EL PASO, Texas – UTEP student-athletes and teams came together to celebrate and look back upon their achievements from the past year at the eighth-annual Golden Pick Awards, sponsored by the Robbins Family, at the Don Haskins Center on Monday. A list of the major award winners and a summation of their accomplishments follows below.
 
The Robbins family, including Dede, her sister Rachel, and their parents, Louis and Marie, have been lifelong supporters of UTEP Athletics.
 
Men's Athlete of the Year – Dylan Teeter, Men's Golf
Teeter earned All-CUSA accolades in 2025 for the second straight year with a squad-leading stroke average of 71.9. He continued to excel this year, earning a single-season school record four CUSA Men's Golfer of the Week awards. He boasted a team-best 70.3 stroke average, and he garnered six top-10 finishes on the way to leading the Miners to runner-up honors at the CUSA Championships for a third consecutive campaign. Teeter was named to the CUSA All-Tournament team. Among those was sharing second place at the Whirlwind Invite with a -14 202 (67-68-67).
 
Women's Athlete of the Year – Torrance Lovesee, Volleyball
Lovesee earned All-CUSA first-team honors and AVCA All-Region accolades after helping the Miners enjoy a historic season. UTEP finished at 25-5 overall, including 15-1 in CUSA play to win the first regular-season league championship in program history, while also securing a second straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. She registered a team-leading 324 kills (3.21 kills/set-ninth CUSA) on the way to surpassing 1,000 career kills to finish her time in the Sun City fifth at the school. She started all 30 matches and played in all 101 sets.
 
Team of the Year – Volleyball
The Miners provided yet another historic season that culminated with their second straight NCAA Tournament at-large berth. UTEP, which finished 25-5, compiled an astounding mark of 15-1 in CUSA play (0.9375 W% - school record) to capture the first regular-season league championship in program history. Along the way, the Orange and Blue halted WKU's 100-match CUSA regular-season winning streak. Ben Wallis was named the league's Coach of the Year. Torrance Lovesee, Sara Pushtahija and Danika Washington landed on the All-CUSA first team while Kalia Kohler and Kaya Weaver secured a spot on the All-League second team.
 
Coach of the Year – Ben Wallis, Volleyball
Wallis was named the CUSA Coach of the Year after guiding the Miners to another historic season that resulted in their second consecutive NCAA Tournament at-large berth. UTEP went 25-5, won its first regular-season league championship (15-1, 0.9375 W% - school record) and stopped WKU's 100-match conference winning streak. Torrance Lovesee, Sara Pushtahija and Danika Washington (first team) and Kalia Kohler and Kaya Weaver (second team) garnered postseason awards. UTEP finished among the top-50 nationally for winning percentage (83.3-11th), hitting percentage (.291-11th), aces per set (1.83-24th), assists per set (12.83-29th), kills per set (13.69-32nd), opponent hitting percentage (.179-34th) and blocks per set (2.51-36th).
 
Moment of the Year – Kameron Wells Shoots A Perfect 600 In Air Rifle
Wells turned in a performance for the ages with a school record and perfect score of 600 in the air rifle in a quad match at Ohio State on Nov. 8. She became the first Miner in school history to register a 600, doing so in ridiculous fashion. Wells etched 54 center target shots (10.9) on the way to a historic score. She finished the day with an overall career-high aggregate of 1180 (600-58) to place second overall among all competitors at the event.
 
Best Comeback – Volleyball
The Miners endured the loss of four key players to season-ending injuries to put together a campaign for the ages in 2025. UTEP compiled a sensational record of 25-5, including 15-1 (93.75% win percentage-program record) in league play, to capture the program's first regular-season title. Along the way, the Orange and Blue halted WKU's 100-match CUSA regular-season winning streak to eventually secure an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
 
Women's Newcomer of the Year – Blanca Yrizar, Women's Golf
A true freshman who burst onto the scene, Yrizar recorded a team-best 74.3 stroke average while competing in all 10 tournaments of the season. She was the top UTEP finisher in five of those events while boasting a squad-most two top-10 showings. Those were achieved in consecutive tournaments and secured a CUSA Women's Co-Golfer of the Week. She also helped lead the team to the title at the BGSU Intercollegiate Invite (2/10-11/26). That was the program's first crown in seven years (won 2019 Wyoming Cowgirl Classic).
 
Men's Newcomer of the Year – Marc Keller, Men's Golf
Keller, a UCF transfer, ingratiated himself into the program with ease, locking in a spot in the lineup. He registered a scoring average of 72.9, serving as the top finisher for the Miners on a trio of occasions while also securing one top-10 showing. That came when he fired a 10-under par 206 (70-66-70) to garner a share of seventh place at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational (9/29-30/25). The readout of 206 was a career low, aided by a personal best 6-under par 66 during a sensational second round effort.
 
Jon Dorenbos Lifetime Achievement Award – Rachel Schaeffer
Schaeffer, who was a standout for the softball program, has dedicated her life to making a difference both on and off the field. After earning her degree from UTEP and completing her doctorate in physical therapy, she built a successful professional career while continuing to serve and uplift those around her. Perhaps her greatest impact has come through her courage and compassion. As a two-time ovarian cancer survivor, Schaeffer turned her personal journey into a mission to help others by raising funds for the T.E.A.L. Fund for Hope. That work provides education, awareness, and financial support for women battling gynecologic cancers throughout the El Paso community. Her strength, selflessness, and commitment to helping others embody what it means to be a Miner and serve as an inspiration to current and future student-athletes.
 
Thomas Howard Walk-On Student-Athlete Award – Aaliyah Davis, Women's Basketball and Jaime Guerrero, Football
Davis is a proud El Paso native. She embodies dedication and perseverance as a walk-on for the Miners. A two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll selection, she appeared in 12 games on the year while bringing energy, professionalism, and a team-first mentality to the program. Guerrero is a mechanical engineering major and has balanced success on the field and in the classroom, maintaining a 3.30 GPA while competing in 20 contests over the past two seasons for the Miners.
 
Dr. Louis Robbins Award for Academic Excellence (Top Senior GPA) – Sebastian Avena, Track & Field and Halle Hogan, Softball
Avena is in his second year of competing with the Miners and is finishing his biomedical science degree in the summer with a 4.0 GPA. He is a 2025 All-Conference USA First Team in the Distance Medley Relay, a two-time CUSA Academic Medalist and a two-time CUSA commissioner's honor roll. Hogan is in her third year with the Miners and will be completing her degree in kinesiology with a 3.92 GPA. Halle is a three-time CUSA academic medalist, three-time CUSA commissioner's honor roll, two-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete of the year award winner and a member of the 2025 CSC Academic All-District Team.
 
Community Service Award – Beach Volleyball
The beach volleyball program amassed 333 community service hours on the year (almost 18 hours per athlete).
 
Team GPA – Women's Golf
The women's golf team has the top GPA for all Miner programs, sporting a combined 3.76 GPA.
 
Team MVPs/Department Student Worker of the Year
Broadcasting– Andrew Roman
Men's Cross Country – Andres Gurrola
Women's Cross Country – Salma Licon
Men's Basketball – Jamal West Jr.   
Women's Basketball – Portia Adams
Beach Volleyball – Krista Paegle
Cheer – Zander Nunn and Genevieve Gomez
Creative Services – Briahnna Mercado
Dance – Venney Ceballos
Digital Strategies – Christina Guerra
Football – Jayden Wilson
Men's Golf – Dylan Teeter
Women's Golf – Blanca Yrizar
Marketing – Gabriella Folden
Miner Vision – Luisa Torres
Rifle – Kameron Wells
Soccer – Kaila Hudson
Softball – Iliana Munoz
Sports Medicine – Desiree Zaragua
Men's Strength and Conditioning – Kode Lowe, Football
Women's Strength and Conditioning – Ivane Tensaie, Women's Basketball 
Men's Indoor Track & Field – Elias Munoz
2025 Men's Outdoor Track & Field – Jordani Woodley
Women's Indoor Track & Field – Praise Djoma
2025 Women's Outdoor Track & Field – Marissa Simpson
Volleyball – Sara Pustahija
 

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