PLU Celebrates Student Success at the 2025 Luteys

The Pacific Lutheran University Athletic Department celebrated the student-athlete success last Monday, hosting the annual Lutey's Awards Show. 

The first award was the George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award which honors the senior student-athlete with the top grade point average.

Meet the George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award Finalists…

A biology and chemistry major, Grady Lemma is a three-time NWC Champion and a 10-time All-Conference selection. A 4.0 student, Lemma is a Ramstad Scholar and has been on the dean’s list for seven semesters.

Meet the George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award Finalists…

Annika Deazley and Kayden Hulquist both win the George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award after both finished with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. 

Meet the George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award Finalists…

EMMETT HOLT
The sociology major made an immediate impact after transferring from Jessup University. Holt earned First Team All-Conference honors and was a CSC Academic All-District selection after averaging 10.9 points per game for the Lutes, helping the team punch a ticket to the NWC Tournament. 

Meet the George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award Finalists…

AYRE TAKAMOTO
The biology major was one of just two student-athletes to earn First Team All-Conference honors this fall. Takamoto led the conference in both assists and assists per set and was second on the team in aces, helping PLU advance to the NWC Tournament Championship for the second straight season. Takamoto was a consistent presence on the court, playing in all 27 matches and in 102 of the team’s 103 sets played this season. 

CARSON BURKE & CAMERON AMOROSO
Burke and Amoroso both but others before themselves this spring, both donating life saving stem cells to a blood cancer patient in need. Baseball's Carson Burke did so during the baseball season, belting three home runs in a home series win over Lewis & Clark before flying to Houston while Amoroso stepped up later in the spring, heading to Seattle to give a life saving donation. The Lutes have now had five student-athletes donate through the on-campus Be the Match donor drives with the National Marrow Donor Project. 

Salute to the NWC Champions!

PLU won two NWC team titles and had three student-athletes combine to win four individual NWC titles during the 2024-2025 academic year. 

KAYDEN HULQUIST
A four-time Northwest Conference Champion, Hulquist has made an impact on and off the field. Hulquist helped co-found the PLU chapter of The Hidden Opponent— a national organization that raises awareness for athlete mental health and wellness. Hulquist was instrumental in organizing THO awareness games over the past two years. 

JONATHAN COHEN
A member of the baseball team over the last five seasons, Cohen has done it all. An All-Conference pitcher as a first-year, Cohen helped out behind the scenes for the baseball program, was active with THO, and worked as a student worker for the athletic communications office— appearing on broadcasts and as a public address announcer for several sports. 

JAIDA WOOD
Wood was the glue of the PLU women's basketball team over the past four seasons. Wood made an impact on the court for the Lutes but had arguably a bigger influence away from the court, serving as an athletic training aide, and working the front desk at Names Fitness Center. 

Meet the Athlete of the Year Finalists…

RYAN STRACKE
The education major was named the NWC Outstanding Track Athlete this spring after setting the school record in the 10,000-meter run and winning conference titles in both the 10,000-meters and 5,000-meters while placing fourth in the 1,500-meters at the conference meet. 

Meet the Athlete of the Year Finalists…

HANNAH CECIL
The kinesiology major was the NWC Offensive Player of the Year, was a USC All-American, while earning First Team All-Region and All-Conference honors. Cecil became just the second Lute in program history to earn both USC All-American and USC Scholar All-American honors in the same season. 

Meet the Dr. David Olson Career Impact Award Finalists…

The Dr. David Olson Career Impact Award is named in honor of the former Athletic Director and Dean of the School of Physical Education at PLU from 1968 to 1996. Under Olson’s leadership, the Lutes won nine NAIA Championships, including three in football, three in women’s soccer, two in softball, and one in cross country. His career included the Lutes winning 167 conference titles while winning the NWC’s All-Sports Award 25 times. The Dr. David Olson Career Impact Award recognizes excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. 

GRADY LEMMA
Lemma is a three-time NWC Champion and a 10-time All-Conference selection for the Lutes on the track. The biology and chemistry major won the conference title in the 400-meter hurdles in 2022 and won both the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles at the 2024 NWC meet. Lemma was a national meet qualifier during the indoor season in the heptathlon and earned four All-Conference honors in both the 110 and 400 meter hurdles and was a two-time All-conference selection in the decathlon.

Meet the Dr. Sara Officer Career Impact Award Finalists…

The Dr. Sara Officer Career Impact Award is named in honor of the former PLU coach and administrator from 1967 to 1998. As one of the first female coaches on staff, she was the catalyst for the school's modern-day women's athletic program, starting and coaching a range of teams including basketball, volleyball, field hockey, tennis, and track & field. The Sara Officer Career Impact Award recognizes excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. 

HANNAH CECIL
Cecil was a two-time Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year, helping the Lutes win four conference titles and make four trips to the NCAA Tournament. A four-time First Team All-Conference selection, the kinesiology major was the NWC Freshman of the Year in 2021. A three-time All-Region selection, Cecil earned All-American and Scholar All-American honors this fall.