Campus News
May 20th, 2025
Yoder, Gonzalez claim top GC honors
Lakers announce 2024-25 awards at annual athletics banquet
Aiyana Yoder, center, is Garrett College's 2025 Female Athlete of the Year. Also pictured are GC co-athletic directors Eric Hallenbeck, left, and Elizabeth Show.
Brandyn Gonzalez, center, is Garrett College's 2025 Male Athlete of the Year. Also pictured are GC co-athletic directors Eric Hallenbeck, left, and Elizabeth Show.
Sophomore women's volleyball player Aiyana Yoder and sophomore baseball player Brandyn Gonzalez have been named Female and Male Athlete of the Year, respectively, for Garrett College.
Yoder and Gonzalez were honored at GC's April 28th athletics banquet. Yoder helped the women's volleyball team to a region quarterfinal berth just two years after the Lady Lakers went 0-18. Gonzalez, meanwhile, led the Lakers to a school-record 36 baseball wins.
Garrett College also announced a series of team-based awards as well as recognizing key faculty, contributors, and fans.
Women's Volleyball: Karen Cuellar and Paola Chirino shared Most Valuable Player honors while Eugenia Rosa earned the Coaches Award.
Women's Soccer: Nevaeh Hamborsky was named Most Valuable Player; Sydney Weeks and Allison Harrold shared the Coaches Award.
Men's Basketball: Gavin Jackson was selected as Most Valuable Player while Carmello Myles was named Freshman of the Year.
Women's Basketball: Manuela Perez de Castro was named Most Valuable Player; Da'Shai Morton-Hall won the Coaches Award.
Wrestling: Nicholas Anderson was named Most Outstanding Wrestler, and Camden Hull was selected for the Garrett Grit Award.
Baseball: Brandyn Gonzalez was named Most Valuable Player and Ethan Sebold was selected Pitcher of the Year. Easton Rhoten won the Coaches Award.
Softball: Rylee Bernard earned the Best Bat Award while Haylee Beard claimed the Golden Glove Award. The Coaches Award went to Liberty Sweitzer.
The Lakers also honored five program supporters in four categories:
Outstanding Faculty Member: Assistant Professor of Chemistry Joel Bostic.
Most Outstanding Contributor: Director of Admissions & Recruitment Melissa Wass, and Admissions Counselor Kelly Gold.
Laker Nation Loyal Fan: Keith Upchurch.
Laker Nation Volunteer: LeAnn Beachy.
GC's second-year women's soccer team reached the region semifinals and the Lady Laker women's volleyball squad reached the region quarterfinals two seasons after an 0-18 record.
The Lakers' men's basketball team went 21-9 on the way to the region quarterfinals while the women's basketball squad went 9-9 during a rebuilding season.
Garrett's baseball squad set a team record with 36 wins while GC restarted its softball program as a club team with the goal of returning to varsity action in 2026.
