Last Thursday evening, as the calendar flipped to May 1, our athletics staff and coaches convened in the Cougar Pavilion to celebrate the 62 student-athletes that are graduating from SIUE in 2024-25. Our inaugural Student-Athlete Graduation Ceremony provided an opportunity to celebrate both our legacy of student-athlete graduation success and the individual and collective accomplishments of the Class of 2025.
At SIUE, we are exceptionally proud of our commitment to the academic success and graduation of our student-athletes. Our student-athletes have combined for a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in 37 consecutive semesters. Since becoming a Division I institution, we have been among the nation's best at graduation success rate of student-athletes. In fact, based on the most recent metrics released by the NCAA tracking student-athlete graduation rates, SIUE currently ranks second nationally and first in Illinois among public institutions.
The Class of 2025 adds to this legacy, with 62 student-athletes earning 73 total bachelor's and master's degrees. The group brought diversity in their backgrounds and their experiences, representing 14 different states and six different countries.
They are an accomplished group of young men and women – individually and collectively, and athletically and academically.
As individual student-athletes, this group includes record breakers, champions, and future Hall of Famers. Their athletic accolades are impressive, and they are subject to change as baseball, softball, and track and field continue their strong seasons. The accomplishments include but are not limited to:
- 16 conference champions
- 4 OVC Tournament MVPs – Ignacio Abeal (MSOC), Sidney Christopher (WSOC), Nic Muench (MSOC), Ray'Sean Taylor (MBB)
- 3 OVC Athletes of the Year – Matea Diekema (WSOC), Steph Moreira (MSOC), Ray'Sean Taylor (MBB)
- 15 OVC Players/Athletes of the Week
- 9 All-Conference selections
- 1 Two-Time national wrestling qualifier – Caleb Tyus (Wrestling)
In the classroom, the numbers are even more eye-catching. The group combined for a cumulative GPA of 3.362, with 44% earning a spot on the SIUE Dean's List. Additionally, eight of the graduates earned the OVC Medal of Honor, an annual honor recognizing the student-athlete(s) who achieve the highest GPA in a Conference-sponsored sport.
There are members of this class (listed below) that will pursue professional careers playing their respective sport. Others are headed to postgraduate schools to continue their education. Others are ready to begin their careers and their first full-time job. A few others have eligibility and will continue to compete as college athletes.
We invited this exceptional group to stay engaged with SIUE – by staying in touch, by coming back to see us, by giving back to their alma mater, and most importantly, by staying engaged with each other.
Please join me in wishing them our best and thanking them for all that they have given us in and out of competition during their time as Cougars.
Once A Cougar, Always A Cougar!
Andrew
SIUE Graduating Student-Athletes
FALL 2024
Men's Soccer:
Nacho Abeal, Business Administration Management
Jacob Bilyeu, Master of Science in Kinesiology - Exercise and Sport Psychology
Pavel Dashin, Masters of Business Administration
Nic Muench, Business Administration Management
Women's Soccer:
Sidney Christopher, Business Administration Management
Baseball:
Kyle Ratliff, Integrative Studies
Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field:
Sade Oladipupo, Speech and Language Pathology
Women's Volleyball:
Gabi Andrade, Masters of Public Administration
Sydney Hummert, Psychology
Ainsley Ranstead, Business Administration Finance
Women's Basketball:
Sophie Lowis, Exercise Science
Molly Sheehan, Psychology
SPRING 2025
Men's Soccer:
Jacobo Sanfeliu, Business Administration Management
Stephan Moreira, Business Administration Management
Softball:
Piper Montgomery, Exercise Science
Lauryn Yslava, Accountancy
Danielle Shuey, Exercise Science
Kaylynn Salyars, Sociology
Madison Kearns, Psychology
Wrestling:
Caine Tyus, Exercise Science
Caleb Tyus, Exercise Science
Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field:
Courtney Anthonies, Exercise Science
Sheena Cumberbatch, Environmental Science Toxicology
Allison Sanders, Pharmeceutical Chemistry
Gabby Yaccino, Applied Communication Studies
Jazmyn Zurita, Computer Science
Men's Cross Country/ Track & Field:
Taylor Lehman, Business Administration Management
Women's Soccer:
Savannah DeFini, Business Administration Management
Matea Diekema, Masters of Business Administration & Masters of Public Health
Mary Fetter, Business Administration Marketing
Kasey Neidhart, Construction Management
Kaitlyn Nichols, Integrative Biology
Baseball:
Kyle Athmer, Civil Engineering
Tyler Davis, Business Administration
Liam McKillop, Applied Communication Studies
Gabe Nutter, Business Administration Marketing
Alex Rodriguez, Integrative Studies
John Stallcup, Masters of Business Administration Management
Golf:
Alex Eickhoff, Exercise Science
Women's Volleyball:
Corinna Jones, Integrative Studies
Kyndia Smith, Accountancy
Women's Basketball:
KK Rodriguez, Masters of Business Administration Management
Halle Smith, Applied Communication Studies
Men's Basketball:
Eddie Tirado, Integrative Studies
Declan Dillion, Masters of Science in Kinesiology - Physical Education and Coaching Pedagogy
Des Polk, Masters of Science in Kinesiology - Exercise and Sport Psychology
Ray Taylor, Masters of Science in Kinesiology - Exercise and Sport Psychology
Cheer and Dance:
Kendyll Chigi, Civil Engineering
Mackenzie Conrad, Accountancy
Ava Oetjen, Elementary Education
Ella Stump, Business Administration Marketing
SUMMER 2025
Wrestling:
Deron Pulliam, Criminal Justice Studies
Men's Track & Field:
Chase Burston, Mass Communications
Baseball:
Lane Crowden, Integrative Studies
Gage Franck, Business Administration
Matthew Gist, Business Administration
Josh Heyder, Criminal Justice Studies
Duncan McLaughlin, Exercise Science
Mack Mitchell, Business Administration Management
Kyle Rossy, Exercise Science
Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field:
Sophia Harrison, Masters of Business Administration Business Analytics
Golf:
Brent Reintjes, Business Administration Marketing
