Cougars claim four honors at inaugural IU Regional Campus Athletic Awards Celebration

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -Student-athletes from Indiana University Kokomo claimed four of the six awards given at the inaugural IU Regional Campus Athletics Awards Celebration.

The event brought together the top student-athletes, coaches, and teams from across five IU regional campuses - IU Kokomo, IU East, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast - to recognize excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, character, and campus involvement throughout the 2025-26 academic year.

IU KOKOMO HONOREES

• Career Achievement Award - Lexi Broyles (women's volleyball)
• Coach of the Year - Heather Hayes (women's volleyball)
• Triple Threat Team Award - women's volleyball
• Female Athlete of the Year - Sydney Duncan (women's track and field)
• Champion of Character finalist - Moriah Crawford (women's basketball)
• Male Athlete of the Year finalist - Gabe Wedmore (men's track and field)

Women's volleyball standout Lexi Broyles earned the Career Achievement Award following one of the most decorated careers in IU Kokomo athletics history. Broyles, from DeMotte, became the first four-time NAIA All-American in department history while helping lead the Cougars to three consecutive NAIA National Championship Final Site appearances and Top-16 finishes as well as three undefeated conference seasons. She finished her career with 1,369 kills and 447 blocks while setting the program record with a .378 career hitting percentage. Broyles additionally earned four First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selections while being named the 2026 River States Conference Attacker of the Year. Off the court, she completed her business degree in just 3.5 years while remaining active in campus and community engagement initiatives.

Additional nominees included Richard Bower (IU East), Kendal Carrubba (IU Northwest), Tenleigh Phelps (IU South Bend), and Haley Jaster (IU Southeast).

IU Kokomo Athletic Director and head women's volleyball Coach Heather Hayes was named Coach of the Year after leading the Cougars to another historic season in 2025. Under Hayes, IU Kokomo posted a 32-6 overall record while finishing undefeated in River States Conference play at 16-0, capturing both conference championships and advancing to the NAIA National Championship Final Site for the third consecutive season. The Cougars finished the year ranked No. 12 nationally while extending their conference regular season winning streak to a school-record 54 matches. Hayes also guided the volleyball program to the highest team GPA in the athletic department for the second straight year.

Additional finalists were Andrew Britt (IU East), Jamie McNicholas (IU Northwest), Steve Bruce (IU South Bend), and Wiley Brown (IU Southeast).

The IU Kokomo women's volleyball team claimed the inaugural Triple Threat Team Award, recognizing excellence in athletics, academics, and character. The Cougars finished the season with a 32-6 overall record, conference regular season and tournament championships, and a third consecutive top-16 finish at the NAIA National Championship Final Site while remaining nationally ranked throughout the season. In the classroom, the program posted a 3.6 team GPA, the highest in the athletic department for the second consecutive year. The team also remained heavily involved in the community through outreach efforts including the annual Donate Life volleyball event promoting organ donation awareness.

Additional finalists were IU East men's cross country, IU Northwest women's volleyball, IU South Bend women's basketball, and IU Southeast women's volleyball.

Track and field standout Sydney Duncan rounded out the evening's award winners for the Cougars, earning Female Athlete of the Year honors following a dominant indoor season and start to the outdoor season. Duncan, from Anderson, captured the NAIA National Championship in the shot put while also earning All-American honors in the weight throw after a fifth-place finish at the national meet. She additionally won River States Conference championships in both the shot put and weight throw while setting a new conference record in the weight throw and earning RSC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honors. Outside of competition, Duncan remained active in campus organizations and community involvement opportunities while also working as a rehabilitation aide at a physical therapy clinic.

Additional finalists were Vanessa Temple (IU East), Trinitie Lintner (IU Northwest), Tenleigh Phelps (IU South Bend), and Jesse Ledgerwood (IU Southeast).

IU Kokomo was also represented among the finalists for the Champion of Character Award by women's basketball student-athlete Moriah Crawford. Crawford, from Springfield, Illinois, started all 26 games for the Cougars during her senior season, averaging 8.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while totaling 216 points and 188 rebounds on the year. Beyond athletics, Crawford has made a major impact across campus through leadership roles as Student Government Association athletic senator, chairperson of the senate review committee, vice president of the African Student Association, and as a Multicultural Center Equity Ambassador.

The award was presented to Rylee Cotton of IU South Bend.

Track and field student-athlete Gabe Wedmore represented IU Kokomo as a finalist for Male Athlete of the Year following an All-American indoor campaign. Wedmore, from Summitville, earned a fourth-place national finish in the shot put at the NAIA Indoor National Championships while also qualifying nationally in the weight throw. He additionally captured the River States Conference Indoor Championship in the weight throw and remained active in leadership and service opportunities through the IUPD Community Advisory Board, ASA community outreach efforts, and coaching track and field.

The Male Athlete of the Year Award was presented to Cameron Nocton of IU East.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.