SEATTLE - Seattle U celebrated another impressive year in the athletic department with its annual award show, the Rudy's, honoring all the accomplishments on the field and in the classroom.
The Rudy's began with the Seattle U service to athletics award. This year's recipient was Connor Hartley, Mental Health Counselor and liaison to Athletics. His leading of sleep workshops, injury recovery support groups, Redhawk Pride design, life after sport sessions, individual team meetings, and countless other programs were highlighted by the Seattle U Sports Medicine team.
The D'Vonne Pickett Jr. Individual and Team Mission Awards went to Ryan Cesmat of men's swimming and both the Redhawk men’s and women’s swimming teams. Cesmat, a junior, spent over 100 hours of community service during the past year. In addition to his service at St. Francis House, Ryan served at a Swim Across America event, at No More Under swim safety series and on move-in day.
Men’s and women’s swimming took home the team portion of the award this year, as the team helped complete over 497 hours of service, making an economic impact of $18,000. Their work includes, but is not limited to, No More Under swim safety lessons, Swim Across America for Cancer Research, and volunteering at Seattle children’s Hospital’s patient drop-in playroom.
Jacob Kang of men’s golf and Jaelyn Byeman of women’s soccer took home the Freshman of the Year awards. Kang was named to the WCC All-Conference Honorable Mention team due to his 3rd place finish at the WCC Tournament. He was a regular in the top 5 all season, including a top 10 and top 15 individual finish in pre-WCC tournaments.
Byeman was named to the WCC All-Freshman team, starting at center back in every match of the season. She led the backline that propelled the Redhawks to finish 4th in the WCC and put up five clean sheets.
Men’s basketball’s win over Washington for the second year in a row took home Competition of the Year, as the Redhawks knocked off their crosstown rivals, 70-66, at Climate Pledge Arena in a nationally televised game.
The TREX award saw its fourth ever recipient, as Brooklyn Jones of softball was named for the 2025-26 year. Jones embodied what the Redhawk Experience stands for serving as SAAC president.
For the 2025-26 Athlete of the Year, Will Heimbrodt of men’s basketball and Caroline Penner of women’s soccer took home the awards. Heimbrodt was selected as the WCC Defensive Player of the Year after ranking among the nation’s top shot blockers all season long. His 90 blocks set a Seattle U single-season record, as he helped lead the Redhawks to 21 wins and an opening round win in the NIT.
Penner was named the WCC Offensive Player of the Year after her historic 2025 season. She recorded 17 goals, six assists, and 40 points. Her 17 goals ranked 6th in the nation, helping her earn NSCAA All-Region honors.
Myah Polzin of women's soccer was the recipient of the Elgin Baylor Inspiration Award, as announced by her coach, Julie Woodward. Despite fighting through multiple season ending injuries, Polzin has been the definition of resilient. Fighting through her adversity, she was called up to represent the Guam National Team in an international tournament.
The final award of the night was the Eddie O'Brien Student Athlete of the Year Awards. Lars Thorne-Thomsen, a senior on the men's soccer team took home the award on the men’s side. He was second on the team in goals scored and total points, including a goal against Pacific in the Redhawks first win in the WCC. In the classroom, he holds a 3.9 cumulative GPA, majoring in finance. He is the portfolio manager for the Redhawk fund and was the flag bearer for the Albers School of Business at the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Caroline Penner, a senior on the women’s soccer team, was also named a recipient. She was the WCC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-WCC. In the classroom, she will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. She will depart Seattle U with a 4.0 cumulative GPA and the recipient of the 2026 Seattle U Presidents Award. She was also named an Academic All-American. She also founded a local non-profit to help teens suffering from sever acne.