ST. LOUIS - The Elite 18 Award Program was established by the Missouri Valley Conference in the fall of 2010 to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each MVC-sponsored sport. Modeled after the NCAA Elite 90 Academic Recognition Award Program, the MVC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the MVC’s 18 team championships.
The selection process varies for each sport, and winners are chosen from a list of qualifying student-athletes at each of the 11 MVC institutions. For the team sports of soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, baseball and softball, the winner will be chosen from the two teams participating in the championship game or match. For cross country, golf, swimming and diving, and track and field, the winners will be chosen from nominated student-athletes who have met a athletic performance threshold (for instance, in cross country, the eligible student-athletes must have finished among the top 10 at the championship meet).
The recipients were honored during a ceremony at the conclusion of the championship.
2024-25 MVC Elite 18 Award Winners
Women's Cross Country - Emma Gresham, Indiana State (Environmental Geoscience; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Cross Country - Mathis Chavand, Illinois State (Political Science; 3.89 GPA)
Women's Soccer - Grace O'Keefe, Missouri State (Mechanical Engineering Technology; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Soccer - Jake Lane, Bowling Green (Individualized Business; 4.00 GPA)
Volleyball - Kira Fallert, UNI (Biology; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Swimming & Diving - Faith Larsen, UNI (Political Science; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Swimming & Diving - Alex Cimera, Southern Illinois (Aviation Flight Management; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Indoor Track & Field - Emma Gresham, Indiana State (Environmental Geoscience; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Indoor Track & Field - Will Staggs, Indiana State (Applied Medicine; 3.96 GPA)
Men's Basketball - Cam Manyawu, Drake (Finance/Sociology; 3.86 GPA)
Women's Basketball - Haven Ford, Murray State (Health and Physical Education; 4.00 GPA)
Women's Golf - Jillian Cosler, Bradley (Learn Behavioral Sciences; 4.00 GPA)
Tennis - Varya Alexeyeva, Murray State (Accounting; 3.80 GPA)
Men's Golf - Anthony Delisanti, Valparaiso (Sports Management; 3.93 GPA)
Softball - Baie Ensio, Belmont (Neuroscience; 3.91 GPA)
Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Brooke Garter, Belmont (Mathematics; 4.00 GPA)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Will Staggs, Indiana State (Applied Medicine; 3.96 GPA)
Baseball - Brady Grabowski, Murray State (Accounting; 3.86 GPA)