Matty Awards Honor CSUN Student-Athletes in Year-End Celebration
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. - CSUN celebrated the best of Matador Athletics in 2024-25 on Monday night (May 5) as CSUN student-athletes and staff gathered at Pinstripes in Woodland Hills for the second annual Matty Awards and Senior Sash Ceremony.
The Matty Awards, preceded by the annual Senior Sash Ceremony, opened with remarks from SAAC Co-Presidents Erica Adams and Jackie O'Neill. Acting Director of Athletics Mary Beth Walker then shared her thoughts before turning the podium over to CSUN President Erika D. Beck. Adams and O'Neill then returned to the stage and thanked members of the Athletics Department who have impacted their collective experience as CSUN student-athletes.
Each graduating student-athlete was then presented his/her CSUN Athletics sash for graduation by the Matador Achievement Center staff. The annual ceremony celebrated 81 senior and graduate student-athletes on Monday.
The evening then returned to the Matty Awards, an event that honors student-athletes in several informal categories, including Team Hype Man/Woman, Most Likely to be Late to the Team Bus, Team Comedian, Most Likely to Win the Squid Games, and Unsung Hero.
The awards were handed out by various Matador student-athlete emcees; Marin Byers (Water Polo), Kim Turgut (Women's Golf), Lorenzo Bertozzi (Men's Volleyball), Tasha Mae (Beach Volleyball), and Madison Shepperson (Tennis) as student-athletes in each sport were honored in five categories as voted upon by their fellow student-athletes.
Awards were also handed out by the CSUN Sports Performance Team (Iron Matador Award), CSUN Acting Director of Athletics Mary Beth Walker (Matador of the Year), and CSUN Deputy Director of Athletics Sonia Hahn (Champions Cup).
2025 MATTY AWARD WINNERS
Team Hype Man/Woman Award Winners
Baseball - Andrew Gauna
Softball - Gizella Vargas Sandoval
Beach Volleyball - Layla Cederlind
Men's Volleyball - Braden Pool-Harris
Women's Volleyball - Jan Marie Duhaylungsod
Men's Soccer - Siddiq Lezzar
Women's Soccer - Angelica Claiborne
Men's Track & Field/XC - Ja'Patrick Smith
Women's Track & Field/XC - Camryn Harris
Men's Basketball - Festus Ndumanya
Women's Basketball - Laini Dahlin
Men's Golf - Bryson Barnes
Women's Golf - Gracie Piar
Women's Tennis - Jackie O'Neill
Water Polo - Marin Byars
Most Likely to be Late to the Team Bus Award Winners
Baseball - Royce Clayton, Jr.
Softball - Elisa Gulfin
Beach Volleyball - Julia Bazylevych
Men's Volleyball - Malcolm King
Women's Volleyball - Julia Bazylevych
Men's Soccer - Michael Blevins
Women's Soccer - Paige Califf
Men's Track & Field/XC - Logan Davis
Women's Track & Field/XC - Elin Markarian
Men's Basketball - Marcus Adams Jr.
Women's Basketball - Sincere Hardwick
Men's Golf - Bryson Barnes
Women's Golf - Kim Turgut
Women's Tennis - Annette Robertson
Water Polo - Jessica Matkovich
Team Comedian Award Winners
Baseball - Tyler Mejia
Softball - Tiara Westbrook
Beach Volleyball - Kinley Lindhardt
Men's Volleyball - Shane Nhem
Women's Volleyball - Iye Okolo
Men's Soccer - Kike Pineda
Women's Soccer - Jackie Victorio
Men's Track & Field/XC - Shamil Youngblood
Women's Track & Field/XC - Leann Hamilton
Men's Basketball - Festus Ndumanya
Women's Basketball - Nnenna Orji
Women's Golf - Ariya Soldwisch
Men's Golf - Nick Fry
Women's Tennis - Emma Moratalla Sanz
Water Polo - Kate Cornejo
Most Likely to Win the Squid Games Award Winners
Baseball - Logan Miller
Softball - Kaylee Escutia
Beach Volleyball - Tasha Mae
Men's Volleyball - Chris Karnezis
Women's Volleyball - Katie Kolar
Men's Soccer - Siddiq Lezzar
Women's Soccer - Yoshi Rubalcava
Men's Track & Field/XC - Gabe Martinez
Women's Track & Field/XC - Brianna Kelpis
Men's Basketball - Keonte Jones
Women's Basketball - Erika Aspajo
Men's Golf - Yuo Torii
Women's Golf - Nicole Tanoue
Women's Tennis - Nicole West
Water Polo - Jessica Matkovich
Unsung Hero Award Winners
Baseball - Angel Cortez
Softball - Mia Cortez
Beach Volleyball - Jill Rodig
Men's Volleyball - Joao Pedro Avila
Women's Volleyball - Paige Sentes
Men's Soccer - Jake Shaked
Women's Soccer - Ashly Torres
Men's Track & Field/XC - Jayden Smith
Women's Track & Field/XC - Audrie Reuss
Men's Basketball - Robert Thibiant
Women's Basketball - Erica Adams
Men's Golf - Dillon Jonke
Women's Golf - Meghan Paracuelles
Women's Tennis - Sofia Dermenjyan
Water Polo - Valeria Martinez
Iron Matador Award
Elijah Ignacio, Men's Track & Field
Kinley Lindhardt, Beach Volleyball
Male and Female Matadors of the Year Award
Mahmoud Fofana, Basketball
Dodi Telek, Water Polo
Champions Cup Award - Community Service
Baseball
Water Polo
#GoMatadors
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