IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine Athletics department honored more than 100 graduating student-athletes at the 2023 Senior Legacy Banquet this past weekend.

Eight CUI student-athletes were also honored for their superior contributions on the court, on the field and in the pool.

Here are your 2023 Senior Award Winners:

Uriel Batista – Men's Volleyball – Male Athlete of the Year

• Second Team All-Conference selection in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF)
• Second in the entire league in Kills, Kills per set and points! (Note: - a league where EVERY school is Division-I and Concordia is the only NCAA D2 school)
• Set school record for Most Kills in a game with 32 against No. 8 BYU.
• That same night he also set the school record for most points in a game (35.5)
• Ranks 2nd all-time in Kills/per set (3.22)
• Ranks 8th all-time in Career Kills (522) - and in just 2 seasons!
• 6th in total attacks (1,298 attempts)
• 6th in Aces per set (0.20/set)
• Originally from Panama and left his family to come to United States to follow his dream of playing volleyball

 
Megan Massa – Softball – Co-Female Athlete of the Year

• 2022 PacWest Player of the Year last season and 2023 Preseason PacWest Player of the Year.
• Leadoff batter for four consecutive first-place finishes in PacWest Conference and first CUI softball team to be ranked No. 1 in the nation in NCAA DII era.
• Ranks Top 5 all-time in program history in: Games played, Games started, Runs scored, Doubles *AND* Career Hits. 
• First Team All-Conference every season *AND* First Team All-Region in back-to-back years.
• Over the last three seasons, she has led both Concordia in hits *AND* entire PacWest Conference in hits.
• Set school record for walks – so she is literally ALWAYS getting on base every game in some way, shape or form.

 
Jasmine Rachal – Women's Basketball – Co-Female Athlete of the Year

• Finished her career Top 5 All-time in Points Scored (1,680 points)
• Ranks 4th all-time at CUI in three-pointers made (170 triples)
• Scored 15.6 points per game in her career – (Ranks 7^th All-time)
• Second player in school history to score 1,000 career points in the NCAA DII Era
• First Team All-PacWest this year and Second Team All-Conference twice in the past
• Academic All-PacWest every year
• Served as team SAAC representative and Diversity & Inclusion Officer
• Student-worker in the athletics department working home games for other sports
• Holds school record for most free throws in a game without a miss – 15-for-15 in win over Fresno Pacific

 
Madison Ravelo – Women's Water Polo – Co-Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• She is the program's only 3-time ACWPC All-American at the D2 level
• 3.9 GPA as undergraduate and 4.0 in master's program
• First Team All-Conference in Golden Coast Conference (GCC) & annual All-Conference selection
• Finishes her Concordia career with school records for:
  • Career Goals
  • Career Assists
  • Career Recorded Steals
  • Most Goals in One Season (113!) also led entire conference in scoring
• She is the program's only 3-time ACWPC All-American at the D2 level
• GCC All-Academic Team every year
• D2-ADA Academic Award recipient
• Scored career-high eight goals in a win over Westcliff this season

Jori Paradis – Women's Track & Cross Country – Co-Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• Set indoor school record in the 3,000m race and also was a member of the Women's Distance Medley Relay that holds the school record. 
• PacWest Freshman of the Year to start her cross country career and then became All-Region and First Team All-PacWest selection this year. 
• Won the 5,000 in this year's PacWest Championships
• She won silver in the 1500 at both the 2021 and 2023 PacWest Championships
• Academic All-PacWest every year she was eligible in BOTH cross country AND track and field.
• Has helped women's XC and Track be Academic All-Region teams for four straight years
• Won the Academic Showcase her freshman year with her partner Savannah Neu
• Regent Scholar and made Dean's List multiple times

 
Klaus Huovila – Men's Soccer – Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• Third Team All-Conference selection as midfielder
• Vocal, consistent and hard-working leader behind the scenes
• Transferred to Concordia in unique situation after our sister school Concordia Portland closed during pandemic in 2020.
• Student-worker for CUI Athletics
• Key assist in a statement win over local rival APU
• Academic All-PacWest every year on campus

 
Calvin Schonebaum – Baseball – Male Golden Eagle Award

• Trained to be a pilot while also juggling classes and baseball as a student-athlete
• Hit game-winning home run to beat Cal State Dominguez Hills last year 
• Hit home run in final at-bat in victory on emotional Senior Day
• SAAC rep for multiple seasons
• Academic All-PacWest every year

 
Katie Timmerman – Women's Basketball – Female Golden Eagle Award

• Third player in school history to score 1,000 career points in the D2 Era – joining teammates Jasmine Rachal and Michaela VanderKlugt
• Holds CUI School Records for:
  • Best Free Throw Percentage (Over 86 percent for her career!)
  • Most Minutes Played In Her Career – has started consistently since her freshman year
• Averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in her Concordia career
• All-PacWest Conference selection twice
• Academic All-PacWest every year
• Student-worker in the athletics department working home games for other sports

The Golden Eagle Award is unique to CUI in that it embodies the mission and vision of our institution.  This honor is given to individuals who excelled in the classroom and athletically, but most importantly were a living example of what it means to be a Concordia University Irvine student and athlete. The Golden Eagle Award was created to recognize a select group who best embodies the spirit of CUI and represents not only athletics but the institution well into the community.

 This year CUI athletics director Crystal Rosenthal also acknowledged retiring staff member Kent Epperson for his tireless work behind the scenes. Epperson was honored with the inaugural "Sixth Man Award" and we thank him for everything he has helped coordinate over the years – from fixing scoreboards to sprucing up the grounds and everything in between.  He and his staff are problem-solvers and crucial to the student-athlete experience with countless hours of work before and after all competitions.

Congrats to ALL our seniors and we thank them for their dedication to our university, their teams and their faith.  We are honored to have you join our alumni!

Links to previous CUI Senior Award Winners:
2022 Senior Awards
2021 Senior Awards
2020 Senior Awards
2019 Senior Awards
2017 & 2018 Senior Awards