MAGNOLIA, Ark. – For the first time since 2019, Southern Arkansas University and the Mulerider Athletics family gathered together inside the W.T. Watson Center to celebrate its student-athletes, coaches and programs as part of the Fifth Annual Mulespy Awards which took place on Wednesday evening.
 
Garnering the department's top two athletic honors were Mulerider Baseball freshman pitcher Jeremy Adorno, who was named the Auburn Smith Male Athlete of the Year, and SAU Softball freshman pitcher Kiana Pogroszewski, who claimed the Dr. Margaret Downing Female Athlete of the Year award. The player of the year awards are given to the top Male and Female Athlete in a given year at SAU regardless of classification and that possesses conduct that has been a positive influence for good, and exemplifies the ideals of Auburn Smith and Dr. Margaret Downing; each an SAU Sports Hall of Famer that left an indelible mark on Mulerider Athletics during their storied tenures at the University.
 
For their outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and athletic ability, the Murphy USA Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were presented to Mulerider Football senior defensive back Brock Floyd and Mulerider Volleyball sophomore setter Morgan Schuster. In continual recognition of Murphy USA's strong partnership with Southern Arkansas University and Mulerider Athletics, Murphy USA's Calli Sampson, Director, Trading, Scheduling & Optimization, was on hand to present some remarks on behalf of the organization and help present both scholar honors which were first awarded in 2017.
 
Schuster was also honored alongside 22 other student-athletes that made up the second induction class of the SAU Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma; the first, and only, national scholar-athlete society to honor four-year collegiate student-athletes who have excelled in both the classroom and in athletic competition. The ceremony was conducted by SAU Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Scott White and Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations Sage Woodham. With two classes now inducted following last year's inaugural ceremony, the chapter roll now stands at 45 outstanding Mulerider scholar-athletes.
 
SAU President Dr. Trey Berry delivered a special address which included a moving and inspirational story about one of his brothers' experience with National Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra. Berry was also present to lead a small graduation ceremony for a dozen student-athletes who are graduating in May, but will not be able to attend the May 6 graduation date due to participation in their respective conference tournaments. White also briefly spoke on the Mulerider Club and of its impact; past, present, and future, on Mulerider Athletics after serving as the club chair this past year.
 
The night's keynote speaker, two-time Mulerider Football All-American and SAU Sports Hall of Fame inductee as well as Canadian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 inductee Nik Lewis, delivered an encouraging address that touched on what motivated him during his time at Southern Arkansas as well as how he carried that with him into his professional ventures, while also challenging the Muleriders to be selfishly unselfish, to set goals, and to strive daily to touch greatness. "I hope I did you proud by going off and accomplishing what I accomplished," remarked Lewis. "I'm at the top of one mountain, I'm looking to climb my next mountain, but when I get to the top I want to look over and see you at the top of your mountain…. stay the course."
 
In 2018, through feedback from the SAU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, two new award categories were established with the Male and Female Newcomer of the Year Awards, and the Male and Female Comeback Player of the Year Awards with both now being presented annually. Capturing the honors in the newcomer category were SAU Softball senior transfer Jade Miller and Mulerider Football freshman Jariq Scales. For the Comeback Player of the Year award, SAU Women's Tennis senior Simone Simas and Mulerider Baseball junior Ty Manning claimed the hardware.
 
Fifteen outstanding student-athletes and one outstanding athletic trainer were honored, while 65 senior student-athletes were recognized and gifted a special framed letterman patch to commemorate their time as a Mulerider.
 
Auburn Smith Male Athlete of the Year
Jeremy Adorno (Baseball)
 
Adorno-no as he was eloquently tabbed after tossing just the sixth no-hitter in program history in his very first start as a Mulerider has had the Mulerider faithful screaming "Yes". The freshman righthander, who is a native of Kissimmee, Florida, has been phenomenal in 11 starts this season.
 
This spring, Adorno has collected five Great American Conference Pitcher of the Week honors which are the second most in a single season in league history and tie him for the most in a single career by a Mulerider. He became the first Mulerider arm since 2015 to capture an NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week honor.
 
He leads the country in wins with 11 and is tops in the Great American Conference in ERA, strikeouts, hits allowed per nine (4.86), strikeouts per nine (12.29), and WHIP (1.02), while his hits allowed per nine and WHIP also rank in the top 25 in Division II. In his most recent outing, Adorno became just the fifth different Mulerider pitcher to top the century mark in strikeouts in a single season.
 
Adorno has amassed 73.2 innings pitched this spring with five complete games, three shutouts and one combined shutout and if the numbers above don't prove his dominance, maybe the opponent batting average of .180 and the only nine extra base hits allowed will.
 
Dr. Margaret Downing Female Athlete of the Year
Kiana Pogroszewski (Softball)
 
Pogroszewski, in her first year as a Mulerider, continues to cast a daunting shadow over opposing hitters this season. In 23 games played with 13 starts which includes eight complete game efforts, Pogroszewski leads the Mulerider pitching staff in ERA, WHIP, total appearances, complete games and shutouts.
 
Through 107.1 innings pitched, KP's ERA ranks in the top 30 nationally and is the fifth-best in the Central Region, while her walks and hits allowed per innings pitched rests below 1 and is second in the conference. She boasts a 12-4 record overall with nine of those wins coming against Great American Conference competition.
 
The Ephraim, Utah product's punchout production has been significant as she has tallied 106 strikeouts this season and owns a strikeout per seven innings clip of 6.9 which ranks sixth in the GAC. She fanned a season-high ten vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State, has recorded six-plus strikeouts in nine appearances and currently carries a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.82 which lands her 14^th in the Central Region.
 
Murphy USA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Brock Floyd (Football)
 
Floyd, who graduated Magna Cum Laude in December with a 3.8 GPA in Business Administration, capped his collegiate career as a Mulerider by earning consecutive CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors; the first Mulerider in program history to twice be bestowed first team recognition.
 
During his time at SAU, Floyd served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, was a member of SAU's inaugural induction class of Chi Alpha Sigma and was a well-respected leader on the Mulerider Football team.
 
A native of Frisco, Texas, Floyd was also rewarded for his efforts on the gridiron. A fearsome defensive back of the Mulerider secondary, Floyd's 78 tackles were the sixth-most in the Great American Conference and he finished second in the league in solo tackles with 50. He added six tackles for loss, one sack and recorded two interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered another which he housed from 60 yards out.
 
An All-GAC First Team honoree, Floyd was named a D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Second Teamer following the 2021 campaign.
 
Murphy USA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Morgan Schuster (Volleyball)
 
Schuster, a sophomore setter from Arlington, Texas, is a Biology: Pre-Health major with a 3.93 GPA.
 
A member of the SAU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Schuster has been as busy off the court as she has been productive on it. The Texan is a member of SAU's Pre-Health Club where she has served as secretary for the past two years in addition to serving as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. James Hyde. Recently, Schuster was awarded Health Sciences Outstanding Undergraduate Poster Presentation at the 2022 Arkansas Academy of Sciences Conference.
 
Schuster is active in the community having participated with her teammates a places like CCAPS and the Boys & Girls Club on multiple occasions through the department's "Muleriders in Magnolia" community service initiative.
 
Now about that production on the floor. Schuster garnered All-GAC Honorable Mention recognition following a season that saw her average the fourth-most assists per set in the GAC at 8.88 and record the sixth-most assists overall with 844. She played and started all 26 matches compiling 95 sets of action which resulted in eight double-double performances, 101 total points, 57 kills, 20 service aces, 208 digs and 43 total blocks. Additionally, she became just the fifth player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career assists.
 
Male Comeback Player of the Year
Ty Manning (Baseball)
 
A native of Flower Mound, Texas, Manning battled nagging injuries throughout the 2021 season, while also dealing with vision issues that played a part in a down year statistically. Refreshed and healthy in the offseason with the previous vision issues behind him, Manning's 2022 season has been dominant.
 
His 46 hits are tied for the third-most on the team behind 13 multi-hit games in 36 games played this season. His batting average is currently up 100 points, he owns a team-low strikeout rate and he has produced 30 RBI, scored 43 runs and been hit-by-pitch a GAC-leading 18 times this spring which ranks third nationally.
 
Female Comeback Player of the Year
Simone Simas (Women's Tennis)
 
Simas, a senior from Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, battled through wrist difficulties throughout her time at SAU and In December of 2020, a surgery to repair her wrist sidelined her for the 2021 spring. However, Simas returned stateside and nestled back into head coach Greg Owen's lineup and picked up where she left off.
 
An All-GAC First Team selection in 2019 and one of the team's top talents in 2020, Simas' return has been thoroughly welcomed as she leads the team with nine singles victories which includes five in three sets, while also totaling a team-best 14 wins in doubles play. She became the first player in program history to claim both a singles and doubles victory over a Division I opponent in the same match.
 
Male Newcomer of the Year
Jariq Scales (Football)
 
Scales, a native of Osceola, Arkansas, was highly productive in his first season of action as a Mulerider. In 11 games, he broke the program's single-season rushing record after totaling 1,476 yards; the eighth-most in Division II in 2021, behind seven 100+ yard rushing performances and a pair of 200+ yard rushing performances. He tallied 245 yards on the ground in SAU's Murphy USA Classic win over Arkansas Tech; the second-most in a single game in program history.
 
He scored 10 total touchdowns and carried the football an NCAA program-record 236 times. For his efforts, Scales was named the Great American Conference's Freshman of the Year, an All-GAC Second Team performer and was honored as a Don Hansen Division II Honorable Mention All-America.
 
Female Newcomer of the Year
Jade Miller (Softball)
 
To say Miller has been impactful in her first season in Magnolia would be an understatement. Hitting at the top of head coach Jason Anderson's lineup, Miller paces the Muleriders in batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. The Plano, Texas native leads the Great American Conference in hits with 61 which includes 18 extra base hits and 20 multi-hit games.
 
Miller has played and started all 44 games for Southern Arkansas this spring scoring 38 runs and delivering 25 RBI behind eight multi-RBI games. A tough matchup for opposing pitchers, Miller has struck out just nine times this season and owns a toughest to strikeout metric that ranks third in the GAC.
 
Outstanding Athletes
Maddison Jones (Athletic Training)
Jeremy Adorno (Baseball)
Devante Brooks (Men's Basketball)
Diamond Morris (Women's Basketball)
Rob Kraus (Men's Cross Country)
Logan Warren (Women's Cross Country)
Shelby Sawyer (Cheerleading)
Brock Floyd (Football)
Roman Timmerman (Men's Golf)
Mackenzy Turner (Women's Golf)
Sydney Ward (Softball)
Ole Valkyser (Men's Tennis)
Simone Simas (Women's Tennis)
Travon Johnson (Men's Track and Field)
Kamrin Hooks (Women's Track and Field)
Morgan Schuster (Volleyball)
 
2022 Induction Class of the SAU Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma
Austin Wilkerson (Football)
Bronwyn Buchanan (Women's Track/XC)
Camryn Fennell (Women's Basketball)
Cecilia Quesada (Women's Track/XC)
Chris Sutton (Baseball)
Connor Harrington (Men's Golf)
Connor White (Men's Track)
Devlin Rivera (Women's Track)
Garrett McWhorter (Football)
Gavin Roe (Football)
Jariq Scales (Football)
Jessica Jones (Women's Basketball)
Kamrin Hooks (Women's Track)
Makana Morton (Softball)
Mariah Hamilton (Softball)
MJ Loggins (Football)
Morgan Schuster (Volleyball)
Natalie Phillips (Softball)
Rozlyne Manor (Women's Track)
Sarah Evans (Softball)
Simone Simas (Women's Tennis)
Tim Ryan (Men's Golf)
Tucker Paris (Baseball)
 
2021-22 Senior Student-Athletes
 
Athletic Training
Sarah Cook | Malvern, Ark.
Raegan Erskine | Nashville, Ark.
Sarah Evans | Bryant, Ark.
Maddison Jones | Hampton, Ark.
 
Baseball
Tucker Burton | Granger, Texas
James Janco | McKinney, Texas
Cameron Lang | Midlothian, Texas
JJ Martin | Charleston, West Virginia
Jacob Martinez | Haltom City, Texas
Reed Osborn | Lewisville, Texas
Josh Walker | Prosper, Texas
Jacob Womack | Henderson, Texas
 
Men's Basketball
Devante Brooks | Shreveport, Louisiana
Jalen Brooks | Shreveport, Louisiana
Aaron Lucas | Tulsa, Oklahoma
 
Women's Basketball
Doriana Brown | Georgetown, Texas
Maggie Evans | Conway, Arkansas
Camryn Fennell | Tulsa, Oklahoma
Ariana Guinn | Hot Springs, Arkansas
Jenae Jennings | Marshall, Arkansas
Lillie Moore | Magnolia, Arkansas
Kisi Young | Magnolia, Arkansas
 
Men's Cross Country/Track and Field
Evan Delgado | Round Rock, Texas
Asher Hamlin | Maumelle, Arkansas
Christian Mosley | Natchitoches, La.
Kris Shumaker | Longview, Texas
 
Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
Alyssa Dohm | Des Arc, Arkansas
Trinity Easter | Magnolia, Ark.
Kamrin Hooks | Shreveport, La.
Rebecca Miner | Pittsburg, Texas
Cecilia Quesada | Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Leah Sanders | Humble, Texas
Allyson Sellers | Vilonia, Ark.
Kaliyah Thompson | Queen City, Texas
Brittney Yarbro | Lumberton, Texas
 
Cheerleading
Kayte Ledbetter | St. Louis, Missouri
Shelby Sawyer | Texarkana, Arkansas
 
Football
Rick Barrick | Katy, Texas
Demoni Boyd | Covington, Louisiana
Brock Floyd | Frisco, Texas
Cameron Gonzaque | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Desmond Jones | Monroe, Louisiana
Hayden Mallory | Gonzalez, Louisiana
Brock Price | Farmersville, Texas
Zack Rice | Colleyville, Texas
Deno Rogers | Chidester, Arkansas
Steven Taylor | Katy, Texas
 
Men's Golf
Roman Timmerman | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
 
Women's Golf
Corynn McKinnie | Frisco, Texas
Mackenzy Turner | Georgetown, Texas
 
Softball
Alese Casper | Grantsville, Utah
Sarah Evans | Bryant, Arkansas
Tiare Lee | Las Vegas, Nevada
Jade Miller | Plano, Texas
Madison Miller | Wichita, Kansas
Madison Monson | Denham Springs, Louisiana
 
Men's Tennis
Iker Brull | Castalla, Alicante, Spain
Jonathan Gilmore | Midlothian, Texas
Yuri Gondouin | Saint-Germain-En-Laye, France
Stuart Rehfuss | Xanten, Germany
 
Women's Tennis
Finley Blair | Frisco, Texas
Serena Gill | Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
Simone Simas | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
Brenda Teixeira | Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
 
Volleyball
Abby Bermudez | Kaufman, Texas