INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP Department of Athletics announced the winners of the sixth annual Crimson & Gray Awards Thursday afternoon, honoring the top student-athletes, teams and performances from the 2021-2022 athletic season. 

The awards were announced on the IUP Athletics' Twitter (@IUPCrimsonHawk) and Instagram (iupathletics) social media accounts. 

The awards celebrate the top performers of the 2021-22 regular and post seasons across 22 total categories — 11 men and 11 women. They recognize the best athletic performances by our student-athletes, coaches and teams, as well as individual and team academic accomplishments. 

Below are the award winners announced Thursday:

SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Presented to men's and women's upperclassmen who have displayed a combination of success both on the playing field and in the classroom during their time at IUP.

Winners:
Karolin Kirchtag; Senior – Women's Tennis
4.0 GPA / Major: Sport Administration
PSAC West Athlete of the Year; First team All-PSAC West in singles and doubles; PSAC Champion Scholar for women's tennis
Won singles and doubles titles at Atlantic Region and PSAC tournaments in the fall 

Josh Dauberman; Senior – Football
3.85 GPA / Major: Criminology
AFCA First Team All-American, D2Football Elite 100, First Team All-PSAC West
Started 10 games at right guard, led offensive line that gave up 8 sacks 

ACADEMIC TEAM OF THE YEAR
Presented to the men's and women's teams with the highest cumulative grade point average during the 2021-22 academic year.

Winners: Men's Golf (3.70), Women's Tennis (3.78)


CRIMSON TEAMMATES OF THE YEAR
Presented to a student-athlete from each sport who inspires his or her teammates with the five pillars of the IUP Athletics vision: Experience, Leadership, Community, Excellence and Integrity.
 
Baseball: Colin Williams
Men's Basketball: Ethan Porterfield
Women's Basketball: Courtney Alexander
Men's Cross Country: Evan Weaver
Women's Cross Country: Erin McGrath
Field Hockey: Blaise Cugini
Football: Josh Dauberman
Men's Golf: Jack Buccigross
Women's Lacrosse: Leah Hunter
Women's Soccer: DeAvion Anderson
Softball: Hope Jones
Men's Swimming & Diving: Chris Scoboria
Women's Swimming & Diving: Brooke Christian
Women's Tennis: Natasha Munday
Men's Track and Field: Dan Gibney
Women's Track and Field: Tori James
Women's Volleyball: Sydnie Johnson


COACH OF THE YEAR
Presented to the men's and women's head coaches who did the most outstanding job leading his or her team.

Winners: 
Larry Peterson – Women's Tennis
18-8 overall record, first in PSAC West with 6-0 record
PSAC West champion, PSAC tournament champion, Atlantic Region champion; advanced to final 16 teams of NCAA tournament
Coached Atlantic Region and PSAC singles and doubles champions in the fall 

Steve Kline – Baseball
27-22 overall record, tied for fourth in PSAC West at 16-12
In first year, led +25 win improvement from 2021 (2-35)
Team ERA dropped by 2.96 (9.22-6.26); team BAvg improved by 72 points (.234-.306) 


PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Presented to the student-athletes who had the most significant or extraordinary performance in a single game, event, or outing.

Winners: 
Markus Cestra - Baseball
Went 8-for-9 (.889) with a 1.778 slugging percentage in doubleheader sweep of UPJ on April 15
Had 5 doubles, 1 home run, 7 RBI and scored 3 runs
Went 5-for-5 with 4 doubles, 1 homer, and 5 RBI in game one alone  

Karolin Kirchtag – Women's Tennis
Won singles and doubles titles at ITA Atlantic Region Championship tournament
Went combined 10-0 over three days (5-0 singles, 5-0 doubles)
Four of five singles opponents were ranked among top-13 players in the region 


FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Presented to a true freshman or redshirt freshman men's and women's student-athlete who put together the best all-around season for a first-year college player.

Winners: 
Kiera Baughman – Women's Basketball
Team-high 73 assists, fourth on team with 9.7 points per game
291 points most by an IUP freshman since Cathy Torchia's 369 (13.7 PPG) in 1989-90
Led team with three double-doubles, including 13 points and 10 rebounds vs. Cal in NCAA tournament 

Jimmy Tooley – Men's Baseball
Led IUP in ERA (4.17), wins (8-1), strikeouts per 7 innings (6.8), and opp batting average (.234)
Tossed 1-hitter in 1-0 win over Clarion, giving up hit with two outs in the seventh; PSAC West Pitcher of the Week
Most wins and lowest ERA by an IUP starting pitcher since Stephen Cooke in 2012 (8-2, 2.00)  


BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Presented to a first-year starter or first-time key contributor who has improved their season performance dramatically over the last year.

Winners: 
Tomiwa Sulaiman - Men's Basketball
PSAC West Freshman of the Year; Averaged 7.1 points and 5.9 rebounds; second on team with 55.3 field goal pct.; started 18 of final 21 games
Played in three games during COVID-shortened 2020-21 season; averaged 9.3 points and 10.7 rebounds  

Karolin Kirchtag – Women's Tennis
PSAC West Athlete of the Year; Won singles and doubles titles at Atlantic Region and PSAC tournaments; Set IUP record with 31 singles victories
Had 7-8 singles record, including 3-2 against PSAC West, in 2020-21 season 


POSTSEASON PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Presented to the men's and women's student-athletes who put together the most significant combined performances in a PSAC or NCAA championship tournament/event.

Winners: 
Claire Mikesell – Women's Swimming & Diving
Two-time All-American at NCAA Championships
Finished fourth in 200 breaststroke, fifth in 100 breaststroke; set IUP records in both
PSAC Champion in 200 breast; finished in top-8 in four of six events at PSAC Championships 

Dave Morris - Men's Basketball
Named to Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team; helped team to PSAC and region tournament championships, national semifinal appearance
Led IUP in 3-pointers made (26) and steals (22) in 8 postseason games; Second on team in scoring (13.8 pg), rebounds (6.3 pg) and assists (3.1 pg)
Tied career-high with 6 3-pointers in NCAA opening round win, had 5 3-pointers in Elite Eight win over Hillsdale  


SENIOR OF THE YEAR
Presented to senior eligible men's and women's student-athletes who had the most successful individual seasons.

Winners: 
Josh Dauberman – Football
AFCA First Team All-American, D2Football Elite 100, First Team All-PSAC West
Started 10 games at right guard, led offensive line that gave up only 8 sacks
3-time All-PSAC West; 2019 all-region; named to IUP's All-Decade Team of the 2010s  

Claire Mikesell – Women's Swimming & Diving
Two-time All-American at NCAA Championships; Finished fourth in 200 breaststroke, fifth in 100 breaststroke, setting IUP records in both
PSAC Champion in 200 breast; finished in top-8 in four of six events at PSAC Championships
Nine first place finishes during season, scored 286 points 


TEAM OF THE YEAR
Presented to the men's and women's teams who had the most outstanding seasons.

Winners: 
Women's Tennis
18-8 overall record, first in PSAC West with 6-0 record
PSAC West champion, PSAC tournament champion, Atlantic Region champion; advanced to final 16 teams of NCAA tournament
Atlantic Region and PSAC tournament singles and doubles champions in the fall 

Men's Basketball
33-3 overall record, first in PSAC West at 20-2
PSAC West regular season, PSAC Tournament, Atlantic Region Tournament champions
Advanced to national semifinals of Elite Eight; tied program record for wins in a season (33)  


ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Presented to the men's and women's student-athletes, regardless of class eligibility, who had the best individual seasons.  

Winners: 
Armoni Foster - Men's Basketball
All-American and NABC National Player of the Year finalist; PSAC West Athlete of the Year
Averaged 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game; Led NCAA with 2 triple-doubles, second in Division II in total assists and fifth in free throws made
Broke IUP record for assists in a season (234); third-most points (642) in a single season
Led IUP to PSAC West, PSAC tournament, and Atlantic Region titles, national semifinal game  

Karolin Kirchtag – Women's Tennis
PSAC West Athlete of the Year; first team All-PSAC West in singles and doubles
Atlantic Region and PSAC tournament singles and doubles champion in the fall; PSAC Tournament MVP in the spring
Set IUP record with 31 singles victories; started year with 21 straight combined wins
Reached as high as No. 13 singles ranking, No. 8 doubles ranking in Division II