Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Student-Athletes Recognized at Annual Victors Celebration
5/5/2026 1:21:00 PM | Cross Country, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Softball, Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Wrestling, Swimming and Diving, Office of Student-Athlete Success
BUFFALO, NY – UB Athletics held its annual Victors award show on Monday night. The event honors the academic and athletic success of UB student-athletes.
The top award of Male and Female Athlete of the Year went to Red Murdock of football and Lexie Thompson of women's soccer, respectively. Murdock was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He capped his stellar UB career by earning All-America after leading the Mid-American Conference and ranking second in the nation in tackles and set the NCAA record for career forced fumbles with 17. Thompson became the only player in MAC history to win Goalkeeper of the Year in back-to-back seasons and was named to the All-MAC First Team after ranking 25th nationally in goals against average and in the top 40 in shutouts.
The Team of the Year Award went to men's tennis after they won back-to-back regular season and conference titles for the first time in program history and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time.
The Individual Moment of the Year was awarded to Michael Parks of men's track and field and women's swimming and diving's Adele Melamud. Parks won his second straight 60m hurdles gold medal with a school record time at the Indoor MAC Championships. Melamud qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 1-meter and 3-meter dive, becoming the first freshman in program history to accomplish that feat. She was one of just five rookies nationally to qualify in both events.
The Newcomer of the Year was awarded to men's tennis' Minjae Kim and women's basketball's Meg Lucas. Kim, a mainstay in the middle of the UB lineup, helped lead the Bulls to a MAC regular season and tournament title, and is second on the team with 19 singles wins while also notching 12 doubles victories. Lucas set the program's single-season rookie rebounding record with 278 rebounds while also ranking second on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg), steals (42) and minutes played (29.8).
The night also included several academic awards.
The MAC Medal of Excellence was awarded to women's soccer's Sarah Woods and Noah Batchelor of men's basketball.
The FormidaBULL Scholar Award was given to women's basketball's Aniya Rowe and football's Jacari Bennett.
Track & Field's Jacob Brink was recognized for earning the Clifford C. Furnace Award.
The Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award was given to Deanne Choo of women's tennis.
Men's Tennis' Clement Mainguy and softball's Abbey Nagel were presented with the Male and Female Ideal Bull Award.
The Team Academic Achievement Award, given to the team with the highest GPA in the past year, went to the women's tennis team for the second straight year.
The One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award was presented to football's Shey Williams.
The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award went to student-athletes Lauren O'Rourke and Paris Welker, women's tennis associate head coach Smaranda McNerney and Executive Assistant Holly Kemp.
Finally, the Ronald Balter Behind the Scenes Champion Scholarship is given to a student manager or practice player who works with any of UB's teams and demonstrates high character, strong work ethic and has a GPA of 2.8 or higher. The winner is selected by the athletic department based upon the input of coaches and administrators. This year's recipient is men's basketball manager CJ Harley.
The top award of Male and Female Athlete of the Year went to Red Murdock of football and Lexie Thompson of women's soccer, respectively. Murdock was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He capped his stellar UB career by earning All-America after leading the Mid-American Conference and ranking second in the nation in tackles and set the NCAA record for career forced fumbles with 17. Thompson became the only player in MAC history to win Goalkeeper of the Year in back-to-back seasons and was named to the All-MAC First Team after ranking 25th nationally in goals against average and in the top 40 in shutouts.
The Team of the Year Award went to men's tennis after they won back-to-back regular season and conference titles for the first time in program history and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time.
The Individual Moment of the Year was awarded to Michael Parks of men's track and field and women's swimming and diving's Adele Melamud. Parks won his second straight 60m hurdles gold medal with a school record time at the Indoor MAC Championships. Melamud qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 1-meter and 3-meter dive, becoming the first freshman in program history to accomplish that feat. She was one of just five rookies nationally to qualify in both events.
The Newcomer of the Year was awarded to men's tennis' Minjae Kim and women's basketball's Meg Lucas. Kim, a mainstay in the middle of the UB lineup, helped lead the Bulls to a MAC regular season and tournament title, and is second on the team with 19 singles wins while also notching 12 doubles victories. Lucas set the program's single-season rookie rebounding record with 278 rebounds while also ranking second on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg), steals (42) and minutes played (29.8).
The night also included several academic awards.
The MAC Medal of Excellence was awarded to women's soccer's Sarah Woods and Noah Batchelor of men's basketball.
The FormidaBULL Scholar Award was given to women's basketball's Aniya Rowe and football's Jacari Bennett.
Track & Field's Jacob Brink was recognized for earning the Clifford C. Furnace Award.
The Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award was given to Deanne Choo of women's tennis.
Men's Tennis' Clement Mainguy and softball's Abbey Nagel were presented with the Male and Female Ideal Bull Award.
The Team Academic Achievement Award, given to the team with the highest GPA in the past year, went to the women's tennis team for the second straight year.
The One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award was presented to football's Shey Williams.
The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award went to student-athletes Lauren O'Rourke and Paris Welker, women's tennis associate head coach Smaranda McNerney and Executive Assistant Holly Kemp.
Finally, the Ronald Balter Behind the Scenes Champion Scholarship is given to a student manager or practice player who works with any of UB's teams and demonstrates high character, strong work ethic and has a GPA of 2.8 or higher. The winner is selected by the athletic department based upon the input of coaches and administrators. This year's recipient is men's basketball manager CJ Harley.
Players Mentioned
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
EDGE
/ Football
Distance
/ Track and Field
/ Women's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
F
/ Women's Basketball
/ Men's Tennis
/ Swimming and Diving
LB
/ Football
1B
/ Softball
/ Cross Country
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
G
/ Women's Basketball
GK
/ Women's Soccer
Distance
/ Track and Field
WR
/ Football
M
/ Women's SoccerSunday, May 24
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
Thursday, May 21
