Student-Athletes Celebrated at Annual Roary Awards Banquet
ADA, Okla. – The East Central University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in partnership with the East Central University Athletic Department, hosted the annual Roary Awards Banquet on the evening of May 4 at the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center. ECU student-athletes arrived dressed to impress, making their way down the signature orange carpet before enjoying an evening dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and memorable moments of the 2025–26 athletic season.
The evening began with a warm welcome from ECU Athletic Director
Matt Cole, followed by remarks from ECU President Wendell Godwin, who offered words of encouragement and congratulations to the student-athletes and coaches in attendance. SAAC President
Lindsey Mauppin also addressed the crowd, expressing gratitude to everyone who helped make the event possible and recognizing the continued support shown throughout the year.
The banquet highlighted the success of ECU Athletics through the presentation of 78 awards, recognizing student-athletes, teams, coaches, and faculty and staff members for their excellence in competition, achievements in the classroom, and outstanding contributions to ECU Athletics during the 2025–26 season.
2025-26 Roary Awards:
Honors Program:
Kinesiology:
Soccer:
Football:
Volleyball:
Women's Cross Country:
Men's Cross Country:
Women's Basketball:
Men's Basketball:
Baseball:
Softball:
Women's Golf:
Men's Golf:
Women's Track & Field:
Men's Track & Field:
Cheer:
Powerlifting:
Esports:
Strength & Conditioning:
SAAC Awards:
- College of Health and Sciences Faculty Award – Dr. Andrew Duncan
- College of Education and Psychology Faculty Award – Dr. Beau Leaf
- College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Faculty Award – Clinton Wright
- Stonecipher School of Business Faculty Award – Dr. Stacy Bolin
- Coach of the Year – Head Coach Daniel Wheeler
- Assistant Coach of the Year – Coach Grant Duncan
- Team of the Year – Men's Cross Country
- Comeback of the Year – Men's Basketball
- Highlight of the Year – Gabriel Ogura, Game winning 24-yard field goal
- Tiger Tough – Makaiah Carlson
Athletes of the Year:
- Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Seth Spady (Football)
- Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Makenzy Herman (Women's Basketball)
- Male Student-Athlete of the Year – Tyler Akers (Football / Baseball)
- Female Student-Athlete of the Year – Winnie Kipsang (Women's XC / T&F)
