General | 5/6/2026 4:40:00 PM

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Intercollegiate Athletics Department hosted its 12th Annual ESSLY Awards Tuesday, April 28 in Mitchell Hall Gymnasium.  ESSLY stands for "Eagle Sport, School, and Life Yearly Awards."  Student-athletes were honored in the areas of sport, school, and life.  Awards presented included recognition of captains, team community service, 4.00 students, scholar-athletes, academic All-Americas, four-year participants, All-Americas, individual national champions, and team national champions.

In addition, other awards presented included:   
 

Female Athlete of the Year – Aubree Caya, Soccer
Caya earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region and All-America First Team honors while being named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year. She set single-season school records in goals (24), points (55) and shots (91), leading the conference in all three categories. Caya also led the WIAC in shots on goal (58) and tied for the lead in game-winning goals (4) while finishing seventh in assists (7). She led NCAA Division III in goals and finished second in points. Caya was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team and to the United Soccer Scholar All-America First Team. 

Male Athlete of the Year – Sam Grieger, Basketball
Grieger became the first player in school history to receive National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America First Team honors and the first to be selected as the NABC Player of the Year for Division III. He was also named D3hoops.com All-America Second Team and Region Player of the Year. Voted the WIAC Player of the Year, Sam finished seventh in Division with 25.7 points per game. He led the country in field goals made (275) and set a single-season school record for scoring (797). Grieger scored a single-game school record with 46 points versus UW-Oshkosh. He eclipsed 1,000 career points, scoring in double figures in all 31 games with at least 25 points in 17 contests.

Female Newcomer of the Year – Greta Wiskus, Swimming & Diving
Wiskus won the 50 freestyle and placed second in the 100 freestyle at the WIAC Championships in helping lead UWL to the team title. She was a member of three winning relays at the league meet, including the 200 medley relay and 200 and 400 freestyle relay. Wiskus was also on the second-place 400 medley relay. She was a qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championships on four relays.
 

Male Newcomer of the Year – Preston Nygaard, Swimming & Diving
Nygaard was selected the WIAC Newcomer of the Year after capturing the 100 and 200 breaststroke and placing second in the 200 I.M. at the league championships. He was also a member of the first-place 400 medley relay, and 200 and 400 freestyle relay helping UWL clinch its first WIAC Championship title since 1971. Nygaard earned NCAA Division III All-America honors with a sixth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke, the first UWL swimmer in history to earn accolades in the event at the national championships. He also competed in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke at the national championships.

Upset of the Year – Softball
UWL earned a 1-0 victory in nine innings over third-ranked Saint Mary's University (Minn.). Having made the College World Series last season, the Cardinals entered the contest with a 17-game winning streak and overall record of 30-2.  Carmen Follette had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning, and finished with the complete game shutout against a team that had 17 run-rule victories this year. UWL earned the victory on a bases loaded walk. 

 

Game of the Year – Women's Basketball
On the road against top-seeded UW-Oshkosh, UWL made its first appearance in the WIAC Tournament Championship. Trailing 44-36 heading into the fourth quarter, the Eagles opened the fourth quarter on a 10-1 run to take a 46-45 lead with just over 4:00 to play. The Titans would hit two free throws to lead 47-46 but a Grace Knupp layup followed by a Malia Nelson three-pointer put the Eagles up 51-47 with :48 remaining. Leading 52-49 with :13 seconds left, UWL forced UW-Oshkosh into a contested three-pointer that was off the mark. With the win, the Eagles claimed their first-ever WIAC Tournament Championship and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA III Championships. 
 
Moment of the Year – Tanner Gerber, Wrestling
2025-26 WIAC Wrestler of the Year Tanner Gerber became the first wrestler in school history to win the 165-pound title at the NCAA Division III Championships. He went 4-0 overall, winning the title with a 4-0 victory over Andrew Supers of Baldwin-Wallace College. Gerber's win pushed UWL to a second-place team finish, tying for the best in school history.
 
Comeback of the Year – Jonah Elfers, Swimming & Diving
In early January, Elfers lost consciousness under water. After receiving CPR, regaining consciousness, and asking if he could finish practice, he took an ambulance ride and had an overnight hospital stay. Less than 24 hours later he embarked on a recovery journey that required persistence, self-control, and a positive attitude beyond measure.
 

His return to play process was extensive. Like with any damage and risk to your heart, taking it easy upon returning to sport is crucial. While 25 days doesn't seem like that long on a calendar, it feels like an eternity when conference is looming ahead. The team at Gundersen Health System made a timeline for him to return to swimming within two weeks and with our athletic training staff, Elfers was fully cleared to be back in the pool by early February.  
 
After coming back, enduring his own revival, Elfers went on to contribute to the team's own revival of sorts, helping win their first conference title since 1971 with a runner-up finish in the 100-yard butterfly and a team record in the 200-yard medley relay. And he secured the WIAC Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.  
  
Charlie Award – Men's Swimming & Diving
UWL earned the award for its courage, perseverance, determination, toughness and heart. The men's swimming and diving team won the WIAC for the first time since 1971.  The Eagles captured the league championship with 891.0 team points.  Jacob Ketterling was the WIAC Co-Swimmer of the Meet while Preston Nygaard earned the Newcomer of the Year and Jonah Elfers the Scholar-Athlete. UWL won five individual and three relay titles. The team had passion and belief and were united in one goal.  They competed with inspiration. 

 

Eagle Award – Lauren Ambrookian, Golf; Emiliano Ramos, Baseball
Members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee were asked to nominate a person from their team who demonstrates the characteristics of being a great teammate, someone who is a good leader for the team, and someone who has impact in other areas of campus or in the community.  
 

What they said about Ambrookian:
Lauren is always eager to compete and brings consistent enthusiasm and positive to practice and tournaments. While crushing it as a team member, she also involved in SAAC, Lambda Pi Eta, runs a junior golf program during the summer, often working 60-hour weeks. After graduation she's entering a role that was tailor-made for her because of her flexibility and her talents as a teacher and coach. She embodies what it means to succeed "in life" – making a positive impact on everyone around her.
 
What they said about Ramos:
Emiliano, or Meek, is known for his constant words of encouragement. Whether it's pulling younger teammates aside after a tough rep or setting the done during a long practice, he's constantly working to make those around him better. He works so hard to shape team culture and works endlessly to contribute to any environment he's in—whether it's the classroom, on the field, or in the community.
 
Students of the Year – Noelle Hackenmueller, Track & Field; Grant Matthai, Cross Country/Track & Field; Ella Pahl, Cross Country/Track & Field; Ali Sprangers, Basketball; Kylie Stockton, Track & Field

All five students have a 4.00 cumulative grade point average. Hackenmueller is majoring in Spanish education and TESOL education with a linguistics minor while Matthai is a statistics major and economics and computer science minors. Pahl is majoring in exercise sport science pre-physical therapy with a neuroscience minor. Sprangers is a marketing major with a digital media studies and design minor while Stockton is an art major and also has a digital media studies and design minor. 

Faculty of the Year – Olivia Stoltman, English Department
Professor Stoltman was nominated by Carly Borst from the track & field team, Maia Samuelson from the tennis team and Lincoln Smith from the baseball team.

"I can honestly say that I have never felt so comfortable around a professor," said Borst. "You can clearly tell how much care she places on her work and students—exemplifying every value that UWL models. Because of that I always try and give her my best work. She completely deserves this award."
 
Samuelson believes Professor Stoltman is deserving because of all the interesting activities she does to make the class think actively about their readings and engaging with peers. She makes you feel like an individual and not just another student in the class. 
 
Smith notes that Professor Stoltman made the transition into college very easy. "She was the best professor I could ask for coming into college, I had her for my first ever class. I thought maybe all college professors might be like that but sadly I was disappointed… Stoltman is truly one of one."

Highest Team Grade Point Average - Women's Cross Country
The women's cross country team earned the award for highest team cumulative grade point average at 3.653.
 
Outstanding Career Award – Aidan Matthai, Cross Country/Track & Field; Grant Matthai, Cross Country/Track & Field; Ava Schiltz, Lacrosse; Dain Walter, Football
Aidan Matthai earned two NCAA Division III All-America accolades in cross country, finishing fifth in 2024 and seventh in 2025. He was a three-time all-region honoree after placing 10th in 2023, second in 2024 and third in 2025. Matthai had three top-eight finishes at the WIAC Championships in cross country, finishing eighth in 2022, fifth in 2024 and seventh in 2025. He was selected the 2022 WIAC Newcomer of the Year.  He won two WIAC indoor track & field titles in the 5,000-meter run and captured the outdoor 10,000-meter run. Matthai has earned five career indoor NCAA Division III All-America honors on the track, including three in the 5,000-meter run and two in the 3,000-meter run. He also earned outdoor All-America recognition in the 10,000-meter run.
 

Grant Matthai also earned two NCAA III All-America honors in cross country, placing third in 2024 and fifth in 2025. He was a three-time all-region selection, finishing second in 2025, third in 2024 and fourth in 2023. Matthai was voted the 2025 WIAC Cross Country Athlete of the Year after capturing his second straight league title. He became the first back-to-back champion in the WIAC since 2015-16, breaking his own league record in 2024 and 2025.  He was also selected the WIAC Scholar-Athlete and earned the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award.  On the track, Matthai captured the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championship in the 5,000-meter run and the outdoor 10,000-meter run. He is a six-time All-America, including twice in the indoor 3,000-meter run and twice in the indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter run. Matthai holds the school record in the outdoor 5,000-meter. He captured the WIAC title in the 5,000-meter run. He was named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team.
 
Schiltz is the all-time leader in school history in goals (223), assists (62), points (285) and shots (461) while ranking second in draw controls (191). She started all 70 games in her four-year UWL career. Schiltz set a single-season school record in goals (64) in 2025 and has three of the top-five marks in goals in school history. Her 75 points in 2025 tied the single-season school record. Named to the 2024 and 2025 All-WIAC First Team, Schiltz recorded multiple goals in 14 of 18 games this year with at least one goal in all 18 contests. She had a season-high six goals versus UW-Stout and registered at least three goals in nine different games.
 
Walter was named to four All-America teams in 2025, including first team selections by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association. He was an Associated Press All-America Second team choice and was also named to the Walter Camp Division III All-America Team. Voted to the 2025 All-WIAC First Team and to the D3football.com All-Region First Team, Walter started all 11 games at left tackle while not allowing a quarterback sack. He was a 2024 All-WIAC Second Team selection. He was invited to the Green Bay Packers Rookie Mini-Camp after the National Football League draft.