A magnificent evening brings together that best that Aggie Athletics has to offer
Jade Light, Amelia Moneymaker, Cason Goodman take home top awards
After all has been said and done in every Aggie sport, and less than a month before UC Davis takes a huge jump into the prestigious Mountain West Conference, Aggie Athletics celebrated another memorable year of achievement as student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters gathered inside the University Credit Union Center for the annual Aggie Awards.
The event celebrates the individuals, performances and moments that defined another season for Aggie Athletics, with performances stretching from late August until June. Awards honoring excellence in competition, academics, leadership, resilience and community impact were presented throughout the evening, with student-athletes earning both department-selected and peer-voted honors.
“The Aggie Awards are an opportunity to step back and appreciate everything our student-athletes invest into this experience,” said Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca. “There’s so much work that happens behind the scenes, the early mornings, the setbacks, the leadership, the commitment to teammates and to this university. Nights like this give us the chance to celebrate not only what our student-athletes accomplished, but how they accomplished it. We are incredibly proud of the way they continue to represent UC Davis.”
2026 AGGIE AWARDS
DEPARTMENT AWARDS
W.P. Lindley Award (Scholar-Athlete of the Year) The W.P. Lindley Award is the highest individual honor a UC Davis student-athlete can receive, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics and leadership.
This year’s recipient embodied all three. A selfless leader who consistently put her team first, Jade Light helped author one of the greatest seasons in UC Davis Volleyball history while simultaneously excelling in one of the university’s most demanding academic paths.
Light earned Big West Player of the Year honors, surpassed 1,000 career kills and became UC Davis Volleyball’s first All-American since 1996, all while double majoring in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.
Light joins a long list of distinguished Lindley Award recipients, including Jen Gross in 1997 as an Aggie basketball star. Gross now is UCD’s women’s basketball head coach.
Other recipients include Niko Rocak (men’s basketball, 2025), Matt Cordova (men’s basketball, 1991), Steve Gerhart (track and field, 1985), Kaitlyn Gregg (track, 2010), Amber Nusser (equestrian, 2023) and the original Lindley winner George Bogart, a University Farm football star in 1923.
Dr. Hubert Heitman Award (Female Athlete of the Year) The Dr. Hubert Heitman Award is presented annually to the Aggie Female Athlete of the Year.
This year’s recipient continued cementing her place among the top gymnasts in UC Davis history during another standout season with the Blue & Gold. Amelia Moneymaker qualified for NCAA Regionals while delivering some of the highest scores ever recorded in program history.
During the 2026 season, Moneymaker scored a 9.900 on floor and tied her career-high with a 9.950 against William & Mary — the second-highest floor score in program history. A team captain and consistent leader throughout her career, Moneymaker once again helped elevate the Aggies on the national stage.
Other Heitman winners include Megan Bertsch (basketball, 2019), Erinn Beattie (track, 2019), Sarah Sumpter (track and cross country, 2012), Lisa Kennedy (volleyball, 1981 and 1982), Pam Martin (basketball, 1978 and 1979), Tina Anex (track, 1976) and Carolyn Ishii (tennis, 1974).
Colby E. “Babe” Slater Award (Male Athlete of the Year) The Colby E. “Babe” Slater Award is presented annually to the Aggie Male Athlete of the Year.
This year’s recipient captained UC Davis men’s soccer while leading the Aggies in goals, assists and points during the 2025 season. A Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree and back-to-back All-Big West First Team selection, Cason Goodman continued establishing himself as one of the top players in the conference while helping guide the Aggies through another strong campaign.
Widely respected for his leadership and consistency, Goodman helped set the standard for a program that remained among the conference’s best throughout the season. Alongside his brother Luke, the duo also became the first siblings in program history to earn All-Big West First Team honors in the same season.
Among other Slater recipients are Eli Pepper (basketball, 2023 and 2024), Lan Larison (football, 2024 and 2025), Preston Jackson (football, 1995), Robert Dilts (track, 1995), Scott Barry (football, 1985), Chris Petersen (football, 1987), Bob Biggs (football, 1973), Ken O’Brien (football, 1983), Mike Moroski (football and baseball, 1979), Jonathan Peterson (track and cross country, 2011 and 2012), Ed Haver (track, 1971), Mike Talmadge (tennis, 1970) and Alan Budde (basketball, 1968).
Sarah Sumpter Perseverance Award The Sarah Sumpter Perseverance Award honors a current UC Davis student-athlete who has overcome significant adversity to return to competition.
During the 2025 season, Jadyn Wakita faced significant challenges that tested her resilience both on and off the competition floor. Despite multiple setbacks, she continued approaching every challenge with positivity, determination and an unwavering commitment to her team.
Her perseverance paid off during the 2026 season as she returned to competition and delivered some of the strongest performances of her career, including one of her top beam scores while continuing to contribute in the bars lineup throughout the postseason.
Wakita exemplified the resilience, positivity and determination that define the spirit of the Sarah Sumpter Award.
Marya Welch Award The Marya Welch Award is presented annually to the women’s team with the highest cumulative GPA. RECIPIENT – Women’s Golf (3.77 GPA)
Lysle Leach Award The Lysle Leach Award is presented annually to the men’s team with the highest cumulative GPA. RECIPIENT – Men’s Basketball (3.31 GPA)
STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARDS
New Aggie of the Year Presented to the student-athlete who made an immediate impact while embodying Aggie Pride during their first year in the Blue & Gold.
A Davis native, Ella Ackerman won the Big West title in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:15.47 and was named Big West Freshman of the Year. As the highest-scoring Aggie at the conference championships, she helped UC Davis to a runner-up finish, the program’s best conference placement in a decade.
Aggie Pride Award Presented to the student-athlete who best exemplifies Aggie PRIDE through leadership, involvement, spirit and commitment to the UC Davis community.
A member of the women’s water polo program, Sarah Ellis-Keeler was recognized for the leadership, involvement and spirit she demonstrated across the UC Davis community throughout the year.
Best Upset of the Year Presented for the most unexpected and memorable victory of the year.
In a triple-overtime thriller, women’s basketball outlasted UC San Diego 88-80, erasing a 13-point deficit and battling through 15 ties and 15 lead changes. Megan Norris pulled down 29 rebounds while Nya Epps and Avery Sussex led the Aggies in scoring.
Moment of the Year Presented for the most thrilling and unforgettable moment of the season.
Amelia Moneymaker earned the honor for her 9.950 floor routine against William & Mary, a score that matched the fourth-best floor mark in MPSF history and stood as the highest score in any event across the conference this season. With the Aggies trailing entering the final rotation, her performance helped lift UC Davis to the win.
Women’s Team of the Year Presented to the women’s program that demonstrated exceptional success while embodying Aggie Pride throughout the year.
Volleyball captured the program’s first regular-season Big West title and posted its first undefeated home season, racking up 21 wins, including 16 in conference, as Jade Light, Mia Starr and Ximena Cordero Barr swept the conference’s Player, Setter and Libero of the Year honors.
Equestrian swept its ECAC slate, earned the No. 1 seed and won the conference title with a championship-final victory over South Dakota State, with Lauren Kolbe and Mya Clader earning NCEA All-America honors.
Men’s Team of the Year Presented to the men’s program that demonstrated exceptional success while embodying Aggie Pride throughout the year.
In just its third season in the Big West, men’s water polo knocked off top-seeded, defending champion Long Beach State 12-11 to claim the program’s first Big West title. Head Coach Daniel Leyson was named Big West Coach of the Year, and five Aggies earned All-Conference honors, led by Thomas Kiesling’s first-team All-Big West and third-team All-America selections.
Eh, nerdy, but "needy" prolly works, too. Heh!
Your strength, man. Informative and engaging; just what I need to catch up with 'my ol school', although too skinny 8f not needy to even be engaged in athletics.
Quite the handicapper though, just can't have it written about. Lmao
Thanks again, really good stuff!