FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 27, 2026) – The 12th annual Louie's Awards presented by Desert Financial Credit Union and the Northern Arizona University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was held Sunday night at Prochnow Auditorium to celebrate the best of NAU Athletics. The awards covered the spring 2025, fall 2025 and winter 2026 seasons.
Men's distance runner Colin Sahlman was the big individual winner on the night, claiming the Male Athlete of the Year and Individual Record-Breaking Performance. Sahlman won the individual Big Sky cross country title and earned cross country All-American honors by placing 16th in the nation.
He had an even bigger indoor track & field season, capturing the individual national title in the 3,000 meters and anchoring the national championship distance medley relay team. Sahlman also set the collegiate record in the 800 meters at the Millrose Games, breaking a record that stood for over two decades.
Diver Grace Wesche was named NAU's Female Athlete of the Year after competing at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. Wesche placed 21st on 3-meter, earning the highest-ever individual finish by an NAU diver at the national level.
The NAU volleyball team, coming off their Big Sky regular season championship campaign in the fall, claimed five awards on the night including Female Team of the Year and Team Record-Breaking Performance. Keira Hall (Silent Leader), Lilly Holmes (Female Ironjack) and Ken Murphy (Coach of the Year) were also named individual winners.
Outside of competition, the Louie's also recognized outstanding accomplishments in the classroom as distance runner Cael Grotenhuis and swimmer Elsa Musselman were named the Male and Female William M. "Bill" Clements Top Scholars. The Lumberjack soccer team won the Sharp Axe Award for having the top team GPA and golfer Lizzie Neale was the Desert Financial Credit Union Jack of All Traits awardee for her dedication in the classroom and in competition, as well as community and leadership involvement.
Academic excellence is exemplified by all Lumberjack programs with a total of 246 student-athletes holding at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average. For a full list of student-athletes, click this
link.
For a full list of the 2025-26 Louie's award recipients, see the list below.
Male Rookie of the Year: Josiah Johnson, Track & Field
Female Rookie of the Year: Naomi White, Women's Basketball
Sharp Axe Award: Soccer
Silent Leader: Keira Hall, Volleyball
Coach of the Year: Ken Murphy, Volleyball
Return of the Jack: Micala Boex, Soccer
Male Athlete of the Year: Colin Sahlman, Cross Country/Track & Field
Female Athlete of the Year: Grace Wesche, Swimming & Diving
Leading the Jacks Award:
Sheridan Cook, Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Services (Compliance)
Record-Breaking Performance (Individual): Colin Sahlman, Cross Country/Track & Field
Record-Breaking Performance (Team): Volleyball
Male Ironjack: Noa Tcherniack, Men's Tennis
Female Ironjack: Lilly Holmes, Volleyball
Desert Financial Credit Union Jack of All Traits Award: Lizzie Neale, Golf
Male Team of the Year: Men's Indoor Track & Field
Female Team of the Year: Volleyball
William M. "Bill" Clements Top Scholars: Cael Grotenhuis, Cross Country/Track & Field; Elsa Musselman, Swimming & Diving
Gallery: (4-27-2026) Louie's 2026
