Click here to view previous GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipients
GLIAC – The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced the recipients of the Fall 2022 Commissioner’s Awards, presented by Meijer, Inc. The awards are bestowed after the fall, winter and spring athletic seasons to six female and six male student-athletes of junior, senior or graduate student status that excel both in the classroom and in competition. All grade-point averages are based on a 4.0 scale.
The six female student-athletes recipients are:
• Carissa Beyer, Michigan Tech
• Hayley Kreiger, Davenport
• Nikki May, Ferris State
• Klaudia O'Malley, Grand Valley State
• Taylor Reid, Grand Valley State
• Isabella Zamborini, Ferris State
The six male student-athletes recipients are:
• Ransom Allen, Wayne State
• Colton Hyble, Grand Valley State
• Joel Linden, Grand Valley State
• Olalere Oladipo, Ferris State
• Clayton Sayen, Michigan Tech
• Marc Sippel, Michigan Tech
Carissa Beyer • Michigan Tech • Volleyball • Senior • Appleton, Wis. • 3.54 GPA • Finance
Michigan Tech libero/defensive specialist Carissa Beyer received her first GLIAC Commissioner’s Award. The senior from Appleton, Wisconsin was named to the All-GLIAC First Team in 2022 after ranking second in the GLIAC in digs per set (5.12) which was a new Michigan Tech record. She also broke the school record for digs per set in a career (4.73). Beyer was twice the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week while also being named to the Midwest Region Crossover All-Tournament Team and Otter Invitational All-Tournament Team. She had a 4.0 in the fall semester and was twice named to the GLIAC Academic All-Excellence Team. |
Hayley Kreiger • Davenport • Volleyball • Graduate Student • South Haven, Mich. • 4.00 GPA • Business
Hayley Kreiger had a storybook season for the Panthers who finished with a 22-9 record in 2022. She became the first women's volleyball player to be named College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-America. In addition, the graduate student outside hitter was also named a First Team All-American by the DII Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and Second Team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Kreiger is the fourth All-American in program history (Hannah Stone, Marcey DeHaan, Amber Getty), but first at the NCAA Division II level. The prolific attacker is also the first player in DU history to be named an All-American by three different organizations. With her 1,000th career dig in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals against Grand Valley State, Kreiger became just the second player in program history (Krissy Dill) with 1,000 or more kills and 1,000 or more digs. She finished second in all of NCAA Division II in kills and eighth across all Divisions with 575 despite playing just one postseason match. For just NCAA Division II, she's was second in total attacks (1,554), second in attacks per set (13.28), second in kills per set (4.91), and fourth in points per set (5.53). |
Nikki May • Ferris State • Soccer • Senior • Brownstown, Mich. • 3.63 GPA • Elementary Education
Ferris State University senior back Nikki May helped captain the Bulldogs to the program's first-ever NCAA National Semifinal appearance this past fall. The three-year letterwinner produced 13 points, which ranked second among the team leaders, on five goals and three assists with two game winners. Despite changing positions this year to help the team's offensive output, May garnered All-GLIAC honors while also being named to the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association All-Midwest Region Team. Additionally, she claimed GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team recognition this past fall for the third-straight time. Since her arrival at FSU, May's performance helped the Bulldogs win both the school's first league regular-season title and also first conference postseason tournament title prior to this year's impressive finish. The Bulldogs won their first-ever NCAA Regional Championship this year and earned a national quarterfinal win to move on to the NCAA D2 National Semifinals for the first time in the program's third national tournament appearance. FSU claimed four postseason victories along the way and went 11-3-5 in its final 19 games of the year. |
Klaudia O'Malley • Grand Valley State • Cross Country • Junior • McBain, Mich. • 3.7 GPA • Exercise Science
Junior Klaudia O’Malley finished out the 2022 cross country season leading the Lakers to their seventh Division II National Runner-Up victory in Seattle, Wash. O’Malley earned USTFCCCA All-American honors as she was the first Laker to cross the line claiming third place with a time of 20:43.0. Additionally, O’Malley led the Lakers at the Midwest Regionals in Kenosha, Wis. as Grand Valley State claimed their 21st consecutive regional title. O’Malley brought home her own individual title recording a first place finish in a time of 21:19.2 and earning First-Team All-Region. At the 2022 GLIAC Championships, O’Malley was a part of the Laker’s “perfect score” finish and 21st consecutive GLIAC Championship title as she claimed third place with a time of 21:27.19, earning First Team All-GLIAC. In the classroom, O’Malley earned GLIAC Academic Excellence honors with a cumulative GPA of 3.7. In addition, O’Malley was named an USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete while the Lakers were named USTFCCCA All-Academic team for their efforts within the 2022 season.
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Taylor Reid • Grand Valley State • Soccer • Junior • Lee's Summit, Mo. • 3.79 GPA • Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Training/Special Ed
Grand Valley State University junior forward Taylor Reid earned United Soccer Coaches first team All-America honors and D2CCA All-America third team honors this season. Reid was named the D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year. She was awarded D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches first team All-Region honors. Reid was also named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-GLIAC first team honors. She appeared in all 23 games, making 22 starts. Led the team with 15 goals and five game-winning goals and finished second on the team with 32 points. She also led the team with four multi-goal games this season. Reid helped lead the Lakers to a GLIAC Regular Season Championship and Tournament Championship.
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Isabella Zamborini • Ferris State • Soccer • Senior • Louisville, Ky. • 4.00 GPA • Chemistry
Ferris State University senior forward Isabella Zamborini (Louisville, Ky.) concluded her career as both an All-American on the field and in the classroom as she was named to three different postseason All-America squads for her efforts in leading FSU to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals this past fall. Zamborini earned 2022 United Soccer Coaches Division II All-America Third Team recognition for her performance on the field and also claimed 2022 College Sports Communicators D2 Academic All-America First Team laurels along with United Soccer Coaches D2 Women's Scholar All-America First Team honors, becoming only FSU's third-ever All-America honoree.The Bulldog senior standout compiled a team-leading 32 points for the Bulldogs this year with 13 goals and six assists in addition to five game-winning goals in 24 contests overall. She also tallied a team-high 106 total shots on the year with 49 on goal. Zamborini finished among the league, regional and national leaders in both goals and points this campaign. She was also tabbed to the 2022 United Soccer Coaches NCAA D2 Women's All-Midwest Region First Team and also chosen for the 2022 Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Midwest Region Second Team. Zamborini was also a first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) pick. The Bulldogs won their first-ever NCAA Regional Championship this year and earned a national quarterfinal win to move on to the NCAA D2 National Semifinals for the first time in the program's third national tournament appearance. FSU claimed four postseason victories along the way and went 11-3-5 in its final 19 games of the year.
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Ransom Allen • Wayne State • Cross Country • Redshirt Junior • Ithaca, Mich. • 3.987 GPA • Mechanical Engineering
Redshirt junior Ransom Allen (Ithaca, Mich.) has become the first Wayne State University men's cross country runner to earn a GLIAC Commissioner's Award. Allen, who collected All-America honors with a ninth-place finish at the 2022 NCAA Championships, also garnered All-Midwest Region accolades for the second straight season with a sixth-place finish. The ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships broke the previous best finish by a Tartar/Warrior of 10th set in 1974. He placed fourth at the conference championship meet to earn First Team All-GLIAC recognition for the second consecutive year (placed fifth in 2021). A three-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team selection, Allen has been a Warrior Elite (term GPA 3.5+) member all seven semesters, including six 4.0 terms in Mechanical Engineering for a cumulative GPA of 3.987. Allen was a 2021-22 CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team honoree. |
Colton Hyble • Grand Valley State • Football • Junior • Mount Pleasant, Mich. • 4.0 GPA • International Business/Supply Chain Management
Colton Hyble, a second-team All-GLIAC performer, started all 13 games for the Lakers, recording 32 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss (-47) and 4.5 quarterback sacks (-41). In addition, Hyble tallied six QB hurries and two pass deflections. He was a key performer on a defense that led the nation in points allowed per game (10.3) and ranked among the national leaders and led the GLIAC in rushing defense (64.9 ypg), first downs allowed (154), redzone defense (.667) and total defense (264.1). The GVSU defense also recorded 97 tackles for loss (-388), 42 QB sacks (-258), 76 QB hurries and 67 pass break-ups. Hyble tallied a 4.0 GPA in International Business/Supply Chain Management.
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Joel Linden • Grand Valley State • Football • Junior • Flint, Mich. • 3.96 GPA • Mechanical Engineering
Joel Linden, who earned 2022 All-GLIAC honors, was a key figure in a Laker offense that led the GLIAC in first downs (288), rushing offense (228.7), scoring offense (37.9), time of possession (32:13), total offense (449.7), redzone offense (.927) and team passing efficiency (163.04). The Laker offense scored 40 or more points seven times in 2022, including five consecutive games to end the regular season. GVSU, which rushed for 2,973 yards and 44 touchdowns, averaged 5.8 yards per rushing attempt. Joel recorded a 3.96 GPA in Mechanical Engineering.
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Olalere Oladipo • Ferris State • Football • Senior • Huntley, Ill. • 3.76 GPA • Business Administration
Ferris State University senior defensive tackle Olalere Oladipo (Huntley, Ill.) has been chosen as a GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient for the second consecutive year. This past fall, Oladipo was named to the 2022 Academic All-America First Team as selected by the College Sports Communicators. Oladipo, who helped lead FSU to a second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship this past fall, was also tabbed as a first-team Academic All-District honoree and chosen to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team for the second year in a row while also garnering All-GLIAC accolades on the field. This past fall, Oladipo played a key role on one of the nation's top defensive units, totaling 33 tackles overall to go with 14.5 tackles for loss (-61 yards) and 9.5 sacks (-50 yards) along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 13 games. His play helped the Bulldogs rank among the nation's top overall units in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense this past season. Ferris State captured the school's second consecutive D2 National Championship, finishing the year with a 14-1 record by beating the Colorado School of Mines 41-14 in the national title game on Dec. 17 in McKinney, Texas.
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Clayton Sayen • Michigan Tech • Cross Country • 5th Year Senior • Houghton, Mich. • 3.87 GPA • Master's of Business Administration
Michigan Tech senior cross country student-athlete Clayton Sayen received his second GLIAC Commissioner's Award. The Houghton, Michigan, native first achieved the GLIAC Commissioner’s award following his accomplishments on the track last spring. Sayen placed 16th overall to earn All-America honors at the 2022 NCAA Championship. It was the highest placing in program history and also boosted the team to a 10th-place team finish, marking the highest team finish in program history as well. Sayen also placed sixth or better in every regular season cross country meet in 2022. He was fifth at the GLIAC Cross Country Championships and 11th at the 2022 Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships to earn USTFCCCA All-Region honors. Sayen finished the fall semester with a 3.87 GPA and was named to the GLIAC Academic All-Excellence Team five times.
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Marc Sippel • Michigan Tech • Football • Junior • Wausau, Wis. • 3.70 GPA • Civil Engineering
Marc Sippel received the GLIAC Commissioner's Award for the first time in his career after he finished second in NCAA Division II tackles with 131 (58 solo) in his sophomore/junior regular season campaign, behind only Grant Bruner (137 tackles, Washburn). His accolades this season included All-GLIAC First Team, D2CCA All-Region Second Team, Don Hansen All-America Honorable Mention, and GLIAC Academic Excellence. Sippel led the conference in the category by a margin of 26.0 tackles over Antonio Howard (Northern Michigan). Sippel also collected 13.5 tackles for loss (fourth), 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two passes broken up. He achieved a season-high 15.0 tackles at Hillsdale College on November 5. Sippel started all 11 games for the Huskies in 2022 after appearing in 10 games as a freshman. Last fall, he made 47 tackles with 17 solo tackles and posted a pair of sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
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