Hastings College Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of student-athletes at its Bronco Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (BESPY) Awards on Monday, May 4, at the Hastings City Auditorium.
The event was organized by the Association of Student Athletes (ASA) and the Hastings College Athletic Department, with members of ASA voting on and presenting a number of the awards.
In addition to the students and teams shown below, students receiving All Conference, All American and other awards were recognized as groups during the ceremony.
Photos from the event, which are free to download, are available here.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Female Rookie of the Year — Avery Higgins of Manhattan, Kansas, Women’s Soccer
Given to a female student-athlete who competed in her first season as a Hastings College Bronco and was an integral part of her program’s success.
Higgins scored seven goals this season, including a goal in the national tournament victory over Friends. She finished the year with two game winning goals. She started 20 out of 23 games as a true freshman, scoring seven goals with three assists.
Male Rookie of the Year — Kaiden Merryman of Lodi, California, Football and Men’s Track and Field
Given to a male student-athlete who competed in his first season as a Hastings College Bronco and was an integral part of his program’s success.
Merryman ran the second fastest 100m dash in school history, is an indoor 60m All-American and holds the school record with a time of 6.76 seconds. The dual athlete also rushed for 565 yards with a 6.0 yard average and six touchdowns.
Female Senior of the Year — Jaida Rowe of Lincoln, Nebraska, Women’s Track and Field
Presented to a female student-athlete who completed her senior season during the 2025-26 year. This student-athlete was a standout for their program and contributed to their program’s success throughout the year.
Rowe is the school record holder in the 400m run, school record holder in the 100m outdoor hurdles and 400m hurdles, second in school history in the 60m hurdles, school record holder in the 4x400m relay, two-times GPAC champion, three-times All-American in 400m hurdles, three-times All-Conference Indoor 60m hurdles, three-times All-Conference and 400m hurdles GPAC Champion freshman year, All-Conference in 100m Dash freshman year, NAIA Academic All-American and All-District Bronco Student Athlete of the Month three times. She is a national qualifier in the 60m hurdles and 400m dash, NAIA Scholar Athlete and national qualifier in the outdoor 100m and 400m hurdles.
Male Senior of the Year — Max Nielsen, Brisbane, Australia, Men’s Golf
Presented to a male student-athlete who completed his senior season during the 2025-26 year. This student-athlete was a standout for their program and contributed to their program’s success throughout the year.
Nielsen claimed the first individual GPAC title in school history, is a two-time first team All-Conference and led the team to their first ever GPAC title.
Supporter of the Year — Comron Yazdgerdi
Given to an individual who consistently supports Bronco athletics, whether with attendance at events, monetary donations, academic support or mentoring of student-athletes.
Yazdgerdi, a 2005 graduate and student-athlete who served as the men’s and women’s tennis coach from 2008 through 2020 and is in the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame, is the Hastings-area FCA representative and many athletes have gotten to know and work with him this academic year.
Faculty/Staff of the Year — Casey Molifua, senior lecturer of Physical Education & Human Performance
This is awarded to a Hastings College faculty or staff member who goes above and beyond to support our student-athletes.
Molifua, a 2015 graduate and 2017 MAT graduate, makes an appearance at almost every home athletic event and is one of the biggest supporters across campus and a well-respected professor. Molifua has been this type of campus supporter since he played football for the Broncos to now mentoring students and student athletes.
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year — Macy Bryant of Fremont, Nebraska, Women’s Basketball; Paige Dane of Hastings, Nebraska, Dance; Katyn Kappler of Hastings, Nebraska, Softball; Marissa Ruiz of Las Vegas, Nevada, Women’s Bowling; and Bailey Schmit of Osmond, Nebraska, Softball
Given to the female student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA of those eligible for graduation. Five recipients is the most ever awarded in this category.
Male Scholar Athletes of the Year — Eli Nappe of Warrensburg, Missouri, Football; and Edward Pallotto of Centennial, Colorado, Men’s Track and Field
Given to the male student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA of those eligible for graduation.
Female Athlete of the Year — Jaida Rowe of Lincoln, Nebraska, Women’s Track and Field
Given to a student-athlete who has been an integral part of their program’s success during the year. This BESPY is based on athletic ability and direct individual impact on their program.
See Rowe’s bio above.
Male Athlete of the Year — Max Nielsen of Brisbane, Australia, Men’s Golf
Given to a student-athlete who has been an integral part of their program’s success during the year. This BESPY is based on athletic ability and direct individual impact on their program.
See Nielsen’s bio above.
Female Bronco Athlete of the Year — Bailey Kissinger of Glenvil, Nebraska, Women’s Basketball
Awarded to a female student-athlete who has embodied everything it means to be a Bronco. Recipients exhibit sportsmanship, dedication to their athletic performance and academic excellence and active community engagement.
Kissinger was first team all GPAC while averaging 12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists to help lead her team to a round of 16 appearance.
Male Bronco Athlete of the Year — Henry Kosmicki of Grand Island, Nebraska, Men’s Golf
Awarded to the male student-athlete who has embodied everything it means to be a Bronco. Recipients exhibit sportsmanship, dedication to their athletic performance and academic excellence and active community engagement.
Kosmicki was two-times All-GPAC, NAIA Ping All-Regional Honors, GPAC Golfer of the Week and placed in top spots in multiple invites where he competed.
Coach of the Year — Jade Ovendale, Women’s Soccer
Awarded to a coach who has gone above and beyond to ensure the success of their student-athletes both in and out of competition. This BESPY can be awarded to any coach who interacts with student-athletes.
Ovendale secured the GPAC tournament championship, received her 100th career win and went to the round of 32 in the national tournament. Her team had the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year, eight All-Conference Honorees and 19 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, which is the most of any sport on campus.
Highlight/Play of the Year — Lauren Lee of Fruita, Colorado; and Kaylee Pinneo of Papillion, Nebraska, Softball for their walk off homeruns to advance to the GPAC tournament
Awarded for a singular moment during competition that was the most remarkable, compelling or entertaining during the year.
Lee ended game one against Mount Marty with her walk-off home run to left center to win game one 5 to 2. Pinneo followed that up by going opposite with her home run to right center to also defeat the Lancers 10 to 8. These home runs proved pivotal for Hastings to advance to the GPAC Tournament.
TEAM AWARDS
Female Team of the Year — Women’s Wrestling
Given to the women’s team that has the most athletic success during competition throughout the 2025-26 season.
Male Team of the Year — Men’s Golf
Given to the men’s team that has the most athletic success during competition throughout the 2025-26 season.
Scholar Team of the Year — Women’s Basketball
Presented to the team with the highest cumulative team GPA for the 2025-26 academic year.
Bronco Athletic Cup — Women’s Basketball
Awarded to the athletic program that has continually represented what it means to be a Bronco throughout the year. This program has shown pride in being Broncos by exhibiting excellent sportsmanship, remaining dedicated to their performance in both academics and athletics, continually working to make a difference in the Hastings community and their constant support of other programs.
The Women’s Basketball finished the year with a school best 3.82 GPA while advancing to the round of 16 for the second year in a row. The team finished 24-9 (17-5 in conference), and set school records for points in a game, three pointers in a game, most assists in a game, most field goal attempts and highest scoring average.
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Discover more at hastings.edu.