MIDWAY, Ky. - On Thursday, March 16, Midway University celebrated the best accomplishments of its athletic department during the 2025-26 school year at the annual award ceremony The Midways.
This came on the tail end of a year in which the department produced 215 Academic All-Conference members, 46 conference Player of the Week award, 141 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 89 All-Conference honorees, six All-Americans, two Coaches of the Year, two Players of the Year and two national champions.
Several awards were voted on by students, faculty and staff, while others were determined by a panal of officials in the athletic department.
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Randi Delong, softball
A sophomore transfer, Delong has established herself as one of the best power hitters in the River States Conference. She enters the final week of the regular season batting .437 with 11 home runs, 14 doubles, and 45 runs batted in.
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Rhys Dickson, soccer
As a Second Team All-Conference performer, Dickson was second on the team with six goals and 18 points and was tied for the team lead with six assists.
THE COMEBACK AWARD: Makayla Brooks, women's track and field
After previously missing an entire season due to severe ankle injuries that nearly derailed her career, Brooks bounced back this season, earning All-American honors at the NAIA Indoor National Championships with a seventh-place finish.
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE: Emerson VanScoy, women's track and field
VanScoy had one of the best performances in Midway history at the NAIA Indoor National Championships where she claimed two All-American honors. She had a program record and national runner-up mark of 4.05 meters in pole vault and a mark of 1.61 meters in high jump where she finished in a tie for eighth.
BEST MOMENT: Fabian Garcia, men's soccer
After playing sparingly throughout the year, Garcia stepped up in the biggest moment of the season for the men's soccer team when he converted a game-winning penalty kick against St. Mary-of-the-Woods in the quarterfinals of the RSC Championship.
ANDY SHEA COMMUNITY SERVANT AWARD: Autumn Young, women's swimming
Known across campus for her unmatched work ethic and positive attitude, Young is involved with numerous organizations, including Eagle Envoy and First-Year Mentors. She's also vice president of Eagle Outreach, vice president of Gamma Beta Phi, president of Alpha Lambda Delta, secretary of the Student Government Assocation and a resident assistant in Buster Hall.
MIDWAY SPIRIT AND SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Amari Wales, men's basketball
A First-Team All-River States Conference player on the court, Wales has been a vocal and visible spectator at various athletic events around campus, while also earning a spot on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of the last three semesters.
FACULTY/STAFF SUPPORT RECOGNITION AWARD: Leah Vance-Berg
Vance-Berg has shown a persistent willingness to lend a helping hand to Midway student-athletes, going above and beyond to equip them with the tools for success they need in and out of the classroom. Her tireless effort embodies the spirit of Midway University and makes her an indispensable pillar of the student-athlete experience.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Otis Smith, men's and women's golf
Coach Smith has set a consistent standard of excellence since helping to launch the Midway golf program. It continued in 2024-25, when he won his sixth River States Conference championship with the women's program and his fourth with the men, earning him RSC Coach of the Year honors for both teams.
OUTSTANDING TEAM: Midway women's golf
Not only did the Eagle women's team earn its sixth conference championship - its first since 2021 - they placed 22nd at the NAIA National Championships, the best national finish in program history. River States Golfer of the Year Kasey Cameron also became just the second Eagle to make the individual national cut.
OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE: Alana Utlak, western
Utlak became a two-time national champion in level-two horsemanship at the 2025 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Championships. Her performances helped the Eagles earn top-six national team finishes in each of the previous two seasons.
OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE - Christian Carter, sprint football
Carter set Midwest Sprint Football League single-season records with 2,188 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes for an Eagle offense that averaged 478.1 yards and 39.1 points per-game. This helped him earn Offensive Player of the Year honors by both the MSFL and the Collegiate Sprint Football Hub.
MARGARET WARE PARRISH AWARD: Kayedon Mattingly, women's volleyball
Mattingly earned Midway's most prestigious award, which is given to a student-athlete that is deeply engaged across campus, contributing meaningfully to student activities while demonstrating strong leadership.
She proved quite worthy, serving as a resident assistant, president of the Student Government Association and captain of the women's volleyball team while also earning recognition as an NAIA scholar-athlete and making the athletic director's honor roll four times.
