IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine athletics department revealed its 2020 Senior Award winners on Sunday with a record nine student-athletes recognized for their overall contributions. To watch the Senior Awards Video Reveal, click here.  To watch the 2020 Senior Video, CLICK HERE. 
 
CUI's Senior Awards recognize deserving student-athletes for their outstanding performances athletically, academically and in the community as well as for the remarkable legacy they will leave at Concordia.
 
Female Scholar Athletes of the Year 
 
Sarah Kretschmar - Softball
 
Sarah will leave CUI as one of the softball program's most decorated players and holds a 3.95 cumulative GPA. A liberal studies major with an emphasis in child development and a minor in psychology, Sarah served as a SAAC officer and as the editor-in-chief and sports editor of the school newspaper (the Concordia Courier). The starting shortstop made the Academic All-PacWest team every year and has been named the PacWest Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete. She also volunteered for The Village of Hope, the Irvine Girls Softball Association, and the Orange County Food Bank.
 
Julia DenBoer  - Women's Volleyball

Julia is majoring in exercise sport science and pre-physical therapy as she pursues her career goal of becoming a physical therapist. DenBoer earned a 3.9 GPA and was a regular each year on the Academic All-PacWest team. During her time at CUI, she helped the women's volleyball team become the first CUI program to earn a PacWest Conference title in 2016 and served as team captain. Her senior year, she ascended to the starting libero spot and added her name to the record books by averaging 4.66 digs per game (5^th all-time) and racking up a career-high of 32 digs in a game twice. She plans to attend Loma Linda University to work towards her doctorate in physical therapy after graduation.
 
Male Scholar Athletes of the Year

Bailey Collins – Baseball
 
Bailey earned a 3.66 GPA while majoring in exercise sports science, and he has made the Academic All-PacWest team every year at Concordia. The Colorado native also served as a SAAC rep the past two years. He ranks in the top ten in the CUI record books in 15 different categories and is fourth all-time with 21 career home runs.  A versatile starting first baseman and outfielder with a knack for making timely defensive plays, Collins also sported a team-best .375 batting average and worked a team-high 19 walks, which helped him post an eye-popping .500 on-base percentage. 
 
Austin Barton – Men's Swimming & Diving/Water Polo
 
A talented two-sport athlete, Austin is majoring in exercise sport science & kinesiology with an emphasis on pre-physical therapy. He's been recognized as an All-Academic selection by the WWPA and sports a 3.42 cumulative GPA. A key member of both the CUI men's swimming and water polo teams, he ranks top ten all-time for most recorded steals as a CUI water polo player. He also won two individual swimming events and was on the victorious 4-by-50 free relay at the PCSC Championships. He helped Concordia win its first conference title as a junior and turn in a second place finish this year.
 
Female Athletes of the Year
 
Amanda Gjertsen – Softball
A two-time PacWest champion, Amanda led the nationally-ranked CUI softball this season in hits, doubles, walks, total bases, slugging percentage and RBI along with a team-best .379 batting average & .520 on-base percentage. She moved into the top 10 in the CUI record books in 7 different categories and is now 6th all-time in RBI - all while maintaining a 3.52 GPA as a biology major. Amanda is currently working as a microbiologist for a clean room certification company that works with hospitals and pharmacies.

Tamia Prince – Women's Track & Field
Tamia made history this season when she qualified for the Indoor NCAA National Championships. She helped the CUI women's indoor track and field team rise to its highest national ranking and at one point this season, Tamia held the fastest time in all of NCAA DII in the 60m hurdles. She was also an All-Region selection and holds multiple school records. In addition, she maintains a 3.22 cumulative GPA as a business administration major with an emphasis in marketing.
 
Male Athletes of the Year
 
Raymond Barsemian - Men's Volleyball
 
Barsemian ranks first in the CUI record books for both career kills and aces, and became the first Eagle ever to make First Team All-Conference in the MPSF. While competing against a number of NCAA DI programs, Barsemian led the entire conference with 277 kills in 2020 and was named an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. He currently has a 4.0 GPA as a graduate student after majoring in psychology as an undergraduate at Concordia.
 
Haloa Dudoit  - Baseball
 
A mainstay as Concordia's starting shortstop and leadoff hitter since his freshman year, Haloa led the Eagles in hits and runs this season, helping his team earn a top 25 ranking for the first time in the NCAA DII era. Dudoit ranks in the top 10 in the CUI record books in 10 different categories, and is fourth all-time in career hits. He earned a 3.22 GPA while majoring in business administration with an emphasis in sports management.
 
Eagle Award

Emily Kivisto – Women's Swimming and Diving
 
Majoring in liberal studies (education) with a minor in coaching, Emily compiled a 3.91 GPA while developing her leadership skills over the past four years. A Minnesota native, she became an inspirational voice on the women's swimming and diving team. In addition to helping continue the great tradition of the program, she also rose to the occasion by sharing devotionals on multiple occasions with the Concordia community. She was one of two student-athletes this year asked to speak at the school's annual Golf Classic fundraiser to thank donors and alumni for their support. Emily also shared an emotional speech during a memorable Friday chapel in front of the entire athletics department that received a standing ovation.
 
Due to the unorthodox nature of the end of the 2020 spring semester and the COVID-19 safety measures in place, this year's senior awards were announced online to continue the school's tradition that is usually reserved for the annual senior banquet.
 
All 2020 senior award winners that elect to return to CUI for their extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19 will not be eligible for next year's senior awards.
 
Click here for a look back at the 2019 CUI Senior Award winners.