2025 Victors Awards Nominees Announced
4/28/2025 4:15:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Softball, Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball, Wrestling, Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO, NY – The Division of Athletics will be hosting their annual Victors Awards Show on Monday, May 5, honoring the academic and athletic successes of our student-athletes across multiple playing fields.
The evening will begin with academic honors as 168 student-athletes will be recognized as MAC Honor Roll recipients, 88 for the MAC Commissioner's Award and 29 student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility will be honored with the MAC Presidential Award.
The MAC Medal of Excellence Award will also be presented, which is given annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 conference member institutions. Award winners must participate in a conference-sponsored sport and show evidence of athletics excellence, leadership, service, and academic success (minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA).
FormidaBull Scholar Award - The FormidaBULL Scholar Award was created to honor those individuals who have internalized the love of learning and moreover the process of learning to emerge as leaders within the student-athlete body here at UB. This award is not intended to simply recognize those student-athletes with the most improved GPA, but rather those who have internalized a passion for learning and overall academic success.
Marialis Kwak of the swimming and diving team will be recognized as the Clifford C. Furnas recipient, the highest academic honor bestowed on a UB student-athlete. Women's soccer senior Kaya Schultz, women's basketball senior Terah Harness, volleyball senior Maria Futey and wrestling's Cole French were also nominated .
The winners for all other awards will be announced on Monday evening and the nominees are below.
Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award - Selected by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to recognize an individual who makes a significant contribution on the court, field or in the pool and is recognized for his or her dedication, unselfishness and contribution to the team. The award is named after Chrisy Dickerson, a member of UB's Rowing team who lost her life in a car accident on December 11, 2002.
Nominees:
Abigail Malmstrom, Swimming & Diving
Alexandra Cowley, Women's Track & Field
Red Murdock, Football
Ty Raines, Wrestling
Male & Female IAB Ideal Bull Award - Given by the Intercollegiate Athletics Board, this honor goes to a senior male and female athlete who have demonstrated leadership beyond their own teams to the division and/or the campus, and whose character, actions, excellence, and concern for other student-athletes make them strong ambassadors for the Division of Athletics and the University at Buffalo.
Male Nominees:
Hunter Shaut, Wrestling
Justin Kleppel, Men's Track & Field
Ty Raines, Wrestling
Female Nominees:
Eliza Medearis, Women's Track & Field
Mandy Leigh, Volleyball
Mia Naccarella, Swimming & Diving
Olivia Bizzoni, Women's Soccer
JEDI Award - The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award recognizes a coach, student-athlete, or staff member who has made an outstanding contribution toward advancing the goals of UB Athletics' mission, which is to create greater diversity, inclusivity, and equitable opportunities at UB and within the communities we serve.
One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award - Named in honor of Monika Simkova, who displayed amazing courage in the face of significant adversity, The One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award will be chosen annually from nominees who have shown courage in the face of significant adversity and persevered, inspiring those around them to strive for excellence regardless of their circumstances surrounding them.
Male Team Moment of The Year
- Football beating nationally-ranked Northern Illinois on the road. Program's second win against a Top 25 opponent
- Men's Tennis defeats DePaul for UB's first win over a ranked opponent since 2019
- Men's Track and Field wins six medals on Day 2 at Indoor MAC Championships
Male Individual Moment Of The Year
- Shaun Dolac – Had a 60-yard pick six at Eastern Michigan to seal the win over the Eagles
- Ryan Sabol – Became the fastest Bull in program history to reach 100 made threes in UB's game at Georgia, doing so in just 42 games.
- Clement Mainguy – Saved six match points to win a third set tiebreaker set 12-10 and clinch the match over 2024 regular season champion Western Michigan with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 victory at third singles.
Female Team Moment Of The Year
- Volleyball defeats Ball State at Worthen Arena for the first time in program history
- Women's Basketball Defeats UMass in overtime in the second round of the WNIT for the program's first postseason win since 2019
- Women's Soccer Defeats Pitt 2-1. It was UB's first-ever win over a top 10 program and is the third win over a Power 4 opponent in the Shawn Burke era.
Female Individual Moment Of The Year
- Marialis Kwak – Swim & Dive - Wins MAC Diver of the Year after earning gold medals in the 1m and 3m dive
- Chellia Watson – WBB - Scored her 2,000th career point to lead UB to a win over UMass for their first postseason win since 2019
- Zahra Amos – Track & Field wins the MAC Championship in the high jump, setting a new school record
Female Newcomer Of The Year
- Noelani Cornfield – WBB (Named to the MAC All-Defensive Team and Academic All-District… appeared in 32 games for the Bulls this season… Averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 46% from the floor… Leads the team and ranked second in the MAC in steals per game (2.4) and total steals (77). Also ranks in the top 20 nationally, in assists per game (5.8) and total assists (185).
- Isabella Forsman – WSIM (Freshman Swimmer of the Year, First-Team All-MAC… won silver in the 400 individual medley and silver in the 800 freestyle relay at MAC Championships)
- Frederique St.-Jean – WSOC - Named First-Team All-MAC after starting 19 games and rarely coming off the field for the Bulls. She served as the anchor of a standout backline that led the league and ranked in the top 20 nationally in goals against average (.70) save percentage (.848) and shutout percentage (.550).
- Emily Gorman – SB – Leads team in hits (28), batting average (.400) and on base percentage (.500)
Male Newcomer Of The Year
- JJ Jenkins – FB – Second on the team in receiving with 36 catches for 536 yards and four touchdowns
- Ben Michaels – Men's Basketball – Named to MAC All-Freshman Team. First Bull to achieve that accomplishment since CJ Massinburg in 2016
- Faiz Nasyam – Men's Tennis – Named MAC Doubles Team of the Week on February 3. Leads the team with 24 singles victories, including multiple match-clinching wins in conference play, and has added 17 doubles victories
National Qualifier Recognitions
- Football
- Men's Tennis
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Basketball (WNIT)
Female Athlete Of The Year
- Marialis Kwak – Swim & Dive - MAC Diver of the Year… First Team All-MAC… Won two gold medals (1m and 3m dive) at the 2025 MAC Championships… Broke school record in 3m dive at UB Diving Invite… Won 17 consecutive diving events
- Chellia Watson –WBB - First Team All-MAC… Named to MAC All-Tournament Team… Two-time MAC Player of the Week… Averaged 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 45% from the floor… Scored in double figures in all 33 games, including 22 20+ point performances… Led the MAC and led the MAC and ranks in the top 20 nationally in total points (675), points per game (20.5), field goals made (260) and attempted (581)
- Abby Leigh – VB (First Team All MAC…Finished top 10 in the MAC in five categories. Set program record for most sets played and ranks in the top 10 in program history in kills, hitting percentage, blocks and total points.
- Zahra Amos – Track and Field – Won her third consecutive MAC championship in the high jump, setting a school record in the process
Male Athlete Of The Year
- Shaun Dolac – Football – Program's first-ever consensus All-American…MAC Defensive Player of the Year…Finalist for Burlsworth Trophy… Program record five MAC Player of the Week Awards… Finished season with a school-record 168 tackles and added 18.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and five interceptions.
- Tal Hamel – Men's Track & Field – First-Team All-MAC… Won the 200-meter run at the Indoor MAC Championships…also had podium finish in the 60-meter dash
- Marcus Petite – Wrestling - Went 9-0 in conference duals and earned a podium spot with a sixth-place finish at the MAC Championships
- Cheng Tang – Men's Tennis – Named the Most Outstanding Player at the MAC Tournament after earning back-to-back clinch points to help the Bulls secure the MAC Tournament championship for the first time since 2017. Was named All-MAC First Team after setting career-highs and reaching double digit win totals in both singles and doubles action for the second straight year, while earning MAC Player of the Week honors three times.
Team of the Year
- Football
- Men's Tennis
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Basketball
The evening will begin with academic honors as 168 student-athletes will be recognized as MAC Honor Roll recipients, 88 for the MAC Commissioner's Award and 29 student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility will be honored with the MAC Presidential Award.
The MAC Medal of Excellence Award will also be presented, which is given annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 conference member institutions. Award winners must participate in a conference-sponsored sport and show evidence of athletics excellence, leadership, service, and academic success (minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA).
FormidaBull Scholar Award - The FormidaBULL Scholar Award was created to honor those individuals who have internalized the love of learning and moreover the process of learning to emerge as leaders within the student-athlete body here at UB. This award is not intended to simply recognize those student-athletes with the most improved GPA, but rather those who have internalized a passion for learning and overall academic success.
Marialis Kwak of the swimming and diving team will be recognized as the Clifford C. Furnas recipient, the highest academic honor bestowed on a UB student-athlete. Women's soccer senior Kaya Schultz, women's basketball senior Terah Harness, volleyball senior Maria Futey and wrestling's Cole French were also nominated .
The winners for all other awards will be announced on Monday evening and the nominees are below.
Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award - Selected by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to recognize an individual who makes a significant contribution on the court, field or in the pool and is recognized for his or her dedication, unselfishness and contribution to the team. The award is named after Chrisy Dickerson, a member of UB's Rowing team who lost her life in a car accident on December 11, 2002.
Nominees:
Abigail Malmstrom, Swimming & Diving
Alexandra Cowley, Women's Track & Field
Red Murdock, Football
Ty Raines, Wrestling
Male & Female IAB Ideal Bull Award - Given by the Intercollegiate Athletics Board, this honor goes to a senior male and female athlete who have demonstrated leadership beyond their own teams to the division and/or the campus, and whose character, actions, excellence, and concern for other student-athletes make them strong ambassadors for the Division of Athletics and the University at Buffalo.
Male Nominees:
Hunter Shaut, Wrestling
Justin Kleppel, Men's Track & Field
Ty Raines, Wrestling
Female Nominees:
Eliza Medearis, Women's Track & Field
Mandy Leigh, Volleyball
Mia Naccarella, Swimming & Diving
Olivia Bizzoni, Women's Soccer
JEDI Award - The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award recognizes a coach, student-athlete, or staff member who has made an outstanding contribution toward advancing the goals of UB Athletics' mission, which is to create greater diversity, inclusivity, and equitable opportunities at UB and within the communities we serve.
One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award - Named in honor of Monika Simkova, who displayed amazing courage in the face of significant adversity, The One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award will be chosen annually from nominees who have shown courage in the face of significant adversity and persevered, inspiring those around them to strive for excellence regardless of their circumstances surrounding them.
Male Team Moment of The Year
- Football beating nationally-ranked Northern Illinois on the road. Program's second win against a Top 25 opponent
- Men's Tennis defeats DePaul for UB's first win over a ranked opponent since 2019
- Men's Track and Field wins six medals on Day 2 at Indoor MAC Championships
Male Individual Moment Of The Year
- Shaun Dolac – Had a 60-yard pick six at Eastern Michigan to seal the win over the Eagles
- Ryan Sabol – Became the fastest Bull in program history to reach 100 made threes in UB's game at Georgia, doing so in just 42 games.
- Clement Mainguy – Saved six match points to win a third set tiebreaker set 12-10 and clinch the match over 2024 regular season champion Western Michigan with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 victory at third singles.
Female Team Moment Of The Year
- Volleyball defeats Ball State at Worthen Arena for the first time in program history
- Women's Basketball Defeats UMass in overtime in the second round of the WNIT for the program's first postseason win since 2019
- Women's Soccer Defeats Pitt 2-1. It was UB's first-ever win over a top 10 program and is the third win over a Power 4 opponent in the Shawn Burke era.
Female Individual Moment Of The Year
- Marialis Kwak – Swim & Dive - Wins MAC Diver of the Year after earning gold medals in the 1m and 3m dive
- Chellia Watson – WBB - Scored her 2,000th career point to lead UB to a win over UMass for their first postseason win since 2019
- Zahra Amos – Track & Field wins the MAC Championship in the high jump, setting a new school record
Female Newcomer Of The Year
- Noelani Cornfield – WBB (Named to the MAC All-Defensive Team and Academic All-District… appeared in 32 games for the Bulls this season… Averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 46% from the floor… Leads the team and ranked second in the MAC in steals per game (2.4) and total steals (77). Also ranks in the top 20 nationally, in assists per game (5.8) and total assists (185).
- Isabella Forsman – WSIM (Freshman Swimmer of the Year, First-Team All-MAC… won silver in the 400 individual medley and silver in the 800 freestyle relay at MAC Championships)
- Frederique St.-Jean – WSOC - Named First-Team All-MAC after starting 19 games and rarely coming off the field for the Bulls. She served as the anchor of a standout backline that led the league and ranked in the top 20 nationally in goals against average (.70) save percentage (.848) and shutout percentage (.550).
- Emily Gorman – SB – Leads team in hits (28), batting average (.400) and on base percentage (.500)
Male Newcomer Of The Year
- JJ Jenkins – FB – Second on the team in receiving with 36 catches for 536 yards and four touchdowns
- Ben Michaels – Men's Basketball – Named to MAC All-Freshman Team. First Bull to achieve that accomplishment since CJ Massinburg in 2016
- Faiz Nasyam – Men's Tennis – Named MAC Doubles Team of the Week on February 3. Leads the team with 24 singles victories, including multiple match-clinching wins in conference play, and has added 17 doubles victories
National Qualifier Recognitions
- Football
- Men's Tennis
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Basketball (WNIT)
Female Athlete Of The Year
- Marialis Kwak – Swim & Dive - MAC Diver of the Year… First Team All-MAC… Won two gold medals (1m and 3m dive) at the 2025 MAC Championships… Broke school record in 3m dive at UB Diving Invite… Won 17 consecutive diving events
- Chellia Watson –WBB - First Team All-MAC… Named to MAC All-Tournament Team… Two-time MAC Player of the Week… Averaged 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 45% from the floor… Scored in double figures in all 33 games, including 22 20+ point performances… Led the MAC and led the MAC and ranks in the top 20 nationally in total points (675), points per game (20.5), field goals made (260) and attempted (581)
- Abby Leigh – VB (First Team All MAC…Finished top 10 in the MAC in five categories. Set program record for most sets played and ranks in the top 10 in program history in kills, hitting percentage, blocks and total points.
- Zahra Amos – Track and Field – Won her third consecutive MAC championship in the high jump, setting a school record in the process
Male Athlete Of The Year
- Shaun Dolac – Football – Program's first-ever consensus All-American…MAC Defensive Player of the Year…Finalist for Burlsworth Trophy… Program record five MAC Player of the Week Awards… Finished season with a school-record 168 tackles and added 18.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and five interceptions.
- Tal Hamel – Men's Track & Field – First-Team All-MAC… Won the 200-meter run at the Indoor MAC Championships…also had podium finish in the 60-meter dash
- Marcus Petite – Wrestling - Went 9-0 in conference duals and earned a podium spot with a sixth-place finish at the MAC Championships
- Cheng Tang – Men's Tennis – Named the Most Outstanding Player at the MAC Tournament after earning back-to-back clinch points to help the Bulls secure the MAC Tournament championship for the first time since 2017. Was named All-MAC First Team after setting career-highs and reaching double digit win totals in both singles and doubles action for the second straight year, while earning MAC Player of the Week honors three times.
Team of the Year
- Football
- Men's Tennis
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Basketball
Players Mentioned
High Jump
/ Track and Field
D/M
/ Women's Soccer
G
/ Women's Basketball
/ Track and Field
LB
/ Football
/ Swimming and Diving
141
/ Wrestling
L/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OF
/ Softball
/ Track and Field
G
/ Women's Basketball
WR
/ Football
/ Track and Field
/ Swimming and Diving
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Men's Tennis
/ Swimming and Diving
Distance
/ Track and Field
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
LB
/ Football
/ Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Tennis
184
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
M
/ Women's Soccer
165
/ Wrestling
D
/ Women's Soccer
/ Men's Tennis
G
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