SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University Athletics Department wrapped up its 2025-26 academic year with the Talons on Thursday evening, an annual celebration of student-athletes, coaches, and staff that commemorates the accomplishments from every athletic season for the Falcons.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
The Newcomer of the Year award is given to an outstanding first-year Falcon who made an immediate impact on their program.

NOMINEES: Avery Erickson, cross country, track & field, Rafael Lucio, soccer, Brant Heppner, basketball 

Avery Erickson: Avery was the best finisher for the Falcons at last fall's GNAC Cross Country Championships. His 14^th place finish as the best by an SPU men's athlete at the event since 2019. Avery was named GNAC Co-Newcomer of the Year in cross country. In the spring, Avery added a GNAC Athlete of the Week award to his strong first year with the Falcons.

NOMINEES: Megan Omlid, volleyball, Lauren Lee, golf, Miriam Dykstra, rowing

Lauren Lee: Lee made history as the first-ever outright tournament winner at the Chico State Invitational. Lee earned three GNAC Player of the Week Awards throughout the season. Lee became the first Falcon to win a GNAC Women's Golf Individual title at the GNAC Championships in April. Lee was a First Team All-GNAC selection, capping off a tremendous year for the Falcons.

C. CLIFFORD MCCRATH 101 CLUB SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
In its 25th year, the C. Clifford McCrath 101 Club Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of two student-athletes: one man and one woman who are graduating seniors, four-year letterwinners, and possess the highest cumulative grade-point averages in the Class of 2025.

Maya Parman: Parman has played 1,711 minutes in 72 games while making 63 starts. She scored four goals, dished out eight assists, and finished her career with 16 points for the Falcons. Maya was a First Team All-GNAC selection in 2025. Maya is a nursing major with a spotless 4.0 GPA and has been a three-time GNAC All-Academic Team selection and a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.

Logan Kinloch: Kinloch spent four years on the SPU men's basketball team, appearing in 37 games for the Falcons. His first career block helped pave the way for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for the Falcons to beat Western Washington on the road during the 2024-25 season. Logan is a two-time GNAC All-Academic team selection, and as a business administration major, he owned the highest grade point average among any GNAC men's basketball player this season with a 3.97.

MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Whether being clutch in the classroom or clutch in competition, this award is dedicated to the most 'Gotta have it' moment of the year. No matter where the action was taking place, this year had a little bit of everything.

On January 22, 2026, the SPU women's basketball team broke the program record for single-game 3-pointers with 19 at Alaska Anchorage. The Falcons needed every 3-pointer they made that night, as they beat the Seawolves 101-98 on the road. The Falcons topped the previous program record of 17 made 3-pointers, set on Jan. 27, 2007, against Utah Tech. It was the first time the Falcons had scored 100 points or more in a single game since that same game in 2007. It was the first time that SPU had beaten Alaska Anchorage on the road since March 6, 2010.

JOHN GLANCY AWARD
For the 13th year, the SPU Athletics Department honored one student-athlete who especially exemplifies that commitment to this important part of the SPU mission with the John Glancy Award.  The award went to Brittan Dalberg of SPU women's rowing.

Brittan Dalberg: Since arriving at SPU, Dalberg has modeled selfless leadership, fostering a culture where every teammate feels welcomed, supported, and valued.

Through mentoring freshmen, hosting teammates during holidays, and creating opportunities for connection and faith through team Bible study, she has strengthened the SPU rowing community on and off the water.

Beyond campus, she has served with the Indianapolis Rowing Center, coaching adaptive rowing for individuals with physical and neurological challenges, and with Kindling Minds, supporting students with learning disabilities and anxiety.

Through rowing, mentorship, faith, and service, she exemplifies what it means to engage the culture and change the world.

FALCON AWARD FOR PERSEVERANCE
The Falcon Award for Perseverance acknowledges student-athletes who, despite obstacles that could compromise their attitude and enthusiasm, instead choose to be inspirational as they persevere with hope, courage, and grit to overcome obstacles that most of us will never experience. Two awards were given out on Thursday night, with one going to SPU women's soccer's Logann Dukes, while the other went to Victor Cabanas of SPU men's soccer.

BREAKOUT ATHLETE AWARD
The Breakout Athlete of the Year award is designed to honor a student-athlete "who, in a given year, improves his or her performance dramatically or otherwise becomes well-recognized".

NOMINEES: Anna Prussian, cross country, Grace Leasure, basketball, Christina Lopez, volleyball

Anna Prussian: Before this academic year, Prussian had never earned a postseason award. Last fall, she helped the SPU women's cross-country team finish second at the GNAC Championships with a ninth-place finish. It was the Falcons' best finish at the GNAC Championships since 2009. For Purssian, it was her first GNAC Postseason award, earning All-GNAC Honors with her ninth-place finish. At the GNAC Indoor Championships, she earned All-GNAC honors again, this time in the 5,000 meters. Then at the Outdoor Championships, Purssian finished fourth in the conference in the 10,000 meters.

NOMINEES: JJ Diaz, soccer, Theo McMillan, basketball, Justin Brooks, track & field

Theo McMillan: McMillan returned to SPU and became a key member of the SPU men's basketball team. He averaged 9.5 points per game in 24 starts while shooting 53.9 percent from the floor. McMillan averaged 5.6 assists per game, the most in the GNAC at the end of the regular season. He also led the Falcons and ranked sixth in the conference with 6.5 rebounds per game. McMillan was named GNAC Honorable Mention and was a GNAC All-Academic Team Member.

TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Team of the Year Award recognizes the Seattle Pacific team that achieved the highest level of success in competition during the season. It honors a program that demonstrated excellence through outstanding performance, significant accomplishments against top competition, and the ability to compete at a championship level. This award reflects the team's dedication, consistency, and ability to represent SPU with distinction in intercollegiate athletics.

NOMINEES: Men's Soccer, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Rowing

Women's Rowing: The Falcons spent most of the season inside the top five in the CRCA national coaches poll. They went on to qualify for the NCAA National Championships for the fifth consecutive time. The Falcons saved their best for last, with the Varsity 8+ crew breaking the seven-minute mark for the first time all season at NCAA Nationals. The Falcons went bow-to-bow with Western Washington throughout most of the race, ultimately taking second place.

The strong performance in the Varsity 8+ race helped the Falcons earn a bronze medal at nationals. It was SPU's best finish at the regatta since 2023.

FALCON TEAM EXCELLENCE AWARD
This award honors the Seattle Pacific team that embodies the highest standard of the student-athlete experience. It recognizes a program that not only performs at a high level in competition, but also excels academically, actively serves its community, and consistently supports fellow SPU teams both at home and on the road. The recipient reflects a holistic commitment to excellence, demonstrating unity, leadership, and pride in representing SPU across all areas of campus life.

NOMINEES: Men's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Basketball

Men's Basketball: On the court, the Falcons earned the fifth seed in the GNAC Championships, qualifying for the tournament for the 14th time in its 15-year existence. The Falcons had two All-GNAC selections. In the classroom, SPU had eight men's basketball players earn GNAC All-Academic recognition, the most of any team in the conference. One more was added to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. In their community, the Falcons have participated in the sock drive, as well as served Thanksgiving dinner at the First Free Methodist Church. The Falcons have also hosted an annual MLK Day Basketball Showcase alongside women's basketball in Royal Brougham Pavilion and volunteer at SPU's Ivy Cutting Ceremony.

RON GRADY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Ron Grady Award is named in honor of a former Seattle Pacific baseball player who ultimately lost his fight with cancer, but in the process won the hearts of all those around him with his spirit and his faith. It is voted on by Falcon head coaches. In making their choice, they consider outright individual achievement, along with contribution to the team's success and to the program.

This year's Ron Grady Athlete of the Year award goes to track star Hannah Chang. Chang entered the 2025-26 academic year with a target on her back, with multiple GNAC hurdles Championships to her name. Once again, Chang sped away from the pack and kept adding to her collection of medals and trophies along the way.

During indoor season, Chang came through in the closest race of the weekend for the Falcons, winning the 60-meter hurdles by .01 with a time of 8.52. It was an indoor personal best for Chang, and a new SPU program record in the event.
That race sent Chang to the NCAA Indoor National Championships in Virginia Beach. She competed in the prelims and earned All-American Honorable Mention.

As the season moved outside, Chang prepared to defend her back-to-back GNAC Championships in the 100-meter hurdles. She'd do just that, winning the event with a time of 13.97. Chang competed in a last-chance meet five days later and would run her best time of the season at 13.90. She barely missed the cut for nationals but finished her career at SPU as strong as ever.

With her performance this season, Chang became the second woman to win three straight GNAC titles in the 100-meter hurdles. She is now tied with the most overall hurdles titles in conference history with 5 (3 outdoors, 2 indoors for each of them).

All the work put in on the track mirrored what she's done in the classroom. Chang graduates this weekend with a degree in Physiology and has been a three-time GNAC All-Academic team member.

FALCON AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
The Falcon Awards for Excellence. It's the highest honor an athlete can earn at Seattle Pacific, given for career achievement in academics and athletics. It was 39 years ago when SPU coaches and administrators developed the high standards and criteria for the award, taking into account not only the students' athletic and academic accomplishments, but their character, as well. All nominees lettered at least two years and are on schedule to graduate with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. The final selections, as voted upon by Seattle Pacific's head coaches, were judged to have excelled in athletics, made a positive impact on those around them, fulfilled a leadership role on their teams, and, during their careers, proved themselves to be consummate student-athletes for Seattle Pacific University.

Hannah Chang: Chang earned two GNAC Track & Field titles this season and was an All-American during the indoor season. She finishes her career at SPU tied for the most hurdles titles won in GNAC history. She graduates with a physiology degree and has been a three-time GNAC All-Academic team member.  

Maya Parman: Parman spent four years with the SPU women's soccer program and appeared in more than 70 matches for the Falcons. She was a First Team All-GNAC selection this season. Parman is a nursing major with a spotless 4.0 GPA and has been a three-time GNAC All-Academic Team selection and a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.

Connor Tollan: Tollan spent four seasons with the SPU men's soccer program, appearing in more than 70 games for the Falcons. He finished his career with 11 goals, 17 assists, and 39 points for SPU. Tollan has earned GNAC Honorable Mention once, and First Team All-Conference honors twice. He's a three-time GNAC All-Academic Team member and has been named CSC Academic All-District three times.

Maya Ewing: Ewing won her first GNAC Cross Country individual championship last fall and helped the SPU women's cross country team to their best finish at GNACs since 2009. She went on to represent the Falcons at NCAA Cross Country Nationals. During track season, Maya won her second GNAC title in the steeplechase. Maya earned GNAC All-Academic honors twice.

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