MACON, Ga.- The Middle Georgia State Athletic Department came together on Monday, April 27^th at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame to culminate the academic year with the Armor Awards. Following a dinner portion of the evening the student-athletes, staff and special guests on hand were treated to an awards ceremony that featured 12 student-athlete awards.

Dinner was provided by Taco Mac in Macon while the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame served as an elegant backdrop to celebrate the best and brightest of Knights Athletics for the 2025-26 academic year. The awards ceremony was emceed by Sami Kostas, 13 WMAZ sports reporter.

The awards portion of the evening began with a pair of MGA tennis student-athletes taking home Female and Male Newcomer of the Year as Agustina Olivero and Alexandr Achour each were named to the first-year honor. Seniors Ellie Johnson (volleyball) and Andrew Lowery (baseball) followed by being honored as the Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year respectively for their strong academic performances.

The Female and Male Heart of a Knight Award centers on student-athletes who have a love and respect for the game, plays with enthusiasm and heart and is a good role model on and off the field or court. Women's Basketball took home their first win of the night as graduate student Cali Levine earned the Female Heart of a Knight Award while junior baseball player Mikal Ashley was named the Male Heart of a Knight Award honoree.

Up next came the Noble Knight Leadership Awards which were earned by senior Sarah Latham of the softball team and senior Milique Smith from the men's basketball squad. The Noble Knight Leadership Award centers on a student-athlete who represents their team with outstanding attitude, leadership and servant-hood.

Softball continued by being represented by Briana Murray for the Female Outstanding Individual Performance Award for her memorable, walk-off grand slam against Lander University. Josh Robertson of men's basketball took home the Male Outstanding Individual Performance Award for his seven three-pointers highlighting an MGA upset of No. 6 North Georgia on the hardwood.

Director of Athletics Michael Brown handed out the MGA Impact Award which went to Ken Allen, a loyal Knights Athletics supporter who also serves the teams regularly through his work as a University bus driver for team's on road trips.

The final awards of the evening came with the top honors of Female and Male Athlete of the Year awards. Kennedi Hawkins took home the Female Athlete of the Year award following her strong performance on the basketball court this past season as the only player in the Peach Belt Conference to average a double-double (10+ points and rebounds average).

Sebastian Collender took home the Male Athlete of the Year award as he's paced the baseball team as the squad's starting catcher and a multi-time PBC Player of the Week honoree this season.

The evening concluded with graduating seniors receiving their athletic stoles that can be worn during commencement in a few weeks.

Below are the award winners, finalists and nominations for each award.

Nominations were accepted from MGA head coaches, administrators and full-time athletic support staff. This same group voted on the eventual award winners.

Female Newcomer of the Year: Agustina Olivero (women's tennis, winner), Jada Akerson (softball, finalist), Kristen Foglia (women's basketball, finalist)

Male Newcomer of the Year: Alexandr Achour (men's tennis, winner), OT Delancey (men's basketball, finalist), CJ Wyborn (men's soccer, finalist), Patrick Crosby (baseball, nominee)

Female Scholar Athlete of the Year: Ellie Johnson (volleyball, winner), Nayeli Hernandez (softball, finalist), Cali Levine (women's basketball, finalist), Paige Collier (volleyball, nominee), Ainhoa Meili Fernandez del Moral (women's cross country/tennis, nominee), Eliza Telford (women's soccer, nominee)

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Andrew Lowery (baseball, winner), Kay Woldringh Castillo (men's tennis, finalist), CJ Wyborn (men's soccer, finalist), OT Delancey (men's basketball, nominee)

Female Heart of a Knight Award: Cali Levine (women's basketball, winner), Berta Castello Petrus (women's cross country/tennis, finalist), Kaylee Oliver (softball, finalist), Maddison McGehee (women's soccer, nominee), Yanelis Rodriguez (volleyball, nominee)

Male Heart of a Knight Award: Mikal Ashley (baseball, winner), Nick Dufner (men's tennis, finalist), Josh Robertson (men's basketball, finalist), Shayne Osbourne (men's soccer, nominee)

Female Noble Knight Leadership Award: Sarah Latham (softball, winner), Annaliese Agler (women's soccer, finalist), Aya el Marasse (women's tennis, finalist), Aubrie Beard (volleyball, nominee), Ainhoa Meili Fernandez del Moral (women's cross country/tennis, nominee), Norah Osu (women's basketball, nominee)

Male Noble Knight Leadership Award: Milique Smith (men's basketball, winner), Seve Fernandez (baseball, finalist), Pedro Tence (men's tennis, finalist), Kay Woldringh Castillo (men's tennis, nominee)

Female Outstanding Individual Performance Award: Briana Murray (softball, winner), Mauryah Jones (women's basketball, finalist), Hollie Keefe (women's soccer, finalist), Mackenzie Andrews (cross country, nominee), Yana Prihach (women's tennis, nominee), McCall Wolf (volleyball, nominee)

Male Outstanding Individual Performance Award: Josh Robertson (men's basketball, winner), Sebastian Collender (baseball, finalist), Javier Gongora (men's soccer, finalist), Vicent Faria (men's tennis, nominee), Andrew Lowery (baseball, nominee)

Female Athlete of the Year: Kennedi Hawkins (women's basketball, winner), Madison Cosgrove (softball, finalist), Ellie Johnson (volleyball, finalist), Irina Furtuna (cross county, nominee), Agustina Olivero (women's tennis, nominee)

Male Athlete of the Year: Sebastian Collender (baseball, winner), Josh Robertson (men's basketball, finalist), CJ Wyborn (men's soccer, finalist), Alexandr Achour (men's tennis, nominee)

MGA Impact Award: Ken Allen (winner)