ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Webster University Athletics held its annual Gorlok Awards on Monday, May 5. The Gorlok Awards are led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). SAAC Team Representatives nominate and vote on nine of the awards while the department's coaches and staff nominate and vote on the other seven awards for the evening. This year, four student-athletes served as the hosts: Danny Nusinovic, SAAC President; Claire Williams, SAAC VP;
Isabella Dickneite, SAAC PR/Social Media Officer; and Grace Rodgers, SLIAC SAAC President.
The department awards include the Chancellor's Award, Scholar Athlete of the Year, Inspiration Award, Record-Breaking Performance, Golden Gorlok, Male Athlete of the Year, and Female Athlete of the Year. The students nominated and voted on awards include Best Win, Best Play, Funniest Athlete, Best Social Media Post, Best Road Trip Picture, Breakout Athlete, 6th Man/Woman of the Year, Best Teammate, and Coach of the Year. In addition,
Matt Saitz, Strength & Conditioning Coach annually awards student-athletes who have put in the extra work and have excelled in the weight room the Strength & Conditioning Award. This year, Athletico Physical Therapy who has been assisting Webster with athletic training coverage this year, presented the Sports Medicine Perseverance Award to
Olivia Powell, Volleyball and
Isabella Dickneite, Women's Soccer.
The Chancellor's Award is awarded to an excellent person, student and athlete. This student must set an example of leadership, dedication, values, and concern for others. This year's Chancellor's Award was presented to Mason Young, Baseball.
The Scholar Athlete of the Year is presented to a student-athlete who excels both in and out of the classroom. This year's Student-Athlete of the Year Award to Cassie Gray, Volleyball. Cassie graduated in three and a half years with an impressive 3.99 GPA. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Advertising/Marketing, a certificate in Interactive Marketing Communication and a certificate in Social Media Management.
The Inspiration Award is presented to the student-athlete who has displayed a positive attitude, high personal motivation, will and drive which impacts the Webster University Athletics Department. This year's winner was Karl Moore, Jr., Men's Basketball.
The next set of awards were presented by our student-athletes.
Most-Well Rounded Team: Volleyball
Best Play: At the Illinois College Volleyball Tournament
Megan Zablonski, Jaycee Lewis, and
Ellie Biedenstein scramble play to win us the point to help bring us back in the game against Carroll University
Best Win: Men's Soccer beating NCAA Division II, Rockhurst at Rockhurst, 2-1
Funniest Athlete: Khamyri "KJ" Jordan, Women's Basketball
Best Social Media Post: Softball's TikTok of their 2025 Walk Up Songs (
Softball TikTok)
Best Road Trip Picture: Grace Rose, Women's Track & Field taking a nap after her throws
Breakout Athlete: Lili Work, Softball
6th Man/Woman of the Year: Adriana Rodriguez, Softball
Best Teammate: Danny Nusinovic, Men's Soccer
Record-Breaking Performance: Evan Evola and
R.J. LaRocco, Baseball for surpassing 200 hits in their career
Coach of the Year: Jordan Olufson, Women's Basketball
Golden Gorlok: Isabella Dickneite, Women's Soccer
The final awards of the night were the Male and Female Athletes of the Year. The Athlete of the Year is presented to one male and one female student-athlete who displays excellence in one or more sports, is in good academic standing and has an attitude and character that represents the ideals of the Webster Intercollegiate Athletics Program.
The 2024-2025 Male Athlete of the Year is Joel Arsenault. Per Head Coach, Bill Kurich, "Joel is the best pitcher on our team. His transition two years ago to a low sidearm action give the hitter a difficult time in the box. Joel is one of our older guys on the team, which makes him an excellent role model to look up to. He has spent so much time in the bullpen getting ready that he also helps manage the chaos. Joel is a good student and even balances a job between lifting, playing, and going to class." At the time of the Gorlok Awards, he was sitting at 52 strikeouts in only 31.2 innings pitched. His ERA of 1.71 was one of the lowest in the SLIAC. Joel became the All-Time Career Saves Leader at Webster with his 13th save against Rose-Hulman on April 16, 2025. He became the All-Time Single Season Saves Leader against Greenville University on April 18, 2025 recording his 10th save. Against Fontbonne University on May 4, 2025, Joel became the NCAA Division III Baseball Regular Season Saves Leader with 11 saves.
The 2024-2025 Female Athlete of the Year is
Isabella Dickneite is a model student-athlete and respected team leader. Bella started every game and never once asked out of a game. Bella was a player who never backed down from a challenge and was always looking forward to helping her teammates succeed. Bella was a 2024 SLIAC First Team All-Conference selection, SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches Association All Region. Bella became just the third student-athlete on the team and fourth in conference history to be named SLIAC First Team, Defensive Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches Association All-Region. Coach
Luigi Scire said, "Bella exemplifies the best and brightest at Webster, a strong leader, highly competitive and a solid citizen. I am honored to have the privilege to coach Bella Dickneite."
Webster University Athletics also inducted our 2025 Chi Alpha Sigma class. Chi Alpha Sigma is an athletics honor society that recognizes and rewards high academic scholarship and achievement by varsity sport student-athletes and encourages good citizenship moral character. This year 29 student-athletes were inducted.
To close out the awards ceremony, 57 student-athletes who were in attendance and would be graduating were recognized. They received a Student-Athlete graduation stole and a Webster University padfolio.
