WSU Athletics Honors 2026 Senior Student-Athletes

PULLMAN, Wash. (May 8, 2026) – Washington State University Athletics honored its senior student-athletes at its annual Senior Recognition Luncheon Friday afternoon on the Alger Family Club Room at Gesa Field.

The luncheon highlighted the tutorial and athletic contributions of this 12 months’s senior class of Cougar student-athletes.

Twenty-four student-athletes had been acknowledged for the Senior Excellence in Academics Award, given to seniors who’ve earned a minimal of 90 credit with not less than a 3.5 cumulative GPA, been members of the WSU Athletics All-Academic Team every semester, enrolled at WSU for not less than two years, and excelled of their diploma program and sport program. This 12 months’s recipients are Brock Blatter (baseball), Luke Meyers (baseball), Gavin Roy (baseball), Ryan Skjonsby (baseball), Gavin Fugate (soccer), Leyton Smithson (soccer), Andrew Edson (soccer), Ben Borgida (males’s golf), Tayettin Brodzinski (rowing), Sam Eden (rowing), Jaeve Proberts (rowing), Natalie Spring (rowing), Clara Anderson (swimming), Skylar Brgoch (swimming), Anna Rauchholz (swimming), Lauren Wille (swimming), Eva Alvarez Sande (tennis), Maxine Murphy (tennis), Eli Lawrence (males’s observe and area), Ferran Verges (males’s observe), Maya Nichols (girls’s observe), Madisyn Negro (girls’s observe and area) and Riley Pyeatt (girls’s observe).

The Cougar Pride Academic salute is awarded to at least one male and one feminine senior who has maintained over a 3.00 cumulative GPA and has displayed distinctive tutorial, athletic and excellent private qualities. This 12 months’s award winners are Emily Lundgren (swimming) and Sam Renner (males’s golf). 

Jean Chiu (girls’s basketball) was offered the Athletic Director’s Star Performer Award, given to a senior student-athlete who finest mirror a dedication to tutorial enchancment resulting in profitable completion of their diploma.

Lauren Wille (swimming) as offered the Steve Gleason Community Service and Leadership Award, given to those that have demonstrated sturdy citizenship expertise and management qualities inside their staff and all through the athletic division and neighborhood.

The Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) True Cougar Award was offered to Jonny Lester (soccer).  This award is offered to a senior student-athlete who began their WSU profession as non-scholarship student-athlete, and who, to their respective staff, outline management, dedication to excellence and Cougar Pride.

The Damien Ficek Athletic Training Award was offered to male and/or feminine senior student-athletes who’re humble, onerous working within the coaching room and have overcome bodily and/or different private challenges to succeed at WSU. The award is offered in reminiscence of former WSU athletic coaching scholar Damien Ficek, whose life got here to an finish in 2004 whereas serving his nation in Iraq. This 12 months’s award winner are Clara Anderson (swimming) and Jonny Lester (soccer).

The Rob Oviatt and David Lang Strength and Conditioning Award is offered to at least one male and one feminine senior student-athlete who possess an amazing dedication to coaching, are accountable to his/her exercise, lead by instance and present an general enchancment within the weight room. Honoring the work ethic and coaching beliefs of former WSU Directors of Physical Development Rob Oviatt and David Lang. This 12 months’s recipients are Clara Anderson (swimming) and Sam Renner (males’s golf).

Maxine Murphy (tennis) and Jack Procter (soccer) were named as recipients of the Beulah M. Blankenship Outstanding Student-Athlete Award, given to acknowledge private achievements of a senior female and male student-athlete at WSU. The award acknowledges contributions to the very best values of athletic expression by sportsmanship, dedication and optimistic regard for others.

The Cougar Athletics Leadership Award acknowledges the senior student-athletes who’ve impacted a optimistic change inside his/her sport, the athletics division, Washington State campus, on the convention and/or nationwide stage, in addition to the better Pullman neighborhood. The recipient of the Cougar Athletics Leadership Award has been a constant voice whereas representing the student-athlete expertise at WSU. The recipients have additionally demonstrated private development and growth by means of energetic participation in student-athlete growth programming such because the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, management and peer tutorial counseling and mentoring packages, and neighborhood engagement actions. This 12 months’s recipient is Ben Borgida (males’s golf).

The WSU Alumni Association Top Ten Senior Award acknowledges essentially the most certified 10 college students from throughout the campus, every representing a particular facet of the school expertise. The classes are lecturers, athletics, campus involvement, neighborhood service and visible/performing arts. This 12 months’s athletics recipients are Ben Borgida (males’s golf) and Emily Lundgren (swimming).

Graduation at Washington State takes place Saturday, May 9.