GUNNISON, Colo. The Western Colorado Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) on April 27 hosted its annual WESPYs Awards, honoring Mountaineer student-athletes in a awards ceremony that packed the University Center Ballroom.
Prior to the ceremony, the senior student-athletes were welcomed with a reception in the University's Welcome Center where they received their graduation stoles.
The WESPYs evening kicked off at 5 p.m. with a welcome video from newly-hired Director of Athletics
Dr. Amber Burdge, then moved on to honoring on stage all the Mountaineers who earned their Western Colorado letterjackets.
SAAC President
Lindsey Osterfelt introduced the officers of the committee before handing off the program to
Owen Wentz, SAAC Social Media & Marketing Coordinator, for the recognition of the SAAC Olympics champions from men's wrestling.
Wentz introduced the 16 Mountaineer student-athletes who have been voted First-Team Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic selections:
As the WESPYs ceremony regularly takes place before the end of the outdoor track & field season, Beasley was also honored for earning selection to the RMAC All-Academic first team for the 2025 outdoor track & field season.
Wentz next introduced the Mountaineers who, through the winter sports seasons, have earned All-American honors:
- Beasley, Willson, and Peyton Weiss (women's cross country)
- Diaz, Esteban Reyes and Jan Thewes (men's cross country)
- Freymond and Nash (football)
- Aidan McDowell (men's basketball)
- Kjellsen, Willson, Weiss, and Alissa Rall (women's indoor track & field)
- Diaz, Tyler Nord, Wyatt Hoover, Gable Rial, and Will Stone (men's indoor track & field)
And like with the outdoor track & field honors, Beasley was recognized for earning All-American honors from the 2025 NCAA Division II outdoor championships.
Wentz handed the microphone over to Head Sports Performance Coach Kim Allen, who handed out the sports performance team's annual Stone Mason awards:
After SAAC Mental Health Ambassador
Karly Morkunas led the event through the first of two rowdy sessions of the Family Feud, SAAC Secretary
Sarah Connolly began the official awards session with the male and female Rookies of the Year.
The evening's award honorees included:
Osterfelt retook the stage to present the Jay Peck Spirit Award. Named aft former Sports Illustrated National Fan of the Year and a member of the Mountaineer Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the award goes to a member of the Western or Gunnison community who shows tremendous dedication to, and support of Mountaineer Athletics.
Osterfelt had the honor to present the 2025-26 to Western Colorado's Joe Winegardner, whose speech brought the standing-room only crowd to its feet with the longest applause of the evening.
Morkunas presented the next six awards:
SAAC Vice-President
Ethan VanMeter brought the evening nearer to its conclusion with the final team honors on the night, presenting the Female Team Community Service Award to the soccer program, and Male Team Community Service Award to the football program.
VanMeter concluded the night with the honorees for the Paul Wright Award, annually presented to the top female and male senior athletes who showed excellence in athletic accomplishments, scholarship, and character.
A pair of multiple-time All-Americans were honored with the 2025-26 Paul Wright Awards as
Allison Beasley (cross country/track & field) was named the female recipient and
Drew Nash (football) was named the male recipient.
Outgoing SAAC President
Lindsey Osterfelt bid farewell to the crowd, but not before presenting the student-athletes with the 2026-27 SAAC Officers, co-Presidents
Alyssa Eckroth and
Delaney Matkin, and Vice-President
Owen Wentz.
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