Men's cross country/track and field graduate student Evan Graff and women's lacrosse redshirt junior Madison McGriff have been tabbed the 2022-23 University of Colorado Colorado Springs Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, announced Tuesday morning.  The award is given to the top male and female student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom and made a significant impact for their programs.
 

Evan Graff, Cross Country/Track & Field (Graduate Student, Montrose, Colo. / Montrose HS)

"It has been a pleasure to have Evan on the team the past five years," commented UCCS men's cross country head coach/track and field assistant coach Mark Misch. "He has represented UCCS with class and integrity as a competitor, student, captain and teammate. His school records, field house records, accolades and achievements don't really come close to measuring his impact on the program. We were fortunate that he chose UCCS and he will leave a great legacy for the men on the team in the years to come."
 
2022-23 Season Highlights

• First Team All-America in the mile (Indoor)
• Second Team All-America in the DMR (Indoor)
• RMAC Male Track Athlete of the Year (Indoor)
• All-RMAC First Team in the 3000m run (Indoor)
• All-RMAC First Team (Cross Country)
• USTFCCCA All-South Central Region in the Mile, 3000m, and DMR (Indoor)
• USTFCCCA All-South Central Region (Cross Country)
• RMAC Men's Track Athlete of the Week (Jan. 24^th)
• RMAC All-Academic First Team (Indoor, Cross Country)
• Finished seventh in the mile at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships

Career Highlights

• 6x Track & Field National Qualifier
• 3x Cross Country National Qualifier
• First Team All-America in the mile (Indoor)
• Second Team All-America in the Mile, DMR (Indoor)
• RMAC Male Track Athlete of the Year (Indoor)
• 3x USTFCCCA All-Academic
• School record holder in the Mile (Indoor), DMR (Indoor) and 1500mm (Outdoor)
• Mountain Lion Fieldhouse Facility Record Holder in the Mile (4:11.20)
• 5x All-RMAC Track & Field First Team
• All-RMAC Cross Country First Team
• 2x All-RMAC Track & Field Second Team
• 4x USTFCCCA Track & Field All-South Central Region
• 3x USTFCCCA Cros Country All-South Central Region
• RMAC Men's Track Athlete of the Week (Jan. 24^th)
• 2x RMAC All-Academic First Team
• 7x RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll

 

Madison McGriff, Women's Lacrosse (Redshirt-Junior, Goalkeeper, Lakewood, Colo. / Bear Creek HS)

 
"Madi is an inspiration to every high school athlete whose college path was not what they dreamed of," commented UCCS women's lacrosse head coach Melissa Rausch. "In the fall of her freshman year, she was just a student at UCCS and not a part of the lacrosse program. Due to injuries, we needed to find a goalie and we heard she was on campus, so we reached out. From the moment she stepped onto the field and became a student athlete she has done nothing but work hard and be a strong part of our team on and off the field. To go from a student, to a walk-on student-athlete, to an all-conference, to an All-American speaks to her dedication, work ethic and athleticism. More importantly she is one of the most caring and thoughtful people I have had the pleasure of coaching. UCCS is a better place because of her; we are truly blessed that she has chosen to go to grad school for her fifth year and continue to be a part of the UCCS community. "
 
2023 Season Highlights and Statistics

• US Lacrosse Pre-Season All-American
• RMAC Defensive Player of the Week (March 1 and April 3)
• Leads the RMAC in saves per game (11.69) and is sixth in Division II
• Ranks second in Division II for most saves (187)
• Leads the RMAC in ground balls per game (4.3) and is second in Division II
• Ranks second in the league in save percentage (.447)

 
Career Highlights

• CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large First Team
• RMAC Co-Goalie of the Year
• All-RMAC First Team
• RMAC Women's Lacrosse Academic Player of the Year
• RMAC All-Academic First Team
• All-Time program record holder in saves (440), saves per game (9.8), save percentage (.470), and wins (19)
• Individual season record holder in saves (187, 2023), saves per game (11.7, 2023), and wins (9, 2022)
• 7x RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
• RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
• RMAC All-Tournament Team
  
   

2022-23 UCCS Award Winners
April 19 – Thomas F. McLaughlin Award (Audrey Bloomquist, Women's Track & Field and Dakota Abbott, Men's Track & Field)
May 1 – Athletes of the Year (Kate Hedlund, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field and Field & Kolby Raineri, Men's Soccer)
May 2 – Student-Athletes of the Year (Evan Graff, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field and Madison McGriff, Women's Lacrosse)
May 3 – Newcomers of the Year
May 4 – Director of Athletics Award