Celebrating Excellence: Maple Leafs shine at annual LEAFYs Awards Ceremony

MOMENT OF THE YEAR:  A notable play or moment by an individual or team.

Winner: Softball walks off against Michigan-Dearborn in nine innings at Space Coast Spring Games Legacy Game
The Legacy Game left a legacy in Goshen softball history, as the Leafs won an extra-inning thriller. In the ninth, Michigan-Dearborn went down 1-2-3 with two groundouts and a swinging strikeout. Shea VanScoter pitched the scoreless eighth and ninth innings for the Leafs. In the bottom of the ninth, Olivia Gibson was Goshen’s runner starting at second base and Ella Mcleod was first to bat. Gibson advanced to third on a wild pitch in the at-bat, and then Mcleod sent out a sacrifice fly to center and Gibson made it home in time to score the winning run. The game was played at the 8,100-seat Space Coast Stadium, the former spring training facility for the Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos and Washington Nationals.

FAN OF THE YEAR: Presented to a fan who inspires others through their love of Maple Leafs athletics and shows what it means to be a fan.

Winner: Leah Stoltzfus
Leah’s support of GC athletics, particularly the baseball team, is evident as she braves all the elements cheering for the team through the spring. Her support extends online through social media, encouraging our student-athletes and athletic department coaches and staff.

MEN’S HIGHEST TEAM GPA: presented to the men’s team with the highest GPA over the last year.

WINNER: Men’s Tennis
The men’s tennis team worked hard in the classroom last year, posting a cumulative team GPA of 3.533 for the 2023-24 school year.

WOMEN’S HIGHEST TEAM GPA: presented to the women’s team with the highest GPA over the last year.

WINNER: Women’s Cross Country – The women’s cross country team topped their LEAFY-winning 3.516 GPA from a year ago with an impressive 3.726 mark in the 2023-24 school year.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Presented to a coach that guided his or her team(s) to an exceptional athletic season.

WINNER: Rustin Nyce
Nyce led both cross country programs to their best finishes in program history with the women coming in 15th at the NAIA national championship and a 16th place finish on the men’s side – their fifth consecutive year at nationals as a team. The men were ranked as high as 11th during the season and placed third in the Crossroads League championship. The women beat two top ten schools at the national meet. He led Mathew Keitany to a national runner-up finish in the indoor mile and Mercy Chebet was third in the NAIA in the indoor 5,000 meters. The Goshen cross country and track & field programs were two of the 42 NAIA programs recognized by the USTFCCCA in their Program of the Year rankings, a combined measure of the institutions finish at the NAIA Championships for the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons.

LIVE FULL AWARD: Presented to a student-athlete who exemplifies the athletic department core values of faith, unity, learning and leadership.

WINNER: Zion Neat

MAPLE LEAF COURAGE AWARD: Presented to a student-athlete who exemplifies the mental strength required to persevere through difficulty.

WINNER: Alisyn Catenacci 
Catenacci put up impressive numbers even after her thyroid cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2022. She was Honorable Mention All-Conference this past season.

MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Presented to an athletic standing first-year male student-athlete with the most outstanding athletic contribution this year.

WINNER: Bruno Barac
Barac was third in the league in block assists and made the WHAC All-Freshman team and Second-Team All-Conference. He was the WHAC Defender of the Week for March 11-17.

FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Presented to an athletic standing first-year female student-athlete with the most outstanding athletic contribution this year.

WINNER: Blanka Bodo
Bodo was First-Team All-Conference and had a 14-6 singles record and 9-9 mark in doubles. She made it to the quarterfinals of the ITA Regional Tournament in singles and upset the #5 seed in three sets during the tournament.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Presented to a male student-athlete who had an exceptional athletic season.

WINNER: Mathew Keitany
Keitany was a four-time All-American this school year (indoor mile, indoor distance medley relay, outdoor 4×800-meter relay and outdoor 3,000m steeplechase) and an eight-time national qualifier. He was the conference Cross Country Runner of the Week twice and once for the Indoor Track & Field Track Athlete of the Week. He was First-Team All-Conference in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field and most notably was the NAIA national runner-up in the indoor mile.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Presented to a female student-athlete who had an exceptional athletic season.

WINNER: Annika Alderfer Fisher
Alderfer Fisher was a three-time All-American (indoor mile, outdoor 4×800-meter relay and outdoor 1,500 meters) and a six-time national qualifier. She was First-Team All-Conference in the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons, was a two-time Crossroads League Outdoor Track & Field Track Athlete of the Week and did so once more during the indoor season.

JOHN INGOLD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: Presented to a male senior student-athlete who has had an outstanding athletic career, while exemplifying leadership, excelling in academics, and contributing to the GC community.

WINNER: Nelson Kemboi

RUTH GUNDEN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: Presented to a female senior student-athlete who has had an outstanding athletic career, while exemplifying leadership, excelling in academics, and contributing to the GC community.

WINNER: Annika Alderfer Fisher