The Aurora University athletics program had another successful season in Spartan athletics history throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, with AU winning seven conference championships and had 10 teams or individuals from teams make NCAA Championship appearances.
The AU athletic programs finished the year 76th out of the over 450 Division III athletic programs in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Division III standings. The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is a comprehensive ranking of intercollegiate athletic departments based on their participation in NCAA Championship events.
In the classroom the Spartans once again were successful with 352 student-athletes earning Spartan Scholar designation. A Spartan Scholar is a student-athlete from any of the 24 NCAA sports who earned a 3.25 gpa or above for the 2021-2022 academic year. As a department, the student-athletes that make of the 24 programs had a 3.24 grade point average with 20 programs achieving above a 3.0. 297 Spartans had above a 3.5 gpa with 72 Spartans carrying a 4.0 for the entire year.
NCAA Division III Championship Appearances
Baseball
Football
Women's Lacrosse
Men's Outdoor Track and Field (one individual)
Men's Indoor Track and Field (one individual)
Men's Golf
Women's Golf
Women's Hockey
Women's Cross Country (one individual)
Women's Volleyball
Conference Championships
Women's Volleyball
Baseball
Football
Men's Lacrosse
Women's Lacrosse
Men's Golf
Women's Golf
Women's Bowling (CCIW)
Individually, AU student-athletes also had a tremendous year garnering athletic awards with eight All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, 24 All-Region players, nine Conference Players of the Year, eight Freshman of the Year and seven Conference Coaches of the Year. Additionally, 103 Spartans earned all-conference recognition and the 2021-2022 NACC Male Student-Athlete of the Year, Justin Sartori.
.
All-Americans
Chris Toth (football): D3football.com
Sydnei Avery (women's volleyball): American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
Kaitlyn Beebe (women's volleyball): American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
Chiara Pfosi (women's hockey): American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA)
Darci Matson (women's hockey): American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA)
Brayden Sampson (men's hockey): American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA)
Scott Boyajian (men's golf): *First AU golfer to earn 2022 NCAA III Championship and Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and PING All-American honors
Justin Sartori (baseball): D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings.
Jessica Mirsky (women's soccer): National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and EAS Sports
Malik Whitehead (football/men's track and field) National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and EAS Sports
Academic All-Americans
Lexi Rayborn (softball), CoSIDA Second-Team
Justin Sartori (baseball) CoSIDA First-Team
Phillip Gianelle (men's lacrosse) – USILA
Ethan Dosen (men's lacrosse) - USILA
All-Region Players
Sydnei Avery (women's volleyball): American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
Kaitlyn Beebe (women's volleyball): American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
Chris Toth (football): D3football.com
Gavin Zimbelman (football): D3football.com
Jalen Cole (football): D3football.com
Sean Reyna (football): D3football.com
Tyran Bailey (football): D3football.com
Deyanneira Colon Maldonado (women's cross country) - USTFCCCA
Hannah Tomasko (softball): National Fastpitch Coaches Association
Monique Gibson (women's lacrosse): Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association
Bailey Simpson (women's lacrosse): Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association
Taylor Sims (women's lacrosse): Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association
Justin Sartori (baseball): D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association
Corey Vondra (baseball): D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association
Jett Wedekind (baseball): D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association
Dylan White (baseball): D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association
Jacob Ambuel (baseball): D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association
Jack Fisher (baseball): D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association
Braeden Duncan (men's golf): Golf Coaches Association of America
Jack Vercautren (men's golf): Golf Coaches Association of America
Scott Boyajian (men's golf): Golf Coaches Association of America
Eli Grundman (men's indoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Robbie Peterson, Jr (men's indoor and outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Steven Tinsley (men's outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Conference Players of the Year
Kallie Sakamoto (women's golf): Player of the Year
Sean Reyna (football): Defensive Player of the Year
Gavin Zimbelman (football): Offensive Player of the Year
Robbie Peterson (men's indoor track and field): Field Athlete of the Year
Jack Vercautren (men's golf): Player of the Year
Bailey Simpson (women's lacrosse): Offensive Player of the Year
Monique Gibson (women's lacrosse): Midfielder of the Year
Taylor Sims (women's lacrosse): Defensive Player of the Year
Justin Sartori (baseball): Position Player of the Year (NACC and D3baseball.com)
Robbie Peterson (men's outdoor track and field): Field Athlete of the Year
Freshman of the Year
Ellie Knight (women's golf)
Lulu Torres (women's volleyball)
Jaylen Jordan (football)
Darci Matson (women's hockey)
Deyanneira Colon Maldonado (women's cross country and women's track and field)
Solomon Dail (men's volleyball)
Braeden Duncan (men's golf)
Ben Strub (men's lacrosse)
Region Freshman of the Year
Braeden Duncan (men's golf) - Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA)
Conference Coach of the Year
Don Beebe (football)
Adam Stevens (baseball)
Christina Fried (women's lacrosse)
Reid Mayberry (men's lacrosse)
James Seitelman (women's volleyball)
Justin Wyeth (men's and women's golf)
Region Coach of the Year
Adam Stevens (baseball) - American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)
Justin Wyeth (men's golf) - Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA)
AU Awards
Spartan Woman of the Year – Hannah Tomasko (softball)
Spartan Man of the Year – Justin Sartori (baseball)
Female Athlete of the Year – Kallie Sakamoto (women's golf)
Male Athlete of the Year – Justin Sartori (baseball)
Richard Rickey Senior Award – Dylan White (baseball)
Chris Thompson Senior Award – Paige Gebben (women's volleyball)
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up