2026 WESPYs Finalists Announced

DURHAM, N.H. – The finalists have been announced for the eighth annual WESPYs. The event showcases the athletic and academic achievements from the 2025-26 season and will take place on Monday, May 4 in the Granite State Room.

The show will feature 10 different awards ranging from individual student-athlete awards to team awards and highlights. Below are the finalists for each award.

2026 Finalists:

Award: Jim Urquhart Outstanding Student-Athlete Award
Started: 1999
Criteria: Outstanding men's and women's senior or graduate student-athletes based on a career of athletic success, community involvement, and academic achievement. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility. Student-athletes can only be considered once during their UNH Athletics career.

Men
Yoofi Abaka-Amuah, Men's Track and Field
Brendan Tighe, Football
Morgan Winters, Men's Ice Hockey

Women
Hattie Barker, Women's Nordic Skiing
Kelly Harty, Women's Ice Hockey
Audrey Mahoney, Swimming and Diving
Abbi Maier, Women's Soccer
Hedda Martelleur, Women's Alpine Skiing
Serena Mullin, Gymnastics
Nicole Poulakis, Field Hockey
Claire Ronan, Women's Track and Field, Cross Country

Award: The Cathy Coakley Student-Athlete Community Involvement Award
Started: 2011
Criteria: Men's and women's senior or graduate student-athlete(s) who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the University, UNH Athletics, and the larger community with involvement in campus organizations, volunteer work, SAAC, and other service organizations. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility.

Finalists

Kendall Donovan, Lacrosse
Elaina Grenz, Women's Soccer
Riley Himes, Gymnastics

Award: Tina True Strength and Conditioning Award
Started: 2007
Criteria: Given annually to a pair of Wildcat seniors or graduate student-athletes for their commitment to strength and conditioning. Tina True was a co-captain and coxswain of the women's crew team from 2000 to 2002; her commitment to training and passion for the sport greatly contributed to the success of the team. Tina's life was tragically cut short by a car accident in January 2002 during her junior year.

There are no finalists for this award, the winner will be announced at the WESPYs.

Award: Wildcat Award for Academic Excellence Started: 2010
Criteria: Given annually to the graduating senior men's and women's student-athletes with the highest undergraduate cumulative grade-point average.

There are no finalists for this award, the winner will be announced at the WESPYs.

Award: Granite Strong Award
Started: 2019
Criteria: Men's and women's senior or graduate student-athletes who have overcome adversity, are unsung heroes, or have gone above and beyond what should be expected of them by their coaches and teammates. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility.

Men
Max LaPointe, Men's Track & Field
Duncan Moreland, Football
Morgan Winters, Men's Ice Hockey

Women
Maddie Kolb, Women's Soccer
Leah Moreno, Gymnastics
Hannah Rodgers, Women's Ice Hockey

Award: Director of Athletics Leadership Award
Started: 2024
Criteria: Men's and women's senior or graduate student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding leadership and represent the team, Athletics, and/or university exceptionally well. Considered candidates are seniors who are graduating from UNH or graduate students who are exhausting their eligibility.

Finalists

Men
Tim Bonagura, Football
John Murphy, Men's Track and Field, Cross Country
Matteo Piccardo, Men's Soccer

Women
Autumn Agri, Women's Track and Field
Kelly Harty, Women's Hockey
Maddie Kolb, Women's Soccer
Kenzie Matulonis, Women's Basketball
Leah Moreno, Gymnastics

Award: Rookie of the Year
Started: 2019
Criteria: Given annually to the men's and women's rookies (freshman or redshirt freshman) for outstanding athletic achievement.

Finalists

Men
Trevor Barry, Football
Roman Elvidge, Men's Alpine Skiing
Ryan Philbrick, Men's Ice Hockey

Women
Abby Beasley, Women's Soccer
Lucy Chertock, Volleyball
Amelia Lannon, Gymnastics
Nina Rossi, Women's Ice Hockey
Marlijn Swaan, Field Hockey

Award: Performer of the Year
Started: 2020
Criteria: Given annually for the most outstanding athletic achievement by men's and women's student-athletes in the current academic year, from any class year.

Finalists

Men
Yoofi Abaka-Amuah-Men's Track & Field
Jayden Buckrell, Men's Alpine Skiing
Elias Khodri, Men's Soccer

Women
Hattie Barker, Women's Nordic Skiing
Benedetta Caloro, Women's Alpine Skiing
Abbi Maier, Women's Soccer
Sarah Moore, Women's Track & Field
Nicole Poulakis, Field Hockey

Award: Highlight of the Year
Started: 2020
Criteria: Given annually to the team or student-athlete with the most spectacular play of the year.

Finalists
Men's Basketball (Tyler Bike's game-tying 3-pointer with 0.3 on the clock in regulation versus Bryant on March 3, 2026)
Field Hockey (Nicole Poulakis' double-overtime game-winning goal in the America East Championship Game on Nov. 7, 2025)
Men's Ice Hockey (Marty Lavins' game winning goal with five seconds left in the third period at No. 2 Michigan State on Oct. 9, 2025)
Women's Ice Hockey (Nina Rossi's game-tying goal versus Maine with 15 seconds left in the third period versus Maine on Dec. 5, 2025)
Men's Soccer (Elias Khodri's bicycle kick goal versus NJIT on Oct. 25, 2025)
Women's Soccer (Abbi Maier's goal from 35 yards out at UAlbany on Oct. 12, 2025)

Award: Event of the Year
Started: 2021
Criteria: Given annually to the team or student-athlete with the most exceptional game or competition performance of the year.

Finalists

Men's Basketball (Rallied from trailing by 25 points with 10:30 remaining in the second half to defeat Boston University, 88-82, in overtime on Dec. 6, 2025)
Field Hockey (Winning the America East Championship, 1-0, in double overtime at No. 1 seed Vermont on Nov. 7, 2025)
Football (34-13 victory at No. 6 Monmouth on Nov. 8, 2025 as the 'Cats held the Hawks to a season-low 13 points – 29 points below their average)
Men's Ice Hockey (4-3 win at No. 2 Michigan State on Oct. 9, 2025, winning the game with five seconds left in the third period)
Lacrosse (With Merrimack leading 12-8 entering the fourth quarter, UNH outscored the Warriors 10-1 to win 18-13 on March 18, 2026)
Men's Soccer (Trailing 2-0 with 13:44 remaining in the second half the Wildcats scored three straight goals to win at Binghamton, 3-2, on Sept. 27, 2025

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2026 WESPYs Finalists Announced

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