soccer
Max Broughton, Men’s Soccer
Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer
Carlos Hernando, Men’s Soccer
Jackson Lee, Men’s Soccer
Kyle Lehnert, Men’s Soccer
Camilla Covas, Volleyball
Lauren DeLo, Volleyball
Hailey Green, Volleyball
Hayden Apel, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Mia Cheatwood, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Justin Heimes, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Sarah Krusinski, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Max Nielsen, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Abigail Sullivan, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Ada Szwabinska, Women’s Swimming and Diving
Jake Young, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Maja Dodik, Tennis
Michaela Kucharova, Tennis
Momoko Nagato, Tennis
Chloe Adler, Women’s Soccer
Annika Leslie, Women’s Soccer
Lilly McCarthy, Women’s Soccer
Maddie Moreau, Women’s Soccer
Julianne Vallerand, Women’s Soccer
Patrick Suemnick, Men’s Basketball
Austin Brinkman, Football
CJ Cole, Football
Michael Hayes, Football
Tomas Rimac, Football
Oliver Straw, Football
Edward Vesterinen, Football
Logan Sauve, Baseball
Brodie Kresser, Baseball
Molly McGhin, Rifle
Natalie Perrin, Rifle
Ceili McCabe, Track and Field
Sarah Tait, Track and Field
Abigale Mullings, Track and Field
Eden Williams, Track and Field
Will Stakel, Golf
Ian Bush, Wrestling
Blake Boyers, Wrestling
Michael Dolan, Wrestling
Caleb Dowling, Wrestling
Tristan Kemp, Wrestling
NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION HAMPSHIRE
HONOR SOCIETY
Austin Brinkman
Zach Frazier
Garrett Greene
Sean Martin
Doug Nester
UNITED SOCCER COACHES SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA
FIRST TEAM
Yutaro Tsukada, Men’s Soccer
SECOND TEAM
Jackson Lee, Men’s Soccer
INTERCOLLEGIATE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
Love-Star Alexis
Ting-Pei Chang
Maja Dodik
Michaela Kucharova
Tatiana Lipatova
Momoko Nagato
Catherine Wassick
NATIONAL WRESTLING COACHES ASSOCIATION SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS
Peyton Hall
Brody Conley
Caleb Dowling
Ian Bush
Michael Dolan
Tristan Kemp
COLLEGE RIFLE COACHES ASSOCIATION SCHOLASTIC ALL-AMERICANS
Malori Brown
Maximus Duncan
Tal Engler
Griffin Lake
Becca Lamb
Molly McGhin
Natalie Perrin
Matt Sanchez
Lauri Syrja
COLLEGIATE ROWING COACHES ASSOCIATION
SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
Katherine Capitan
Emily DeGlopper
Emma Higgins
Adriana Hogan
Grace Terlion
Ryleigh Williams
COLLEGE SWIMMING AND DIVING COACHES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS
Sara Haggerty
Sarah Krusinski
Owen Recker
Abigail Sullivan
UNITED STATES TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY COACHES ASSOCIATION
ALL-ACADEMIC ATHLETES
Katherine Dowie, Cross Country
Sarah Tait, Cross Country
WOMEN’S COLLEGIATE
GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION
SCHOLASTIC ALL-AMERICANS
Brooke Alban
Chloe Asper
Kaia Bochow
Ellen Collins
Kendra Combs
Emily Holmes-Hackerd
Anna Leigh
Kiana Lewis
Carlee Nelson
Abbie Pierson
Olivia Pitzer
Ellie Sigman
Emma Wehry
Kianna Yancey
ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE
First Team
Aubrie Custer, Cross Country
Katherine Dowie, Cross Country
Jeanne Reix Charat, Cross Country
Mikenna Vanderheyden, Cross Country
Abbey Yuhasz, Cross Country
Zara Zervos, Cross Country
Donald Brandel, Football
Austin Brinkman, Football
Tyler Cain, Football
C.J. Cole, Football
Preston Fox, Football
Zach Frazier, Football
Garrett Greene, Football
Danny King, Football
Landen Livingston, Football
Graeson Malashevich, Football
Sean Martin, Football
Colin McBee, Football
Wyatt Milum, Football
Doug Nester, Football
Tomas Rimac, Football
Oliver Straw, Football
Edward Vesterinen, Football
Victor Wikstrom, Football
Jarel Williams, Football
Chloe Adler, Women’s Soccer
Mackenzie Aunkst, Women’s Soccer
Emma Dotson, Women’s Soccer
Annika Leslie, Women’s Soccer
Lilly McCarthy, Women’s Soccer
Maya McCutcheon, Women’s Soccer
Maddie Moreau, Women’s Soccer
Lisa Schoppl, Women’s Soccer
Julianne Vallerand, Women’s Soccer
Bailey Miller, Volleyball
Ryan Baer, Men’s Soccer
Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer
Ryan Crooks, Men’s Soccer
Kasimir Lauber, Men’s Soccer
Jackson Lee, Men’s Soccer
Kyle Lehnert, Men’s Soccer
Otto Ollikainen, Men’s Soccer
Max Trethewey, Men’s Soccer
Yutaro Tsukada, Men’s Soccer
JUSTIN HEIMES
Hayden Apel, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Maverick Bray, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Riley Brown, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Jamin Harlan, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Justin Heimes, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Adam McDonald, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Dylan Melin, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Alvaro Santiago Guijarro, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Joe Schaefer, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Wesley Schauer, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Jake Young, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Kate Beckish, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Morgan Burton, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Mia Cheatwood, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Lillian Culp, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Paige Dressel, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Shelby Gerving, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Elysabeth Grossman, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Sara Haggerty, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Virginia Hansen, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Alyssa Heffelfinger, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Miranda Kirtley, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Sarah Krusinski, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Kaelyn McClain, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Abby Reardon, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Abigail Sullivan, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Adrianna Szwabinska, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Mia Walters, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Josiah Harris, Men’s Basketball
Patrick Suemnick, Men’s Basketball
Kylee Blacksten, Women’s Basketball
Tavy Diggs, Women’s Basketball
Brooke Alban, Gymnastics
Ellen Collins, Gymnastics
Anna Leigh, Exercise Physiology
Kiana Lewis, Gymnastics
Abbie Pierson, Gymnastics
Miranda Smith, Gymnastics
Emma Wehry, Gymnastics
Brody Conley, Wrestling
Caleb Dowling, Wrestling
Peyton Hall, Wrestling
Jace Schafer, Wrestling
Malori Brown, Rifle
Tal Engler, Rifle
Rebecca Lamb, Rifle
Molly McGhin, Rifle
Natalie Perrin, Rifle
Matt Sanchez, Rifle
Nick Barone, Baseball
Tyler Cox, Baseball
Grant Hussey, Baseball
Robby Porco, Baseball
Logan Sauve, Baseball
JJ Wetherholt, Baseball
Sam White, Baseball
Todd Duncan, Golf
Oli Menard, Golf
Max Green, Golf
Will Stakel, Golf
Trent Tipton, Golf
Camilla Bossi, Women’s Tennis
Ting-Pei Chang, Women’s Tennis
Maja Dodik, Women’s Tennis
Michaela Kucharova, Women’s Tennis
Tatiana Lipatova, Women’s Tennis
Momoko Nagato, Women’s Tennis
Emily Bryce, Women’s Track & Field
Macey Crawford, Women’s Track & Field
Aubrie Custer, Women’s Track & Field
Tazanna Epps, Women’s Track & Field
Ghamani Hogue, Women’s Track & Field
Ceili McCabe, Women’s Track & Field
Annishka McDonald, Women’s Track & Field
Tatiana Moura, Women’s Track & Field
Abigale Mullings, Women’s Track & Field
Petal Palmer, Women’s Track & Field
Jeanne Reix Charat, Women’s Track & Field
Sarah Tait, Women’s Track & Field
Kase Torchia, Women’s Track & Field
Mikenna Vanderheyden, Women’s Track & Field
Megan Weaver, Women’s Track & Field
Eden Williams, Women’s Track & Field
Cassandra Williamson, Women’s Track & Field
Charlotte Wood, Women’s Track & Field
Zara Zervos, Women’s Track & Field
Laurna Atkins, Rowing
Katherine Capitan, Rowing
Ashlea Clark, Rowing
Kayley Davis, Rowing
Emily DeGlopper, Rowing
Alexandra Farron, Rowing
Grace Fay, Rowing
Anna Gall, Rowing
Violet Hewett, Rowing
Emma Higgins, Rowing
Adriana Hogan, Rowing
Ksenia Kaludierovic, Rowing
Bridget Kiely, Rowing
Cylie Leidy, Rowing
Sarah Morrison, Rowing
Samantha Perro, Rowing
Kelsey Riemer, Rowing
Ryleigh Rosta, Rowing
Bailey South, Rowing
Grace Terlion, Rowing
Isabelle Totton, Rowing
Ryleigh Williams, Rowing
TY WATTERS
Second Team
Leighton Bechdel, Football
Bryce Biggs, Football
Caden Biser, Football
Aubrey Burks, Football
Raleigh Collins III, Football
Treylan Davis, Football
Will Dixon, Football
CJ Donaldson Jr., Football
Jairo Faverus, Football
Hammond Russell IV, Football
Taurus Simmons, Football
Avery Wilcox, Football
Brandon Yates, Football
Aria Bilal, Women’s Soccer
Dilary Heredia Beltran, Women’s Soccer
Frederik Jorgensen, Men’s Soccer
Sergio Ors Navarro, Men’s Soccer
Glenn Eloriaga, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Reilly Keaney, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Logan McFadden, Men’s Swimming & Diving
William Mullen, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Braden Osborn, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Christian Simpson, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Christian Torres, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Messiah Hunter, Women’s Basketball
Kyah Watson, Women’s Basketball
Dennis Robin, Wrestling
Mary Tucker, Rifle
Ellis Garcia, Baseball
David Hagaman, Baseball
Kaleb Wilson, Golf
Grace Cronen, Rowing
Nikolina Djordjevic, Rowing
Grace Holliday, Rowing
ACADEMIC TEAM AWARDS
Baseball, ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award
Cross Country, USTFCCA NCAA Division I All-Academic Team
Golf, Golf Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award
Men’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
Women’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
Men’s Swimming & Diving, CSCAA Scholar A ll-America Team
Women’s Swimming & Diving, CSCAA Scholar All-America Team
Women’s Tennis, ITA All-Academic Team
WVU ACHIEVES GREAT SUCCESS UNDER BAKER’S LEADERSHIP
It’s probably fitting that West Virginia was wearing camouflage uniforms when the Mountaineers defeated Grand Canyon 10-6 to qualify for their first-ever NCAA Super Regional.
That’s because Wren Baker’s Mountaineer athletic department has quietly put together one of the most successful sports seasons in school history.
In fact, you must go back to 2007-08 when WVU placed 30th in U.S. Sports Academy Director’s Cup rankings to find a season similar to this one. That season, all but two teams finished with winning records.
This year’s story begins last October when Dan Stratford’s men’s soccer team routed then-top-ranked Marshall 5-2 to jump to No. 2 in the national rankings and continued its strong play into early December when the Mountaineers reached the semifinals of the Men’s College Cup before falling to eventual national champion Clemson 1-0.
WVU ended the year third in the country behind Clemson and national runner-up Notre Dame.
Football achieved nine victories in a season for the first time since 2016 and defeated North Carolina 30-10 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Coach Neal Brown’s Mountaineers snuck into the postseason Top 25 in the USA Today coaches’ poll for the first time since 2018.
Women’s basketball’s resurgence has continued under first-year coach Mark Kellogg, who got the Mountaineers into the national rankings with an early season victory over Penn State and continued its winning ways in the Big 12.
West Virginia defeated Princeton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and had national runner-up Iowa on the ropes on its home floor until misfortune intervened. A sympathetic and appreciative national media watching the game on ESPN rewarded the Mountaineers for their gutsy performance by voting them 24th in the final media poll.
Wrestling assembled one of its strongest campaigns in recent years and its best since coach Tim Flynn took over the once-struggling program in 2018. WVU reached as high as No. 17 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) dual meet rankings and placed 17th at the NCAA Championships with 31.5 team points.
That was WVU’s best finish there since 2004 and was the most points earned at the meet since 2005. True freshman Ty Watters placed fourth at 149 pounds and senior Peyton Hall finished seventh at 165 pounds to earn All-America honors for the Mountaineers.
Coach Jon Hammond’s rifle team came up a couple points short in its quest of securing its 20th national championship in early March. Senior Mary Tucker was named Most Outstanding Performer at the NCAA Championships after winning the smallbore national title, and teammate Gavin Barnick won air rifle to give WVU titles in both disciplines for the first time since 2017.
However, TCU edged West Virginia by three points to claim its fourth NCAA title.
Women’s tennis qualified for postseason play for the first time in school history and achieved the most Big 12 wins since joining the conference in 2012. Coach Miha Lisac’s Mountaineers earned an invitation to compete in the UTR Sports NIT Championships where they defeated Pacific in the opening match before falling to Tulsa in the semifinals.
WVU concluded its season 15-13 for its most victories since 2008 when it was still competing in the Big East.
Men’s golf got on a roll at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas, and parlayed its fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships into its second NCAA Regional appearance since the resumption of the sport in 2016.
Despite being a 10-seed, coach Sean Covich’s Mountaineers navigated the difficult conditions at the Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, to place third in the field and earn their first NCAA Championship appearance since 1947.
WVU finished 28th at this year’s NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, giving WVU its first top-30 finish in program history. Four of the five players in the Mountaineers’ starting lineup return next season.
Not to be outdone, Randy Mazey’s farewell to coaching is turning into one of the feel-good stories in college baseball.
His Mountaineer team overcame numerous injuries early in the season, including star player JJ Wetherholt’s month-long absence in March, but rallied in April and May to post a school-record 19 Big 12 wins and qualify for its fourth NCAA Tournament regional since 2017 and its 15th overall.
The Mountaineers captured the regional title with a win over Grand Canyon in Tucson, Arizona, to advance to their first-ever NCAA Tournament Super Regional. However, the season came to end in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as the Mountaineers dropped a pair
Mazey also became the first coach in school history to have two first rounders when Wetherholt had his named called in the Major League Draft.
Women’s outdoor track had a second-team All-American in Mikenna Vanderheyden in the 3,000-meer steeplechase, and this past winter, coach Sean Cleary’s star runner Ceili McCabe added another All-America certificate to her trophy case by placing sixth in the mile at indoor nationals.
Nikki Izzo-Brown’s highly successful women’s soccer program was an uncharacteristic 7-8-4 last year but has annually ranked among the top programs in the country since earning its first NCAA Tournament bid in 2000, while women’s gymnastics, another annual NCAA regional participant under coach Jason Butts, is hoping for better health in 2025. Untimely injuries completely decimated Butts’ squad last season.
Rowing is yet another WVU sport that has experienced annual consistency under veteran coach Jimmy King.
For some of the struggling teams this year, new leadership is on the way.
Baker pulled off a stunner when he pried Jen Greeny away from Washington State to coach the WVU volleyball team, and then in late March, added one of college basketball’s top young strategists in Drake’s Darian DeVries as the school’s 23rd men’s basketball coach.
DeVries has won more than 20 games every season he coached at Drake, including NCAA Tournament trips in 2021, 2023 and 2024, while Greeny’s Cougars finished last season ranked 11th in the country after qualifying for its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Most recently, Baker hired Brent MacDonald in the hopes of pairing his six Big East championships at Xavier with Mylan Park’s state-of-the-art, 50-meter pool to attract some of the best swimmers in the country and return Mountaineer swimming and diving to calmer waters.
WVU POSTS RECORD APR FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR
West Virginia University’s varsity athletic teams have a combined Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 991 according to data released by the NCAA. The 991 score is WVU’s highest score for the 20 years of the NCAA Academic Performance Program.
WVU’s average APR score of 991 is seven points higher than the NCAA’s overall four-year APR average score of 984. WVU’s score improved one point from last year, six points from four years ago and 17 points from nine years ago.
“Our teams continue to excel in the classroom and in competition, and our record score of 991 shows the job being done by our student-athletes, our student-athlete academic services unit, our coaching staffs and our support staffs,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “To have six teams with perfect four-year scores is certainly impressive, and I would like to congratulate our cross country,
gymnastics, rifle, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving and track & field teams for reaching that mark. We are all proud of the high level of academic success with our studentathletes and their commitment to West Virginia University.”
The APR is based upon eligibility and retention of student-athletes on a semester-by-semester basis and is an assessment of real-time academic success. The results of the fall and spring semesters, in a given year, are calculated as that year’s APR score and averaged with the respective scores from the previous three years to provide a fouryear (multi-year) snapshot of academic achievement.
Any student-athlete receiving athletic aid in a varsity sport can earn up to four points per year for being academically
eligible and remaining enrolled in the institution. A team’s APR is the total points earned on the roster divided by that squad’s total possible points, multiplied by 1,000.
Teams must achieve a 930 multiyear APR to avoid immediate penalties (involving the possible reduction of practice time and access to postseason competition).
The current multi-year APR scores for WVU’s varsity teams (2019-20 to 202223): baseball 976; men’s basketball 989; women’s basketball 974; cross country 1,000; football 981; golf 984; gymnastics 1,000; rifle 1,000; rowing 996; men’s soccer 982; women’s soccer 991; men’s swimming and diving 1,000; women’s swimming and diving 1,000; tennis 991; track and field 1,000; volleyball 994; and wrestling 997.
STATE, WVU AND NBA LEGEND JERRY WEST PASSES AWAY
The day everyone in West Virginia has always dreaded has finally arrived. Jerry West, the greatest athlete in West Virginia state sports history, died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on June 12. He was 86.
No person or athlete is more identified with the Mountain State than Jerry West, whose name was on the front and the back of his Mountaineer basketball uniform.
As Pittsburgh Press sportswriter Roy McHugh once famously wrote, “the Jerry Wests of this world do not come in pairs.”
“Today is one of the saddest days ever for West Virginia University and the state of West Virginia. Mountaineer hearts all over the world are broken with the passing of
the great Jerry West,” West Virginia University Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said.
“A true gentlemen, one of the greatest players and executives the NBA has ever seen and certainly the most famous West Virginia Mountaineer of all time, he will be remembered forever by the sports world, and this University and its fans owe him a great debt of gratitude for a lifetime of achievement, generosity and loving memories,” Baker added.
West was living proof to all West Virginians that greatness was achievable, even if it was in Cheylan, which Los Angeles Times sportswriter Jim Murray jokingly called a “suburb” of Cabin Creek.
There have been great players and great sports executives, but never has there been a combination quite like Jerry West. In fact, the silhouette of West is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, which prompted many to refer to him simply as “The Logo.”
Like most kids growing up in West Virginia in the early 1940s, things didn’t come easy for West. The son of a coal mine electrician, he saw first-hand what living in Appalachia was like toward the end of the Great Depression. He found solace in shooting baskets at a neighbor’s house and developed his deadeye accuracy after he got tired of chasing the ball down the hill after misses.
His solution? Don’t miss, and he rarely ever did.
West practiced so incessantly that he had to take vitamin injections for added nutrition. The solitude of the dirt basketball court he played on later provided West with the emotional shelter he needed after learning at age 12 that his beloved older brother, David, was killed in the Korean War.
Decades later, during the taping of the ESPN Sports Century Series that aired in 2000, West had great difficulty talking about his older brother’s unfortunate fate.
Although West was developing into a dominant basketball player, his body hadn’t quite caught up yet to his enormous skills. It wasn’t until the summer prior to his senior year in high school in 1955, after growing six inches, that he began to mature physically. He led the state in scoring
with more than 900 points during his senior season to lead East Bank High to the 1956 state title.
By then, more than 60 different schools had offered West a scholarship, but the persistence of West Virginia coach Fred Schaus won out. West had become familiar with Schaus while listening to Jack Fleming’s radio broadcast of Mountaineer basketball games in the late 1940s, sometimes pulling the covers over his head with the radio tucked under his arm to fool his mother into thinking he was asleep.
West Virginia already had an established player in Charleston’s Hot Rod Hundley, but unlike Hundley, West had a seriousness and drive that Hundley lacked. With Hundley, the Mountaineers never had trouble getting through the Southern Conference, but when it came time to play in the NCAA Tournament, the Mountaineers were always eliminated early.
That proved to be the case in 1958 during West’s sophomore season when he led the Mountaineers to a 26-1 regular season record that included back-to-back victories over fifthranked Kentucky and top-ranked North Carolina in the Kentucky Invitational.
Following the KIT, West Virginia jumped from No. 8 to No.1 in the national polls – the highest-ever jump to No. 1 in AP poll history – and remained at the top of the rankings until mid-February when it slipped to No. 2 amid Southern Conference play. Victories over Davidson, Richmond and William & Mary in the Southern Conference Tournament got West Virginia back to No. 1 and the Mountaineers were the top team in the NCAA Tournament facing lowly Manhattan in its home city, Madison Square Garden.
The Jaspers pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, partly because of 32 fouls being called on West Virginia, which saw its star players West, Lloyd Sharrar, Willie Akers and Joedy Gardner foul out.
Despite his team losing Sharrar, a 6-foot-10 center, to graduation, West was determined to redeem himself the following season in 1959.
The Mountaineers returned to the NCAA Tournament and advanced all the way to the finals where they were clipped 71-70 by California in the national championship game. The ball was in West’s hands when time expired, but he was unable to get off a shot. He still won the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player Award though after
tying the NCAA five-game tournament scoring record with 160 points.
WVU returned to the NCAA Tournament during West’s senior season in 1960 before falling to NYU in overtime at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. In three years with him in the lineup, West Virginia posted records of 26-2, 29-5 and 26-5.
He finished his college career with 2,309 points, 1,240 rebounds and averages of 24.8 points and 13.3
rebounds per game. He was a two-time consensus All-America and ranked with Cincinnati’s Oscar Robertson as the college game’s two greatest players of that era.
The two later joined forces to play for the United States team in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome and led them to a Gold medal.
The Lakers took West second in the NBA Draft, one spot behind Cincinnati, which took Robertson, and the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles prior to the 1961 season. Joining West in Los Angeles was Schaus, his college coach.
West did not crack the Lakers’ starting lineup until midway through
his rookie season but ended up averaging 17.6 points per game. In ensuing years, West teamed with all-star forward Elgin Baylor to lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals in all but four of West’s 14 professional seasons there, but six times the Lakers lost to the Celtics in the Finals, prompting ESPN’s Bob Carter to write, “year after year, the Boston Celtics won the championship trophy and Jerry West took home the consolation prize: praise for the runner-up.”
In the seventh game of the 1969 finals, West scored 42 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and handed out 12 assists while playing with a painful groin injury. He became the only player in league history to be MVP of the Finals as a member of the losing team. At one time, West’s 29.1 pointsper-game average in the postseason was second only to Michael Jordan’s 33.4 average and is now fifth in NBA history.
West was the NBA’s scoring champion in 1969-70 averaging 31.2 points per game, and he was a first team NBA All-Star 12 times and made the all-defensive team four times. He was a 14-time performer in the NBA All-Star game and was named MVP in 1972, the same year he won his only NBA title.
West took on a different role that year with center Wilt Chamberlain on the team, becoming more of a playmaker and facilitator. He averaged 25.8 points per game and led the league with an average of 9.7 assists per game in helping LA to a record 33game winning streak.
The Lakers finished the regular season with a 69-13 record, the NBA’s best until the Chicago Bulls eclipsed it with a 72-10 mark in 1996. West was the third player in NBA history to surpass 25,000 career points, following Chamberlain and Robertson.
His final two seasons in Los Angeles saw him average better than 20 points per game, but at age 35, with injuries beginning to take their toll, he stepped away from the game when many believed he had more to offer.
By most standards, his 1974 season scoring average of 20.3 points per game was a good reason to continue, but not to West.
“I’m not willing to sacrifice my standards,” West said at the time of his retirement. “Perhaps I expect too much.”
West soon immersed himself into golf, and much like basketball, it was a sport he could master by himself. He perfected his game to the point where he once shot a round of 62 at Bel-Air Country Club. But golf did not provide him the same competitive fire basketball did, and West returned to the game as Lakers coach from 197679, leading them to a 145-101 record and a spot in the playoffs each season.
West realized his role as a head coach wasn’t working and was even more uncomfortable with the advisory role he accepted for three seasons with the Lakers from 1980-82. It was only when he became the Lakers’ general manager that he again flourished.
His astute decisions and acquisitions helped turn the Lakers into the NBA’s premier team in the 1980s, ushering in the “Showtime era” that won five NBA championships in the decade. And once the Lakers began to grow old and stale in the early 1990s, he shook up the organization, first by trading established center Vlade Divac for the rights to draft high school sensation Kobe Bryant, and then freeing up enough salary cap space to sign All-Star center Shaquille O’Neal. Those bold moves led to three more NBA titles and universal acclaim for West as one of professional sports most outstanding executives.
Twice named NBA Executive of the Year, West helped the Lakers to five NBA titles before leaving to oversee the Memphis Grizzlies for five years before retiring in 2007. He joined the Golden State Warriors in 2011 as an executive board member and left the Warriors after the second of their four NBA titles in 2017.
He concluded his NBA career in an advisory capacity with the Clippers.
West will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in October for the third time as a contributor, making him the first person to be enshrined as a player and a contributor. He was also recognized by the Hall in 2010 as an Olympian.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.
West was selected as part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 and was considered basketball royalty wherever he went.
He was an inaugural member of the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and his jersey No. 44 was officially retired prior to the LSU game on Nov. 26, 2005. A statue of his likeness was dedicated outside of the WVU Coliseum on Feb. 14, 2007.
Nearly 65 years after he last played, West still owns 17 school records.
“We have lost the greatest Mountaineer of all time, and there will never be another Jerry West. Our loving prayers go out to the West family. Rest in peace Logo – a champion and a Mountaineer forever,” Baker said.
Beyond his contributions on the basketball court, West was always a great supporter of West Virginia University and never turned down an opportunity to help his alma mater. His expertise was always consulted on basketball hiring decisions and his advice and counsel were frequently sought on important matters regarding the athletics department and the University.
He also discreetly made significant financial contributions to WVU throughout his life without much fanfare, per his wishes.
The Clippers, who announced his death, said West’s wife, Karen, was by his side when he died.
“As the basketball world mourns the man known simply as “the logo,” I join all West Virginians and members of the West Virginia University family in remembering a true legend,” West Virginia University president Gordon Gee said this morning. “There will never be another Jerry West.
From his time as a record-breaking basketball player in the WVU Field House to his success in the front offices of some of the most respected sports franchises in America, Jerry brought his
unique abilities, innovative spirit and quiet strength - the very best of what it means to be a Mountaineer,” Gee said. “He was a dear friend and steadfast supporter of West Virginia University, and I send my sincerest condolences to his wife, Karen, and the entire West family.”
Son Jonnie, one of West’s five children, played for John Beilein and Bob Huggins at WVU and is currently director of player personnel for the Golden State Warriors. Jonnie married former professional golfer Michelle Wie in 2019 and the couple have one daughter, Makenna.
GIFT TO SUPPORT MOUNTAINEER BASEBALL RENAMES FACILITY TO KENDRICK FAMILY BALLPARK
The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in conjunction with the WVU Foundation, announced a generous gift from Ken Kendrick, Arizona Diamondbacks owner and WVU alumnus, to support the WVU Baseball program. The gift includes the renaming of Monongalia County Ballpark as the facility now will be known as Kendrick Family Ballpark at the Monongalia County Baseball Complex.
The venue’s new name will honor the Kendrick Family and its ties to not only WVU but the state of West Virginia.
“I am grateful to Ken and the entire Kendrick Family for their continued partnership,” WVU President Gordon Gee said. “This latest gift builds on an incredible history of support for West Virginia University and the Mountain State, and once again underscores their passion for ensuring WVU shines in the Big 12 Conference, the most comprehensively competitive league in the country.”
The gift also allows for upgrades to the Monongalia County Baseball Complex to add an indoor pitching and hitting facility that will be accessible to the Mountaineer baseball program yearround.
“What a giant step forward for Mountaineer baseball to add this yearround facility to our training and practice schedule,” WVU Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “Ken Kendrick is a friend to WVU, our athletics department and Mountaineer baseball, and it is with great pride that this ballpark be renamed to honor his family and his legacy.
“Ken is a great baseball man, and he knows the challenges that baseball faces in our part of the country. This hitting and pitching facility located at Kendrick Family Ballpark will have a tremendous impact on Mountaineer baseball and the Monongalia County community.”
“I would like to thank Ken Kendrick for his friendship and for his generous donation to WVU Baseball that will enable us to build a desperately needed indoor pitching and hitting lab,” former Mountaineer baseball coach Randy Mazey said. “This facility will continue to propel our baseball program forward on our path to the College World Series. I know I can speak for Mountaineer baseball fans everywhere when I say, thank you, Ken, you are a great Mountaineer!” The addition to the ballpark will add an 8,200 square-foot structure next to the current clubhouse and include two regulation-size pitching lanes, a soft toss area and two full-size batting lanes. The pitching and batting areas will be outfitted with state-ofthe-art Trackman technology to help
coaches and players analyze performance. Completion of the indoor hitting and pitching facility is scheduled for February 2025.
“My family and I are longtime supporters of WVU baseball and are very honored to have our names associated with the home ballpark of the Mountaineers,” Kendrick said. “We hope our gift of the state of the art hitting and pitching laboratories will enhance the development of both current and future WVU players.”
The ballpark is one of the premier collegiate venues in the country with a capacity of 3,500 spectators. Touted as one of the best collaboration efforts ever in the state, a Tax Increment Fund (TIF) was established and enabled the stadium to open its gates in 2015. Since then, the Mountaineers hold a 128-67 (.656) record in the facility and have posted eight winning seasons. WVU hosted an NCAA baseball regional at the ballpark in 2019, which marked the first time for a baseball postseason game in Morgantown since 1955.
BaseballParks.com Ballpark of the Year in 2015. The annual award recognizes a new or remodeled stadium with the best combination of site selection, exterior appearance, architectural design and fan amenities.
“The Ballpark was created through an unprecedented collaboration between Monongalia County, WVU, local developers and officials,” Sean Sikora, Monongalia County Commission President, said. “The facility is a community asset and a source of great pride and on behalf of the Monongalia County Commission, we are very excited for this next step in its evolution.”
The venue was named the
“We appreciate Ken Kendrick’s strong passion for his alma mater and his commitment to build upon his family’s incredible legacy of support for WVU,” Cindi Roth, president and CEO of the WVU Foundation, said. “Ken’s generosity extends far beyond his gifts to athletics, academics, health care and more. He was a devoted member of the WVU Foundation board for many years, and he continues to share his time and expertise as one of the world’s leading entrepreneurs to strengthen many aspects across the University and its
programs. This latest contribution will undoubtedly benefit WVU Baseball and the Mountain State for years to come.” West Virginia opens the Big 12 Conference home season at Kendrick Family Ballpark this afternoon at 3 p.m. against BYU. The Mountaineers captured a share of the Big 12 regular season championship last year.
The BYU series also marks the first conference games on the new artificial surface installed over the winter on Wagener Field. The field portion of the ballpark was named after WVU baseball alum Rick Wagener and his wife, Jay, in 2022.
A dedication ceremony to honor the Kendrick family will be announced at a later time.
WREN BAKER, KEN KENDRICK, RANDY MAZEY AND CAL KENDRICK
EIGHT MOUNTAINEERS COMPETE IN 2024 PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
Eight Mountaineers represented WVU and their home countries at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games from July 25 - Aug. 9. The WVU athletes competed for Australia, Canada, Nigeria and the United States.
The Mountaineers in Paris were Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada/Soccer), Amy Cashin (Australia/Track), Blessing Ejiofor (Nigeria/Basketball), Ceili McCabe (Canada/Track), Ashley Lawrence (Canada/Soccer), Sydney Pickrem (Canada/ Swimming), Ivan Puskovitch (United State/Swimming) and Mary Tucker (United States/Rifle)
For Buchanan and Lawrence, who starred for the Mountaineers from 2013-16, it was their third Olympics. Each won a bronze medal in their Olympics debut in 2016 and followed that up with a gold in the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Cashin, the Australian national champion, competed in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. It was her second appeaance in the Games. She finished 11th in her heat in the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Ejifor, who played women’s basketball at WVU from 2019-21, earned her first trip to the games with the Nigerian women’s team.
Current Mountaineer All-American McCabe won the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Canadian Athletics Track and Field Championship to earn her first Olympics berth.
Pickrem, the newest Mountaineer, made her third trip to the Olympics. The current WVU assistant swimming coach won a bronze in 2020 as part of the 4x100 medley realy team after finishing sixth in the 200 individual medley in 2016.
Puskovitch made his Olympic debut in marathon swimming after placing 14th in the men’s 10km event at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Tucker, the 2024 NCAA national champion in smallbore, made her second trip to the Olympics. She shot in the smallbore, air rifle and mixed team events, the same ones in which she shot in Tokyo.
KADEISHA BUCHANAN AMY CASHIN
BLESSING EJIOFOR ASHLEY LAWRENCE
CEILI McCABE SYDNEY PICKREM
IVAN PUSKOVITCH
MARY TUCKER
MAZZULLA BECOMES SECOND MOUNTAINEER TO COACH MAJOR
PRO CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
West Virginia University can now claim two major professional championship coaches.
Joe Stydahar was the first Mountaineer alum to lead a major professional sports franchise to a title when his Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Cleveland Browns 24-17 in the 1951 NFL Championship game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
On June 17, Joe Mazzulla joined him when his Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in game five of the NBA finals to clinch the series 4-1. It’s Boston’s 18th NBA title, making the 35-year-old Mazzulla the youngest coach to win an NBA title since 34-year-old Bill Russell did it for the Celtics in 1968.
Mazzulla is also the fifth-youngest coach in NBA history to win a championship. The Johnston, Rhode Island, native is three years older than John Kundla was when he led the Minneapolis Lakers to a title in 1950.
George Senesky was 34 when he coached the Philadelphia Warriors to a championship in 1956 and Alex Hannum was 35 when he led the St. Louis Hawks to a crown in 1958.
Among modern era coaches, Pat Riley was 37 when he guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1982 NBA title over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mazzulla, in just his second season coaching the Celtics, owns a 121-43 regular season record and is now 27-12 in the playoffs following last year’s Eastern Conference finals loss to the Miami Heat.
Boston was 16-3 in this year’s playoffs after posting a leaguebest 64-18 regular season record. Mazzulla is younger than several players still in the league, including 38-year-old Celtics center Al Horford.
“You get very few chances in life to be great,” Mazzulla said afterward. “And you get very few chances in life to carry on the ownership and the responsibilities of what these banners are and all the great people and great players that came here.
“When you have few chances in life, you just got to take the bull by the horns, and you just got to own it.”
Now, Mazzulla can look forward to offseason meniscus surgery and then a family trip to Israel later this summer.
He said during an NBC docuseries in May that he would take his family back to Jerusalem if his team won the championship this year.
“We’re flying to Jerusalem, and we’re walking from Jericho to Jerusalem,” he said. “We went last year, and we stopped right along this mountainside of the Kidron Valley, and you can see a path in between the mountains. The only way (Jesus) could’ve gotten from Jericho to Jerusalem was this valley, and right there I was like, ‘We have to walk that.’”
Mazzulla is a devout Catholic who regularly speaks about his faith.
BASEBALL
36-24/19-11 BIG 12
» Finished 36-24 and 19-11 in Big 12 play in head coach Randy Mazey’s 12th and final season in Morgantown
» Won the NCAA Tucson Regional and advanced to its first Super Regional in program history. It was the first time since 1961-64 that WVU has made back-to-back regional appearance
» In Tucson, the Mountaineers went 3-0, defeating Dallas Baptist and Grand Canyon twice
» Played No. 4 North Carolina in Chapel Hill Super Regional, falling in two close games, 8-6, and 2-1
» Set a new program record with 19 Big 12 wins
» For the eighth consecutive season, WVU was ranked in the Top 25, peaking at No. 12 in the NCBWA poll
» Established a new single-season record with 91 home runs, which was also 45th most in the country
» Finished in the top 50 in the NCAA in stolen bases with 88
» The pitching staff had a 4.93 ERA, good enough for 51st in the country and five shutouts, 14th-most in the nation and second in the Big 12
» Were 32nd in the country by allowing just 8.52 hits per nine innings
» Senior Derek Clark was named to the All-Big 12 First Team after going 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 97.2 innings pitched. He finished the season with four complete games, second-most in the country
» Clark was named the Tucson Regional Most Outstanding Player after throwing a complete game against Dallas Baptist in the opener before getting the final two outs against Grand Canyon in the clinching game
» Junior JJ Wetherholt, the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, was named to the AllBig 12 First Team for the second consecutive season despite missing 24 games. He hit .331 with eight home runs, eight doubles, 30 RBI, and 30 runs scored
» Clark was named to the NCBWA All-America Third Team while Wetherholt earned a spot on the Perfect Game All-America Third Team
» Clark won an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove
» Clark and Wetherholt were named ABCA All-Region with Clark on the first team and Wetherholt on the second team.
» Wetherholt was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy.
» Senior Reed Chumley was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team after hitting .311 with a team-high 16 home runs, 15 doubles and 50 RBI
» Aidan Major, Kyle West and sophomore Sam White were named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
» Junior Grant Hussey became the all-time program leader in home runs when he hit his 36th against Pitt at PNC Park
» Wetherholt became the 22nd player in program history to reach 200 hits
DEREK CLARK
JJ WETHERHOLT
SPENCER BARNETT
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
NICK BARONE
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
REED CHUMLEY
» All-Big 12 Second Team
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (April 15)
» Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team
TYLER COX
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
DEREK CLARK
» Third Team All-American (NCBWA, D1Baseball)
» ABCA All-East Region First Team
» All-Big 12 First Team
» ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glover winner
» Two-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week (Apr. 8, May 13)
» Two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Apr. 8, May 13)
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (April 8)
» Tucson Regional Most Outstanding Player
» Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team
JOSEPH FREDERICKS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ELLIS GARCIA
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
ARMANI GUZMAN
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
DAVID HAGAMAN
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
GRANT HUSSEY
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» WVU career home run leader
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (May 6)
BRODIE KRESSER
» College Sports Communicators
Academic All-District Team
AIDAN MAJOR
» All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (April 1)
MICHAEL PERAZZA
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ROBBIE PORCO
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
LOGAN SAUVE
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team
AIDAN SMITH
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
TYLER SWITALSKI
» Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team
LUKE SZEPEK
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KYLE WEST
» Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (April 29)
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (April 29)
JJ WETHERHOLT
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Perfect Game All-America Third Team
» ABCA All-East Region Second Team
» All-Big 12 First Team
» Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (May 13)
» Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
» NCBWA Preseason All-America First Team
» Baseball America Preseason AllAmerica First Team
» D1Baseball Preseason All-America First Team
» Perfect Game Preseason All-America First Team
» Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year
SAM WHITE
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
CROSS COUNTRY
» West Virginia saw action in five regular season meets, as well as the Big 12 Cross Country Championship and NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals
» The Mountaineers finished fourth out of fourteen teams at the Big 12 Cross Country Championship in Ames, Iowa on Oct. 28
» West Virginia went on to finish fourth out of 27 teams at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Nov. 10
» Alexis Lamb led the Mountaineers at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals with a time of 20:11.1, finishing 14th overall
» Lamb, Sarah Tait and Katherine Dowie earned All Mid-Atlantic Region honors after finishing within the top 25 of women’s runners in the 6k at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals
» The squad earned the 2023 NCAA Division One Women’s XC All-Academic Team Award which was announced at the end of the season by the U.S. Track & Field and Coaches Cross Country Coaches Association
» Dowie and Tait were named All-Academic Athletes by the U.S.T.F.C.C.A.
» Six student athletes were named to the Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team including Aubrie Custer, Katherine Dowie, Jeanne Reix Charat, Mikenna Vanderheyden, Abbey Yuhasz and Zara Zervos. Dowie was also honored with a 4.0 GPA.
» Tait set WVU’s record at the West Branch Cross Country Course at the Lock Haven Invitational with a time of 20:14.4 on Sept. 23.
» West Virginia claimed third place at the RMU Colonial Invitational on Sept. 16.
» USTFCCA 2023 NCAA D1 Women’s XC All-Academic Team Award
ALEXIS LAMB
AUBRIE CUSTER
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MARY DELANEY
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KATHERINE DOWIE
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team (4.0 GPA)
» U.S.T.F.C.C.A. All-Academic Athlete
» All Mid-Atlantic Regional honors
ALEXIS LAMB
» All Mid-Atlantic Regional honors
» Led the Mountaineers at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals with a time of 20:11.1, finishing 14th overall
JEANNE REIX CHARAT
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
EVA RINKER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KISHAY ROWE
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
SARAH TAIT
» U.S.T.F.C.C.A. All-Academic Athlete
» All Mid-Atlantic Regional honors
MIKENNA VANDERHEYDEN
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ABBEY YUHASZ
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ZARA ZERVOS
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
KATHERINE DOWIE
SARAH TAIT
FOOTBALL
9-4/6-3 BIG 12
ZACH FRAZIER
» Ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll in 2023, the first time in the final rankings since 2018
» Defeated North Carolina, 30-10, to earn their 17th win all-time in bowl games and 2-1 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
» Won nine games for the first time since the 2016 season and finished 6-3 in the Big 12 Conference, tying for the second best league record since joining the Big 12 in 2012
» Posted 2,976 rushing yards, ranking No. 1 among Power 5 schools. In Big 12 games, WVU was the only school to finish with more than 2,000 rushing yards (2,211)
» Finished No. 3 nationally in rushing offense, improving 48 spots from the 2022 season (No. 51). The Mountaineers were No. 1 in the Big 12
» Among Power 5 schools, WVU has the longest streak of games with 140 or more rushing yards (16), three more than any other team and was the only team in the Big 12 with three players with at least 700 rushing yards
» Was No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 2 among Power 5 schools for fewest sacks allowed (10)
» Finished No. 1 in the Big 12 in team sacks (33) and No. 29 in the nation, inmproving 31 spots from 2022; ranked No. 5 nationally in passing yards per completion (15.02), improving from No. 111 in 2022
» Averaged 31.5 points per game, making an 11-spot national jump
» Scoring defense improved 53 spots from the 2022 season from 115 to 62
» Held 11 of its last 12 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing
» Garrett Greene tied for No. 1 nationally in quarterback rushing touchdowns (13), No. 2 in passing yards per completion (16.37), No. 9 in rushing yards per carry (6.43), No. 20 in yards per pass attempt (8.69) and points responsible for per game (14.8) and tied for No. 22 in rushing touchdowns (13)
» Beanie Bishop Jr. led the nation in passes defended (24) and breakups (20), was second in forced incompletions (17) and was tied for No. 19 in interceptions (4)
» Hudson Clement finished No. 2 in the Power 5 for receiving yards per catch (21.82)
» Jahiem White was the first true freshman to rush for more than 200 yards in a game since Dustin Garrison finished with 291 yards against Bowling Green in 2011
LEIGHTON BECHDEL
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
BRYCE BIGGS
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
CADEN BISER
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
DONALD BRANDEL
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
AUSTIN BRINKMAN
» 2024 Iron Mountaineer Award
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (Phil Steele)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
BEANIE BISHOP JR.
» NCAA Consensus All-American
» Walter Camp FB Foundation All-America (First Team)
» FWAA All-America (First Team)
» Associated Press All-America (Second Team)
» AFCA All-America (Second Team)
» The Sporting News All-America (Second Team)
» Phil Steele All-America (First Team)
» Bleacher Report All-America (First Team)
» College Football Nework All-America (First Team)
» USA Today All-America Second Team
» FOX Sports All-America Second Team
» All-Big 12 Conference First Team (Coaches, AP, Phil Steele, PFF College)
AUBREY BURKS
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
TYLER CAIN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
CJ COLE
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
RALEIGH COLLINS III
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
BEN CUTTER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
TREYLAN DAVIS
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
WILL DIXON
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
CJ DONALDSON JR.
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
JAIRO FAVERUS
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
PRESTON FOX
» 2024 Iron Mountaineer Award
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
RODNEY GALLAGHER III
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ZACH FRAZIER
» NFF William V. Campbell Trophy FInalist
» NFF Scholar-Athlete Team
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-American (First Team)
» Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist
» Jason Witten Award Man of the Year Semifinalist
» College Sports Communicators
Academic All-District
» The Sporting News All-America Second Team
» Associated Press All-America Third Team
» Action Network All-America First Team
» USA Today All-America Second Team
» The Athletic All-America Second Team
» SI.com All-America Second Team
» FOX Sports All-America Second Team
» College Football Network All-America Second Team
» Phil Steele All-America Third Team
» All-Big 12 Conference First Team (Coaches, AP, Phil Steele, PFF College)
GARRETT GREENE
» 2024 Iron Mountaineer Award
» Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP
» All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MICHAEL HAYES
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
JORDAN JACKSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
LEE KPOGBA
» All-Big 12 Conference Third Team (Phil Steele)
NICK KRAHE
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
LANDEN LIVINGSTON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
GRAESON MALASHEVICH
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
SEAN MARTIN
» 2024 Iron Mountaineer Award
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
COLIN MCBEE
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
COREY MCINTYRE JR.
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
WYATT MILUM
» 2024 Iron Mountaineer Award
» Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention
» All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (Phil Steele)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
DOUG NESTER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
TOMAS RIMAC
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
HAMMOND RUSSELL IV
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
TAURUS SIMMONS
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
OLIVER STRAW
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ADEN TAGALOA-NELSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KOLE TAYLOR
» All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (Coaches)
» All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
EDWARD VESTERINEN
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
VICTOR WIKSTROM
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
AVERY WILCOX
» Tommy Nickolich Award, signifying the program’s most outstanding walk-on
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
JAHIEM WHITE
» The Athletic Freshman All-American
» PFF Freshman All-America
» ON3 True Freshman All-American
» College Football News Freshman AllAmerican Second Team
JAREL WILLIAMS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
BRANDON YATES
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
COOPER YOUNG
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GOLF
FIFTH AT BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
TIED FOR THIRD AT NCAA REGIONALS
28TH AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
» Made second NCAA Golf Championships appearance in school history (other was 1947) and first since program was reinstated in 2015
» Recorded a 28th-place finish at NCAA Championships, besting the previousbest mark of 39th in 1947
» Finished tied for third as a 10 seed at Rancho Santa Fe Regional
» Two tournament victories at the Red Bandanna Invitational and Mountaineer Invitational
» School-record 97 wins this season, including victories over Arizona State, Stanford, Washington, Texas Tech, Houston, BYU, Utah, NC State, Kentucky, San Diego, UCF, TCU, Boston College, FGCU
» Program-best fifth place finish at Big 12 Conference Championship (out of 14 teams)
» Tied for fourth-most wins (3) at Big 12 Match Play (defeated No. 25 Texas Tech in opening match)
» Second lowest tournament score in program history (-27) in the National Invitational Tournament
» Tied school record for lowest round in school history (-17) in round one of the Dorado Beach Collegiate
» Lowest round score in Big 12 Championship (-8 in round three)
» Golf Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award
COACH SEAN COVICH
» One of five finalists for the NCAA Division I Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award
JACKSON DAVENPORT
» Competed in 11 events for a total of 33 rounds
» Had an average score of 72.48
» In WVU lineup in 10 tournaments
» Participated in the Big 12 Championship, NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championships
» Had three rounds in the 60s, including a season-low 67 at the Mountaineer Invitational
» Tied for second place at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 71-6967=207 (-9)
» Earned a runner-up finish at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate, shooting 71-7272=215 (+2)
» Picked up one victory (UCF) and three ties (Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Kansas) at Big 12 Match Play Championship
TODD DUNCAN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Played 27 rounds for a 72.96 average
» In WVU’s tournament lineup eight times
» Had three rounds in the 60’s, including a career-low 67 at the Dorado Beach Collegiate
» Participated in the Big 12 Championship, NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championships
» WVU’s top finisher at the NCAA Golf Championships with rounds of 78-7472=224 (+8)
» Tied for 13th place at the NCAA Regional Championship with rounds of 73-70-70=213 (+3)
» Finished tied for 23rd at the Big 12 Championship with rounds of 77-7468-72=291 (+3)
» Tied for sixth place at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 71-71-71=213 (-3)
» Finished 1-under-par at The N.I.T. with rounds of 75-72-68=215
» Recorded a win (UCF) and a tie (UCF) at the Big 12 Match Play Championship
MAX GREEN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Division I PING All-Midwest Region
» WVU Golf Player of the Year
» Only WVU golfer to be in the lineup in every tournament during the season
» Played in 36 rounds for an average of 70.92, the second-lowest total in school history
» 25 rounds of Even par of better
» Had an 85.4% winning percentage entering the NCAA Championships
» Had 34 counting scores (94.4%)
» Had 12 rounds in the 60s, including three rounds of 66, a WVU career low
» WVU’s top finisher at the NCAA Regional Championship, finishing sixth with rounds of 71-69-69=209 (-1)
» WVU’s top finisher at the Big 12 Championship, tying for 18th place with rounds of 74-72-72-72=290 (+2)
» Tied for fourth place at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 66-72-71=209 (-7)
» Named the Big 12 Conference Golfer of the Month for March
» Tied for fourth place at The Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate at 5-underpar with rounds of 67-74-70=211
» Earned a runner-up finish at the Schenkel Invitational with rounds of 71-68-67=216 (-10)
» Finished third at the Dorado Beach Collegiate with career lows of 6666=132 (-12)
» Went 4-1 at Big 12 Match Play Championship with wins over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and UCF (twice)
» Tied for sixth place at The Gopher Invitational at -2 (73-68-70=211)
» Named WVU Athlete of the Week on Sept. 4 for his performance at the Red Bandanna
» Won his second collegiate tournament at the Red Bandanna Invitational by shooting 68-75-70=213 (-3)
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
PIERCE GRIEVE
» Participated in 24 rounds for an average of 74.88
» In WVU tournament lineup five times
» Participated in the Big 12 Championship, NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championships
» Tied for sixth place at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 72-70-71=213 (-3)
CARSON KAMMANN
» Competed in 17 rounds for an average of 74.00
» Played in six events and was in the WVU tournament lineup twice
» Season low of 67 at the Mountaineer Invitational
» Was an alternate for the Big 12 Championship
» Won the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 71-68-67=206 (-10)
» Became the fourth different WVU golfer to win a tournament
» Led WVU at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational, finishing tied for 16th at +1 (73-68-76=217)
» Posted two wins (Texas Tech & Kansas) and a tie (UCF) at Big 12 Match Play Championship
» Made the lineup in his first WVU event at the Red Bandanna Invitational and finished tied for 18th place at 9-over (75-79-71=225)
WESTY MCCABE
» Played 17 rounds for an average of 75.29
» Played in six events as an individual
» Had a season-low 69 at the Minnesota Golf Classic
» Finished tied for fourth at the Minnesota Golf Classic at 7-under-par (70-69-70=209)
OLI MÉNARD
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Competed in nine events and was in the WVU tournament lineup five times
» Competed in 26 rounds for an average of 72.88
» Had three rounds in the 60s
» Tied for eighth place at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate with rounds of 70-72-77=219 (+6)
» Earned a runner-up finish at the Xavier Invitational, shooting 3-underpar (70-68-69=207)
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
WILL STAKEL
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CSC Academicv All-District
» Academic Achievement Award from the WVU golf team
» Played in 26 rounds for an average score of 73.57
» Was in the WVU tournament lineup four times
» Shot a career-low 66 in the Dorado Beach Collegiate
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
HARRISON THOMPSON
» Participated in 14 rounds for an average of 73.36 for the season
» Competed in five events and was in the WVU tournament lineup twice
» Was an alternate for the NCAA Golf Championships
» Was an alternate for the NCAA Regional Championship
» Tied for 12th place at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 74-73-71=218 (+2)
» Made the lineup in his first collegiate event at the Red Bandanna Invitational and placed 11th at +5 (73-71-77=221)
TRENT TIPTON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» WVU Golf Most Improved Player
» Played in five tournaments
» Competed in 14 rounds for a 72.29 average
» Appeared in the WVU lineup four times
» Had two rounds of 68 and one round of 69
» Tied for 14th place at The Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate with rounds of 75-68-75=218 (+2)
» Finished 14th at the Schenkel Invitational with rounds of 75-6875=218 (+2)
» Shot 1-under-par at the Dorado Beach Collegiate with rounds of 69-74=143
» Was WVU’s top finisher at the Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate, shooting 75-68-75=218 (+2) and finished 14th
KALEB WILSON
» WVU Golf Most Improved Player
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
» Competed in 33 rounds for an average of 73.30 for the season
» Participated in 11 tournaments and was in the WVU lineup eight times
» Had seven rounds in the 60s, including a season-low 66 at the Mountaineer Invitational
» Participated in the Big 12 Championship, NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championships
» Tied for 10th place at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 75-7666=217 (+1)
» Finished a career-best 11-under-par and tied for 15th at The N.I.T. with rounds of 70-68-67=215
» Recorded wins over Texas Tech and UCF at Big 12 Match Play Championship
» Shot 2-under-par (68-75-71=214) at the Minnesota Golf Classic, finishing tied for 14th
GYMNASTICS
12-9/1-2 BIG 12
» West Virginia finished the 2024 season at 8-15 overall and 0-4 in Big 12 Conference competition
» WVU celebrated the program’s 50-year anniversary in 2024, with its varsity status dating back to 1974
» The squad also exceeded 800 program victories on Jan. 28, as the all-time record now sits at 805-386-5
» In his 13th season at the helm, coach Jason Butts earned his 150th career victory. His career record now sits at 156-121-1
» The Mountaineers finished in fifth place at the 2024 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship, tallying a 195.125 in Norman, Oklahoma
» WVU finished the year ranked No. 53 overall in the Road to Nationals rankings with a 195.455 National Qualifying Score (NQS)
» West Virginia reached a season-high 196.000 in the regular-season finale at Minnesota on March 17
» Competing in her fifth season, Abbie Pierson tied WVU’s program record for career meets competed with 60 meets in her career
» Pierson also finished her career No. 5 all-time in career points with 1,880.8 points tallied during her five-year career
» Jurnee Lane earned WVU’s lone Big 12 Conference weekly honor, earning the Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week on Jan. 30
» Eleven of the 15 Mountaineers who saw competitive time reached the podium, as WVU tallied 57 podium finishes on the year
» Pierson led the team with 17 podium finishes this season, including seven event wins
» A New Kensington, Pennsylvania, native, Pierson also paced the team with 464.15 season points, as she represented WVU in the all-around in every meet she competed
» Seven Mountaineers earned a spot on the 2025 Winter Academic All-Big 12 First Team, and four were on the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team.
KIANA LEWIS
BROOKE ALBAN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Surpassed 500 career points
JULIA BROWN
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ELLEN COLLINS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
JURNEE LANE
» Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ANN LEIGH
» Academic All-Big 12
» Surpassed 500 career points
KIANA LEWIS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 All-Tournament Vault Team
» Surpassed 1,000 career points
AMBER LOWE
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
JAYDEN Mc DONNEL
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
SIERRA MUNS
» Surpassed 500 career points
ABBIE PIERSON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Surpassed 1,500 career points
» Matched program record with 60 career meets competed
» No. 5 all-time with 1,880.8 career points
» No. 6 in program history with 28 career 9.9+ scores
MIRANDA SMITH
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
EMMA WEHRY
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ABBIE PIERSON
JURNEE LANE
9-23/4-14 BIG 12
MEN’S BASKETBALL
» Defeated No. 3 Kansas and No. 25 Texas
» Win over No. 3 Kansas was WVU’s first over a Top 5 team since beating No. 4 Baylor in 2020
» Only had a full roster for nine games during the season
» Only three players played in every game: Quinn Slazinski, Josiah Harris and Pat Suemnick
» Averaged 10,546 fans at the WVU Coliseum
» MSN Radio color analyst Jay Jacobs retired during the 2023-24 season. He called his final game against BYU on Feb 3
RAEQUAN BATTLE
» Led WVU in scoring at 16.1 points per game
» Scored 29 points against Radford in his WVU debut, the most points scored by a WVU player in his first game
» Big 12 Player of the Week (Dec. 26)
» Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Dec. 26)
» Co-Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 2)
JESSE EDWARDS
» Participated in the NABC Reese’s All-Star Game
» Had 36 points and 13 rebounds against TCU, becoming the fifth WVU player and first since 1962 to post those numbers in a game
» 36 points vs. TCU were the most by a Big 12 player in a game in 2023-24
» Became the first player in school history to have 25 points, 10 rebounds and four rebounds in a game when he did so against Cincinnati
» Named to the preseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
JESSE EDWARDS
JOSIAH HARRIS
» Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in December during his sophomore season
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» NABC Honors Court
KERR KRIISA
» Led the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage in conference games only at 44.0%
OFRI NAVEH
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ALI RAGAB
» NABC Honors Court
PATRICK SUEMNICK
» College Sports Communications (CSC) Academic All-District Team
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» NABC Honors Court
ADEN TAGALOA-NELSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
RAEQUAN BATTLE
JOSIAH HARRIS
MEN’S SOCCER
17-3-4/5-1-3 SUN BELT
» Advanced to the College Cup for the first time in program history
» Finished third in the Sun Belt Conference in its second season in league
» Earned the No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest in program history
» In the NCAA Tournament, West Virginia defeated Louisville, Vermont, and Loyola Marymount all at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium en route to the College Cup
» At the College Cup in Louisville, the Mountaineers dropped a 1-0 decision to eventual national champion Clemson in the semifinals
» The 17 wins set a new program record for most in a season
» Reached as high as No. 2 in the country in the United Soccer Coaches poll, the highest in team history
» Sophomore Marcus Caldeira was named a Second Team All-American and senior Yutaro Tsukada a Third Team All-American by United Soccer Coaches
» Caldeira, Tsukada and senior Luke McCormick earned United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region Honors while junior Frederik Jorgensen and senior Jackson Lee were named to the second team
» Tsukada was named a United Soccer Coaches First Team Scholar All-American while Lee earned second team honors
» Caldeira was named a First-Team Academic-All American by College Sports Communicators, the 13th selection in WVU history
» Caldeira and Tsukada earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors
» McCormick, Jorgensen and Lee all earned spots on the All-Sun Belt Second Team
» Dan Stratford was named the TopDrawerSoccer National Coach of the Year
» Defeated four ranked teams on the season – No. 1 Marshall, No. 3 Portland, No. 20 Louisville, and No. 25 Loyola Marymount
» The win over Marshall was the third win over the No. 1 team in the country in program history, having previously defeated top-ranked Connecticut in 2007 and 2011
» Three Mountaineers were taken in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft –Caldeira (No. 20, Minnesota United FC), Tsukada (No. 25, Orlando City SC), and Lee (No. 28, LAFC). The trio were the first three WVU players ever taken in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft
» Tsukada ended the season sixth in the nation with 33 points and third in gamewinning goals with six. He also led WVU and was 15th in the country with nine assists
» Tsukada and Caldeira each had 12 goals, tops in the Sun Belt and 16th in the country
» Lee played every minute in goal for the Mountaineers and had nine shutouts, seventh-most in the nation
» Senior Sergio Ors Navarro had eight goals and two assists while McCormick finished the year with seven goals and three assist
» Junior Max Broughton had two goals on the season while Jorgensen, junior Otto Ollikainen, senior Ryan Baer, senior Thomas Decottignies and junior Carlos Hernando each had one for the Mountaineers
» Jorgensen was second on the team with four assists. Overall, 16 players had at least one assist on the season
» Recognized with the Team Academic Award by the United Soccer Coaches for the 16th consecutive year
» College Soccer News National Team of the Week (Nov. 26)
MARCUS CALDEIRA
RYAN BAER
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MAX BROUGHTON
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
» College Soccer News National Team of the Week (Nov. 26)
MARCUS CALDEIRA
» College Soccer News First-Team AllAmerican
» United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-American
» United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team
» All-Sun Belt First Team
» CSC First-Team Academic AllAmerican
» CSC Academic All-District
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 12)
» College Soccer News Player of the Week (Sept. 12)
» NCAA Player of the Week (Oct. 19)
» TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Week (Oct. 24)
» College Soccer News National Team of the Week (Sept. 12, Oct. 24)
» TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week (Oct. 24)
» Drafted 20th overall by Minnesota United FC in the MLS SuperDraft
CONSTANTINOS CHRISTOU
» Ranked No. 20 on TopDrawerSoccer’s Midseason top 100 Freshmen list
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
RYAN CROOKS
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
CARLOS HERNANDO
» College Sports Communicators
Academic All-District
» Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 12)
» TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week (Sept. 5, Sept. 12, Dec. 5)
FREDERIK JORGENSEN
» United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team
» All-Sun Belt Second Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
KASIMIR LAUBER
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
JACKSON LEE
» United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team
» United Soccer Coaches Scholar AllAmerican Second Team
» All-Sun Belt Second Team
» CSC Academic All-District
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week (Dec. 5)
» Drafted No. 28 overall by LAFC in the MLS SuperDraft
» Signed with Rhode Island FC of the United Soccer League
KYLE LEHNERT
» College Sports Communicators
Academic All-District
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
LUKE MCCORMICK
» United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team
» All-Sun Belt Second Team
» All-Sun Belt Tournament Team
SAM NYENKA
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
OTTO OLLIKAINEN
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
SERGIO ORS NAVARRO
» All-Sun Belt Tournament Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
JAKE ROSS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
MAX TRETHEWEY
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
YUTARO TSUKADA
» United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team
» College Soccer News All-America Second Team
» TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Second Team
» United Soccer Coaches Scholar AllAmerican First Team
» United Soccer Coaches Scholar AllSouth Region First Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team
» All-Sun Belt First Team
» Sun Belt All-Tournament Team
» Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 3)
» Two-time College Soccer News National Team of the Week (Oct. 3, Nov. 26)
» Two-time TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week (Oct. 3, Dec. 5)
» Drafted No. 25 overall by Orlando City SC in the MLS SuperDraft
YUTARO TSUKADA
RIFLE
13-0/6-0 GREAT AMERICAN RIFLE CONFERENCE
GARC REGULAR SEASON/TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
» Posted 28th perfect regular season recordin program history
» Had nine CRCA Scholastic All-Americans: Malori Brown, Maximum Duncan, Tal Engler, Griffin Lake, Becca Lamb, Moly McGhin, Natalie Perrin, Matt Sanchez and Lauri Syrja
» Mary Tucker becomes the programs 35th Olympian, qualifying for the 2024 Paris Games in air rifle.
» Claimed its 16th GARC Tournament Championship and second straight. Also claimed its 15th GARC Regular Season Title
» During the regular season, defeated nine top-10 opponents, including five in top five
» Won 10 or more matches for the 14th time under coach Jon Hammond, who improved his career record to 188-21 (.899) in 2023-24
» At the GARC Championships, on Feb. 25, Junior Gavin Barnick became the eighth shooter in program history to shoot a perfect 600 in air rifle. The mark also tied the school and NCAA record in the relay.
» Posted a score of 4759 at the GARC Championship which was the highest team aggregate score in NCAA history
» Shot an NCAA Qualifying Score of 9500.33, which helped them earn their 16th consecutive bid to the NCAA Rifle Championships. WVU entered the field as the topranked team
» At the 2023-24 GARC Championships, hosted by Army, shot a 2366 smallbore and a 2393 in air rifle for a combined score of 4759 to finish first
» Prior to the GARC Championships, seven Mountaineer shooters earned a combined 24 honors on this year’s All-GARC team
» Of WVU’s 24 All-GARC honors this year, seven student-athletes made the smallbore team, six made the air rifle team and seven were a part of the combined (smallbore and air rifle). team.
» Additionally, senior Matt Sanchez was named the GARC’s Shooter and Senior of the Year, after averaging scores of 590.1 in smallbore, 594.6 in air rifle and 1184.8 overall in 2023-24. It marks the second straight season a Mountaineer has collected both honors with fifth-year Mary Tucker collecting both honors last season.
» Sanchez is the 11th student-athlete in program history to be named the conference shooter of the year. He is also the 13th in program history named senior of the year.
» Freshman Griffin Lake was named the GARC Rookie of the Year for his performance this season. His marks of 587.8 in smallbore, 593.6 in air rifle and 1181.5 combined average gave him the honor
» Lake is the ninth Mountaineer to earn the distinction and the first since junior Natalie Perrin collected the honor in 2022
» Fifth-year Molly McGhin represented West Virginia in the GARC’s Scholar-Athlete category
» Concluded the season by shooting a 4729 at the 2024 NCAA Rifle Championships, hosted by West Virginia, and finished second at the event
» WVU’s 2353 in smallbore at the NCAA Championships was good for first place in the discipline while their 2376 in air rifle was the fourth-best mark
» Following the season, seven student-athletes took home 15 combined All-America honors from the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association
» Lake was named the CRCA Rookie of the Year, Molly McGhin was named the CRCA Senior of the Year and Mary Tucker was named the CRCA Most Valuable Shooter
» McGhin is the second senior of the year in program history as Lake is the second rookie of the year. Tucker is the first most valuable shooter
GAVIN BARNICK
GAVIN BARNICK
» NCAA Air Rifle Individual National Champion
» CRCA All-America First Team (Smallbore)
» CRCA All-America Second Team (Smallbore)
» CRCA All-America Third Team (Combined)
» All-GARC First Team (Smallbore)
» All-GARC Honorable Mention (Air Rifle)
» All-GARC Second Team (Combined)
MALORI BROWN
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CRCA All-GARC Second Team (Smallbore)
» All-GARC Honorable Mention (Air Rifle)
» All-GARC Second Team (Combined)
MAXIMUS DUNCAN
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
TAL ENGLER
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CRCA All-America Second Team (Smallbore)
» All-GARC Second Team (Smallbore)
» All-GARC Honorable Mention (Combined)
GRIFFIN LAKE
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» CRCA Rookie of the Year
» CRCA All-America First Team (Smallbore)
» CRCA All-America Second Team (Air Rifle)
» CRCA All-America Second Team (Combined)
» GARC Rookie of the Year
» All-GARC First Team (Smallbore)
» All-GARC Second Team (Air Rifle)
» All-GARC First Team (Combined)
BECCA LAMB
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MOLLY MCGHIN
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CRCA Senior of the Year
» CRCA All-America First Team (Smallbore)
» CRCA All-America First Team (Air Rifle)
» CRCA All-America First Team (Combined)
» GARC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
» All-GARC First Team (Smallbore)
» All-GARC First Team (Air Rifle)
» All-GARC First Team (Combined)
NATALIE PERRIN
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CRCA All-America Second Team (Smallbore)
» CRCA All-America Honorable Mention (Combined)
» All-GARC Honorable Mention (Smallbore)
» All-GARC Second Team (Air Rifle)
» All-GARC Second Team (Combined)
MATT SANCHEZ
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CRCA All-America First Team (Smallbore)
» CRCA All-America First Team (Air Rifle)
» CRCA All-America First Team (Combined)
» GARC Shooter of the Year
» GARC Senior of the Year
» All-GARC First Team (Smallbore)
» All-GARC Second Team (Air Rifle)
» All-GARC First Team (Combined)
LAURI SYRJA
» CRCA Scholastic All-American
MARY TUCKER
» NCAA Smallbore Individual National Champion
» CRCA Most Valuable Shooter
» Qualified for 2024 Paris Olympics
MATT SANCHEZ
ROWING
» Six student-athletes were named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete team
» Emily DeGlopper and Ryleigh Williams earned a spot on the CRCA Scholar-Athlete for the third consecutive year and senior Katherine Capitan, sophomores Emma Higgins, Adriana Hogan and Grace Terlion made their first appearances on the team
» Violet Hewett earned All-Big 12 First Team honors
» Twenty-five student-athletes were named to the 2024 Academic All-Big 12 Rowing Teams, including one earning 4.0 distinction, sophomore Cylie Leidy
» There were 22 student-athletes earning a spot on the first team, senior Laurna Atkins, Capitan, senior Ashlea Clark, sophomore Kayley Davis, DeGlopper, senior Alexandra Farron, junior Grace Fay, senior Anna Gall, Hewett, Higgins, Hogan, junior Ksenia Kaludierovic, junior Bridget Kiely, senior Sarah Morrison, senior Samantha Perro, senior Kelsey Riemer, senior Ryleigh Rosta, junior Bailey South, Terlion, sophomore Isabelle Totton and Williams. Junior Grace Cronen, sophomore Nikolina Djordjevic and sophomore Grace Holliday were second-team honorees
» Led all WVU sports for most hours of community service
» Ryleigh Williams served as the SAAC Community Service Co-Chair
» DeGlopper and Williams were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. To qualify, student-athletes must have a 3.50 GPA, be in their second year at that school, and play in at least 50% of the team’s contests
» Freshman Addison Dobson and junior Violet Hewett were selected as MVPs
» The Sunshine State Invitational at Sarasota, Florida, showed all four boats advancing from the heats on Friday to the petite finals. Top finishes included the 2V4+ finishing first, 2V8+ securing fourth and the 1V4+ coming in at fifth
» At the George Washington Invitational on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C, the First Varsity Eight, Second
Varsity Eight, and Third Varsity Eight were able to compete. The weekend’s weather forced many events to be canceled, including the entire Saturday afternoon session. The races among the Fours were scratched for the weekend, and the Third Varsity Eight was only able to complete one race. In the Friday session the 2V8+ put down the most dominant race of the weekend, finishing over 10 seconds ahead of St. Joseph’s. Saturday’s sessions saw the 1V8+ and 2V8+ shifted to a combined race with Old Dominion and Temple. WVU’s 1V8+ and 2V8+ boats were successful in defeating Old Dominion at George Mason Invitational on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax Station Virginia
» The Second Varsity Four placed first in each, capturing the grand final by more than seven seconds. The Third Varsity Four had a good showing in a field primarily made up of 2V4+’s, finishing second in their heat and advancing to the grand final, where they placed fifth. The First Varsity Four battled with George Washington, finishing in second but making it to the grand final where they found themselves closely missing third place by just half a second. The Second Varsity Eight took second place to Delaware in their heat, also advancing to the grand final, where they missed third place by less than a second. The First Varsity Eight started with a fourth-place finish in their heat and battled to a secondplace finish in the petite finals. The Third Varsity Eight held consistency, finishing fourth in both races
GRACE ARMSTRONG
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
LAURNA ATKINS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
KATHERINE CAPITAN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ASHLEA CLARK
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
GRACE CRONEN
» Female Community Service Award
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
KAYLEY DAVIS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
EMILY DEGLOPPER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CSC Academic All-District
NIKOLINA DJORDJEVIC
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
ADDISON DOBSON
» Team MVP
ALEXANDRA FARRON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
GRACE FAY
» Female Highest GPA Award: School of Public Health
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ANNA GALL
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
VIOLET HEWETT
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Team MVP
EMMA HIGGINS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Hammer Award
ADRIANA HOGAN
» Academic All-Big 12 First team
GRACE HOLLIDAY
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
RAQUEL IGA
» Flame Award
KSENIA KALUDIEROVIC
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
BRIDGET KIELY
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
SAMANTHA KRANKOWSKI
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
CYLIE LEIDY
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
OLIVIA MARTENS
» Most Improved Award
» Hammer Award
ALEXIS MITCHELL
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
SARAH MORRISON
» Female Highest GPA Award: Davis College of Agriculture Natural Resources and Design
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
LAUREN MUELLER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
SAMANTHA PERRO
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
KELSEY RIEMER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
RYLEIGH ROSTA
» WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ASHLYNN SKEBA
» Flame Award
BAILEY SOUTH
» Female Highest GPA Award: Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
SAMANTHA SPENCER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GRACE TERLION
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ISABELLE TOTTEN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Most Improved Award
TEGAN WENDLEY
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
RYLEIGH WILLIAMS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CSC Academic All-District
SWIMMING & DIVING
MEN: 2-2/1-0 BIG 12
WOMEN: 2-3/1-1 BIG 12
» The men’s team placed fifth at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships, while the women’s team placed sixth
» The Mountaineers earned six medals at the conference championship, including one gold, two silver and three bronze
» Five divers qualified for the 2024 NCAA Zone A Diving Championships in Princeton, New Jersey: Glenn Eloriaga, Owen Recker, Sara Haggerty, Sarah Krusinski and Abigail Sullivan
» Sophomore Abigail Sullivan qualified for the 2024 Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships after placing fifth in the platform event (465.45) at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships
» Sullivan became the first female WVU diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships in any event since 1984 and the first female diver from WVU to qualify on the women’s platform
» Sophomore Mia Cheatwood qualified for the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
» Cheatwood set a new program record in the 100-yard breaststroke (59.73) at the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
» Eight program records were broken during the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships: senior Danny Berlitz broke the 200 freestyle (1:35.55) and the 200 IM (1:43.94) records, sophomore Mia Cheatwood broke the 100 breaststroke (1:00.08) and the 200 breaststroke (2:09.13) records, senior Ivan Puskovitch broke the 1000 freestyle (9:08.91) and the 1650 freestyle (15:15.34) records, the relay team comprised of Berlitz, senior Roanoke Shirk and juniors Conner McBeth and Braden Osborn set a program record in the 400 freestyle (2:53.95) and the relay team comprised of Berlitz, Shirk, sophomore Max Nielsen and redshirt freshman Christian Simpson set a program record in the 800 freestyle (6:26.02)
» Puskovitch qualified for the marathon swimming event for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after placing 14th in the men’s 10 km (1:48:54.40) event at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar
» Puskovitch became the fifth American male in history to qualify for the Olympics in open water swimming since the event was added to the Olympics in 2008
» Puskovitch is the first male from the West Virginia University swimming and diving program to qualify for the Olympics and the first Mountaineer to represent the U.S. in swimming at the Olympics
» Senior Justin Heimes qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 100-yard backstroke
» Eight members of the program were named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic All-District Team: Hayden Apel, Mia Cheatwood, Justin Heimes, Sarah Krusinski, Max Nielsen, Abigail Sullivan, Ada Szwabinska, and Jake Young
MIA CHEATWOOD
TEAM
» CSCAA Scholar All-America
HAYDEN APEL
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» 2023-24 CSC Academic All-District
PRESTON BENNETT
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
DANNY BERLITZ
» 2024 Big 12 Champion – 400 IM (3:43.02)
» Set the program record in the 200 freestyle (1:35.55) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Set the program record in the 200 IM (1:43.94) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Part of the 800 freestyle relay team that set a program record (6:26.02) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Part of the 400 freestyle relay team that set a program record (2:53.95) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Named Big 12 Men’s Co-Swimmer of the Week (Oct. 18, 2023)
» First Team All-Big 12
» Second Team All-Big 12
MAVERICK BRAY
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
RILEY BROWN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
GLENN ELORIAGA
» 2024 NCAA Zone A Diving Championships qualifier (3-meter and platform)
» Big 12 Winter Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Men’s Swimming & Diving)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
» First Team All-Big 12
» 2023-24 CSCAA Academic All-District
TREVOR HUDSON
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
REILLY KEANEY
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
CONNER MCBETH
» Part of the 400 freestyle relay team that set a program record (2:53.95) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Second Team All-Big 12
FRANKIE MCCUTCHAN
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
ADAM Mc DONALD
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
LOGAN Mc FADDEN
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
IAN Mc KINNEY
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» Second Team All-Big 12
DYLAN MELIN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
WILLIAM MULLEN
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
LOGAN MCFADDEN
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
MAX NIELSEN
» Part of the 800 freestyle relay team that set a program record (6:26.02) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
» First Team All-Big 12
» 2023-24 CSCAA Academic All-District Team
BRADEN OSBORN
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
» Part of the 400 freestyle relay team that set a program record (2:53.95) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» First Team All-Big 12
DANNY BERLITZ
IVAN PUSKOVITCH
» Competed at the 2024 Olympics in the marathon swimming event
» Set the program record in the 1000yard freestyle (9:08.91) and the 1650yard freestyle (15:15.34) in one swim at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Earned silver in the 1650 freestyle and the 400 IM at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» First Team All-Big 12
OWEN RECKER
» CSCAA Scholar All-American Second Team
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» Qualified for the 2024 NCAA Zone A Diving Championships (1-meter, 3-meter, platform)
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Second Team All-Big 12
ALVARO SANTIAGO
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
JOE SCHAEFER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
» Second Team All-Big 12
WESLEY SCHAUER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
ROANOKE SHIRK
» Part of the 400 freestyle relay team that set a program record (2:53.95) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» First Team All-Big 12
CHRISTIAN SIMPSON
» Part of the 800 freestyle relay team that set a program record (6:26.02) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» First Team All-Big 12
PARKER STERLITZ
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
CHRISTIAN TORRES
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
» Part of the 800 freestyle relay team that set a program record (6:26.02) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
BRENDAN WILLIAMS
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
JAKE YOUNG
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» CSCAA Academic All-District
KATE BECKISH
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
» Second Team All-Big 12
MORGAN BURTON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
OLIVIA BUSCH
» Second Team All-Big 12
MIA CHEATWOOD
» 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving qualifier
» Set a new program record in the 100yard breaststroke (59.73) at the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
» Set the program record in the 100yard breaststroke (1:00.08) and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:09.13) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Earned bronze in the 200 breaststroke at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» First Team All-Big 12
» Second Team All-Big 12
» 2023-24 CSCAA Academic All-District
DELANEY COX
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
LILLY CULP
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
» Second Team All-Big 12
IVAN PUSKOVITCH
PJ DAY
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
PAIGE DRESSEL
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
SHELBY GERVING
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
ELYSA GROSSMAN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
SARA HAGGERTY
» CSCAA Scholar All-American Second Team
» 2024 NCAA Zone A Diving Championships qualifier (platform)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Second Team All-Big 12
GINGER HANSEN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
ALYSSA HEFFELFINGER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
CHLOE HICKMAN
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
VICTORIA KIDNEY
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
MIRANDA KIRTLEY
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Second Team All-Big 12
SARAH KRUSINSKI
» CSCAA Scholar All-American Second Team
» 2023-24 CSC Academic All-District
» 2024 NCAA Zone A Diving Championships qualifier (1-meter, 3-meter, platform)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
ALYSSA MARTEL
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GABRIELA MARTIN
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Second Team All-Big 12
KAELYN McCLAIN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
LAUREN MUSBACH
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
ABBY REARDON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
MADELINE SMUTNY
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» Second Team All-Big 12
ABIGAIL SULLIVAN
» CSCAA Scholar All-American First Team
» 2023-24 CSCAA Academic All-District
» Qualified for the 2024 Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships after placing fifth in the platform event (465.45) at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships
» First female WVU diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships in any event since 1984 and the first female diver from WVU to qualify on the women’s platform
» 2024 NCAA Zone A Diving Championships qualifier (1-meter, 3-meter, platform)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
ADA SZWABINSKA
» Second Team All-Big 12
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» 2023-24 CSC Academic All-District Team
MIA WALTERS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA in Fall 2023)
MAKENNA WOZNY
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ABIGAIL SULLIVAN
TENNIS
» Calvin Song joined the staff in July 2023 as the team’s assistant coach 15-13/3-10 BIG 12
» Appeared in the program’s first postseason tournament as it reached the semifinals of the 2024 UTR Sports NIT Championship
» Named ITA All-Academic for 11th straight year
» Ranked No. 6 in ITA Atlantic Regional rankings
» Won the most Big 12 Conference matches in a single season (three)
» Finished with its most wins in a single season since 2010
» First winning season since 2010
» Began the season 11-1, which was team’s best through 12 matches since 1986
» Defeated Virginia Tech for the first time since 1992
» Three players won 30 or more matches for the 2023-24 season
» Six players won 20 or more matches for the 2023-24 season
» Six players named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team: Camilla Bossi, Ting-Pei Chang, Maja Dodik, Michaela Kucharova, Tatiana Lipatova and Momoko Nagato
» Three players named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic AllDistrict Team: Maja Dodik, Michaela Kucharova and Momoko Nagato
LOVE-STAR ALEXIS
» ITA Scholar Athlete
» In the spring, finished 12-27 overall, including 7-20 in singles play and 5-7 in doubles play
» In the fall, finished 7-10 overall, including 6-5 in singles play and 1-5 in doubles play
» Represented Haiti at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile
MAYA BORDEREAU
» One of six players to win 20 or more matches during the 2023-24 season
» Finished 20-16 in the spring - 8-11 in singles and 12-5 in doubles play
» Primarily played with Maja Dodik in the No. 2 spot in doubles play
CAMILLA BOSSI
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» In limited action in the spring, finished 4-8, including 2-4 in singles and 2-4 in doubles play
» Did not compete in the fall while playing in professional tournaments
TING-PEI CHANG
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» ITA Scholar Athlete
» Ended her WVU career with 89 wins
» Finished the 2023-24 season at 26-29
» Was one of six players to win 20 or more matches during the 2023-24 season
» Finished 17-25 in the spring, including 8-11 in singles and 9-14 in doubles
» Was 9-4 in the fall, including 5-2 in singles play and 4-2 in doubles play
MAJA DODIK
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» ITA Scholar Athlete
» Finished 37-27 for the 2023-24 season
» Was one of three players to win 30 or more matches during the 2023-24 season
» Finished 24-20 in the spring, including 13-10 in singles and 11-10 in doubles
» Primarily paired with Maya Bordereau in the No. 2 spot in doubles
» Finished 13-7 in the fall, including 7-4 in singles play and 6-3 in doubles play
» Named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic All-District Team
MICHAELA KUCHAROVA
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» ITA Scholar Athlete
» Finished 37-17 for the season
» Was one of three players to win 30 or more matches during the 2023-24 season
» Finished 23-13 in the spring, including 10-3 in singles and 13-10 in doubles play
» Was 14-4 in the fall, including 8-1 in singles play and 6-3 in doubles play
» Had the most wins on the team in fall
» Named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic All-District Team
» Ranked No. 6 in ITA Atlantic Regional top-10 doubles rankings with partner Momoko Nagato
MOMOKO NAGATO
TATIANA LIPATOVA
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» ITA Scholar Athlete
» Finished 21-9 for the season
» Was one of six players to win 20 or more matches during the season
» Finished 21-9 in the spring, including 12-4 in singles and 9-5 in doubles play
» Had the third-most singles wins for the year
» Did not participate in the fall
MOMOKO NAGATO
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» ITA Scholar Athlete
» Ended her career with 104 career victories
» Sits 20th on the program’s all-time wins list
» Finished 39-20 overall to lead the team in wins
» Was one of three players to win 30 or more matches during the season
» Finished 27-17 in the spring, including 14-8 in singles and 13-9 in doubles
» Led the team in overall wins and singles wins
» Finished 12-4 in the fall, including 6-2 in singles play and 6-2 in doubles
» Named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic All-District Team
» Ranked No. 6 in ITA Atlantic Regional top-10 doubles rankings with partner Michaela Kucharova
CATHERINE WASSICK
» ITA Scholar Athlete
» Finished 4-1 for the season
» Was 2-0 in singles play in the spring and 2-1 in the fall, including 1-0 in singles play and 1-1 in doubles play
MAJA DODIK
MICHAELA KUCHAROVA
TRACK & FIELD
» Senior Ceili McCabe earned her eighth All-America accolade after finishing sixth in the women’s mile at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. Additionally, McCabe became the fastest Mountaineer to run the women’s mile with a time of 4:29.26
» Redshirt senior Mikenna Vanderheyden earned Second Team All-America honors after finishing fourteenth in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Vanderheyden became the third fastest Mountaineer in program history to run the steeplechase, boasting a personal best time of 9:59.90 in Eugene, Oregon.
» The team of Ceili McCabe, Kishay Rowe, Sarah Tait and Mikenna Vanderheyden won the women’s distance medley relay at the Big 12 Indoor Championship with a time of 11:18.08. The DMR win marked the first conference title in the event since 2021.
» West Virginia finished 12th at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championship in Lubbock, Texas and 14th at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Waco, Texas.
» Five Mountaineers earned All-Big 12 honors at the Big 12 Indoor Championship
» Two Mountaineers earned All-Big 12 honors at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship
» Redshirt junior Cassandra Williamson set West Virginia’s record in the women’s indoor and outdoor 800 meters, with times of 2:04.44 and 2:03.49, respectively.
EMILY BRYCE
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MACEY CRAWFORD
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
AUBRIE CUSTER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
OLIVIA CRESS
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
MARY DELANEY
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team
TAZANNA EPPS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
IZAYAH EVERETT
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
CEILI McCABE
MIKENNA VANDERHEYDEN
AUDREY HALL
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
LILIAN HAUGHT
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
SIERRA HEISEY
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
GHAMANI HOGUE
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ALEXIS LAMB
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
SOPHIA LUDWIG
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
VICTORIA MARSTON
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
CEILI McCABE
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» First Team Indoor All-American
» Indoor All-Big 12
» CSC Academic All-District
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Finished sixth in the women’s mile at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a program record time of 4:29.26
» Won the Big 12 title in the women’s distance medley relay with the team of Kishay Rowe, Sarah Tait and Mikenna Vanderheyden
» Set the Canadian record in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix with a career best and Olympic standard time of 9:20.58
» Finished fourth in the women’s mile at the Big 12 Indoor Championship
ANNISHKA MCDONALD
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
CLAUDIA MOORE
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
TATIANA MOURA
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ABIGALE MULLINGS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CSC Academic All-District
MAE NELSON
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
CATE PICKERING
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
PETAL PALMER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» WVU Order of Augusta
» N4A Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award
JEANNE REIX CHARAT
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
EVA RINKER
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KISHAY ROWE
» Indoor All-Big 12
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» Won the Big 12 title in the women’s distance medley relay with the team of Ceili McCabe, Sarah Tait and Mikenna Vanderheyden
» Became the third fastest Mountaineer in program history to run the 500
meters at the Sykes and Sabock Challenge with a time of 1:13.54
SARAH TAIT
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» NCAA East Preliminary Round Qualifier
» Indoor All-Big 12
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» CSC Academic All-District
» Finished 13th in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA East Preliminary Round
KASE TORCHIA
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MIKENNA VANDERHEYDEN
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Second Team Outdoor All-American
» Indoor All-Big 12
» Outdoor All-Big 12
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Finished 14th in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship with a personal best time of 9:59.90
» Won the Big 12 title in the women’s distance medley relay with the team of Ceili McCabe, Kishay Rowe and Sarah Tait
» Placed fourth in the steeplechase at the Big 12 Outdoor Championship
» Earned a fourth-place finish in the 1,000 meters at the Big 12 Indoor Championship
MEGAN WEAVER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
EDEN WILLIAMS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» CSC Academic All-District
CASSANDRA WILLIAMSON
CASSANDRA WILLIAMSON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» NCAA East Preliminary Round Qualifier
» Indoor All-Big 12
» Outdoor All-Big 12
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
» Set the program record in the indoor 800 meters with a time of 2:04.44 at the Big 12 Indoor Championship
» Became the fastest Mountaineer in program history to run the outdoor 800 meters with a time of 2:03.49 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round
CHARLOTTE WOOD
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ABBEY YUHASZ
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
ZARA ZERVOS
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
VOLLEYBALL
9-22/2-16 BIG 12
» Won back-to-back matches over TCU and Cincinnati on Oct. 14 and Oct. 19, 3-2, respectively
» Three student athletes finished the season in the top 10 of three Big 12 statistical categories
» Hailey Green finished eighth in kills, collecting 418 kills in 113 sets to average 3.70 kills per set
» Lauren DeLo finished eighth in assists with 1,061 assists across 112 sets to average 9.47 assists per set
» Camilla Covas ranked No. 7 in digs, totaling 412 digs in 113 sets to average 3.65 digs per set
» Covas collected a slew of awards throughout the 2023 campaign as she was named to the Mountaineer Invitational All-Tournament team on Sept. 15 which earned her recognition as the WVU Student Athlete of the Week on Sept. 18. Covas also earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and was named the WVU Student Athlete of the Week after collecting 35 digs on Oct. 14 against TCU, the libero also led the conference in digs per set during the week with 5.25
» Covas, Lauren DeLo and Hailey Green were named to the CSC Academic AllDistrict Team
» Bailey Miller was honored on the Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
NELE BROSZAT
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
CAMILLA COVAS
» CSC Academic All-District Team
» Mountaineer Invitational All-Tournament Team
» Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 17)
» WVU Student Athlete of the Week (Sept. 18 and Oct. 16)
LAUREN
DELO
» CSC Academic All-District Team
HAILEY GREEN
» CSC Academic All-District Team
» Colgate Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament All-Tournament Team
» College of Charleston Classic All-Tournament Team
HAILEY GREEN
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
MADDY McGATH
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» Mountaineer Invitational AllTournament Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team First Team
» College of Charleston Classic AllTournament Team
LAUREN DELO
CAMILLA COVAS
KATIE KOLAR
BAILEY MILLER
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
25-8/12-6 BIG 12
» Made the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as the No. 6 seed in Kansas City
» Made 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament
» Played seven ranked opponents and finished the year with a NET Ranking of No. 21
» Knocked off two AP Top-25 opponents this season, giving WVU 107 wins over top25 teams in program history
» Began the season with 13 consecutive victories, marking the longest win streak of the season. The 13 straight wins were tied for the second-best start to a season in program history
» Swept three Big 12 opponents this season – UCF, Cincinnati and TCU.
» Against UCF, on Jan. 13, junior guard JJ Quinerly finished the game with 21 points to become the 40th 1,000-point scorer in program history. She also is the fourth Mountaineer in as many seasons to accomplish the feat.
» Quinerly was named an Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year finalist. She was also named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalist and to the WBCA Player of the Year Top 40. She added WBCA Region 3 All-America Team honors.
» Quinerly was also named a AP and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American.
» Quinerly was named to the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team and added All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors. Sophomore guard Jordan Harrison was named an All-Big 12 second team selection and added defensive team honors.
» Mark Kellogg was tabbed ESPN’s National Coach of the Week on Jan. 1.
» Quinerly was named the Big 12 athlete of the week on Dec. 11 and Jan. 22.
» First team to produce back-to-back first quarter shutouts in NCAA history.
» Posted second highest total attendance in program history
» Scored 2,431 points, the eighth-most in program history
» Averaged 73.7 points per game, tied for seventh-most in a single season in program history
» Shot 44.7% from the field, the highest percentage since 2008 and tied for seventhmost in a single season in program history
» Made 230 three-pointers, tied for fourth-most in a single season in program history
» Attempted the second-most three-pointers (715) in a single season in program history
» Tallied 449 steals during the season, the second-most in a single season behind 1978’s 450 steals
JORDAN HARRISON
KYLEE BLACKSTEN
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
TAVY DIGGS
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
JORDAN HARRISON
» 2024 Big 12 Defensive Team
» 2024 All-Big 12 Second team
MESSIAH HUNTER
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
JJ QUINERLY
» Semifinalist Naismith Defensive Player of the Year
» WBCA Player of the Year Watchlist
» Two-Time Big 12 Player of the Week
» USBWA National Player of the Week
» 2023-24 Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
» 2024 All-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
» 2024 All-Big 12 First Team
» 2024 All-Big 12 Defensive Team
» 2023 All-Big 12 Defensive Team
KYAH WATSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
JJ QUINERLY
WOMEN’S SOCCER
7-8-4/5-3-2 BIG 12
» Earned a spot it in the 2023 Big 12 Tournament as the No. 5 seed, making its 24th appearance in postseason play
» The Mountaineer defense recorded nine shutouts in 2023, including six at home
» Freshman forward Jordyn Wilson represented WVU on the 2023 All-Big 12 Freshman Team, which marked the first conference accolade of her career She became WVU’s 79th All-Big 12 honoree in program history, as well as the first to be named to the freshman team since 2021
» Set a new single-game program record with nine goals scored by nine different scorers against Saint Francis on Aug 20. The 23 total points in the contest marked the second-highest in program history and the most since Sept. 6, 2015
» Four different Mountaineers earned athlete of the week honors throughout, with Taylor White being named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week and Kayza Massey, Julianne Vallerand and Mackenzie Aunkst earning Big 12 Player of the Week honors
» Academically, five Mountaineers were named Academic All-District selections by the College Sports Communicators
» Placed 11 student-athletes on the Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team
» Five Mountaineers moved on to the professional ranks following the 2023 campaign
» Julianne Vallerand and Jaydah Bedoya also joined the pros with inaugural teams in the new USL Super League. Vallerand signed a contract with Spokane Zephyr FC, while Bedoya signed with Carolina Ascent FC
» The trio moved WVU’s all-time count of professional players to 40
» Team earned a United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
KAYZA MASSEY
CHLOE ADLER
» CSC Academic All-District Team
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MACKENZIE AUNKST
» Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 16)
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ARIA BILAL
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
JAYDAH BEDOYA
» Signed professional contract with Carolina Ascent FC (USL Super League)
EMMA DOTSON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
NYEMA INGLETON
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
DILARY HEREDIA-BELTRAN
» Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
ANNIKA LESLIE
» CSC Academic All-District Team
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
GABRIELLA LAMPARDI
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KAYZA MASSEY
» Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week (Oct. 11)
» Signed professional contract with Stade de Reims (France)
LILLY MCCARTHY
» CSC Academic All-District Team
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MAYA MCCUTCHEON
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Signed professional contract with the NC Courage (NWSL)
MADDIE MOREAU
» CSC Academic All-District Team
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Signed professional contract with Bay FC (NWSL)
ABBY OLEXA
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
JACEY RACE
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
LISA SCHÖPPL
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
OLIVIA SHERTZER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
JULIANNE VALLERAND
» Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 11)
» CSC Academic All-District Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Signed professional contract with Spokane Zephyr FC (USL Super League)
TAYLOR WHITE
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 9)
JORDYN WILSON
» All-Big 12 Freshman Team
» Aademic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
MAYA McCUTCHEON
WRESTLING
10-5/2-5 BIG 12
» Posted double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons for the time since 1990 and 1991, which included a 8-0 record against nonconference opponents for the second consecutive year
» Debuted at No. 24 and reached as high as No. 17 on the NWCA Division I Coaches’ Poll
» Finished the regular season ranked (No. 19 – 2/27/24) for the first time since 2005 (No. 24 – 2/23/05), while nine wrestlers broke into the national rankings simultaneously for the first time since 2003
» In the postseason, captured its highest finish since 2004 (17th) and recorded the most teams points since 2005 (31.5) at the NCAA Championships in Kansas City
» Five Mountaineers qualified for the NCAA Championships, sending half or more of the team’s starting lineup to the national tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2011 and 2012, and the fifth season in which four or more earned a bid under coach Tim Flynn
» Junior Jett Strickenberger (125), true freshman Ty Watters (149), senior Peyton Hall (165) and redshirt freshman Brody Conley (174) each earned automatic bids based on their performances at the Big 12 Championship, while redshirt sophomore Jordan Titus (141) earned one of five at-larges berths in his weight class. Strickenberger, Watters and Conley made their NCAA tournament debuts.
» Hall and Watters combined for a 10-4 record, which resulted in the pair becoming the 36th and 37th All-Americans in program history
» This performance by the duo marked the first time WVU captured two NCAA AllAmericans in the same year since the Mountaineer pair of Matt Lebe (157) and Greg Jones (184) in 2005. It is also the eighth national tournament where West Virginia had multiple wrestlers land on the podium -1955, 1991, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, and 2005
» The Mountaineers have had an All-American in five consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003-07
» Previously scored 97.5 points to conclude the Big 12 Championship in sixth place, marking the team’s highest point total since joining the Big 12 as well as matching the program’s best finish at the postseason spectacle since the conference expanded from four schools to 10 in 2016 (6th – 65.5 team points)
» Seven Mountaineers placed at the Big 12 Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to match the 2016 and 2022 teams for the most wrestlers on the Big 12 podium in WVU history, marking the sixth straight year WVU has had at least half of the squad (5 of 10) on the podium to end the conference event
» Accumulated 100.5 points at the 59th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships to place third over 40 other programs. Its placement smashed a previous best finish of 11th twice in 1989 and 2003.
» Individually, this showing marked the first tournament in Midlands’ history that WVU had multiple finalists in addition to having the most wrestlers competing in the finals out of any other team in one night (3). WVU’s four spots on the podium also broke the program’s previous record of three set in 2003 - Greg Jones (Champion) at 184, Matt Lebe (4th) at 157 and Joe Clarke (6th) at 141.
» Drew two of the top-10 largest crowds in the history of the program with 1,884 fans in attendance against No. 5 Oklahoma State on Sunday, Jan. 14 (5th), before 1,327 fans packed the WVU Coliseum for No. 2 Missouri on Friday, Jan. 26
» Titus became just the 14th Mountaineer wrestler and first since Noah Adams in 2020 to earn Big 12 Wrestler of the Week honors after he took out No. 1 Cole Matthews of Pitt
» Five grapplers placing at the Big 12 Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, marked the third straight year that the Mountaineers have at least half of the squad (5 of 10) place in Tulsa
» Eleven Mountaineers earned a spot on the 2023 Academic All-Big 12 Wrestling Teams to break the program record of nine set in 2022. All but three of the honorees landed on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, which is also a program best
» Drew the fifth-largest crowd in the history of the program with 1,494 fans in attendance against No. 3 Iowa State on Friday, Feb. 3, while averaging 930 fans throughout the home schedule
» Assistant head coach Cliff Moore was inducted to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and former Mountaineers standout Shane Young was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame
TY WATTERS
IAN BUSH
» NWCA Scholar All-American
BRODY CONLEY
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» NCAA Qualifier at 174 pounds
» NWCA Scholar All-American
» Fifth-place finisher at the Big 12 Championship
» Fifth-place finisher at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
AUSTIN COOLEY
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
MICHAEL DOLAN
» NWCA Scholar All-American
CALEB DOWLING
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» NWCA Scholar All-American
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
PEYTON HALL
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» NCAA All-Americanat 165 pounds
» NWCA Scholar All-American
» Seventh-place finisher at the NCAA Championships with a record of 5-2
» Ninth multi-time All-American
» Fourth-place finisher at the Big 12 Wrestling Championship
» Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Runner-up
» Team’s Mountain Man award winner
» Team’s Most Wins award winner (32)
» Team’s Most Takedowns award winner (102)
» Team Captain
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
TRISTAN KEMP
» NWCA Scholar All-American
DENNIS ROBIN
» Seventh-place finisher at the Big 12 Championship at 184 pounds
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
JACE SCHAFER
» Academic All-Big 12 First Team
WILSON SPIRES
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
JETT STRICKENBERGER
» NCAA Qualifier at 125 pounds
» Third-place finisher at the Big 12 Championship
» Two-time Big 12 Wrestler of the Week (Nov. 7 & Dec. 12)
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
JORDAN TITUS
» NCAA Qualifier at 141 pounds
» Sixth-place finisher at the Big 12 Wrestling Championship
» Ken Kraft Midlands Champion
» Big 12 Wrestler of the Week (Jan. 2)
» Team’s Most Improved Wrestler award winner
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
TY WATTERS
» NCAA All-American at 149 pounds
» Fourth-place finisher in his debut
at the NCAA Championships with a record of 5-2
» First WVU All-American at 149 pounds
» Third WVU true freshman AllAmerican (Brandon Rader – 2006 and Zeke Moisey – 2015)
» Big 12 Champion
» Fourth WVU Big 12 Champion ( Dylan Cottrell – 2017, Noah Adams – 2020 and Killian Cardinale – 2022)
» First WVU true freshman and wrestler overall to become an NCAA AllAmerican and Big 12 Champion in the same season
» Thirteenth WVU wrestler to become an NCAA All-American and conference champion in the same season
» Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Runner-up
» Team’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award winner
» Team’s Rookie of the Year award winner
» Team’s Most Falls award winner (12)
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
MICHAEL WOLFGRAM
» Sixth-place finisher at the Big 12 Championship at heavyweight
» Team’s Iron Mountaineer award winner
» Nationally ranked in the top 33 throughout the season
PEYTON HALL
ATHLETICS STAFF
Wren Baker, Vice President/Director of Athletics
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION
Steve Uryasz, Deputy Athletics Director
Omar Banks, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Financial Officer
Ben Murray, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Development Officer
Natasha Oakes, Deputy Director of Athletics/ Senior Woman Administrator
Matt Wells, Deputy Director of Athletics/ External Affairs
Michael Fragale, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Communications
