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UTEP Miners
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Forty Past and Present UTEP Student-Graduates Set to Graduate This Weekend

5/10/2022 4:36:00 PM


EL PASO – Forty past and present Miner student-athletes will earn their degrees from The University of Texas at El Paso this weekend.
 
The UTEP football program leads the way with 11 graduates, followed by soccer with seven, men's basketball with four, softball with four, track and field with four and volleyball with four.  Men's golf and tennis have two graduates each, while women's basketball and women's golf have one apiece.
 
UTEP's graduates hail from a total of 10 countries – Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Kenya, Norway, Seychelles, the United Kingdom and the United States.
 
Of the 40 graduating student-athletes, 29 have earned placement on the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (minimum 3.0 GPA) during their careers, while 13 have been recipients of C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medals (minimum 3.75 GPA).
 
Biographies follow on UTEP's May 2022 graduating student-athletes.
 
May 2022 UTEP Graduating Student-Athletes
 
Christian Agnew (Men's Basketball)
Detroit, Mich.
Appeared in 48 games, including making nine starts, in his two seasons with the Miners … averaged 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while also making an impact with his high-energy play on the defensive side of the ball …  Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Ned Azemia (Men's Track & Field)
Victoria, Seychelles
Has competed in over 20 events since coming to UTEP for the 2021 season … earned a gold medal at the 2021 C-USA Outdoor Championships with the 4x400 relay team … recently ran a PR in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 51.31 at the Desert Heat Classic … competed for his home country of Seychelles in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo last summer … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Gavin Baechle (Football)
McKinney, Texas
Has served as UTEP's primary kicker over the last three seasons with one year of eligibility remaining in 2022 … has converted 36-of-49 field goals and 79-of-80 PATs in a Miner uniform, while also kicking off 187 times … ranks first in school history in PAT percentage, fifth in field goal percentage, sixth in field goals and seventh in PATs and kicking points … two-time honorable mention All-Conference USA … three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Computer Science major.
 
Dennis Barnes (Football)
Jefferson City, Mo.
Has played in 19 games in two seasons with the Miners with one season of eligibility remaining this fall … tallied 81 stops in his career … earned All-Conference USA honorable mention after leading all UTEP DB's with 59 tackles in 2021 … added a pair of interceptions, three pass break ups and a forced fumble during the Miners' New Mexico Bowl run … tallied seven tackles on a pair of occasions … picked off passes against Bethune-Cookman and at Southern Miss … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Victoria Bohdan (Soccer)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Started 47 of the 65 games that she played in during her collegiate career … netted 16 goals and nine assists while taking 64 shots on goal … picked up three game-winners during her time at UTEP … 2017 second team All-Conference USA selection … named to the 2017 Conference USA All-Freshman Team … four-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll … two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medalist … Nursing major.
 
Pate Cathey (Softball)
Frisco, Texas
Leads the team in runs batted in (24) and doubles (nine) this season while batting .271 with four home runs … four-year starter for the Miners with a career batting average of .276 and 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 65 RBI … drove in a career-high five runs versus Montana in 2021 and UIW in 2022 … named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2019 … four-year member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and three-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … Kinesiology major.
 
Devin Cockrell (Football)
Port Arthur, Texas
Posted 247 tackles, 14.5 tackles for losses, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries during his UTEP career from 2013-17 … picked up his career-high 10 tackles along with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the Miners' five-overtime win at UTSA during the 2016 season … two-time honorable mention All-Conference USA performer … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Cameron Cooper (Football)
Aurora, Colo.
Played in one game on the offensive line in UTEP's road win at ULM on Sept. 26, 2020 … named to Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2020 and 2021 … General Business major.
 
Karoline Daland (Women's Track & Field)
Grimstad, Norway
Recently broke the school record in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase, clocking in at 10:29.99 at the Desert Heat Classic … set PR's in the 1500, indoor 3000, 5000 and indoor mile during the 2022 season … part of the 2019 Conference USA Indoor Championship team … earned 2022 All-C-USA Indoor Third Team honors in the 3000 … part of the 2018 C-USA Cross Country Championship team … named cross country All-Conference second team twice … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor roll … Management major.
 
Danny Daniels (Men's Golf)
Cheshunt, United Kingdom
Played in 13 tournaments during career at UTEP … competed in eight events during the 2021-22 season … shot 3-over par at the 2022 Conference USA Championship … finished as the top Miner at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate, after shooting a season-low 217 in 2021 … a 2021 C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medalist … two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll … Management major.
 
Gilles Dekoninck (Men's Basketball)
Diest, Belgium
Played in 32 games off the bench in three seasons with the Orange and Blue … chipped in 2.0 ppg and 1.1 rpg in 7.3 mpg during 20 appearances in the 2018-19 season … fourteen of his 17 made field goals were 3-pointers … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Marketing major.
 
Tucker Dunbar (Football)
Folsom, Calif.
Offensive lineman did not see action in 2020 … a 2021 Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medalist … named to C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Sky Estrada (Softball)
El Paso, Texas
Has appeared in 25 games for her hometown Miners over the last four seasons … made her first career start as a freshman at NM State in 2019, scoring a run versus the Aggies … also collected her first career RBI that year against another arch-rival, the New Mexico Lobos … four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and one-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … Rehabilitation Science major.
 
Kam Fisher (Soccer)
Chandler, Ariz.
Played in 56 games, including 36 starts during her career … scored one goal with seven assists … led the team with three assists during the 2020 and 2021 seasons … lone career goal was the game-winner in the 79th minute in a 2-1 victory over Texas State … Criminal Justice major.
 
Kristen Fritsche (Volleyball)
Torrance, Calif.
Has played in 103 matches for UTEP, collecting 2,443 assists, 84 service aces and 741 digs … led the Miners in assists in three separate seasons, including the history-making 2021 campaign … ranked second in Conference USA in service aces with 37 this past season, including six versus Portland State … named UTEP's Volleyball MVP at the 2021 Golden Pick Awards … four-time member of C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and three-time recipient of a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … Health Promotions major.
 
Chardonnae Harvey (Soccer)
Forney, Texas
A four-year participant for the Miners who played in 39 games with 17 starts … became a regular member of the starting lineup last season, starting 14 of the 15 contests that she appeared in, logging a career-high 619 minutes of action … registered three shots on frame during her career … a four-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Health Promotions major.
 
Alfred Hollins (Men's Basketball)
San Francisco, Calif.
Transfer from Oregon State who made an impact in his only season with the Miners in 2021-22 … played in 33 games, including five starts, while averaging 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds … his most notable moment was when he tipped in a shot at the buzzer to lift UTEP over Florida Atlantic on a play that earned the No.3 spot on SportsCenter's Top-10 … earned placement on the 2022 C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Verenzo Holmes (Football)
Augusta, Ga.
Played during UTEP's win at rival NM State in 2021 … appeared in two games in 2020 … a two-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Kenidy Howard (Volleyball)
Frisco, Texas
Appeared in 68 matches for the Miners over three seasons … collected 320 kills and 215 blocks … led the Miners in blocks in 2020 and tied for second on the team in that category in 2021 … posted career-high 13 kills at UTSA in 2021 and career-high nine blocks versus UIW in 2019 … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Jalen Joseph (Football)
El Paso, Texas
Recipient of the Thomas Howard Walk-On Student-Athlete Award at the 2022 Golden Pick Awards … appeared in eight games during the Miners' bowl run in 2021 … rushed for 11 yards on three attempts at Boise State, including a long run of five yards … a three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.
 
Keonte Kennedy (Men's Basketball)
Austin, Texas
Two-year starter who appeared in 43 games for the Miners … averaged 11 points, six rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals during his career … put up his biggest numbers in 2021-22, leading the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and steals (1.8 spg) while ranking third in scoring (14.1 ppg) and minutes per game (33.4) … hit double figures in scoring in 15 of his 19 contests in '21-22, including the final 12 games … three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and two-time recipient of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic medal … Finance major.
 
Idalis Mendez (Softball)
Horizon City, Texas
Named UTEP's softball MVP at the 2021 Golden Pick Awards … became only the fourth Miner to hit .400 during the 2021 season, finishing with a .410 average … also led UTEP with a .357 batting average in 2020 … has hit .391 in her career with a .482 on-base percentage … missed the 2022 season due to a knee injury but rehabbing for a return to the field in 2023 … received a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2022 and a three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Kinesiology major.
 
Sarah Mwangi (Women's Track & Field)
Eldoret, Kenya
Competed in five meets during the 2018 indoor season … ran a career-best 10:13.49 in the 3000m at the 2018 Conference USA Indoor Championships … secured silver in the 3000m at the MLK Collegiate … a two-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Nursing major.
 
Jojo Ngongo (Soccer)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
A four-year contributor for the Miners who played in 54 games with 35 starts … scored 12 goals with nine assists … accumulated 25 shots on goal and six game-winners … led the team with four goals during her final collegiate campaign … 2018 Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection … two-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Criminal Justice major.
 
Ayana Noel (Soccer)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Saw action in 44 career matches with eight starts … scored two goals with three assists in four years with the Miners … took 11 shots on frame … named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2022 … Criminal Justice major.
 
Misael Ortiz (Men's Track & Field)
El Paso, Texas
Has competed in the shot put, discus, hammer throw and weight throw during career at UTEP … recently set a PR in the hammer throw, posting a mark of 167 feet at the Desert Heat Classic … hurled a personal-best 50-feet, 8.75 inches in the shot put at the 2022 Sun Angel Classic … recorded a PR 56-feet, 8.5 inches in the weight throw at the 2022 New Mexico Open … notched a PR 140-feet, five inches in the discus at the 2021 Desert Heat … a three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Criminal Justice major.
 
Emily Parrott (Soccer)
Frisco, Texas
Served as the primary keeper at UTEP for two seasons … started 30 games … racked up over 2,800 minutes in net … limited opponents to a 1.52 goals against average while making 120 saves … posted a .714 save percentage … finished with eight shutouts … led Conference USA in saves per game and total saves as a sophomore … three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … three-time C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medalist … 2020-21 C-USA Spirit of Service Award Winner … International Business major.
 
Kathleen Percegona (Tennis)
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Compiled 55 total wins, racking up 23 victories in singles and 32 in doubles during her career with the Miners … set personal bests for both singles (10) and doubles (16) wins during the 2021-22 season … named UTEP's Female Strength and Conditioning MVP at the 2022 Golden Pick Awards … three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and three-time recipient of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … Finance major.
 
Ilena Santos (Softball)
Tucson, Ariz.
Played in 155 games for the UTEP softball team from 2018-22, batting .267 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 53 runs batted in … ranked second on the team with a .301 batting average in 2021 … team leader with eight home runs and 24 RBI during the 2020 campaign, batting .345 … hit two home runs versus Omaha during the 2020 season … five-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Management major.
 
Serena Patterson (Volleyball)
Red Oak, Texas
Named UTEP's Female Athlete of the Year at the 2022 Golden Pick Awards … MVP of the history-making 2021 Miner volleyball squad, leading the team with 367 kills … named first team All-Conference USA in 2021 and second team All-League in 2020 … has appeared in 100 matches for UTEP, totaling 966 kills, 72 aces, 662 digs and 143 blocks … posted her career-high 25 kills at Southern Miss in 2021 … named the Female Strength and Conditioning MVP at the 2021 Golden Pick Awards … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Paulina Perez Rosas (Volleyball)
Guanica, Puerto Rico
Ranked second on the UTEP team with 304 kills during the record-setting 2021 season … in two seasons with the Miners, tallied 449 kills and 441 digs … recipient of the Dr. Louis Robbins Award for Academic Excellence at the 2022 Golden Pick Awards, presented to the senior with the best grade point average … she entered the spring semester with a 3.94 GPA … two-time recipient of a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal … named to the C-USA All-Academic Volleyball Team in both 2020 and 2021 … Kinesiology major.
 
Justin Prince (Football)
Inglewood, Calif.
Has posted 82 tackles in 19 career games … started all eight games during the 2020 season, leading all UTEP DB's with 37 stops … added three tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery … earned 2020 Honorable Mention All-Conference USA … posted 18 tackles in 2021 before an injury sidelined him … forced a fumble at NM State … posted a career-high 10 tackles at Texas Tech in 2019 … matched that number with 10 more against Nevada a week later … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Lina Sachica (Tennis)
Bogota, Colombia
Three-year letter winner for UTEP who tallied 46 combined wins … registered 26 triumphs in singles action and 20 in doubles … compiled her most singles victories in a season in 2021-22 with 13 … earned placement on the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in all three years of her career … Accounting major.
 
Taylor Stone (Women's Golf)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Competed in nine tournaments during her career … posted a low round of 74 at the Texas State Invitational in February of 2018 … her low score for a tournament was 234 at the Fresno State Classic in April of 2019 … has been an invaluable member of the UTEP athletic department staff for the last year, working with the Life Skills department … four-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medalist in 2018 … Accounting major.
 
Jadrian Taylor (Football)
Lufkin, Texas
Has played in 20 games during career at UTEP … still has one year of eligibility remaining in 2022 … started all 13 games at defensive end during the Miners' bowl run in 2021 … led the Miners with 6.5 sacks … added 33 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, a breakup and eight QB hurries … earned 2021 honorable mention All-Conference USA … harassed LA Tech QB's for a career-high 3.5 sacks … posted two QB sacks at Southern Miss … recorded a career-high six stops versus LA Tech and six more at UAB … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Trent Thompson (Football)
Houston, Texas
Has played in 45 games with 19 starts during career at UTEP … recorded 222 yards on 14 receptions with four touchdowns during career … tallied career highs in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (133) and four scores during the 2021 season with 10 starting assignments … registered a career-long 51-yard touchdown against Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl … scored two touchdowns versus the Bulldogs … a four-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … Accounting major.
 
Maryia Vasileuka (Women's Basketball)
Grodno, Belarus
Saw action in two games in her lone season with the Miners in 2021-22 … played 29 minutes and made three field goals, including a three-pointer … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Hayley Vaughan (Soccer)
Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Took the field for 45 games for the Miners with nine starts … scored one goal and added one assist … registered four shots on goal … helped lead a defense that picked up seven shutouts in 2019 … connected on 85 percent of passes in 2020 … converted on 72 percent of passes in 2021 … four-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medalist … Psychology major.
 
Deylon Williams (Football)
Smyrna, Tenn.
Has played in 20 career games … played in all 13 games during the Miners' New Mexico Bowl run … totaled 22 stops his during career with a season of eligibility remaining in 2022 … has also tallied 14 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a QB sack … posted a sack at NM State … tallied three stops at Florida Atlantic … Multidisciplinary Studies major.
 
Greg Yellin (Men's Golf)
El Paso, Texas
Named UTEP's Men's Golf MVP at the 2022 Golden Pick Awards … has played in 25 tournaments during his career, achieving a 73.9 scoring average … was UTEP's top finisher four times in 10 tournaments this season, including a pair of top-10 showings … took fourth place at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invite … tied for seventh at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic … tied for 13th at the 2022 Conference USA Championship … a three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll … General Business major.
 
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