Voting Now Open for 2024 Annual Award Nominees

Molly Voska Awards, Committees, Midwestern Region, News, South Central Region, Southern & Atlantic Coastal Region, Western Region

Conducted by the Awards committee, a total of 116 nominations across all categories were submitted by peers. The top nominees are selected for the annual honors with a vote by the public in tandem with a board of directors vote.

Congratulations to all the nominees for our annual awards! Check out the nominations below for NCWSA Outstanding Leader of the Year, NCWSA Athlete of the Year, and NCWSA Team of the year!

Winners will be invited to the annual USA Water Ski & Wake Sports banquet and awards reception that will be held in Florida on January 25, 2025.

Voting is live through November 23, 2024 at 11:59pm PST.

Meet the nominees:

Leader of the Year

Alyssa Hinden

University of Kansas

Alyssa Hinden is an amazing fit for the 2024 Female Leader of the Year Award! She coordinates pretty much everything for the Kansas Water Ski Team. When the team travels to camping tournaments, she makes sure they are all up in time and ready to watch their skiers. She oversees the team’s social media and makes sure we are always posting and shouting out their wonderful sponsors at tournaments. She always ensures that everyone is taken care of, and she even brings extra medications (ibuprofen, Tylenol, allergy meds) in case someone forgets or needs it in an emergency. Additionally, she is an amazing coach and has taught numerous team members how to get up on skis and start competing in tournaments.

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Ella McCrumb

Michigan State University

Ella McCrumb from Michigan State truly deserves to be this year’s Female Leader of the Year! Ella joined the team and started competitively water skiing last year as a freshman, and you could tell she was going to be a leader on the team. This last season, she served on the executive board as the Public Relations Chair, and she was the only woman on the board! She has had a key role in team merch, events, recruitment, and more. She does it all out of her love for the team and desire for everyone to enjoy it as much as she does. She is such a hard worker and overall caring person, and she truly deserves this distinction!

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Ellie Williams

University of Michigan

University of Michigan’s very own Ellie Williams deserves to be this year’s Female Leader of the Year. She reacted to adversity at this year’s regionals and led her team admirably. Before Midwest regionals, it seemed that Michigan would qualify for nationals rather easily. However, when terrible conditions and bad luck tanked their slalom scores (their best event) she did not let it get to her or her team. She bolstered their spirits and motivated the other skiers on her team to believe they could qualify. She even took matters into her own hands by getting a personal best in jump and placing 2nd. While Michigan didn’t end up qualifying for Nationals, they fought until the finish line, and I believe that was in large part due to Ellie’s leadership.

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Hannah Larson

Texas A&M University

Hannah Larson from Texas A&M is an ideal fit for Female Leader of the Year! She is one of the most supportive skiers throughout the entire South Central Region, and everyone recognizes the value she brings to the collegiate water ski community. Hanna’s is always the person leading chants, playing music, and starting the dance party at every tournament! She loves her team tremendously, and she consistently strives to support everyone. She is the perfect portrayal of the NCWSA collegiate nationals’ spirit, and she was a key leader in taking her team to the Syndicate Spirit Runner-Up Award this year!

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Kelly Hill

Arizona State University

Kelly Hill, the Vice President of the ASU Water Ski Team, exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated leader. Her commitment to the team is unwavering, always putting the needs of the group before her own. Whether organizing practices, coordinating tournaments, or offering support to her teammates, Kelly consistently goes above and beyond. She leads by example, balancing her responsibilities with grace and ensuring that every member feels valued and motivated. Her commitment and ability to inspire others make her a great leader, driving the team toward success both on and off the water. She loves her team with her whole heart, and it is truly shown in how she led ASU’s team this year!

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Fletcher Holm

Arizona State University

Fletcher Holm, the President of the Arizona State Water Ski Team, has shown remarkable leadership and resilience, and he deserves to be the Male Leader of the Year! Even while managing a hip injury, his commitment to the team never wavered. He continued to lead with passion, motivating his teammates both in and out of the water. Despite his own physical challenges, Fletcher has remained a steady presence, ensuring the team stays focused and cohesive. His dedication to the sport, strong leadership, and ability to persevere through adversity have made him an inspiring and indispensable leader, driving the team to success while embodying the true spirit of sportsmanship!

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Harrison Hartzler

University of Kansas

Harrison Hartzler of Kansas University’s Water Ski Team deserves to be the Male Leader of the Year! He has been the President of the team for the last two years, and he has set this team up to succeed. He secured the team their first official boat, fully owned by the team, and he has obtained amazing sponsors for the team to enable them to be financially successful. Harrison has also been able to assist, this year, in bringing one of the largest recruitment classes our program has seen. He works both on and off the water to make sure everyone has opportunities to ski. Harrison goes above and beyond at tournaments making sure he is on the dock or watching from the shore for each teammate, and he works as an official when tournaments need additional help. Harrison is one of a kind and KU Water Ski/Team Midwest would not be the same without him!

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James Bryans

University of Louisiana – Lafayette

James Bryans from the University of Louisiana- Lafayette embodies what it means to be Male Leader of the Year! James is one of the hardest working members in the team’s history. He works tirelessly to make sure that ULL makes it to nationals in the best possible shape. Whether he is changing the oil on the boat, or in the driver’s seat for hours on end, there is no doubt in his team the level of dedication he has for them. James is also his teammates’ go-to person for equipment issues, rebuilding countless jump bindings or moving fins. He is largely self-taught in these areas and if he does not know how to do something he will figure it out! James truly embodies his leadership role and has been an amazing presence on ULL’s team!

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Joe Gage

Baylor University

Joseph Gage of Baylor University’s Water Ski Team is an ideal fit for Male Leader of the Year! Joe reached out to the South Central Region Chair about restarting the Ski team at Baylor in 2021. Starting from virtually scratch, Joe established the team, recruited a strong enough squad to qualify for Nationals this year, which was only the second national championship appearance in school history. Joe also worked on acquiring a 2021 Mastercraft boat for the team to train behind full time. Joe has led from the front, as a strong three-event skier himself. Increasing his personal bests in all three events over his 4 seasons competing. He has a knack for compassion and enthusiasm, always being a gentle and positive leader in any room he is in. Recently, Joe joined the South Central Region Board as Vice Chair and continues to give back to collegiate skiing with almost all of his free time.

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Kyler Grunnert

Western Washington University

Kyler Grunnert, the President of Western Washington University’s Water Ski Team, is an amazing fit for Male Leader of the Year! He skis every day with the intent to improve, striving not only for his own growth but also to see his team excel both on and off the water. Despite having personal challenges during the peak of the waterski season, Kyler did his best to keep his spirits high and lead the team with a positive attitude. Under his leadership, the team reached new heights, achieving their best placement since before COVID at the NCWSA National Championships (7th). Kyler truly sees Western Waterski as his home and his teammates as family!

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Leader of the Year Honorable Mentions

  • Luisa Jaramillo – ASU
  • Rylee Gulley – ASU
  • Samantha Varness – SIU
  • Brandon McCallister – ILL
  • Ethan Jost – ISU
  • Federico Jaramillo – ASU
  • Jackson Beman – CLE
  • Paul Wesley Corey – UCLA
  • Sean Frietag – SIU
  • Spencer Hack – WMU

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Athlete of the Year

Aaliyah Yoong Hanafih

Florida Southern College

Aaliyah Yoong Hanafih from Florida Southern College truly embodies the Female Athlete of the Year! This collegiate season, she was the runner-up in both jump and overall at this year’s Syndicate D1 Collegiate Nationals. Aaliyah joined the FSC team during the spring semester 1.5 years ago having never met most of our team, and she was immediately thrown into tournaments, workouts, and ski showcases. However, Aaliyah immersed herself in the experience and greeted everyone with open arms. Not only does she help the team with her ski performances, but she also helps with filming and editing promotional videos as well as equipment setup/cleanup. She is always on the dock, on the water, or on the shore with a smile on her face!

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Agustina Varas

University of Alabama

Agustina Varas deserves to be the 2024 Female Athlete of the Year! This year, she became the collegiate women’s jump champion with a distance of 140 feet. In addition to her personal athletic performance, she has dedicated so much effort into supporting other skiers on the University of Alabama’s water ski team, both driving and coaching them. She spent countless hours at the lake coaching collegiate jumpers and spreading the joy of waterskiing. Anyone you ask will tell you she has been nothing but supportive of her teammates. Her teammates consider her a joy to be around and a huge contribution to the team and collegiate environment.

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Luisa Jaramillo

Arizona State University

As the first West coast skier to win a D1 event in well over a decade, Luisa Jaramillo deserves to be Female Athlete of the Year! Luisa came to Arizona State University and lit it up from day one. She has set countless conference and regional records, setting them at both local and national tournaments. She always continues to push her skiing to the next level. She showed that this year at Nationals by tying the slalom lead of 1@39 off. She came back and ran 39 off a second time, winning the run-off with a score of 2@39 off. She has been a crucial part of the development of the ASU team over the last few years, and she truly deserves this recognition.

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Samantha Hill

University of Alabama

Samantha Hill of the University of Alabama is the definition of a great athlete, and she is an amazing candidate for Female Athlete of the Year! She is a fabulous 3 event skier who has really flourished in the collegiate setting. Under immense pressure, she performed exceptionally across all three events this year at the NCWSA National Championships. Her performance included a slalom PB of 4 @ 32 (when she had never run 28 in a tournament before) and a massive collegiate jump PB of 118 feet. She is not only an exceptional skier but also a great teammate and always puts her team first. She is the first to congratulate other skiers, and she both wins and loses with grace. She is the definition of a great athlete, friend, and teammate!

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Samantha Varness

Southern Illinois University

Samantha Varness, member of Southern Illinois Water Ski team, truly deserves to be this year’s Female Athlete of the Year! Over the past year, Samantha has demonstrated exceptional dedication and hard work, resulting in significant improvement in her performance. This year, Samantha’s efforts culminated in an outstanding performance at the Waterski Nationals, where she placed 4th overall. This is a testament to her perseverance and the countless hours she has devoted to honing her skills. Samantha’s journey from a dedicated team member to a top competitor at the national level exemplifies the spirit of determination and resilience, and it is truly inspiring for others to see!

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Aidan Hughes

Michigan State University

Aidan Hughes of Michigan State University deserves to be the 2024 Male Athlete of the Year! Aidan deserves this distinction because there are very few if any male skiers who have put more into this sport in the last 4 years than Aidan Hughes. He has dominated the Midwest region this collegiate season and is trying to break his own MCWSA trick record. Also, he helped run an amazing tournament at Michigan State, which had record attendance this year. Aidan deserves to win Male Athlete of the Year because he gives hope to all the male skiers who entered three-event skiing their freshman year with the goal of being a great athlete!

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Blaze Grubbs

Arizona State University

Through his stellar athletic performance, Blaze Grubbs of Arizona State University embodies what it means to be Male Athlete of the Year! He dominated all three events this year, winning the men’s overall and placing third in men’s trick. He also put up extremely competitive slalom and jump scores, soaring over 170 feet. Blaze juggles his athletic training across three events with advanced pilot training, which makes his performance even more impressive. Additionally, at Nationals he was constantly cheering on his teammates and hyping up ASU. Blaze always has a smile on his face, and whoever talks to him recognizes how his positive attitude contributes to his skiing success!

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Charlie Ross

Rollins College

Charlie Ross should be the NCWSA Male Athlete of the Year! Charlie has shown nothing but fully deserving qualities of this award. As a freshman at Rollins College, Charlie won the NCWSA National title by being the only athlete to run 39 off and to score 2 buoys at 41 off. Charlie is in full pursuit of breaking the NCWSA Men’s Slalom Record of 3.5 at 41 off. Additionally, Charlie embraces every single person he meets with nothing but kindness, encouragement, and intentionality. Charlie dives headfirst into becoming the best that he can be in both athletics and as a student!

Federico Jaramillo

Arizona State University

Federico Jaramillo is the epitome of an outstanding athlete, and he deserves to be Male Athlete of the Year! Since joining Arizona State, University he has thrived, consistently delivering exceptional performances. This year’s NCWSA Nationals was a testament to his talent! He made a significant impact on every event he competed in and ended up with a silver medal in men’s overall. Federico also stands out as a dedicated and supportive teammate, always putting his team first. His hard work, sportsmanship, and leadership qualities have earned him the respect of his peers. Federico’s commitment to his sport, combined with his selfless approach, makes him a vital asset to the team and a true role model for others. His stellar achievements and team-first attitude define him as a great athlete!

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Will Roberts

University of Alabama

Will Roberts, University of Alabama skier, is incredibly deserving of the Male Athlete of the Year distinction! He has placed multiple times in jump at collegiate nationals, and this year he absolutely dominated, winning the event with a jump of 183 feet. His teammates look up to him as the image of the Alabama jump team and a great friend and coach. He is an incredibly hard working athlete dedicated to giving new skiers the opportunity to learn how to jump. As a leader on the team, he spends hours each day at the lake driving and coaching his teammates and lending endless support. As a senior, any of his teammates will say he is leaving behind a legacy of selflessness and strength.

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Athlete of the Year Honorable Mentions

  • Ali Garcia – ULL
  • Quincy Bizjak – OSU
  • Whitney Shelhamer – Clemson
  • Bergan Wolf – Kansas
  • Florian Parth – ULL
  • Jack Silver – ULL
  • Nikolaus Attensam – ROL

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Team of the Year

Arizona State University

Tempe, Arizona

The ASU Water Ski team stands out as a deserving nominee for this year’s NCWSA Team of the Year, thanks to their exceptional teamwork and commitment to advancing water skiing. This season, they faced significant hurdles, including the lack of an official home lake, yet they demonstrated remarkable perseverance and a strong bond with one another. By utilizing various public and private lakes for practice, they not only honed their skills but also created a welcoming environment for newcomers to join in. At Nationals 2024, they placed 5th place with a strong showing across all three events, including two individual national titles. This remarkable team embodies the true spirit of the NCWSA and exemplifies what it means to be part of this community.

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Baylor University

Waco, Texas

As a small team in the South Central Region, Baylor University represents an ideal fit for this year’s Team of the Year! The team was completely resurrected in 2021 after more than ten years of inactivity. Incredibly, in just four seasons they were able to recruit a full team of men and women skiers, despite not having a jump to practice on and only being able to train on a public river with a floating slalom course. The team’s performance scores at this year’s 2024 SCR regional championships was good enough to place them fourth and qualify them for their first national championship since 2003! This year was also only their second time qualifying for Nationals in Baylor’s history.

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Rollins College

Winter Park, Florida

Rollins College is a clear stand-out for the 2024 Team of the Year Nomination! This year, their regional championships were canceled, and they almost weren’t able to travel to Nationals due to a hurricane, but they persevered. They came together stronger than ever, though! If there was a most-improved team spirit award at Nationals, Rollins would be a clear winner. They ran up and down the shores to cheer on every single skier, whether those skiers were jumping 50 feet or running 39 off! While the team has always strived to perform at the highest level, they truly united as a force to reckon this year, taking home two individual national titles. Rollins is home to a special group of athletes this year, and they deserve to be recognized!

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Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, Illinois

Southern Illinois University deserves to win Team of the Year! They have worked extremely hard over the past few years to even qualify for Collegiate Nationals. In 2021, SIU only qualified for the Midwest Regionals on a technicality, but they continued working their way up. After restoring their training site, they have spent countless hours training for this season, and it has paid off with an exceptional collegiate season this year, especially in jump. This year, the team received a coveted wildcard spot and was selected to compete in the tournament for the FIRST TIME EVER! Amazingly, the team went on to place 5th overall in D2. SIU deserves to be recognized for their amazing determination and resilience this year!

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University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama Water Ski deserves to be this year’s Team of the Year! As a renowned Division 1 team, it has grown exponentially and is now composed of more than 40 members, 20 of which were not involved in the ski world prior to college. The athletes range from beginners to skiers with world titles, and every member is always happy to help out! Alabama hosted not one, but two tournaments this year, giving their region competitors the opportunity to compete and bring new skiers into the scene of collegiate skiing. Although they experienced serious boat issues this season, the team came together and still found ways to get on the water. Overall, the team at the University of Alabama is a diverse and special group of athletes that truly deserve this award!

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University (WWU) deserves to win the NCWSA Team of the Year this year! As the only team in the entire Pacific Northwest, they face immense weather challenges when it comes to getting on the water and training. Also, due to their location they have to travel over 16 hours for almost every tournament. This past year, WWU hosted western regionals, and as a young team, none of the members had prior experience with hosting tournaments. Overall, regionals was a great success for WWU and all other west coast teams. At Nationals, the team shined with lots of stellar performances, and they took home 7th place (the highest placement since COVID)!

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Team of the Year Honorable Mentions

  • University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
  • San Diego State University
  • University of Kansas
  • Clemson University

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Molly Voska

NCWSA Marketing Chairwoman since spring 2017 | 2022 TL Cornfest Corn Queen | Alumna & former social director of Western Michigan Waterski | #TeamMidwest