Photo by: Elysa Ripley
Golden Axes Honors SFA’s Best in Athletics Throughout Dominant ’25-26 Run
5/22/2026 10:04:00 AM | General
SFA Basketball’s Thompson, Ladyjack Volleyball’s Hill named Athletes of the Year
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin athletics family gathered inside the Grand Ballroom on Monday, April 27 to celebrate the achievements of its student-athletes, coaches and teams in what has become a dominant 2025-26 athletic season.
Prior to the event, SFA senior student-athletes were honored inside the Twilight Ballroom with a senior dinner where they were presented with their student-athlete stoles and axe handles.
Led by SFA student-athlete advisory council members and event emcees Caroline Kahle of Ladyjack Volleyball and Gavin Rutherford of Lumberjack Football, the following honors were presented.
RALPH TODD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Keon Thompson, Men's Basketball
The Ralph Todd Memorial Award, founded in 1952 is presented to the outstanding male athlete at SFA each year. Ralph Todd set the Lone Star Conference record in 1938 in the 440-yard dash. The record stood for nine years. He was a naval officer during World War II. He earned the President's Citation for saving the lives of 163 men in his command off Okinawa in November of 1944. He died in 1949.
JUNE IRWIN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Camryn Hill, Volleyball
The June Irwin Athlete of the Year Award is presented annually to a female Stephen F Austin student-athlete based on that athlete's achievement, character, leadership, scholarship, and sportsmanship. Dr. June Irwin was a longtime professor and administrator at Stephen F. Austin State University. She taught health and physical education for women and served on the SFA faculty from 1947 until her retirement in 1985. She was also recognized as SFA's Distinguished Professor in 1974. Dr. Irwin passed away in 2015 at age 89 in Nacogdoches.
STEVE McCARTY AWARD: Riley Elliott, Men's Track & Field; Caroline Kahle, Volleyball
First presented in 2005, the award is named for long-time SFA athletics director, Steve McCarty. McCarty retired from his post at the beginning of the fall 2005 semester, after 15 years as the school's director of athletics. Including a six-year stint as an associate athletics director, McCarty logged over 20 years of service in the university's athletics department. All the while, he was known as a beloved figure to athletes and supporters alike, tirelessly promoting SFA and its student-athletes. The Steve McCarty Awards are presented annually to a male and female student-athlete who excels both athletically and academically and who will forever be an ambassador for the university.
JENE' CARTER AWARD: Alkimini Giannakogiorgou, Women's Tennis
This award honors the former Ladyjack track student-athlete. Jene' was a thrower who also stepped up to compete in other events when her team needed her the most. Jene unexpectedly passed in the fall of 1997 but will always be remembered for carrying a team-first mentality. The award is given to a male and female SFA student-athlete who has exhibited leadership, integrity, and character.
MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Sam Golla, Men's Cross Country
FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kaylinn Kemp, Women's Basketball
MALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Bugs Mortimer, Football
FEMALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Trude Lamb, Women's Cross Country
KATHY McGOUGH ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Caroline Kahle, Volleyball;Semion Brodski, Men's Track & Field
COMEBACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Michael Woods, Football; Lydia Cajuste, Women's Basketball
SHARPEN THE AXE AWARD: Bugs Mortimer, Football; Izabella Ortiz, Volleyball
LUMBERJACK SPIRIT AWARD: Lucie Platt, Women's Soccer
COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM: SFA Softball
COMMUNITY SERVICE INDIVIDUAL: Kylie Bishop, Softball
TEAM OF THE YEAR: SFA Football
TEAM ACADEMIC MVP:
Cassidy Hoang, Women's Soccer
Caroline Kahle, Volleyball
Keon Thompson, Men's Basketball
Stetson Sarratt, Football
Riley Elliott, Men's Cross Country
Trude Lamb, Women's Cross Country
Semion Brodski, Men's Track & Field
Landry Perkin, Women's Track & Field
Avery Vansickle, Women's Basketball
Avree Fields, Women's Golf
Avery Kinsey, Women's Tennis
Sammy Hagman, Softball
Cody Templeton, Baseball
Meagan Ledbetter, Beach Volleyball
Kyla Ferguson, Cheer
Courtney Millstone, Dance Team
TEAM MVP:
Julia Lederman, Dance Team
Logan Heausler, Women's Soccer
Camryn Hill, Volleyball
Keon Thompson, Men's Basketball
Jaydon Southard, Football
Bryson Williams, Men's Track & Field
Basia Mitchell, Women's Track & Field
Paul Kiprotich, Men's Cross Country
Valentine Jemutai, Women's Cross Country
Harmanie Dominguez, Women's Basketball
Avree Fields, Women's Golf
Sonja Rooth, Women's Tennis
Ellie Vance, Softball
Julian Swift, Baseball
Kynlie Foit, Cheer
Lara Gilardi, Beach Volleyball
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA athletics, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Prior to the event, SFA senior student-athletes were honored inside the Twilight Ballroom with a senior dinner where they were presented with their student-athlete stoles and axe handles.
Led by SFA student-athlete advisory council members and event emcees Caroline Kahle of Ladyjack Volleyball and Gavin Rutherford of Lumberjack Football, the following honors were presented.
RALPH TODD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Keon Thompson, Men's Basketball
The Ralph Todd Memorial Award, founded in 1952 is presented to the outstanding male athlete at SFA each year. Ralph Todd set the Lone Star Conference record in 1938 in the 440-yard dash. The record stood for nine years. He was a naval officer during World War II. He earned the President's Citation for saving the lives of 163 men in his command off Okinawa in November of 1944. He died in 1949.
JUNE IRWIN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Camryn Hill, Volleyball
The June Irwin Athlete of the Year Award is presented annually to a female Stephen F Austin student-athlete based on that athlete's achievement, character, leadership, scholarship, and sportsmanship. Dr. June Irwin was a longtime professor and administrator at Stephen F. Austin State University. She taught health and physical education for women and served on the SFA faculty from 1947 until her retirement in 1985. She was also recognized as SFA's Distinguished Professor in 1974. Dr. Irwin passed away in 2015 at age 89 in Nacogdoches.
STEVE McCARTY AWARD: Riley Elliott, Men's Track & Field; Caroline Kahle, Volleyball
First presented in 2005, the award is named for long-time SFA athletics director, Steve McCarty. McCarty retired from his post at the beginning of the fall 2005 semester, after 15 years as the school's director of athletics. Including a six-year stint as an associate athletics director, McCarty logged over 20 years of service in the university's athletics department. All the while, he was known as a beloved figure to athletes and supporters alike, tirelessly promoting SFA and its student-athletes. The Steve McCarty Awards are presented annually to a male and female student-athlete who excels both athletically and academically and who will forever be an ambassador for the university.
JENE' CARTER AWARD: Alkimini Giannakogiorgou, Women's Tennis
This award honors the former Ladyjack track student-athlete. Jene' was a thrower who also stepped up to compete in other events when her team needed her the most. Jene unexpectedly passed in the fall of 1997 but will always be remembered for carrying a team-first mentality. The award is given to a male and female SFA student-athlete who has exhibited leadership, integrity, and character.
MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Sam Golla, Men's Cross Country
FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kaylinn Kemp, Women's Basketball
MALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Bugs Mortimer, Football
FEMALE BREAKOUT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Trude Lamb, Women's Cross Country
KATHY McGOUGH ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Caroline Kahle, Volleyball;Semion Brodski, Men's Track & Field
COMEBACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Michael Woods, Football; Lydia Cajuste, Women's Basketball
SHARPEN THE AXE AWARD: Bugs Mortimer, Football; Izabella Ortiz, Volleyball
LUMBERJACK SPIRIT AWARD: Lucie Platt, Women's Soccer
COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM: SFA Softball
COMMUNITY SERVICE INDIVIDUAL: Kylie Bishop, Softball
TEAM OF THE YEAR: SFA Football
TEAM ACADEMIC MVP:
Cassidy Hoang, Women's Soccer
Caroline Kahle, Volleyball
Keon Thompson, Men's Basketball
Stetson Sarratt, Football
Riley Elliott, Men's Cross Country
Trude Lamb, Women's Cross Country
Semion Brodski, Men's Track & Field
Landry Perkin, Women's Track & Field
Avery Vansickle, Women's Basketball
Avree Fields, Women's Golf
Avery Kinsey, Women's Tennis
Sammy Hagman, Softball
Cody Templeton, Baseball
Meagan Ledbetter, Beach Volleyball
Kyla Ferguson, Cheer
Courtney Millstone, Dance Team
TEAM MVP:
Julia Lederman, Dance Team
Logan Heausler, Women's Soccer
Camryn Hill, Volleyball
Keon Thompson, Men's Basketball
Jaydon Southard, Football
Bryson Williams, Men's Track & Field
Basia Mitchell, Women's Track & Field
Paul Kiprotich, Men's Cross Country
Valentine Jemutai, Women's Cross Country
Harmanie Dominguez, Women's Basketball
Avree Fields, Women's Golf
Sonja Rooth, Women's Tennis
Ellie Vance, Softball
Julian Swift, Baseball
Kynlie Foit, Cheer
Lara Gilardi, Beach Volleyball
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA athletics, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Thursday, April 23
Monday, April 06
Monday, March 30
Friday, March 20
