ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – University of Alaska Anchorage track and field standout Joshua Caleb was named the athletic department's Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 season, receiving the honor at UAA's Seawolf Awards Shot at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium Sunday evening.
Caleb has etched his name in the record books, not just at UAA, but the GNAC, collegiate and even those of his home country Nigeria. He earned a pair of All-American honors after finishing fourth in the 60 and sixth in the 200 at the NCAA Div. II Indoor Track and Field National Championships. He earned USTFCCCA West Region Athlete of the Year and earned All-Region honors in three events (60, 200 and 400). Caleb was named the GNAC Men's Track Athlete of the Year and the GNAC Men's Track Athlete of the Meet. He has set school and conference records in the 60 and 200 indoors and the 100 and 200 outdoors. Caleb holds school records in the 400 indoors and outdoors and the 4x100 relay, in addition to U20 records for Africa and Nigeria.
Caleb, a sophomore, has a 3.65 GPA in computer science.
Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Debbie Narang handed out the department's top academic honor, the Dresser Cup, to a record five individuals this year, Will Cashmore (ski), Alyssa Hill (ski), Connor Marritt (hockey), Kadyn Osborne (VB) and Bethany Tuchardt (VB).
The seventh annual GCI Born & Raised Award went to Nordic skier Peter Hinds. An Anchorage, native, Hinds graduated from Dimond High School. Hinds twice represented the Seawolves at the NCAA Skiing National Championships, including this season where he finished 14th in the 7.5-kilometer classic race and 16th in the 20-kilometer freestyle race. He will graduate with a degree in engineering.
A complete list of this year's award winners is below.
Athlete of the Year – Joshua Caleb (Athlete of the Year)
Dresser Cup - Will Cashmore (ski), Alyssa Hill (ski), Connor Marritt (hockey), Kadyn Osborne (VB) and Bethany Tuchardt (VB)
GCI Born & Raised – Peter Hinds (Skiing)
Performance of the Year – Joshua Caleb (Track and Field)
Upset of the Year – Women's basketball defeats Vermont
Breakout Athlete of the Year – Elaina Mack (Women's Baketball)
Comeback of the Year – Marcela Bonifasi (Gymnastics)
Golden Dumbbell – Anders Larsen (Track & Field), Carmen Nielssen (Ski)
Freshman of the Year – Ashlyn Rean (Women's Basketball)
Sunshine Award – Stephen Zukowski (Cross Country, Track & Field)
Dawg Award – Hassan Herrington (Men's Basketball)
Unsung Hero Award – Luke Devine (Men's Basketball)
Best Dressed – Larssen Anderson (Volleyball)
Best Hair – Dillon Barrientos (Men's Basketball)
Team Scholars - Caeden Carruthers (men's skiing, 4.00), William Cashmore (men's skiing, 4.00), Madison Galloway (volleyball, 4.00), Beth Granstrom (women's skiing, 4.00), Alyssa Hill (women's skiing, 4.00), Matthew Johnson (hockey, 4.00), Connor Marritt (hockey, 4.00), Carmen Nielssen (women's skiing, 4.00), Kadyn Osborne (volleyball, 4.00), Alexandra Otto (women's cross country, skiing, track & field, 4.00), Avery Tillmanns (gymnastics, 4.00), Bethany Tuchardt (volleyball, 4.00), Gunnar VanDamme (hockey, 4.00), Zach Kohler (men's track & field, 3.91), George Payne (men's track & field, 3.91), John Peckham (men's cross country, 3.85), Bishop Tosi (men's basketball, 3.80) and Tori Hollingshead (women's basketball, 3.75).
Chi Alpha Sigma Inductees – Katie Birtcil (VB), Erling Bjornstad (SKI), Tyler Burraston (MBB), Corbin Carpenter (SKI), Olivia Carrier (SKI), Carlo Cordone (SKI), Grace Costello (GYM), Ariana Desouza (GYM), Ty Elliott (XC/TF), Sean Evans (MBB), Dylan Finlay (HKY), Jaisa Gamble (WBB), Madelyn Gomez (GYM), Alex Gomez (HKY), Davis Goukler (HKY), Beth Granstrom (SKI), Tori Hollingshead (WBB), Zachary Ibbetson (MBB), Brandon Lajoie (HKY), Lilli Lidner (XC/TF), Emilia Long (WBB), Daisy Macias (TF), Mallory McCarter (XC/TF), Makendra McCarty (XC/TF), Marlie Molinaro (SKI), Carmen Nielssen (SKI), Jada Niles (GYM), Greg Orosz (HKY), George Payne (TF), William Schimek (HKY), Mackenzie Sirowich (WBB), Breeann Spain (GYM), Jesse Stines (MBB), Bishop Tosi (MBB), Hannah Trotter (VB), Bethany Tuchardt (VB), Gunnar VanDamme (HKY), Tressa Wood (XC/TF) and Stephen Zukowski (XC/TF).
