Celebrating Greatness: Westcliff University’s 2025 Athletics Banquet
The 2025 Westcliff Athletics Banquet was a night of celebration, camaraderie, and recognition—a fitting tribute to a year marked by incredible achievements both on and off the field. The entire athletics department, along with all 13 teams, gathered for an evening of Warrior pride, swapping jerseys for dresses and suits as coaches served up food, desserts, and plenty of good vibes.
Dean of Athletics Shawn Harris kicked off the night with heartfelt gratitude for the student-athletes and the staff behind the scenes. He highlighted not only the championship wins but also the academic excellence Westcliff athletes consistently demonstrate. He also spoke of the incredible growth over the past six years, since Westcliff Athletics began.
“If we had hosted this banquet six years ago, we would’ve filled about two tables. Now, we have an entire banquet hall packed with athletes, coaches, trainers, staff—and a whole lot of championship trophies.” He gave special thanks to his team and a well-deserved shoutout to Associate Athletics Director Katie Rouse for producing the entire event.
Academic Excellence
Awards flowed throughout the night, with many athletes being honored for academic success—
those who maintained a 3.5 GPA or higher. The Westcliff Softball team earned the Academic Team of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
The coveted Newcomer of the Year award was too close to call, resulting in a tie between two outstanding first-year athletes.
- Jordyn Gather of women’s soccer helped lead her team to an historic 12-1-3 season, going undefeated in the regular season, capturing the Cal-Pac Championship, and reaching the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in program history.
- Taylor Stacey of Westcliff Surf turned heads all year long, helping her team earn top 5 finishes in every event, including three 2nd-place and a 1st-place finish at NSSA competitions—beating out D1 powerhouses like USC and UCLA. She also captured the State Championship, punching her ticket to Nationals alongside teammate and Male Athlete of the Year nominee Jordy Collins.
Coaching Greatness
The Coach of the Year race was tight, especially with strong contenders like Coach Eric of Westcliff Cheer, who led his team to a national title in Daytona, Florida, and surf coach Lucas Taub, a Westcliff alum and former Westcliff surfing athlete who elevated his team to new heights in his first year at the helm.
But the honor ultimately went to Coach Jack Gidney of women’s soccer, who guided his team to unprecedented success. Gidney also took home the Excellence in Media Award, thanks to his charismatic presence and tireless effort in showcasing his team to the world—British charm and all. The women’s soccer Team also took home Game of the Year for their thrilling championship win over nationally ranked UC Merced.
The Heart of the Program
The Warrior Spirit Award went to the one and only Katie Rouse—described by many as the glue that holds Westcliff Athletics together. A true jack-of-all-trades, Katie has been instrumental in the program’s rapid growth since joining forces with Shawn Harris six years ago. Her unwavering commitment perfectly embodies what it means to be a Warrior.
The Warrior of the Year award, another impossible category to narrow to one, was awarded to two deeply deserving leaders:
- Janis Hinterleitner (men’s soccer), a senior captain from Germany and the program’s all-time leader in games played (70).
- Gabriel Pizza (men’s volleyball), a Brazilian standout and Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) co-leader who helped steer his team to a 17-5 record and a trip to the Cal-Pac Championship match.
Team and Individual Glory
Taking home Team of the Year honors was the Westcliff Cheer team, fresh off a jaw-dropping national championship win. Their unity, energy, and spirit were evident as they celebrated alongside their new trophy which might just be the biggest one in the Westcliff cabinet.
As the evening drew to a close, two of the highest honors were announced:
- Male Athlete of the Year: Jordan Di Lonordo, a junior midfielder for men’s soccer who was honored with the Cal-Pac offensive player of the year award is also the leading scorer who holds the school record for most game-winning goals (8). The Swiss playmaker captivated crowds and made it clear why they call it “the beautiful game.”
- Female Athlete of the Year: Berlyn Davis, a freshman wrestling phenom who made Westcliff history by earning the university’s first-ever automatic NAIA national tournament bid. “She made history,” said Head Coach D’Rell Gist. Davis even took down the No. 13-ranked wrestler in the country and is already being called one to watch.
A Culture of Champions
As the last award was handed out and the final group photo snapped, athletes from all sports mingled, laughed, reminisced, and made plans for the summer and beyond. The night wasn’t just about wins—it was about culture. The kind of culture where everyone belongs, where hard work is celebrated, and where the Warrior spirit thrives.
Westcliff Athletics continues to prove that it’s not just about the trophies—though there are many—but about the journey, the growth, and the people who make it all possible.
Here’s to another year of making history. Go Warriors!
Full List of Winners:
Male Athlete of the Year – Jordan Di Lonardo – MSOC
Female Athlete of the Year – Berlyn Davis – WWREST
Warrior of the Year – Janis Hinterleitner (MSOC) & Gabriel Pizza (MVB)
Newcomer of the Year – Jordyn Gather (WSOC) & Taylor Stacy (SURF)
Team of the Year – Cheer
Game of the Year – WSOC – Cal Pac Final 1-0 win goal scored in the 88th minute
Coach of the Year – WSOC – Jack Gidney
Dr. McKinney DEI Award – Rachel Nieto
Warrior Spirit Award – Katie Rouse
Academic Team of the Year – Softball
Building Greatness Award – Lindsey Bryson
No White Towels Award – Brianna Rhodes
Iron Warriors Award:
- Micaiah Hankins (MBB)
- Samuel Chew (Cheer)
- Paulina Fort-Quizan (Cheer)
- Samm Carelock (WVB)
Sports Medicine Award:
- Nick Fratantoni (BB)
- Fernanda Canedo (WWREST)
- Janis Hinterleitner (MSOC)
- Airilin Ramirez (SB)
Excellence in Media Award – WSOC Jack Gidney
Warriors in the Community – WSOC – Isa Covarrubias