The University of Akron Athletics
Baumer and Hardman Earn MAC Medal of Excellence Honors
May 21 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Lacrosse
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Twenty-six Mid-American Conference (MAC) student-athletes will be presented with the Medal of Excellence Award during the 2026 Honors Dinner Ceremony at the Cleveland Hotel as part of MAC Spring Meetings on Thursday, May 29th.
Katie Baumer and Bowen Hardman will represent the Zips.
Baumer is a four-year member of the Akron lacrosse team maintaining a 3.758 GPA in media studies. A team captain and three-time Academic All-MAC honoree, she has appeared in 64 career games, including 56 starts and has netted 83 goals, 40 assists and 123 points on the strength of 194 shots, including 143 on goal. She has added 199 draw controls, 103 ground balls and a program record 75 caused turnovers. A year ago, she earned Second-Team All-MAC honors as well as being named the MAC Tournament MVP and to the MAC All-Tournament team. Additionally, she is rated second at Akron program history in draw controls (199), fourth in total goals (83), total points (123), career assists (40), total shots (194), shots on goal (143) and in ground balls (103).
Hardman is a two-year member of the Akron men's basketball team, maintaining a 3.892 GPA in Sport Coaching and Athletics Leadership. An Academic All-MAC and CSC Academic All-District Team honoree, he appeared in 70 career games, including 15 starts, and averaged 7.1 points per game, making 143 three-point field goals, while recording 90 rebounds, 13 steals, and 12 assists while wearing the Blue and Gold. In his time at Akron, Harman set career-highs in points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, fg made, 3s made and FT made.
The Medal of Excellence is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 13 Conference member institutions.
"These Medal of Excellence recipients represent the very best of the Mid-American Conference," said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. "Their success in academics and athletics, combined with their leadership and service, speaks to their character and commitment. We are proud to recognize the impact they continue to make on their campuses and in their communities."
To receive the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes must have participated at the varsity level in a Conference-sponsored sport, maintained a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA, and demonstrated excellence in athletics, leadership, and service. Honorees are selected by their respective institutions.
2026 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron
Bowen Hardman, Men's Basketball, Sport Coaching & Athletics Leadership, 3.892 GPA
Katie Baumer, Women's Lacrosse, Media Studies, 3.758 GPA
Ball State
Jacks Lancaster, Men's Tennis, BS in Finance, 3.815 GPA
Payton Kelly, Women's Swimming & Diving, BS in Exercise Science, 3.982 GPA
Bowling Green
Blane Cleaver, Football, MBA, 3.5 GPA
Jenna Lucas, Women's Track & Field, Systems Engineering, 3.97 GPA
Buffalo
Noah Batchelor, Men's Basketball, BA in Communication, 3.674 GPA
Sarah Woods, Women's Soccer, BA in Health & Human Services, 3.98 GPA
Central Michigan
Dakota Cochran, Football, Sport Management, 3.61 GPA
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Gymnastics, English, Language & Writing Major, 3.73 GPA
Eastern Michigan
Michael Pfeiffer, Baseball, Sport Management, 3.84 GPA
Annika Wozney, Women's Lacrosse, BS in Biology, minor in Psychology, 4.00 GPA
Kent State
Mattheus Carroll, Football, MBA/BA Communication Studies, 3.906 GPA
Zayda Crumpton, Women's Lacrosse, BS Exercise Science, 3.699 GPA
Massachusetts
Godot Gaskins, Men's Track & Field, Masters of Finance, 3.542 GPA
Myrte van Herwijnen, Field Hockey, Hospitality & Tourism Management BA, Psychology BA, 4.0 GPA
Miami
Carson Byers, Baseball, Human Capital Management & Leadership, 3.48 GPA
Riley Mazzalupi, Field Hockey, Bachelor's and Master's in Business Analytics, 3.89 GPA
Northern Illinois
Blake West, Wrestling, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology, 4.00 GPA
Kiera O'Shea, Gymnastics, Nursing, 4.00 GPA
Ohio
Jackson Paveletzke, Men's Basketball, Sports Management and Marketing, 3.550 GPA
Casadie DiBetta, Women's Swimming & Diving, Early Childhood Elementary Education & Coaching Education, 3.991 GPA
Toledo
Troy Sudbrook, Baseball, Bachelors of Business Admin. - Dual Major in Finance and Operations & Supply Chain Management, 4.00 GPA
Eliana Enriquez,Softball, Bachelors of Business Admin. - Management, 3.827 GPA
Western Michigan
Blake Bosma, Football, Food Marketing, 3.75 GPA
Mabinty Kebe, Women's Track & Field, Mindfulness and Centering Skills (Grad. Program), 3.92 GPA
Katie Baumer and Bowen Hardman will represent the Zips.
Baumer is a four-year member of the Akron lacrosse team maintaining a 3.758 GPA in media studies. A team captain and three-time Academic All-MAC honoree, she has appeared in 64 career games, including 56 starts and has netted 83 goals, 40 assists and 123 points on the strength of 194 shots, including 143 on goal. She has added 199 draw controls, 103 ground balls and a program record 75 caused turnovers. A year ago, she earned Second-Team All-MAC honors as well as being named the MAC Tournament MVP and to the MAC All-Tournament team. Additionally, she is rated second at Akron program history in draw controls (199), fourth in total goals (83), total points (123), career assists (40), total shots (194), shots on goal (143) and in ground balls (103).
Hardman is a two-year member of the Akron men's basketball team, maintaining a 3.892 GPA in Sport Coaching and Athletics Leadership. An Academic All-MAC and CSC Academic All-District Team honoree, he appeared in 70 career games, including 15 starts, and averaged 7.1 points per game, making 143 three-point field goals, while recording 90 rebounds, 13 steals, and 12 assists while wearing the Blue and Gold. In his time at Akron, Harman set career-highs in points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, fg made, 3s made and FT made.
The Medal of Excellence is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 13 Conference member institutions.
"These Medal of Excellence recipients represent the very best of the Mid-American Conference," said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. "Their success in academics and athletics, combined with their leadership and service, speaks to their character and commitment. We are proud to recognize the impact they continue to make on their campuses and in their communities."
To receive the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes must have participated at the varsity level in a Conference-sponsored sport, maintained a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA, and demonstrated excellence in athletics, leadership, and service. Honorees are selected by their respective institutions.
2026 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
Akron
Bowen Hardman, Men's Basketball, Sport Coaching & Athletics Leadership, 3.892 GPA
Katie Baumer, Women's Lacrosse, Media Studies, 3.758 GPA
Ball State
Jacks Lancaster, Men's Tennis, BS in Finance, 3.815 GPA
Payton Kelly, Women's Swimming & Diving, BS in Exercise Science, 3.982 GPA
Bowling Green
Blane Cleaver, Football, MBA, 3.5 GPA
Jenna Lucas, Women's Track & Field, Systems Engineering, 3.97 GPA
Buffalo
Noah Batchelor, Men's Basketball, BA in Communication, 3.674 GPA
Sarah Woods, Women's Soccer, BA in Health & Human Services, 3.98 GPA
Central Michigan
Dakota Cochran, Football, Sport Management, 3.61 GPA
Luciana Alvarado-Reid, Gymnastics, English, Language & Writing Major, 3.73 GPA
Eastern Michigan
Michael Pfeiffer, Baseball, Sport Management, 3.84 GPA
Annika Wozney, Women's Lacrosse, BS in Biology, minor in Psychology, 4.00 GPA
Kent State
Mattheus Carroll, Football, MBA/BA Communication Studies, 3.906 GPA
Zayda Crumpton, Women's Lacrosse, BS Exercise Science, 3.699 GPA
Massachusetts
Godot Gaskins, Men's Track & Field, Masters of Finance, 3.542 GPA
Myrte van Herwijnen, Field Hockey, Hospitality & Tourism Management BA, Psychology BA, 4.0 GPA
Miami
Carson Byers, Baseball, Human Capital Management & Leadership, 3.48 GPA
Riley Mazzalupi, Field Hockey, Bachelor's and Master's in Business Analytics, 3.89 GPA
Northern Illinois
Blake West, Wrestling, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology, 4.00 GPA
Kiera O'Shea, Gymnastics, Nursing, 4.00 GPA
Ohio
Jackson Paveletzke, Men's Basketball, Sports Management and Marketing, 3.550 GPA
Casadie DiBetta, Women's Swimming & Diving, Early Childhood Elementary Education & Coaching Education, 3.991 GPA
Toledo
Troy Sudbrook, Baseball, Bachelors of Business Admin. - Dual Major in Finance and Operations & Supply Chain Management, 4.00 GPA
Eliana Enriquez,Softball, Bachelors of Business Admin. - Management, 3.827 GPA
Western Michigan
Blake Bosma, Football, Food Marketing, 3.75 GPA
Mabinty Kebe, Women's Track & Field, Mindfulness and Centering Skills (Grad. Program), 3.92 GPA
Players Mentioned
MF/D
/ Women's Lacrosse
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