SFSU honors student-athletes during annual Awards Banquet

Women’s volleyball wins Team of the Year for 2025-26

Daniel Archuleta, Staff Reporter • May 12, 2026

Gameday Management Coordinator Jamil Sheared prepares to announce the Men’s Athlete of the Year award at the annual Student-Athlete Awards Banquet in Annex 1 on May 11, 2026. (Eliza Arthur / Golden Gate Xpress)

The 2025-26 San Francisco State University athletics season came to an end on Monday evening during its annual Student-Athlete Awards Banquet in the Student Life Events Center at Annex 1.

Aidan Goodrich, a junior on the women’s volleyball team, was named Women’s Athlete of the Year. This season, Goodrich led the team with 4.2 points per set along with 3.67 kills per set. She earned a spot on the All-CCAA First Team, as well as making the CCAA All-Tournament Team where the Gators finished in second place.

“It’s such an honor, I feel like I’ve worked really hard these past few years,” Goodrich said. “Being surrounded by my amazing teammates and my amazing coaches, I couldn’t have done it without them and they prepared me so much for all the challenges I’ve gone through and all the good times, so I’m just super grateful.”

Wrestler Kydyn Lima took home the honors of Men’s Athlete of the Year following a strong end to his season on the mats. Lima finished in sixth place at the NCAA Division II National Championships, becoming an All-American. At 174 pounds, Lima became the first Gator in 15 years to earn the ranking. He was also named MPSF Wrestler of the Year and won the MPSF championship in his respective weight class.

Varsity award winners Tamiya Wilson and Brayden Concepcion receive their awards at the annual Student-Athlete Awards Banquet in Annex 1 on May 11, 2026. (Eliza Arthur / Golden Gate Xpress)

“It’s cool, but I think the experiences I went through to get to this point are what I really appreciate most,” Lima said. “I had no expectations because I don’t really like to compare myself to others.”

SFSU Athletics recognized outstanding student-athletes who played all four of their collegiate seasons as a Gator with the Varsity Award.

Tamiya Wilson took home the Women’s Varsity Award following a volleyball career that sees her now holding a school record of 1500 kills as well as second most aces with 146. In 2024, Wilson’s side made it to the NCAA Division II Championship Game and in the midst, she was named to the All-CCAA First Team from 2022-2024. This past season, Wilson also earned a spot on the All-CCAA Second Team.

Wilson praised head coach Matt Hoffman for getting the most out of her, crediting him for the awards she has gotten throughout her Gator career.

“It’s really cool, I was not expecting it at all,” Wilson said. “The fact that I’m being recognized for everything I’ve done and all the hard work I put in, it’s really great and I really appreciate it.”

Brayden Concepcion won the Men’s Varsity Award thanks to his efforts away from the wrestling mat. Concepcion was named an NWCA Scholar All-American the last three years, but his efforts go beyond the classroom. He has climbed up the ranks within the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in the last three years, serving as co-president alongside Kelsey Burrus during this past academic year. Concepcion has also become a fixture in the stands at many games spanning multiple teams.

“It’s a privilege and it’s an honor, I was not expecting it at all and I appreciate it,” Concepcion said. “A lot of the work I did I thought was unnoticed and I thought that people didn’t notice I was going to their games but I’m glad that [the department] saw that, and the athletes saw that as well.”

Athena Brombacher from the women’s basketball team was named Newcomer of the Year both by the school and her coach Moné Peoples. In her first season as a Gator, Brombacher started all 28 games for the Gators and led the team with 309 points scored, 166 rebounds and 44 steals.

Even with the accolades, Brombacher reflected on what the team was able to accomplish throughout the year.

“I’m most proud of how much the team grew over the season, I feel like none of this would be possible if we didn’t grow as players and come together,” Brombacher said.

As for next season, Brombacher is looking forward to her team building even more chemistry and is excited to improve following its 8-20 campaign.

SFSU athletics has been under the microscope over the past 16 months, following the cutting of three different sports teams, but it appears to be on a more stable trajectory. With his first semester as athletic director in the books, Brandon Davis expressed positivity amongst the entire athletic program and how it extended to other parts of the university.

“Just creating these opportunities for all the student-athletes, everyone was excited to be here and being able to recognize their accomplishments and help steward that with our staff, with other folks on campus,” Davis said. “There were quite a few people who showed up from across campus from other divisions to support us.”

Full List of 2025-26 SFSU Athlete Award Winners:

2025-26 Team of the Year – Women’s Volleyball

Women’s Athlete of the Year – Aidan Goodrich (Volleyball)

Male Athlete of the Year – Kydyn Lima (Wrestling)

Arete Award – Shaunessy Cardwell (Softball)

CCAA Hal Charnofsky Women’s Award – Ashley Rocha (Softball)

CCAA Hal Charnofsky Men’s Award – Milandev Chatha (Basketball)

Women’s Varsity Award – Tamiya Wilson (Volleyball)

Men’s Varsity Award – Brayden Concepcion (Wrestling)

Women’s Newcomer of the Year – Athena Brombacher (Basketball)

Men’s Newcomer of the Year – Caleb Bouwens (Track & Field / Cross Country)

Men’s Freshman of the Year – Miles Pollard (Basketball)

Women’s Freshman of the Year – Melanie Hewlett (volleyball)

Women’s Soccer:

Defensive MVP – Journey Hett

Offensive MVP – Kiralyn Kuramoto

Golden Gator – Natalia Maciel

Women’s Volleyball:

Freshman of the Year – Melanie Hewlett

Golden Gators – Drew deGuzman, Tamiya Wilson

Men’s Cross Country:

John Moreno Award – Caleb Bouwens

Golden Gator – Dominic Clima

Women’s Cross Country:

Jodi Dailey Award – Raven Nieto

Golden Gator – Julia Pioroda

Women’s Basketball:

Freshman of the Year – Samantha Myhr

Newcomer of the Year – Athena Brombacher

Golden Gator – Geriah Bradley

Men’s Basketball:

Most Improved – Evan McKnight

Toughness Award – Bricen Buciak

Golden Gator – Markees Williams

Wrestling:

Outstanding Leadership – Kyle Botelho

Most Valuable Wrestler – Kydyn Lima

Golden Gator – Basil Othman

Men’s Track & Field:

Mancathlelon Champions – Caleb Bouwens, Muhamad Izaan, Muhamad Imtiaaz

Track Athlete of the Year – Jesus Aguilar

Golden Gator – Ty McCormick

Women’s Track & Field:

Shecathelon Champion – Anika Pettinger

Track Athlete of the Year – Raven Nieto

Golden Gator – Steevie Ruiz

Softball:

Defensive MVP – Shaunessy Cardwell

Offensive MVP – Ashley Rocha

Golden Gator – Marissa Jordan

About the Contributors

Daniel Archuleta, Staff Reporter

Daniel Archuleta (he/him) is a staff reporter for Golden Gate Xpress. He is a fourth-year student majoring in journalism with a minor in recreation, parks and tourism. Daniel was born and raised in South San Francisco, California, and started his writing career for The Warrior Post, the student newspaper for South San Francisco High School. Before transferring to San Francisco State University, Daniel was a part of The Skyline View, the student newspaper of Skyline College, a community college in San Bruno. In that time, he served as a sports editor and two semesters as the editor-in-chief. Daniel Archuleta (el, de él) es un reportero para el Golden Gate Xpress. Está en su cuarto año estudiando periodismo con una especialización en turismo, parques y recreación. Daniel nació y creció en South San Francisco, California, y empezó su carrera como escritor en el periódico estudiantil de su secundaria llamado The Warrior Post. Antes de transferir a la Universidad Estatal de San Francisco, Daniel fue parte de The Skyline View, el periódico estudiantil de un colegio comunitario en San Bruno, Skyline College. En ese tiempo sirvió como editor de deportes y sirvió dos semestres como jefe de redacción.

Eliza Arthur, Staff Photographer

Eliza Arthur (she/her) is a staff photographer for Golden Gate Xpress and Xpress magazine. She is majoring in photojournalism and double minoring in marketing and Africana studies at SFSU. She is passionate about photographing people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and people who aren’t highlighted in mainstream media. In her free time, Eliza enjoys baking and collecting vinyl records. Eliza Arthur (ella, de ella) es una fotógrafa para el Golden Gate Xpress y Xpress Magazine. Ella está estudiando fotoperiodismo con una especialización en mercadotecnia y estudios de la diáspora africana en SFSU. Tiene una passion por fotografiar personas de color, la communidad LGBTQ+ y las personas que no aparecen en los medios principales. En su tiempo libre, Eliza disfruta de hornear y coleccionar discos de vinilo.