WAUKESHA, Wis. - The sixth annual Pio Awards were held on the campus of Carroll University Monday night, highlighting the outstanding athletic and academic achievements and accomplishments during the past year of Pioneer Athletics. The formal event began with a social hour, followed by the awards presentation. Below are the awards that were presented during the night.
Athlete of the Year in a female sport: Grace Tumilty - Women's Soccer and Women's Lacrosse
Tumilty had an outstanding 2024 season in both lacrosse and soccer. In the spring of 2024, the Senior from Willowbrook, Ill. was named First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Region, and CCIW Defensive Player of the Year, while leading the team in draw controls (53), caused turnovers (35), and ground balls (57). She helped the Pios advance to the CCIW Tourmament Championship Game. Tumilty then followed that up in the Fall with a soccer season that saw her earn First Team All-Conference and All-Region honors, leading the team in assists, while ranking second in both goals and points. She helped the Pios win their first CCIW regular season championship with a perfect 8-0-0 record, while helping the team advance to the CCIW Tournament championship game.
Athlete of the Year in a male sport: Reed Breckheimer - Football
Breckheimer was the jack-of-all trades for Carroll's football team during the 2024 season, leading the team in rushing touchdowns (5) as a Tight End. The junior from Hilbert, Wis. also led the team in receptions (36), receiving yards (476), and receiving touchdowns (3). He parlayed that into a unanimous First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selection.
The Kilgour Award: Olivia Rangel - Women's Basketball
Given annually to the top senior female student-athlete at Carroll, this year's winner is one of the most decorated players in school history. A four-time First Team All-Conference selection, Rangel capped off her career this season by being named CCIW Player of the Year. Named to the All-America team on two occasions, Rangel finished her career ranking fourth in program history for career points (1,653), while also graduating with school records for career assists (409) and steals (266). A Double major in Communications and Spanish with a 3.68 cumulative Grade Point Average, Rangel earned Academic All-District and Academic All-America honors in each of her final two seasons.
The Buschkopf Award: Jimmy Hinkley - Men's Track & Field
Given annually to the top senior male student-athlete at Carroll, this year's winner is one of the top throwers in Division-III. A native of Grayslake, Ill., Hinkley is a three-time NCAA National Qualifier in the Hammer Throw, while earning All-American status at 2024 Outdoor Nationals. He is a two-time Conference Champion in that event, while earning All-Conference honors seven times across all events. Hinkley graduated from Carroll with a Degree in Finance and a 3.17 cumulative Grade Point Average.
Rookie of the Year in a Female Sport: Elizabeth Wang - Women's Lacrosse
Wang broke onto the scene as a freshman in the Spring of 2024, setting a program record for single season goals with 78 on the year, while also totaling 86 points. The Wildomar, Calif. native ranked second in all of Division-III for free position shooting percentage (22-for-26), while adding 32 ground balls, 17 caused turnovers, and 24 draw controls. She was named First Team All-Conference at the conclusion of the season, which saw Wang lead the Pioneers to the CCIW Tournament Championship Game.
Rookie of the Year in a Male Sport: Brady Conwell - Men's Lacrosse
Conwell added another dimension to Carroll's men's lacrosse team in his first season with the program in the Spring of 2024. Originally from Middleton, Wis., Conwell set the program record points in a season with 44 (23 goals and 21 assists), while also setting program records for points per game and assists per game. He finished the 2024 season 10th in the CCIW in assists per game.
Comeback Athlete of the Year: Aaron Wafford - Men's Basketball
After tearing his ACL in February of 2024, Wafford returned for his senior season of 2024-25, playing his first game just nine months after his ACL surgery. He returned against North Central College and after easing back into the lineup, scored 20 or more points three times during the season. He averaged 11.6 points per game for the Pios after returning from his injury.
Play/Performance of the Year (co-winners): 1.Grace Tumilty and Mari Sagstad - Women's Soccer; 2. Marti Solanelles - Men's Soccer
1.With five minutes remaining and tied at one against #15 North Central (IL), pressure from Sagstad forced a bad pass. Tumilty then got fouled leading to a deep free kick, which Sagstad placed in the top right corner of the net for the game-winning goal to defeat NCC, en route to an unblemished conference season (8-0-0) and a CCIW regular season championship for the Pios.
2. Solanelles scored both goals in the final five minutes of Carroll's 2-1 win against in-state rival Carthage College, with the game-winner coming with just 51 seconds remaining.
Team of the Year: Women's Soccer
Carroll's women's soccer team went 11-4-3 during the 2024 season, which including the highest-ranked opponent they have defeated in program history (#15 North Central (IL). That included a perfect conference record of 8-0-0, which earned their first CCIW Championship in program history and the top seed in the conference tournament, which saw them advance to the CCIW Championship game for the second consecutive year. The Pios were regionally ranked during the season, which included a 10-game winning streak. They hosted the CCIW Tourament for the first time in program history.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Sandy Cunningham '78
Sandy Cunningham was a vasity letterwinner on the volleyball team while she was a student at Carroll. An active supporter of Carroll since her graduation in 1978, Sandy currently chairs the Business Committee of the Carroll University Board of Trustees. She also serves on several boards of not-for-profit organizations, and her career path has had a strong focus on business application development, project portfolio management, and technology business consulting.
Staff/Faculty Member of the Year: Dr. Lori Brock
Dr. Brock is an Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Physiology. She has been a member of the Carroll faculty for 20 years. Dr. Brock has served as Honorary Captain of Carroll's women's basketball team for three years.
