Traditions
Annual awards
RUFUS AWARD
Given annually to a community member who selflessly advances the Red Wolves athletic program. The award is open to an individual or business.
2008-09 - Troy Derengowski, NewsTalk 930 WHON-AM
2009-10 - Dr. Gregory Woods and the team at Reid Sports Medicine
2010-11 - Wayne Bank and Trust Co.
2011-12 - Chad Bolser, Richmond High School athletic director
2012-13 - Angela Fairchild, IU East basketball scorekeeper and volunteer
2013-14 - Wetzel Family Auto Cruise
2014-15 - Seton Catholic High School
2015-16 - John Dils, Family Fitness Works
2016-17 - Kyle Tom, Lingle Real Estate
2017-18 - First Bank Richmond
2018-19 - G101-3
ACADEMIC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Given annually to the male and female student-athlete with the highest GPA. Athlete must be at least a Junior athletically. Athlete must be enrolled at IU East for at least three semesters.
Female
2008-09 - Brittani Foreman (women's volleyball)
2009-10 - No award
2010-11 - Kelsey West (cross country)
2011-12 - Shawna Smith (cross country)
2012-13 - Kristin Waechter (volleyball)
2013-14 - Cheltsi Hinners (tennis)
2014-15 - Mallory Livingston (volleyball)
2015-16 - Mallory Livingston (volleyball)
2016-17 - Mackenzie Boles (track and field)
2017-18 - Bre Nowak (golf)
2018-19 - Bre Nowak (golf) & Krystal Schmidt (tennis)
2019-20 - Krystal Schmidt (tennis)
Male
2008-09 - Mark Bevins (golf)
2009-10 - Mark Bevins (golf)
2010-11 - Devon Niehoff (basketball)
2011-12 - Devon Niehoff (basketball)
2012-13 - Hubie Branstetter (golf)
2013-14 - Cameron Cox (golf)
2014-15 - Kyle Hall (cross country/track & field)
2015-16 - Kyle Hall (cross country/track and field)
2016-17 - Lucas Huffman (basketball)
2017-18 - Lucas Huffman (basketball)
2018-19 - Ben Tinkle (golf)
2019-20 - David Bennett (tennis)
CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER
Given annually to the student-athlete that best exemplifies the five core champions of character traits: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
2008-09 - Devon Niehoff (men's basketball)
2009-10 - Tyler Rigby (men's basketball)
2010-11 - David Sanders (men's basketball)
2011-12 - Drew Houck (men's golf)
2012-13 - Kristin Smith (women's golf)
2013-14 - Tyler Fangman (men's basketball)
2014-15 - Keragan Niehoff (women's basketball)
2015-16 - Breanna Nowak (women's golf)
2016-17 - Sage Henderson (men's track and field)
2017-18 - Sarah Hornak (women's cross country/track and field)
2018-19 - Dustin Reynolds (men's track & field)
2019-20 - Addie Brown (women's basketball)
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Given annually to an exemplary athlete voted on by the coaches, athletic staff and local media. Athlete must have participated in a Champions of Character event. Athlete can be from any academic class.
Female
2008-09 - Amy Stultz (volleyball)
2009-10 - Brianna "Breezy" Strete (volleyball)
2010-11 - Lauren Crump (volleyball)
2011-12 - Lauren Crump (volleyball)
2012-13 - Lauren Crump (volleyball)
2013-14 - Mallory Livingston (volleyball)
2014-15 - Mallory Livingston (volleyball)
2015-16 - Mallory Livingston (volleyball)
2016-17 - Tia King (basketball)
2017-18 - Bre Nowak (golf)
2018-19 - Bre Nowak (golf)
2019-20 - Dejhanna O'Bryant (women's soccer)
Male
2008-09 - Tyler Rigby (basketball)
2009-10 - Tyler Rigby (basketball)
2010-11 - Tyler Rigby (basketball)
2011-12 - Marcus Isaac (basketball)
2012-13 - David Sanders (track and field)
2013-14 - Joey Smart (golf)
2014-15 - Huston Clark (basketball)
2015-16 - Lucas Huffman (basketball)
2016-17 - Seth Reynolds (track and field)
2017-18 - Seth Reynolds (track and field)
2018-19 - Seth Reynolds (track and field)
2019-20 - Bishop Smith (men's basketball)
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AWARDS
The purpose and mission of the IU East SAAC is to serve as a voice for all student-athletes and an opportunity for the student-athlete population to more effectively communicate with the IU East Athletic Department administration. As a recognized organization of Indiana University East, SAAC educates the student body by offering activities and events to the general university community. SAAC held its first end-of-year banquet in 2016
2015-16
Heart Award - Matt Flood (men's track and field)
Leadership Award - Tia King (women's basketball)
Coach of the Year - Tiffani Selhorst (women's basketball)
Best Performance - Parker Salinas (men's basketball) - game-winning putback at West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Best Moment - Men's basketball national tournament quarterfinals victory vs. Briar Cliff University
2016-17
Newcomer of the Year - Salvador Campos (men's cross country/track & field)
Leadership Award - Clint Swanson (men's track & field)
Coach of the Year - Tiffani Selhorst (women's basketball)
Best Performance - Seth Reynolds (men's track and field) earned All-America honors with sixth-place finish in 110 meter hurdles at NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships
Heart Award - Ray Ramsey (men's basketball)
Best Moment Award - IU East women's basketball winning River States Conference tournament championship on home floor after heartbreaking losses in championship game the previous two years
IU East Athletic Committee Appreciation Awards - Sage Henderson (men's track and field) and Morgan Steinbrunner (volleyball)
2017-18
Newcomer of the Year - Dumi Kumwenda (men's soccer)
Leadership Award - Jacoby Claypool (men's basketball)
Rufus Award - First Bank Richmond
Coach of the Year - Mark Hester (men's basketball)
Best Performance Award - Jaylen McKay (men's basketball) game-tying shot at the overtime buzzer to force double overtime in IU East's eventual NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Championship quarterfinal victory against Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Heart Award - Salvador Campos (men's cross country/track & field)
Strength of the Pack Award - Kaylee Cox (four-year table crew) & Kaleb Gillock (four-year broadcaster)
Best Moment Award - IU East volleyball winning River States Conference tournament championship on home floor
2018-19
Newcomer of the Year - Will Mundy (men's track and field)
Leadership Award - Ray Ramsey (men's basketball)
Rufus Award - G101-3
Coach of the Year - Gus Schmader (track and field)
Best Performance Award - Men's basketball victory at No. 1-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University to start the season
Heart Award - Bailey Dreiman (women's basketball)
Strength of the Pack Award - Taylor Webster and Sarah Hornak (four-year table crew) & Kaylin Smith (three-year table crew, graduating in three years)
Best Moment Award - Seth Reynolds performing despite an injury and earning River States Conference Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and then All-America honors at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships
2019-20
Leadership Award - Dustin Reynolds (men's track & field)
Newcomer of the Year - Kelsea Joseph (women's soccer)
Best Moment Award - Men's Track & Field River States Conference indoor championship - first team conference title in program history
Men's Senior Academic Athlete - Keating Rombach (men's basketball)
Women's Senior Academic Athlete - Krystal Schmidt (women's tennis)
Best Performance Award - Women's Soccer River States Conference championship - first conference title in program history in just third year for the program
Heart Award - Julian Short (men's basketball)
Coach of the Year - Gus Schmader (track & field)
Champion of Character - Addie Brown (women's basketball)
2020-21
Leadership Award - Manuel Roman (men's tennis)
Newcomer Award - Francisco Faundez (men's tennis)
Best Moment - Women's Tennis - first conference regular season and tournament titles
Academic Athlete - Joao Vitor de Lima (men's soccer)
Best Performance - Jessica Swimm (volleyball) school record for kills in a match
Heart Award - Trevor Lenke (men's soccer)
Coach of the Year - Kim McConaha (volleyball)
Champion of Character - Max Faundez (men's tennis)