The first-ever WOLFIES were held Thursday night inside Mitby Theater, with the Madison College Athletic Department re-imaging its 57th Annual Athletic Awards Banquet. The Wolfie Awards marked a return to an in-person event following three consecutive years of digital banquets via social media for the purpose of celebrating current student-athletes, coaches, and staff for their athletic and academic achievements. (Video available above and here.)

The special awards presented at this year's banquet are as follows:

Madison College Sportspeople of the Year (List)

Taylor Ripp - Women's Basketball - Lodi, WI (Lodi H.S.) - Presenting Speech

Keith Hoffman - Men's Basketball - Stevens Point, WI (Rufus King H.S.) - Presenting Speech

Madison College Scholar-Athletes

Lexi Kulow - Women's Soccer - DeForest, WI (DeForest Area H.S.)

David Vazquez Rojas - Esports - Madison, WI (Madison West H.S.)

Doug Redsten Memorial Service Award (List)

Lois Heeren - Associate Athletic Director (2022-23) & Former Head Women's Basketball Coach (2016-22) - Presenting Speech

Academic Honors

Madison College student-athletes achieved success in the classroom last spring and fall as 98 of current student-athletes received academic honors this season, and four teams were recognized as NJCAA Team Academic Award winners: baseball, golf, women's soccer, softball.

Academic Honors

Big Dog Spirit Award**

Men's Basketball: Telin Porter
Women's Basketball: Mikala Williams
Esports (Fall): Eli Lehman
Golf: Tyler Koch
Men's Soccer: Angel Gongora
Women's Soccer: Julia Aulik
Softball: Chariell Butler
Women's Volleyball: Katie Wagner

Leadership Award**

Men's Basketball: Teagan Kirsenlohr
Women's Basketball: Taylor Ripp
Esports (Fall): Ryan Stroede
Men's Soccer: Gabe Voung
Women's Soccer: Lexi Kulow
Softball: Sammy Nelson
Women's Volleyball: Daryn Schaefer

Special Team Awards**

Men's Basketball - The GRIT Award: Deante Luster
Women's Basketball - The WolfPack Award: Kayla Staveness
Esports (Fall) - Teammate of the Year: Eli Lehman
Men's Soccer - Leader of the Pack Award: Caeben Schomber
Women's Soccer - Iron Flex Award: Liz Foye
Women's Volleyball - The WolfPack Award: Aubrie Kappes

Most Improved Player**

Men's Basketball: Nik Feller
Women's Basketball: Kayla Staveness
Esports (Fall): Elizabeth Shanks
Men's Soccer: Richie Lima
Women's Soccer: Mahala Frey
Women's Volleyball: Sophia Venne

Most Valuable Award**

Men's Basketball: Keith Hoffman
Women's Basketball: Taylor Ripp
Esports (Fall): Ian Conlin
Men's Soccer: Gabe Voung
Women's Soccer: Lexi Kulow
Women's Volleyball: Daryn Schaefer

Back to the Pack Award

Alex Hayes - Baseball - Presenting Speech

Champions of Change Championship Belt

Baseball - Presenting Speech

WOLFIES Voting Awards

Biggest Upset Nominees

#1 - Esports Rocket League rallies from two-games-to-none deficit to beat UW-Milwaukee in the best-of-5 championship match at the 2023 Wisconsin Esports Summit
#2 (WINNER) - Women's Volleyball takes down #7-ranked Finger Lakes Community College in four sets (Story)

Team Comeback Nominees 

#1 - Men's Soccer overcomes 2-0 deficit with four second alf goals to beat Joliet Junior College
#2 - Men's Basketball rallies from down 15 points to defeat Joliet Junior College
#3 - Esports Rocket League rallies from two-games-to-none deficit to beat UW-Milwaukee in the best-of-5 championship match at the 2023 Wisconsin Esports Summit
#4 (WINNER) - Softball scores nine unanswered runs over the final three innings to overcome a five-run deficit against Mid Michigan College (Story)

Play of the Year Nominees

#1 - Baseball - Chris Byhre makes behind-the-back catch in Region 4 Championship Game (Highlight)
#2 - Men's Basketball - Telin Porter sinks off-balance buzzer beater to beat College of DuPage (Highlight)
#3 - Men's Soccer - Gabe Voung's header breaks WolfPack single-season goals scored record (Highlight)
#4 (WINNER) - Women's Soccer - Lexi Kulow nails overtime penalty kick to beat Harper College (Highlight)
#5 - Women's Volleyball - Kendall Weisnsel serves up three consecutive aces (Highlight)

** In keeping with tradition, many spring semester teams (baseball, Esports, golf, softball) will present their awards following the completion of their season.

Photos of The Wolfie Awards are available in the Madison College Photo Archives.
   

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