University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Den Awards
The Den Awards are the annual student-athlete awards for Northern Colorado Athletics. The awards, given in the spring of each year, are the featured part of the banquet celebrating the accomplishments of UNC student-athletes and teams. Honors are given out for the following:
    Dr. Mary Behling Award for Female Graduate with the Highest GPA
    Dr. Gerge Sage Award for Male Graduate with Highest GPA
    Male & Female Leadership Award (voted on by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee)
    Female Newcomer of the Year
    Male Newcomer of the Year
  Bob Heiny Bear Pride Award
  Student-Athlete Bear Pride Award
  Female All Bear Team
    Male All Bear Team
  Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year
  Male Outstanding Athlete of the Year
2023-24 Den Awards story
2023-24 Den Awards Photo Gallery
Below is a historical look at the Den Awards honorees.
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    Dr. Mary Behling Award for Female Graduate with the Highest GPA
    Dr. Gerge Sage Award for Male Graduate with Highest GPA
    Male & Female Leadership Award (voted on by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee)
    Female Newcomer of the Year
    Male Newcomer of the Year
  Bob Heiny Bear Pride Award
  Student-Athlete Bear Pride Award
  Female All Bear Team
    Male All Bear Team
  Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year
  Male Outstanding Athlete of the Year
2023-24 Den Awards story
2023-24 Den Awards Photo Gallery
Below is a historical look at the Den Awards honorees.
OUTSTANDING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR |
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YEAR |
FEMALE |
MALE |
| 2024-2025 | Syd Cole, Volleyball | Jerome Campbell, Track & Field |
| 2023-2024 | Erin Caviness, Softball | Jerome Campbell, Track & Field |
| 2022-2023 | Syd Cole, Volleyball Regina Mpigachai, Cross Country |
Andrew Alirez, Wrestling |
| 2021-2022 | Madelyn Moore, Swim & Dive Lexi Pulley, Soccer |
Andrew Alirez, Wrestling |
| 2020-2021 | Alisha Davis, WBB | Jackson Hemauer, Wrestling |
| 2019-2020 | Daisy Schultz, Volleyball | Jonah Radebaugh, MBB |
| 2018-2019 | Savannah Smith, WBB Mariel Gutierrez, Soccer |
Alex Wesley, FB & T&F Jordan Davis, MBB |
| 2017-2018 | Savannah Smith, WBB | Andre Spight, MBB |
| 2016-2017 | Erica Dick, Softball | Kyle Sloter, FB |
| 2015-2016 | Adrienne Jordan, Soccer | Taylor Risner, FB |
| 2014-2015 | D'Shara Strange, WBB | Mitchell Polkowske, Wrestling |
ALL BEAR TEAMS |
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YEAR |
FEMALE |
MALE |
| 2024-2025 | Syd Cole, Madison Berg, Amailee Morales, Regina Mpigachai, Gabi Placide | Jerome Campbell, Stevo Poulin, Jaron Rillie, Dominick Serrano, Vinny Zerban |
| 2023-2024 | Delaynie Byrne, Erin Caviness, Syd Cole, Louise Dahl, Maria Erokhina, Regina Mpigachai | Jerome Campbell, Dino Egbuchilem, Gage Messingham Stevo Poulin, Saint Thomas, Vinny Zerban |
| 2022-2023 | Erin Caviness, Syd Cole, Kailey Jo Ince, Ali Jackson, Regina Mpigachai | Andrew Alirez, Jerome Campbell, Jack Castiglia, Elijah Dotson,Stevo Poulin |
| 2021-2022 | Maddie Duren, Rachel Hickman, Kailey Jo Ince, Madelyn Moore, Lexi Pulley, Hannah Simental | Qwazon Al-Khaliq, Andrew Alirez, Jack Castiglia, David Hoage, Daylen Kountz |
| 2020-2021 | Alisha Davis, Lindsi Jennings, Madelyn Moore, Taylor Muff, Madison Young | Jackson Hermauer, Joshua Glenn, Bodie Hume, Kur Jockuch, Welre Olivier |
| 2019-2020 | Maddie Barkow, Beah Cruz, KJ Ince, Petra Kis, Daisy Schultz | Josh Campbell, Luke Nelson, Jonah Radebaugh, Mosha Schwartz, Coby Welch |
| 2018-2019 | Taylor Els, Mariel Gutierrez, Maddy Moore, Maddie Roberts, Cammy Sargent, Savannah Smith, Valerie Vidal | Jordan Davis, Jonah Radebaugh, Joshua Matz, Jacob Seely, Coby Welch, Alex Wesley |
| 2017-2018 | Savannah Smith, Cammy Sargent, Savannah Scott, Mariel Gutierrez, Madeline Burdick, Kianna Williams | Andre Spight, Dylan Gabel, Rico Montoya, Jordan Davis, Alex Wesley, Jack Pauley |
| 2016-2017 | Erica Dick, Ashley Guthrie, Mariel Gutierrez, Savannah Smith, Moriah Zachary | Jordan Davis, Dylan Gabel, Kyle Newsome, Kyle Sloter, Coby Welch |
| 2015-2016 | Alsiha Allen, Kendra Cunningham, Erica Dick, Adrienne Jordan, Amanda Myers | Alex Wesley, Steven Kupcho, Trent Noon, Ellis Onic II, Taylor Risner |
| 1st Team | 1st Team | |
| 2014-2015 | Adrienne Jordan, Andrea Spaustat, Stephanie Lee, D'Shara Strange, Carleigh Barrett | Mitchell Polkowske, Tevin Svihovec, Tim Huskisson, Jensen Park, Kyle Griffin |
| 2nd Team | 2nd Team | |
| 2014-2015 | Kendra Cunningham, Lindsay Mallon, Morgan Yuhas, Amanda Myers, Susan Meinders | Brandon Vaughn, Dominic Lee, Dmitri Stimphil, Jordan Medina, Conner Barr |
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NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR |
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YEAR |
FEMALE |
MALE |
| 2024-2025 | London Gamble, Women's Basketball | Zander Cruzan, Track & Field |
| 2023-2024 | Kyra Rabess, Swim & Dive; Gabi Placide, Volleyball | Hunter Green, Football |
| 2022-2023 | Maria Erokhina, Swim & Dive | Stevo Poulin, Wrestling |
| 2021-2022 | Meghan Golden, Softball Bryanna Ungs, Swim & Dive |
Jerome Campbell, Track & Field |
| 2020-2021 | Saana Liikonen, Swim & Dive | Welre Olivier, Track & Field |
| 2019-2020 | Alisha Davis, WBB | Mosha Schwartz, Wrestling |
| 2018-2019 | Madelyn Moore, Swim & Dive | Bode Hume, MBB |
| 2017-2018 | Petra Kis, Swim & Dive | Jalen Sanders, MBB |
| 2016-2017 | Krystal Leger-Walker, WBB | Jonah Radebaugh, MBB |
| 2015-2016 | Mariel Gutierrez, Soccer | Trae Riek, FB |
| 2014-2015 | Savanna Meadows, Swim & Dive | Cameron Michael, MBB |
BOB HEINY BEAR PRIDEÂ AWARD
STUDENT-ATHLETE BEAR PRIDEÂ AWARD |
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ACADEMICS |
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YEAR |
DR. MARY BEHLING AWARD |
DR. GEORGE SAGE AWARD |
| 2024-2025 | Isabelle DiNapoli, Softball Gracie Moreland, Swim & Dive |
Jake Storey, Baseball |
| 2023-2024 | Hannah Simental, Women's Basketball | Jesse Hayward, XC/Track & Field |
| 2022-2023 | Morgan King, Soccer Michaela Boone, Vollyball |
Blake Danni, Men's Golf |
| 2021-2022 | Alison Zigler, Track & Field | Lucas Allen, Baseball |
| 2020-2021 | Madison Soles, Maggie Thurston, Chloe Greiner | Owen Pasvogel, Golf |
| 2019-2020 | Kylie Chavez, Track & Field | Matthew Gaiter, FB |
| 2018-2019 | Kortney Lockey, Volleyball | Michael Kritzinger, Tennis |
| 2017-2018 | Lauren Paige | Anthony Brady |
| 2016-2017 | Carly Browning, Track & Field | Tyler Loose, MBB |
| 2015-2016 | Kyleigh Hiser, WBB | Jean-Claude Madin Cerezo, FB |
LEADERSHIP AWARDS |
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YEAR |
FEMALE |
MALE |
| 2023-2024 | Alyssa Wenzel, Softball | Xaview Vasquez, Wrestling |
| 2022-2023 | Sarah Jackson, Swim & Dive | Xavier Vasquez, Wrestling |
| 2021-2022 | Sarah Jackson, Swim & Dive Alyssa Wenzel, Softball |
Bodie Hume, Basketball |
| 2020-2021 | None | None |
| 2019-2020 | Leilani Herrera, Swim & Dive | Justice Littrell, FB |
| 2018-2019 | Anika Shelrud, Soccer | Jacob Seely, Wrestling |
| 2017-2018 | Erica Estes, Soccer | Justice Littrell, FB |
| 2016-2017 | Jacqueline Palizzi, Track & Field | Dylan Gabel, Wrestling |
| 2015-2016 | Mariel Gutierrez, Soccer | Dylan Gabel, Wrestling |
| 2014-2015 | Jaicy Sutak, Softball | Tim Huskisson, MBB |
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