SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College honored its top student-athletes and celebrated a historic year across all programs at the inaugural Pomeroy Athletic Awards, held Monday evening inside the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center.
The ceremony highlighted one of the most successful years in Pomeroys athletics history, featuring multiple program milestones, conference championships, and national recognition. Among the achievements were two NAIA All-Americans, a perfect 8-0 sprint football season capped by a conference championship, a school-record 30 wins for women's volleyball, and a record-setting 27-win season for men's volleyball.
The Pomeroy Awards are determined through a campus-wide voting process after nominations from each head coach, recognizing excellence in performance, leadership, and school spirit.
Major Award Winners
Onyx Spirit Award
Men's: Nolan Allen (Men's Golf)
Women's: Carmen Creech (Cheer/Equestrian)
Pomeroy Athletic Leadership Award
Men's: Blake Patterson (Men's Track & Field),
Lane Sluder (Football)
Women's: Ariana Cruz (Volleyball),
Isabella Monnett (Equestrian)
Fall Sports Athletes of the Year
Men's: Adonimi Parker (Sprint Football)
Women's: Quinlan Teague (Cross Country)
Winter Sports Athletes of the Year
Men's: Mike Ajukwa (Men's Basketball)
Women's: Callee Riggle (Women's Track & Field)
Spring Sports Athletes of the Year
Men's: Yammiel Martinez (Men's Volleyball)
Women's: Renae Jaeger (Women's Golf),
Jaden Perry (Equestrian)
Overall Athletes of the Year
Men's: Jerahmia Smith (Men's Track & Field)
Women's: Karla Melendez (Women's Volleyball)
Smith earned the men's honor after a standout season that included NAIA All-American status and a top-five national finish in the shot put, while entering the outdoor championship season ranked among the top throwers in the country.
Melendez was named the women's recipient following a historic volleyball season in which she became the program's first NAIA All-American and led the Pomeroys to a 30-6 record and conference runner-up finish.
Season Highlights
Across all sports, SMWC programs continued to elevate their competitive standard during the 2025-26 campaign. Women's volleyball posted the highest winning percentage in program history (.833), while men's volleyball set a new benchmark for wins and hosted its first postseason match. Sprint football captured both regular season and playoff titles, and equestrian produced multiple national qualifiers.
Additional highlights included postseason appearances across multiple sports, record-breaking individual performances, and continued success in the classroom and community.
The Pomeroy Athletic Awards serve as a celebration of the dedication, resilience, and excellence displayed by SMWC student-athletes throughout the academic year.
