CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State Department of Athletics hosted its 14^th annual Viking Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards Tuesday evening, celebrating the 2025-26 academic year. Winners from the 2026 VESPYS are listed below:

Freshman of the Year
Uzman Ramees, Men's Soccer
Newcomer of the Year
Izabella Zingaro, Women's Basketball
Bleed Green
Elsa Baldasano-Martinez, Women's Soccer
Coach of the Year
Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Men's Soccer
Best Sport Moment – Team
Men's Soccer Wins 2025 Horizon League Championship
Best Sport Moment – Individual
Matteo Correia Game-Winning Goal in #HLMSOC Championship
Cleveland State Sports Medicine Resiliency Award
Xander Johnson, Lacrosse
Mike Lehto We Are CSU
Jeff Johnston, Associate Vice President Student Excellence
Pete Granson Heart of a Viking
Dominik Cosic, Golf
Male Athlete of the Year
Tom Mertz, Men's Soccer
Female Athlete of the Year
Ellie Seiter, Women's Swim & Dive
John McLendon
Laken Voss, Volleyball
Mr. Viking
Carl Gedlitschka, Men's Tennis
Ms. Viking
Laken Voss, Volleyball