UIS Athletics 2024-25 Year in Review
The UIS athletic department concluded a successful 2024-25 academic year under the direction of first-year Director of Athletics Mike Hermann. The Prairie Stars earned postseason appearances, individual accolades, and continued to perform at a high level in the classroom.2024-25 Highlights
- GLVC Championship Finalists: Softball, Baseball
- NCAA Regional Appearance: Women's Golf
- Department GPA of 3.59 for Fall 2024 — a new department record
- Spring 2025 was the third consecutive semester with a department GPA above 3.50
Academic Consistency and Growth
UIS Athletics continues to exceed academic expectations, demonstrating sustained department-wide excellence.
- The department GPA was 3.55 in Spring 2025, marking the third consecutive semester above 3.50
- Every team posted a GPA of 3.30 or higher during the 2024-25 academic year
- Women's Tennis led academically with a 3.89 GPA, ranking No. 2 in the GLVC
Athletic Excellence
UIS had 35 All-GLVC selections, 18 All-Region honorees, and 2 All-Americans, showing depth across UIS programs.
- Baseball had five All-GLVC first-team selections and five All-Region honorees, plus an Honorable Mention All-American in Ivan Dahlberg.
- Softball and baseball each earned All-Region honors and made postseason runs.
- Madelyn Miller of cross country and track was a three-time national qualifier and an All-American in the indoor 5K.
Postseason Presence
Several teams were active late into their seasons:
- Baseball and softball both reached the GLVC Championship finals.
- Women's golf advanced to the GLVC match play semifinals and qualified for the NCAA Regional.
- All fall sports made their respective GLVC Tournaments
Coaching Impact
Three first-year head coaches—women's basketball (Olivia Lett), men's soccer (Graham Shaw), and women's soccer (Scott Myers)—made their mark in year one and helped shape the culture of their programs.
- Women's soccer set a new program record for GLVC wins (8).
- Men's soccer extended its streak to eight consecutive conference tournament appearances.
- Women's basketball found momentum with a three-game win streak after winter break.
GLVC Players of the Week
- Isaac Cortes, Men's Cross Country (Sept. 11)
- Madelyn Miller, Women's Cross Country (Sept. 11)
- Allison Mirimanian, Women's Soccer (Sept. 16, Oct. 28)
- Joe Brudnak, Men's Soccer (Sept. 23)
- Joey Fitzgerald, Men's Soccer (Oct. 7)
- Jake Baldin, Men's Golf (Oct. 10)
- Daniel Giacomini, Men's Cross Country (Oct. 23)
- Elaine Grant, Women's Golf (Oct. 31, April 3)
- Ethan Bowers, Baseball (Feb. 10)
- Esteban Hernandez, Baseball (Feb. 20)
- Madelyn Miller, Women's Indoor Track and Field (Feb. 19)
- Ty Hollandsworth, Baseball (Feb. 24)
- Malia Bender, Softball (March 3)
- Taylor Zawacki, Softball (March 31)
- Rosie Bartletti, Softball (April 8, April 28)
- Ben Benoit, Baseball (April 21)
- Nyla Cooper, Softball (April 21)
Sport-by-Sport Highlights
Baseball
- GLVC Championship Finalist (first time since 2022)
- Record: 36-16 overall, 23-8 GLVC
- All-GLVC: Mark Kattula, Ethan Bowers, Mark DeCicco, Ivan Dahlberg, Seth Masters (First Team); Esteban Hernandez (Second Team)
- All-Region: Mark Kattula, Seth Masters, Ivan Dahlberg, Ethan Bowers, Mark DeCicco
- All-American: Ivan Dahlberg (D2CCA Honorable Mention)
Men's Basketball
- Highlights: GLVC Road victories at Truman State and Rockhurst
- Record: 12-16 overall, 7-13 GLVC
- All-GLVC: Max Kunnert (Second Team)
Women's Basketball
- First season under Head Coach Olivia Lett
- Record: 5-23 overall, 3-10 GLVC
- All-GLVC: Kayla Rice (Second Team)
Men's Cross Country
- Third place at the GLVC Championship, hosted on UIS Cross Country Course
- Ninth place at the NCAA Midwest Regional
- All-GLVC: Isaac Cortes, Briar Nevills, Joey Karlesky, Noah Tegeler
- All-Region: Briar Nevills
- GLVC Freshman of the Year: Dom Cantarini
Women's Cross Country
- Fourth place at GLVC Championship (tied program best)
- 13th at NCAA Regional (program best)
- All-GLVC: Madelyn Miller, Kaleigh Inniss
- All-Region: Madelyn Miller
Men's Golf
- Highlights: Seven top-10 finishes during the season, sixth place at the Lewis Flyers Spring Invitational
- 10th at the GLVC Championship
- Top GLVC individual finish: Jake Baldin (T-16)
Women's Golf
- NCAA Regional appearance
- Advanced to the GLVC Stroke Play Semifinals
- All-GLVC: Elaine Grant
- UIS Single-Season Scoring Average Record: Elaine Grant
Men's Soccer
- First season under Head Coach Graham Shaw
- Eighth consecutive GLVC Tournament appearance
- Record: 5-8-5 overall, 5-4-5 GLVC
- All-GLVC: Joey Fitzgerald (Second Team); Noah Brill, Anton Aduwa-Emovon, Kevin Herrera (Third Team)
Women's Soccer
- First season under Head Coach Scott Myers
- Record: 8-7-3 overall, 8-5-1 GLVC
- Most GLVC wins in program history (8)
- All-GLVC: Katelynn Ward, Allison Mirimanian, Brooke Biffar (Third Team)
Softball
- GLVC Championship Finalist
- Record: 33-20 overall, 17-11 GLVC
- Head Coach Shannon Guthrie surpassed 300 career wins
- All-GLVC: Rosie Bartletti, Ella Brinkley (First Team); Taylor Zawacki (Second Team)
- All-Region: Ella Brinkley (NFCA Second Team); Rosie Bartletti (D2CCA Second Team)
Volleyball
- Record: 18-10 overall, 8-5 GLVC
- GLVC Tournament appearance
- Nine-win improvement from 2023 season
- 4-0 start to season at Hilltopper Classic in Texas
- All-GLVC: Makenna Cox (First Team); Erica Sledge, Eirini Glynou (Second Team)
Men's Tennis
- Record: 0-12 overall, 0-5 GLVC
- All-GLVC: Pablo Herrera (First Team)
Women's Tennis
- Record: 1-11 overall, 1-4 GLVC
- Two nationally ranked singles athletes: Ema Norma Bordean, Carmen Llopis Fabra
- All-GLVC: Carmen Llopis Fabra (First Team)
Men's Track and Field
- Ninth place at GLVC Indoor Championships
- 13th at GLVC Outdoor Championships
- All-GLVC: Isaac Cortes (Indoor 5K), Gabe Martinez (Indoor Mile)
Women's Track and Field
- 12th at GLVC Indoor Championships
- 10th at GLVC Outdoor Championships
- All-GLVC: Madelyn Miller (Indoor 5K, Outdoor 5K), Kaleigh Inniss (Indoor 3K)
- All-Region: Madelyn Miller (Indoor 5K, Outdoor 5K, Outdoor 10K)
- All-American: Madelyn Miller (Indoor 5K)
- National Qualifier: Madelyn Miller (three-time national qualifier, first for program since 2021)
Department Awards
Senior Scholar Student-Athletes (Top Graduating Seniors)
- Male: Tom Bumann (Men's Golf), Connor McFadden (Men's Soccer)
- Female: Anna Schurz (Women's Soccer), Sara Prieto (Women's Golf)
Iron Stars (Strength & Conditioning)
- Female: Addyson McClure (Softball)
- Male: Max Kunnert (Men's Basketball)
Rookies of the Year
- Female: Makenna Cox (Volleyball)
- Male: Dom Cantarini (Cross Country/Track and Field)
Chancellor's Prairie Star of the Year
- Piper Schrepferman (Women's Tennis)
Friend of Athletics
- Mike Krcil, Public Address Announcer
For team-specific awards, including Most Valuable Player and Star Spirit, click here.
Student Affairs Division Awards
Prairie Star Athlete Award: Taylor Zawacki (Softball)Vice Chancellor's Volunteer Service Award: Taytum Scarborough (Women's Soccer)
UIS Outstanding New Leader Award: Adi Rumler (Softball)
Campus Life & Leadership Award: Piper Schrepferman (Women's Tennis)
Student Affairs SuperSTARS: Isaiah Esker (Men's Basketball), Avery Harrison (Women's Soccer), Anna Schurz (Women's Soccer), Anton Aduwa-Emovon (Men's Soccer), Seth Masters (Baseball), Carmen Llopis Fabra (Women's Tennis)