
EMU Student-Athletes Turn In Another Award-Winning Season
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Despite having to battle through adversity, it was another record-setting season in both athletics and academics for Eastern Michigan University student-athletes in 2020-21.
Eastern Michigan captured three Mid-American Conference team championships in men’s cross country, men’s indoor track & field, and gymnastics. The cross country title was the program’s 24th, while the indoor crown was the team’s 16th. Meanwhile, gymnastics collected its fourth tournament title en route to punching its ticket to the NCAA Regionals for just the third time as a team.
Furthermore, Eastern student-athletes took home 14 individual MAC titles in gymnastics, track & field, and swimming & diving. A total of 24 advanced to NCAA postseason competition.
For their efforts, 57 EMU student-athletes earned All-MAC honors (25 – first team, 28 – second team, and four – third team) in 2020-21. Additionally, the conference office acknowledged EMU student-athletes on 32 different occasions for Player of the Week accolades.
EMU coaches were named MAC Coach of the Year on three occasions this year in the following sports: men’s cross country, men’s indoor track & field, and women’s diving. This included Head Coach Sue Parks becoming the first female coach in MAC history to mentor a men’s championship cross country or track team.
Furthermore, two student-athletes were singled out for MAC Distinguished Scholar Student-Athletes with 166 earning Academic All-MAC accolades. A total of three EMU standouts were selected for the prestigious weekly MAC Scholar-Athlete Award, which is given to just one male and one female student-athlete from nominees of all 12 league schools.
A complete list of 2020-21 awards and accomplishments is listed below.
MAC Player of the Week (32)
Preston Hutchinson (Dec. 7) Football
Jose Ramirez (Dec. 7) Football
Chad Ryland x2 (Dec. 7, Dec. 14) Football
Areanna Combs (Dec. 8) W. Basketball
Newlyn Stephenson (Jan. 21) M. Indoor Track
Cortney Bezold (Jan. 26) Gymnastics
Caitlin Sater (Feb. 2) Gymnastics
Baldvin Magnusson x2 (Jan. 27, Feb. 10) M. Indoor Track
Bethany Berger x2 (Feb. 3, Feb. 10) W. Swim & Dive
Emma-Lou Pommiers (Feb. 3) Tennis
Isabelle Popma/ Vasavi Ganesan x4 (Feb. 3, April 7, 21, 28) Tennis
Franki Strefling x2 (Feb. 15, March 1) Volleyball
Raeven Chase (March 1) Volleyball
Sabrina McNeill x2 (March 17, March 23) Soccer
Zack Mason (March 18) M. Golf
Vasavi Ganesan (March 24) Tennis
Luisa Pelayo/Grace Whitney x3 (Feb. 10, March 24, May 5) Tennis
Cougar Collins (March 31) M. Golf
Taige Bryant x2 (March 31, April 28) M. Outdoor Track
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed (April 14) M. Outdoor Track
Justin Meis (May 17) Baseball
MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week (3)
Molly Parris (March 24) Gymnastics
Nick Jones (April 21) Baseball
Bethany Berger (April 21) W. Swim & Dive
First Team All-MAC (25)
Andy Payne M. Cross Country
Baldvin Magnusson M. Cross Country
Chris Devaney M. Cross Country
Alvinoski LaFleur Football
Trent Barron M. Indoor Track
Solomon Costa M. Indoor Track
Owen Day M. Indoor Track
Chris Devaney M. Indoor Track
Baldvin Magnusson M. Indoor Track
Quintella Johnson W. Indoor Track
Franki Strefling Volleyball
Sabrina McNeill Soccer
Amanda Cripps Soccer
Bethany Berger W. Swim & Dive
Mike Monahan Baseball
Taylor Hopkins Baseball
Baldvin Magnusson M. Outdoor Track
Payne Wylie M. Outdoor Track
Zach Harkey M. Outdoor Track
Alysse Wade W. Outdoor Track
Alyson Davis W. Outdoor Track
Micah Johnston W. Outdoor Track
Brittni Mason W. Outdoor Track
Kolby Ganther W. Outdoor Track
Quintella Johnson W. Outdoor Track
Second Team All-MAC (28)
Toby Gualter M. Cross Country
Chad Ryland Football
Terry Myrick Football
Turan Rush Football
Ronald Brandal M. Indoor Track
Chukwusom Enekwechi M. Indoor Track
Toby Gualter M. Indoor Track
Dante Lander M. Indoor Track
Owen Richardson M. Indoor Track
Richie Sadler M. Indoor Track
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed M. Indoor Track
Kaleb Simpson M. Indoor Track
Newlyn Stephenson M. Indoor Track
Alyson Davis W. Indoor Track
Nina Ward W. Indoor Track
Areanna Combs W. Basketball
Caitlin Satler Gymnastics
Jada Rondeau Gymnastics
Ali Staver W. Swim & Dive
Olivia Loberg W. Golf
Cougar Collins M. Golf
Davis Feldman Baseball
Dante Lander M. Outdoor Track
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed M. Outdoor Track
Chukwusom Enekwechi M. Outdoor Track
Taige Bryant M. Outdoor Track
Nina Ward W. Outdoor Track
Kristine Bourg W. Outdoor Track
Third Team All-MAC (4)
Sidy Sow Football
Hassan Beydoun Football
Jose Ramirez Football
Ce’Nara Skanes W. Basketball
MAC All-Defensive Team (1)
Areanna Combs W. Basketball
MAC All-Freshman Team (1)
Lexy Alston Soccer
Preseason All-MAC (1)
Areanna Combs (2nd Team) W. Basketball
Franki Strefling Volleyball
MAC Team Championships (3)
M. Cross Country
M. Indoor Track & Field
Gymnastics
MAC Coach of the Year (3)
Sue Parks M. Cross Country
Sue Parks M. Indoor Track
Buck Smith W. Swim & Dive
MAC Most Valuable Performer (1)
Baldvin Magnusson M. Indoor Track
Diver of the Year (1)
Bethany Berger W. Swim & Dive
Co-Specialist of Year
Caitlin Sater Gymnastics
MAC Freshman of the Year (2)
Toby Gualter M. Cross Country
Kaleb Simpson M. Indoor Track
MAC Individual Champion (14)
Baldvin Magnusson x2 M. Indoor Track
4000m Distance Medley Relay M. Indoor Track
Chris Devaney M. Indoor Track
Quintella Johnson W. Indoor Track
Molly Parris Gymnastics
Bethany Berger x2 W. Swim & Dive
Baldvin Magnusson M. Outdoor Track
Payne Wylie M. Outdoor Track
Alysse Wade W. Outdoor Track
4x100m Relay W. Outdoor Track
Quintella Johnson W. Outdoor Track
Zach Harkey M. Outdoor Track
MAC All-Tournament Team (2)
Hadyn Crossen Gymnastics
Molly Parris Gymnastics
CoSIDA Academic All-District (7)
Alia Frederick Soccer
Mike Van Hoeven Football
Chad Ryland Football
Bethany Berger W. Swim & Dive
Mike Monahan Baseball
Taige Bryant M. Track
Chris Devaney M. Track
CoSIDA Academic All-American (2)
Mike Van Hoeven (2nd Team) Football
Mike Monahan (2nd Team) Baseball
Academic All-MAC (166)
Mike Van Hoeven Football
Chad Ryland Football
Tanner Knue Football
Jake Donnellon Football
Dylan Drummond Football
Matthew Buschman Football
Joey Hiser Football
William Racely Football
Thomas Odukoya Football
Alex Merritt Football
Darius Boone Jr. Football
Broderick Jordan Football
Carter Stagner Football
Lucas Tesznar Football
Alex Howie Football
Grant Trueman Football
Marcellus Johnson Football
Tariq Speights Football
Steve Bird Football
Korey Hernandez Football
Ronald Brandal M. Cross Country
Ian Cook M. Cross Country
Owen Day M. Cross Country
Chris Devaney M. Cross Country
Baldvin Magnusson M. Cross Country
Noah Perrin M. Cross Country
Eddie Zuercher M. Cross Country
Olivia Chandler W. Cross Country
Esme Davies W. Cross Country
Emily DeLine W. Cross Country
Lexi Seifert W. Cross Country
Kaitlyn St. Bernard W. Cross Country
Derek Ballard Jr. M. Basketball
Chris James M. Basketball
Darion Spottsville M. Basketball
Jenna Annecchiarico W. Basketball
Natalia Pineda W. Basketball
Ce’Nara Skanes W. Basketball
Krista Blakely Volleyball
Raeven Chase Volleyball
April Houston Volleyball
Alayna Jansky Volleyball
Kamryn Stilwell Volleyball
Jayden Otto Volleyball
Ronald Brandal M. Indoor Track
Taige Bryant M. Indoor Track
Ian Cook M. Indoor Track
Solomon Costa M. Indoor Track
Owen Day M. Indoor Track
Chris Devaney M. Indoor Track
Chukwusom Enekwechi M. Indoor Track
Toby Gualter M. Indoor Track
Terrance Hinds M. Indoor Track
Joe Ingram M. Indoor Track
Derek Jones M. Indoor Track
Dante Lander M. Indoor Track
Baldvin Magnusson M. Indoor Track
Kyle Martin M. Indoor Track
Andy Payne M. Indoor Track
Noah Perrin M. Indoor Track
Owen Richardson M. Indoor Track
Eddie Zuercher M. Indoor Track
Nicole Bow W. Indoor Track
Miranda Cadwell W. Indoor Track
Brenna Cavanaugh W. Indoor Track
Tiffany Cernej-Garcia W. Indoor Track
Kadian Clarke W. Indoor Track
Alyson Davis W. Indoor Track
Madison Distelrath W. Indoor Track
Mair Edwards W. Indoor Track
Ariel Floyd W. Indoor Track
Keypathwa Gibson W. Indoor Track
Morgan Iverson W. Indoor Track
Quintella Johnson W. Indoor Track
Maura Lane W. Indoor Track
Savanah Luthman W. Indoor Track
Lexi Seifert W. Indoor Track
Graysen Simmons W. Indoor Track
Kaitlyn St. Bernard W. Indoor Track
Alysse Wade W. Indoor Track
Nina Ward W. Indoor Track
Chevonne Wheeler W. Indoor Track
Cortney Bezold Gymnastics
Hadyn Crossen Gymnastics
Shannon Gregory Gymnastics
Cali Harden Gymnastics
Carly Kosanovich Gymnastics
Molly Parris Gymnastics
Brianna Price Gymnastics
Jada Rondeau Gymnastics
Caitlin Satler Gymnastics
Mickayla Stuckey Gymnastics
Chelsea Abbotts Soccer
Sara Ash Soccer
Simone Chiodo Soccer
Marla Cobetto Soccer
Kylie Frantz Soccer
Alia Frederick Soccer
Kennady Kuhlman Soccer
Sabrina McNeill Soccer
Tessa Osborne Soccer
Lindsey Shira Soccer
Haley Tausend Soccer
Lara Wheeler Soccer
Bethany Berger W. Swim & Dive
Hunter Ignasiak W. Swim & Dive
Carlee Jones W. Swim & Dive
Abby Rapien W. Swim & Dive
Micaela Schempf W. Swim & Dive
Meike Staffeldt W. Swim & Dive
Ali Staver W. Swim & Dive
Avrie Stewart W. Swim & Dive
Kaitlynd Scanlan W. Swim & Dive
Lainie Bell W. Swim & Dive
Kelsi Hill W. Swim & Dive
Carlin Hudson W. Swim & Dive
Abigail Wenger W. Swim & Dive
Hannah White W. Swim & Dive
Ty Celone M. Golf
Cougar Collins M. Golf
Zack Mason M. Golf
Tyler Rayman M. Golf
Max Watson M. Golf
Maria Connelly W. Golf
Olivia Loberg W. Golf
Justin Meis Baseball
Nick Jones Baseball
Christian Bault Baseball
Eli Gora Baseball
Taylor Hopkins Baseball
Mike Monahan Baseball
Luke McGuire Baseball
Scott Granzotto Baseball
Daniel Warkentin Baseball
Trevor House Baseball
Nate Jones Baseball
Vasavi Ganesan Tennis
Luisa Pelayo Tennis
Julia Piatek Tennis
Emma-Lou Pommiers Tennis
Isabelle Popma Tennis
Grace Whitney Tennis
Khalil Bedoui M. Outdoor Track
Ronald Brandal M. Outdoor Track
Taige Bryant M. Outdoor Track
Chris Devaney M. Outdoor Track
Joe Duff M. Outdoor Track
Chukwusom Enekwechi M. Outdoor Track
Zach Harkey M. Outdoor Track
Garrett Wade M. Outdoor Track
Kadian Clarke W. Outdoor Track
Mair Edwards W. Outdoor Track
Graysen Simmons W. Outdoor Track
Chevonne Wheeler W. Outdoor Track
Lexi Seifert W. Outdoor Track
Alyson Davis W. Outdoor Track
Brittni Mason W. Outdoor Track
Brenna Cavanaugh W. Outdoor Track
Gianna Salzbrunn W. Outdoor Track
Morgan Iverson W. Outdoor Track
Nina Ward W. Outdoor Track
Maura Lane W. Outdoor Track
Keypathwa Gibson W. Outdoor Track
Kristine Bourg W. Outdoor Track
Janay Hall W. Outdoor Track
Miranda Cadwell W. Outdoor Track
MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes (2)
Chris Devaney M. Cross Country
Chad Ryland Football
NCAA Appearances (25)
Bethany Berger W. Swim & Dive
Andy Payne M. Cross Country
Newlyn Stephenson M. Indoor Track
Taige Bryant M. Indoor Track
Baldvin Magnusson M. Indoor Track
Hadyn Crossen Gymnastics
Cortney Bezold Gymnastics
Jada Rondeau Gymnastics
Caitlin Satler Gymnastics
Shannon Gregory Gymnastics
Team Gymnastics
Kappa Bedoui M. Outdoor Track
Taige Bryant M. Outdoor Track
Tiffany Cernej-Garcia M. Outdoor Track
Kadian Clarke M. Outdoor Track
Chris Devaney M. Outdoor Track
Chukwusom Enekwechi M. Outdoor Track
Zach Harkey M. Outdoor Track
Quintella Johnson M. Outdoor Track
Dante Lander M. Outdoor Track
Baldvin Magnusson M. Outdoor Track
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed M. Outdoor Track
Kaleb Simpson M. Outdoor Track
Newlyn Stephenson M. Outdoor Track
Nina Ward M. Outdoor Track
Payne Wylie M. Outdoor Track
AVCA Midwest All-Region Team (1)
Franki Strefling Volleyball
Preseason All-MAC by Athlon Sports (11)
Jake Julien (1st Team) Football
Dylan Drummond (1st/3rd Team) Football
Sidy Sow (2nd Team) Football
Chad Ryland (2nd Team) Football
Terry Myrick (3rd Team) Football
Jake Donnellon (4th Team) Football
Freddie McGee III (4th Team) Football
Turan Rush (4th Team) Football
Mike Van Hoven (4th Team) Football
Quian Williams (4th Team) Football
Preseason All-MAC by Phil Steele (9)
Jake Julien (1st Team) Football
Dylan Drummond (3rd Team) Football
Sidy Sow (3rd Team) Football
Chad Ryland (3rd Team) Football
Quian Williams (3rd Team) Football
Brian Dooley (4th Team) Football
Terry Myrick (4th Team) Football
Thomas Odukoya (4th Team) Football
Turan Rush (4th Team) Football
Postseason All-MAC by Phil Steele (11)
Alvinoski LaFleur (1st Team) Football
Hassan Beydoun (2nd Team) Football
Sidy Sow (2nd Team) Football
Turan Rush (2nd Team) Football
Terry Myrick (2nd Team) Football
Chad Ryland (2nd Team) Football
Jose Ramirez (3rd Team) Football
Jake Julien Jose Ramirez (3rd Team) Football
Preston Hutchinson (4th Team) Football
Thomas Odukoya (4th Team) Football
Mike Van Hoeven (4th Team) Football
Manning Award Stars of the Week (1)
Preston Hutchinson (Dec. 7) Football
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List (1)
Thomas Odukoya Football
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List (1)
Thomas Odukoya Football
William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist (1)
Thomas Odukoya Football
Rimington Trophy Watch List (1)
Mike Van Hoven Football
Burlsworth Trophy Watch List (1)
Hassan Beydoun Football
Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List
Nick Jones Baseball
CFL Global Draft (1)
Steven Nielsen (2nd Overall) Football
CFL Draft (1)
Jake Julien (31st Overall) Football
CAA Boat of the Week (1)
First Varsity Eight (April 28) Rowing
United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American (1)
Sabrina McNeill Soccer
United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region Team (1)
Sabrina McNeill Soccer
MAC Medal of Excellence (2)
Graysen Simmons Track & Field
Mike Monahan Baseball
Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar-Athletes (12)
Lauren Ahern Rowing
Emma Boersen Rowing
Grace Burke Rowing
Anna Eschenburg Rowing
Brianna Gracey Rowing
Brynne Harder Rowing
Mary Hemgesberg Rowing
Chloe Hinojosa Rowing
Alexis Kettler Rowing
Karson Mahaney Rowing
Caitlin Rodanhisler Rowing
CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award (1)
Haley Dutton Rowing
All-CAA (1)
Emma Boersen Rowing
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field All-America (3)
Taige Bryant (Honorable Mention – Discus) M. Outdoor Track
Taige Bryant (Honorable Mention – Hammer) M. Outdoor Track
Quintella Johnson (Second-Team – High Jump) W. Outdoor Track
ITA All-Academic Team (7)
Essence Eaton Tennis
Morgan Ingram Tennis
Natalia Regalado Tennis
Vasavi Ganesan Tennis
Grace Whitney Tennis
Julia Piatek Tennis
Emma-Lou Pommiers Tennis
WGCA All-American Scholar (2)
Maria Connelly W. Golf
Anna Watson W. Golf
NABC Honors Court (2)
Derek Ballard Jr. M. Basketball
Darion Spottsville M. Basketball
USTFCCCA Academic Awards (17)
Kappa Bedoui W. Track
Taige Bryant M. Track
Tiffany Cernej-Garcia W. Track
Kadian Clarke W. Track
Alyson Davis W. Track
Chris Devaney M. Track
Chukwusom Enekwechi M. Track
Keypathwa Gibson W. Track
Toby Gualter M. Track
Zach Harkey M. Track
Morgan Iverson W. Track
Baldvin Magnusson M. Track
Andy Payne M. Track
Lexi Seifert W. Track
Kaleb Simpson M. Track
Nina Ward W. Track
Chevonne Wheeler W. Track
CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll (42)
Lauren Ahern Rowing
Rose Andrews Rowing
Emma Boersen Rowing
Laura Borchers Rowing
Olivia Bray Rowing
Priscilla Brom Rowing
Jennifer Bucci Rowing
Grace Burke Rowing
Sonia Buxton Rowing
Erin Corbley Rowing
Maiyah Devenport Rowing
Haley Dutton Rowing
Anna Eschenburg Rowing
Reagan Fazekas Rowing
Tiana Fox Rowing
Emily Gandy Rowing
MacKaela Geisler Rowing
MacKenzie Geisler Rowing
Brianna Gracey Rowing
Brynne Harder Rowing
Mary Hemgesberg Rowing
Chloe Hinojosa Rowing
Leah Huyser Rowing
Emily Ignagni Rowing
Alexis Kettler Rowing
Kaialani Knox Rowing
Jessica LaRoy Rowing
Isabelle Lloyd Rowing
Karson Mahaney Rowing
Melanie McKeehan Rowing
Eve Melody Rowing
Margaret Nied Rowing
Isabella Nothom Rowing
Alexandria Parsons Rowing
Laura Penny Rowing
Olivia Robinson Rowing
Lindsay Rock Rowing
Caitlin Rodanhisler Rowing
Abbey Simpson Rowing
Ariel Sutton Rowing
Hannah Taylor Rowing
Alexandra Walsh Rowing
USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award (1)
Volleyball
GCAA President’s Special Recognition (1)
M. Golf
USTFCCCA Academic Awards (2)
M. Track
W. Track
CSCAA Scholar All-America Team (1)
W. Swim & Dive
Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars (4)
Ty Celone M. Golf
Cougar Collins M. Golf
Zack Mason M. Golf
Tyler Rayman M. Golf
Max Watson M. Golf
WCGA Academic All-Americans (18)
Cortney Bezold Gymnastics
Raisa Boris Gymnastics
Katie Butler Gymnastics
Hadyn Crossen Gymnastics
Shannon Gregory Gymnastics
Cali Harden Gymnastics
Hannah Hartung Gymnastics
Jordan Jankowski Gymnastics
Carly Kosanovich Gymnastics
Anna Grace McCullough Gymnastics
Corey Melcher Gymnastics
Molly Parris Gymnastics
Brianna Price Gymnastics
Charlotte Reynolds Gymnastics
Sophia Rios Gymnastics
Jada Rondeau Gymnastics
Caitlin Satler Gymnastics
Mickayla Stuckey Gymnastics