EMU Athletics Celebrates 2021-22 With Return of Ypsi Awards

Highlight Video | Full Show

Photo Gallery

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — For the first time since 2019, the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics held the Ypsi Awards at Pease Auditorium Monday, April 11, to honor the top athletic, citizenship, and academic achievements by EMU student-athletes during the 2021-22 academic year.

The Ypsi Awards saw EMU student-athletes, coaches, athletic department, and university staff come together to honor the Eagles' best individuals and teams, as well as the 2021-22 seniors from each of Eastern Michigan's 19 sport programs. The 90-minute ceremony featured live performances, video skits, and awards presentations by several EMU student-athletes and staff.

EMU Director of Media Relations Alex Jewell served as the host, while a wide-range of student-athletes, coaches, and administration presented the awards to the winners. Eastern Michigan coaches nominated student-athletes for the awards and the list was narrowed down to four finalists in each category. The winners for every award were selected by voting from every EMU intercollegiate athletics team.

Awards Nominees (Winners Bolded):

Teammate of the Year (All Selected as Winners)
Baseball - Shane Easter
Men's Basketball - DJ Ballard
Women's Basketball - Natalia Pineda
Women's Cross Country - Olivia Chandler
Men's Cross Country - Noah Perrin
Football - Bryson Cannon
Men's Golf - Blaise Vanitvelt
Women's Golf - Natai Apichonlati
Gymnastics- Molly Parris
Lacrosse - Emily Kahn
Women's Rowing- Reagan Fazekas
Women's Soccer - Sarah Ash
Women's Swimming and Diving - Riley Hofmann
Women's Tennis - Julia Piatek
Men's Track and Field - Kyle Martin
Women's Track and Field - Chevonne Wheeler
Volleyball - Mackenzie Garis

Coach of the Year
Mark Rinker, Men's Cross Country
Sue Parks, Women's Track and Field
Sam Higgins, Gymnastics
Chris Creighton, Football

Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Olivia Chandler, Women's Cross Country
Emma Boersen, Women's Rowing
Emma-Lou Pommiers, Women's Tennis
Isabella Hommes, Volleyball

Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Evan Sines, Baseball
DJ Ballard, Men's Basketball
Chris Devaney, Men's Cross Country/Track
Max Watson, Men's Golf

Best Performance
Noah Farrakhan, Men's Basketball
Baldvin Magnusson, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field
Taige Bryant, Men's Track and Field
Kadian Clarke, Women's Track and Field

Community Service Award
Ian Cook, Men's Cross Country
Tariq Speights, Football
Reagan Fazekas, Women's Rowing
Olivia Szylar, Volleyball

Rookie Student-Athlete of the Year
Gabe Denton, Baseball
Kyleigh Dull, Women's Golf
Lachelle Austin, Women's Basketball
Almighty Williamson, Men's Track and Field

Breakthrough Student-Athlete of the Year
Jose Ramirez, Football
Anna Grace McCullough, Gymnastics
Katie Shoen, Women's Swimming and Diving
Krista Blakley, Volleyball

Julia Lombardi Leadership Award
Nick Jones, Baseball
Claire Dillard, Lacrosse
Zack Mason, Men's Golf
Lauren Ahern, Women's Rowing

Team of the Year
Women's Golf
Gymnastics
Men's Cross Country/Track and Field
Women's Track and Field

Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Marta Moreno, Women's Cross Country
Ella Chemotti, Gymnastics
Riley Hofmann, Women's Swimming and Diving
Kadian Clarke, Women's Track

Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Taylor Hopkins, Baseball
Jake Julien, Football
Cougar Collins, Men's Golf
Baldvin Magnusson, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Related Videos