UTICA, NY - Another successful sports season wrapped up for the Utica University athletics department this past May, as the Pioneers racked up droves of stellar performances and other accolades. Of course, with the end of the academic year came the end of many spectacular Pioneer careers, as a stellar group of senior athletes wrapped up their time in the orange and blue. To honor this superb senior class, the Utica University athletics department also held its end-of-year Senior Athlete Awards banquet, where it recognized all of its senior athletes and presented an array of annual department awards to the top senior performers.
Here are all the senior award winners from this past season:
KEVIN GRIMMER AWARD
Kevin Grimmer Award Description: In addition to honoring two student-athletes from all local colleges/universities, last year the Kiwanis Club of Utica added the Kevin Grimmer Award, in memory of longtime SUNY Poly coach and athletic director, Kevin Grimmer. This award is given to one student-athlete dedicated to the spirit of athletic competition. Thompson becomes the second Pioneer to win the award in its two-year history, with men's track and field legend Hunter Logan slotting in as the inaugural Kevin Grimmer Award winner in 2025.
Dayion Thompson | Men's Basketball | Kevin Grimmer Award
Thompson took home the top athletic honors amongst a pool of all other schools in the Mohawk Valley, becoming the second Pioneer in two years to achieve the illustrious Kevin Grimmer Award. Thompson graduated as quite possibly the most accomplished player in Utica men's basketball history, achieving the program's second and third Empire 8 Tournament Championships in back-to-back seasons from 2023-2024 to 2024-2025. Thompson also guided the team to three straight berths in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament during his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. Across his four seasons, Thompson's Pioneers compiled a total record of 85-26, while also posting an outrageous Empire 8 record of 54-12. This avalanche of wins showcases Thompson's leadership and methodical approach to the game of basketball, always emerging when needed and pushing the Pioneers over the finish line.
JIM "DOC" SPARTANO AWARD
Jim "Doc" Spartano Award Description: The Jim Spartano award recipients have fulfilled the educational goals of the Utica University Athletic Department to the highest degree. The educational goals include realistic self-appraisal, teamwork and cooperation, positive citizenship, good sportsmanship, and academic success. Jim Spartano's legacy will carry on through this award and the thousands of student-athletes, coaches, and colleagues he mentored and inspired throughout his 38-year tenure as athletic director and coach. The phrase "positive experience" was not a term that was taken lightly by Spartano, and through his tireless efforts and student-first approach, he was able to create and maintain a culture of fairness and success that reached far beyond any playing surface. He truly embodied the mission of the department by ensuring that a positive student-experience always remained paramount, and his ability to connect with students, faculty and staff has undoubtedly left an impression on the University that will live on for years to come.
Amber Piersma | Women's Soccer | Jim "Doc" Spartano Award
Piersma played just two years for the Pioneers following her explosive career at nearby NJCAA powerhouse Mohawk Valley Community College. However, those two years were all she needed to become one of the best scorers in program history, and one of the top offensive threats in all of Division III women's soccer. The stellar striker brought lots of recognition to the program during her tenure, including being named to the Empire 8 All-Conference First Team in both of her years, along with receiving a bevy of other accolades, such as: CSC Academic All-District distinction, and a 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Region Third Team selection. Her 2025 season ranked fourth all-time in program history for goals, netting 11. Pierma made her mark as a top offensive threat across her brief two-year career, taking home top department honors with the Spartano Award.
Dayion Thompson | Men's Basketball | Jim "Doc" Spartano Award
Thompson took home two awards during the Senior Athlete Awards banquet, owing to his massive array of accolades. Not noted above were his numerous individual awards, including two Empire 8 All-Conference First Team selections, an NABC All-District III Second Team selection in 2025, and a Chuck Resler All-Tournament Team Selection during a two-game stretch that also included the senior netting his 1,000th career point, becoming the 21st player in program history to do so. His achievements netted him the department's top honor, being named the male recipient of the Spartano Award in addition to his Grimmer Award.
RICHARD "DICK" MILLER AWARD
Richard "Dick" Miller Award Description: The Dick Miller award honors dedication to physical fitness, athletic competition, and for displaying an outstanding example of commitment to excellence. This award is given to senior athletes who have exhibited excellence, determination, and hard work in the athletic arena over their time spent at Utica University. The inaugural award was given in 1987.
McKenzie Simmons | Women's Basketball | Richard "Dick" Miller Award
The Dick Miller award winner is most commonly associated with being an inspirational leader to their teammates and others around them, and no player was as much of an inspiration to the department as women's basketball standout McKenzie Simmons. No matter the situation, Simmons stood ready to fill any role needed of her in order to help the team succeed. Whether it's being a reliable scoring option, setting the offense and providing a steady presence, defending the opposing team's best player, or crashing the boards on both ends, Simmons was tasked with filling whatever role was needed, something she did with great precision. Simmons picked up an Empire 8 All-Conference selection along the way, and also managed to notch her 1,000th career point in her final collegiate game, wrapping up her career in storybook fashion.
Eli Douglas | Football | Richard "Dick" Miller Award
Douglas' story is an inspiration to players at all levels, an example of how even with limited recognition, any player can achieve the highest level of success by putting in the work. Douglas, despite being completely unknown upon his arrival to Utica, quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the premier defensive backs in all of Division III over his final two seasons. Douglas was the focal point of one of the greatest defensive two-year stretches in program history, wrapping up his career with the third-most career interceptions for the Pioneers, snagging 14 picks over his four seasons. Douglas also grabbed many high-profile accolades, including being named an AP All-American in his senior season. Other accolades include: 2024 All-ECAC First Team, 2025 D3football.com Second Team All-Region selection, and two Empire 8 All-Conference nods.
GREG ROBERTS AWARD
Greg Roberts Award description: The Greg Roberts Award is given annually to a male and female senior student-athlete that best exemplifies what Greg Roberts stood for: hard work, unselfishness, loyalty, and a passion for Utica University Athletics.
Kelsey Elliott | Women's Hockey | Greg Roberts Award
Elliott was recognized for her spectacular leadership and integrity by both her coaches and teammates alike, being bestowed the title of Captain early in the season. She had a great season during her senior year, being named to the UCHC All-Conference Second Team. Her influence extends far beyond the ice, though, racking up massive amounts of recognition for her academic feats, including being named a 2025 AHCA Academic All-American and being honored on every single Empire 8 President's List and UCHC All-Academic Team that has been released since she joined the program.
Kooper Knabe | Baseball | Greg Roberts Award
Pioneer pitching ace Kooper Knabe has a long list of accolades, having been the team's preferred starter since all the way back in his rookie season. Across four seasons, Knabe has picked up 132 strikeouts and 18 career pitching wins. The Cortland native achieved that record-breaking 18th win in one of the most legendary displays you'll ever see, becoming the program's all-time leader in career pitching wins while also logging a no-hitter. In addition to the records, Kooper has also been recognized by the conference on many occasions, being named Utica baseball's first-ever Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, in addition to a Second Team All-Empire 8 nod during his junior campaign.
KIWANIS AWARD
Kiwanis Award description: The Kiwanis Student-Athlete Award is given to the most outstanding male and female student-athletes based on their performance in the classroom, community involvement and athletic accomplishments.
Samantha Kogut | Women's Soccer | Kiwanis Award
Kogut has piloted the Pioneers' defense with great precision throughout her four years with the program while starting in all 70 of her program record games played, also setting the program record for minutes played with 5,782. 5,782 minutes equate to just over four complete days on the pitch, on which Kogut led some of the best defenses in program history. Kogut showcased her talent as a true student-athlete by earning second-team Empire 8 All-Conference honors this season, in addition to a CSC Academic All-District honor, which is awarded to athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom.
Spencer Borghardt | Men's Track & Field | Kiwanis Award
Borghardt had an amazing senior year, qualifying for the Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships, where he placed 11th and earned Second Team Division III All-American status. Spencer was also named a USTFCCCA Indoor Track and Field All-Region athlete during this past indoor season, and has spent many semesters on the Empire 8 Presidents' list, along with various other academic honor rolls across the Track and Field landscape. He finished his senior campaign ranked 28th in all of the NCAA Division III for the Hammer Throw, mere centimeters away from snagging a trip to the Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
