UNC Student-Athletes & Staff Honored at 2025 Den Awards

Photo by: University of N. Colorado

Photo by: University of N. Colorado

5/1/2025 9:45:00 AM | General

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. — The University of Northern Colorado celebrated excellence in athletics, academics, and Bear pride at the 2025 Den Awards, held on Wednesday, April 30, in the University Center Ballrooms.

Bob Heiny Bear Pride Award: Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Smiley was honored for his unwavering commitment to the spirit and values of UNC Athletics.

Inaugural Student-Athlete Bear Pride Award: Football's KJ Smedley received the first-ever honor for his exemplary support of fellow student-athletes and representation of Bear values.

Academic Excellence: Over 200 student-athletes with GPAs of 3.3 or higher were recognized, including Jake Storey, Isabelle DiNapoli, and Gracie Moreland, who all earned 4.0 GPAs and took home top graduating senior awards.

Scholar-Athlete Awards: DiNapoli and Moreland shared the Dr. Mary Behling Scholar-Athlete Award, while Storey took home the Dr. George Sage Scholar-Athlete Award.

Record Breakers: Softball star Erin Caviness delivered one of the most dominant pitching seasons in program history, throwing a perfect game against UC Santa Barbara and setting a new single-season record with 180 strikeouts.

In swimming and diving, the 800-meter freestyle relay team of Lily Mayer, Lora Konter, Martina Yuki Trionfetti, and Kyra Rabess clocked a school-record 7:14.85. Madison Berg also made a splash, breaking the 1-meter diving record with a score of 309.30.
The volleyball program saw a pair of individual milestones as Gabi Placide set a new single-season record with 585.5 points, and Sam Steele delivered 54 service aces, also a program best.

On the track, Regina Mpigachai stood out by setting three indoor school records in the 800-meter run (2:05.50), mile (4:37.23), and 3,000-meter run (9:13.77) during the 2024–25 campaign. Mpigachai also broke the women's cross country record at the Golden Eagle Invitational, finishing in 19:31.7.

Sprinter Wendira Moss set a new record in the outdoor 400-meter dash (54.00), while hurdler Alexia Austin broke the program mark in the outdoor 100-meter hurdles (13.48). Kiana Van Haaren soared to a new record in the outdoor long jump with a leap of 6.24 meters (20' 5.75").

On the men's side, Zander Cruzan sprinted to a new record in the indoor 400-meter dash (46.29), while Jerome Campbell dominated multiple events. He broke school records in the indoor 60-meter high hurdles (7.55), outdoor 100-meter dash (10.33), 200-meter dash (20.78), and 110-meter hurdles (13.30).

Distance runner Isaac Rascon also added his name to the record books by running 8:34.71 in the indoor 3,000 meters, setting a new program best.

In women's golf, Timbre Shehee delivered the lowest 54-hole individual score in school history, finishing at 202, 14-under par, during a standout 2024 season.

Newcomer of the Year: Women's Basketball's London Gamble and Track & Field's Zander Cruzan were recognized for their standout first-year performances.

All-Bear Teams: Honored for leadership, performance, and academic achievement:

Female Honorees: Syd Cole (Volleyball), Madison Berg (Swimming & Diving), Amailee Morales (Softball), Regina Mpigachai (Track & Field), and Gabi Placide (Volleyball).

Male Honorees: Jerome Campbell (Track & Field), Stevo Poulin (Wrestling), Jaron Rillie (Men's Basketball), Dominick Serrano (Wrestling), and Vinny Zerban (Wrestling).

Male Most Outstanding Student-Athlete: Jerome Campbell

Female Most Outstanding Student-Athlete: Syd Cole

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