Voting Now Open for 2026 Annual Award Nominees

Leah Lindemeyer Awards, Committees, Midwestern Region, News, South Central Region, Southern & Atlantic Coastal Region, Western Region

Conducted by the Awards committee, a plethora of 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 Athletes of the Year, NCWSA Team of the Year, and NCWSA Volunteer 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 31, 2027.

Voting is live through November 21, 2026 at 11:59pm PST.

Meet the nominees:

Outstanding Leader of the Year

Recognizes a collegiate skier who has demonstrated exemplary leadership at the team, regional, or national level through contributions such as coaching, team organization, fundraising, recruitment, or tournament operations.

Female

Male

Amery Thompson

Marquette University

Amery Thompson, Marquette University. She has worked hard not just for her team, but acting on the board for the Great Plains. For Marquette, she has gone above and beyond to fundraise for the team, surpassing record numbers. She dedicates lots of time and resources to the team, always being a leader for all of our skiers.

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Claire Rolbiecki

University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Claire Rolbiecki, the president of the UWL Waterski Team, has shown incredible leadership and dedication throughout this season. She has stepped into her role as president with confidence, providing direction, encouragement, and support to every member of the team. With so many new faces joining this year, Claire has helped create a welcoming environment where everyone feels included and motivated to improve. She is always willing to step up, help others, and make sure the team is moving in the right direction. She truly represents everything you would want in a team president.

What makes Claire stand out even more is her leadership off the water. Along with her responsibilities as president, she also leads a waterski Bible study, bringing teammates together and creating opportunities to connect outside of practices and tournaments. This shows how much she cares about her teammates beyond just their success on the water.

Claire leads by example and always encourages those around her to be their best. Her positive attitude, dedication, and genuine care for others have made a huge impact on the UWL Waterski Team. She is not only an amazing president but also someone her teammates can look up to, making her incredibly deserving of Female Leader of the Year.

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Darah Lachance

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Darah Lachance. Darah is an all round amazing leader in every aspect. She is president of UL and has built the team from the ground up. She has helped the team with fundraising, getting everything ready for tournaments and been the communicator between the team and school, all while completing a hard degree. She always puts the team first and would sell her kidney if it meant helping this team.

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Delaney Emering

University of Tennessee

I’m nominating Delaney Emering for Female Leader of the Year for her work as captain and co-founder of the University of Tennessee Waterski Team. Delaney is a very successful show skier who only recently got into three-event skiing. While learning a different side of the sport herself, she’s also helped start a team and give other students the chance to get involved.

UTK just started this year, already has 15 members, and attended every SAC tournament. At their first SAC regionals they got 7th which is very impressive for their first year. Getting a new team practicing, organizing travel, and keeping everyone involved takes a lot of work. As captain and co-founder, Delaney has taken on those responsibilities while helping the team find its place in the collegiate ski community.

The team is also already planning its first tournament this spring at Barking Dog Saloon. Going from starting a program to preparing to host other schools in such a short time is impressive. Delaney has brought her experience and love for skiing into a new setting and helped build something that future UTK students can be part of. I think that commitment makes her deserving of Female Leader of the Year.

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Ellie Witulski

Western Washington University

Ellie Witulski was the president of the WWU waterski team and the north west conference chair of the WCWSA for the last two years. She has managed our team and several other teams in our region. She built a website for the team and rebuilt our entire leadership structure. She has done all of that while being the leading points scorer for our women’s team. I can’t think of anyone who has busted more ass than Ellie.

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Kennedy Van Den Elzen

University of Wisconsin Madison

NCWSA GP AAC voting member on the BOD and NCWSA AAC Committee Chair

Kennedy VanDenElzen- University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is not just only thinking about how our team can be the most successful in our placement at tournaments, but cares so much about the success of our beginner skiers. She truly captains for the love of the game and remembers EVERY SINGLE team members’ PB on a team of 60+ people! She beat our team’s trick ski record this year, but her main priority is always celebrating and building the culture of our team. Kennedy balances so much with her degree in Civil Engineering (one of the hardest degrees at UW), success in her summer internships, show skiing for Mad-City in the summer, and being an incredible friend and role model to all skiers- new and old.

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Lara Butlin

Rollins College

Lara Butlin. In her second nationals in a row recovering from two different knee injuries, her spirit never dies. She is always there for her teammates, organizing everyone’s details and cheering them on at the dock from sun up to sun down. As an athlete, it’s hard to overcome the want to be one of the teammates out skiing, but Lara puts her own feelings aside to be the captain her teammates need her to be

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Lauren Connelly

Cal Poly

Lauren Connelly (CalPoly) leads both on and off the water. With a D2 3rd overall, she shows her well roundedness on top of supporting her team. Lauren volunteers with the NCWSA wider organization as a regional leader, and balances all this while also an engineering major and intern with MasterCraft. Her dedication to the sport and bringing everyone up with it is worthy of recognition.

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Mackenzie Mainer

Texas A&M

Mackenzie Mainer has been an outstanding leader for Texas A&M Waterski, helping foster the kind of team culture that makes college waterskiing so special. Winning Spirit of the Year reflects the enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and camaraderie that Mackenzie and the Aggies bring to the NCWSA community. A great leader does more than help a team succeed on the water; they bring people together, create a welcoming environment, and inspire others to represent their school with pride.

Her impact goes beyond Texas A&M, too, as she helps strengthen the broader collegiate waterski community through her involvement in the South Central Region and the NCWSA Athlete Advisory Council. Mackenzie represents the best of collegiate waterskiing: someone who leads by example, puts her teammates first, and understands that the sport is about much more than individual scores. Her leadership and commitment to building team spirit make her a deserving representative of the Aggies and a positive influence throughout the NCWSA.

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Melanie Couch

Cal Poly

Melanie is the current president of the Cal Poly water ski team. She is so involved with the team, attending every meeting and tournament. She exemplifies perfectly being a good leader and role model when trying to get new freshmen members to join the team. I heard a story from their new members day where Melanie physically got in the water with a freshmen and held their 2 skis straight so that this person could get up. She didn’t let them quit and they tried for 30 minutes, celebrating hard when the freshmen finally got up and went waterskiing! This is just one example of many where Melanie is willing to go to bat for her team and her teammates and help support them in all they do. Melanie has shown up to support the club that owns the slalom course that Cal Poly uses on more than one occasion. She has volunteered for multiple 12-hour dock and course moving days with this club, driving boats and helping to adjust buoys when needed. Melanie learned to waterski as a freshmen on the team, but while she may not be gracing podiums with her presence, she has still come so far in her skiing. Melanie is working simultaneously to put herself through school as a PT assistant and is studying kinesiology with hopes of one day being an occupational therapist to help stroke patients. She balances school, work, and above all prioritizes the waterski team while still having the best attitude of anyone I’ve ever met. She is the friendliest face at waterski tournaments and meetings, and always cheers on her teammates when they’re skiing.

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Sarah Tomkinson

Auburn University

Sarah Tomkinson – Sarah is Auburn University’s current president. She has worked harder than anyone on that team to get them to where they were. She dedicates so much time to her team through coaching, leading, and cheering. She is sure to be on the dock and cheering for every single one of her teammates. Nothing goes unnoticed with her. She is overall an incredible leader and so deserving of female leader of the year.

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Taylor Cole

San Diego State University

I nominate Taylor Cole from San Diego State University as female leader of the year. As Women’s captain, Tay has been one of the best leaders on our team. She performs and pushes the other girls in skiing, providing valuable coaching for a fairly young women’s team. Taylor also organized a girls training weekend, which was invaluable for SDSU after losing most of our A team the year before. She has also been one of our key planners of other team trips, handling food and travel. Her leadership allowed our women to ski fantastic at nationals, leading to a 3rd place finish in D2.

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Danil Roberts

University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Danil Roberts, the vice president of the UWL Waterski Team, has shown incredible leadership, dedication, and support throughout both the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Not only is Danil an extremely talented and accomplished skier, but he is just as amazing of a coach and leader. He is always willing to take time out of his own day to sit in the boat, watch other skiers, and help them improve. He knows exactly what someone needs to work on and has a way of explaining it that is encouraging, positive, and helpful. Whether someone is brand new to the sport or has been skiing for years, Danil is always willing to share his knowledge and help them become better.

As vice president, Danil consistently steps up whenever the team needs him. He is someone his teammates can always count on, whether that means helping at practice, offering advice, or taking on additional responsibilities. He leads by example and brings a positive attitude that encourages everyone around him to keep improving.

What makes Danil such an amazing leader is that he genuinely wants to see others succeed just as much as he wants to succeed himself. His patience, encouragement, and willingness to help have made a huge impact on the UWL Waterski Team, especially with so many new members joining this season. Danil represents everything a great teammate, coach, and leader should be, making him deserving of Male Leader of the Year.

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Evan Robbins

Florida Southern College

Evan Robbins: Evan has stepped up to the plate for Florida Southern College like no other. From losing our coach, to selecting teams, to organizing practice, to making sure everyone on the team has everything they need physically and mentally, Evan has truly been the leader every team wishes they had. He genuinely put his all into this team and anyone who’s interacted with him this year knows that. The guy doesn’t get sleep because of the time he puts into this team and its members. He was our absolute rock this season.

I am proud to nominate Evan Robbins of Florida Southern College for the Male Leader of the Year Award. While leadership can take many forms, Evan demonstrated this season what it truly means to lead by example, put others before yourself, and show up for your team when it matters most.

Just weeks before the National Championships, the Florida Southern College Water Ski Team faced an unexpected challenge when their head coach stepped down for personal reasons. With Nationals quickly approaching, the team was left navigating a difficult transition at one of the most important moments of their season.

During this time, Evan stepped up in a way that went far beyond what was expected of him as a student-athlete. He spent countless hours in the boat, helping his teammates train and making sure they were as prepared as possible for Nationals. Rather than focusing solely on his own performance, Evan gave his time and energy to the people around him. He understood that the team’s success depended on everyone being ready, and he was willing to do whatever he could to help make that happen.

I think the greatest example of Evan’s commitment to his team came during the National Championships themselves. On his first jump, Evan suffered a massive crash. It was the kind of fall that could have easily ended his competition. Yet, knowing how important every score was to his team, Evan made the decision to get back out on the water. He wasn’t chasing an individual title or a personal best. He simply wanted to make sure his team had a scored jump.

That moment says so much about who Evan is as a teammate, captain, and a leader. Leadership isn’t always about being the loudest voice or the person standing on top of the podium. Sometimes it’s about the hours no one sees, the sacrifices made for others, and the determination to keep showing up even when things get difficult. Evan demonstrated all of those qualities this season. When his team needed someone to step up, he did. When his teammates needed support, he was there. And when he faced his own adversity at Nationals, his first thought was still about contributing to the team.

Florida Southern went on to finish third at the National Championships, an accomplishment made even more meaningful by everything the team had overcome in the weeks leading up to the event. Evan played an important role in helping make that possible, not just through his own skiing, but through his dedication to the success of those around him.

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Graham Fullington

Clemson University

I would like to nominate Graham Fullington for the NCWSA Male Leader of the Year Award. As captain of the Clemson Water Ski Team, Graham has taken on the tremendous responsibility of helping lead one of the most established and successful programs in the Southern Atlantic Conference. Managing a large roster of skiers, coordinating tournament attendance, and maintaining a high-performing culture is no small task, yet Graham consistently handles these responsibilities with professionalism, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to his team.

One of Graham’s greatest strengths as a leader is his ability to keep a large and highly competitive program running smoothly. With many athletes attending tournaments throughout the season, he does an exceptional job of ensuring everyone stays organized, informed, and prepared. From tournament logistics to team communication, Graham helps keep every aspect of the program functioning like a well-oiled machine. His attention to detail and reliability let Clemson’s skiers focus on performing their best, knowing they are supported by strong leadership.

Graham’s impact extends far beyond Clemson’s team. He has dedicated countless hours to supporting collegiate waterskiing as an official and event organizer. Serving as a judge at numerous tournaments throughout the season, Graham has consistently stepped up to help ensure competitions run fairly and efficiently. In addition, he took on the major responsibility of serving as Tournament Director for the Skyview Tournament, a role that requires extensive planning, organization, and coordination. His willingness to contribute behind the scenes demonstrates his commitment not only to his own team, but to the success of the entire collegiate waterski community.

Beyond his organizational abilities, Graham is a leader who genuinely cares about his teammates’ experience. He works hard to build enthusiasm and pride within the team, fostering a culture where athletes are excited to represent Clemson both on and off the water. His positive attitude and commitment to team spirit help create an environment where skiers feel motivated to contribute and support one another.

What makes Graham especially deserving of this recognition is the effort he puts in behind the scenes. The success of a well-established program often depends on countless hours of work that go unnoticed, and Graham consistently puts in that effort. Whether coordinating travel, helping teammates, solving equipment problems, or ensuring that competitions run smoothly from the team’s perspective, he leads by example and is always willing to do whatever is needed for the good of the program.

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Greg Terry

University of Alabama

Greg is the current president of the University of Alabama. This is his second year as president and third year as an officer. Despite the fact he had a torn ACL all year, Greg was still out at practice every single day just driving and coaching. Greg spends so much time being the best leader he can be for Alabama. He has grown more and more as a leader every single year in school.

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James Foerster

San Diego State University

As president, James Foerster has served as San Diego State’s fearless leader. After much of our team leadership moved off of our officer board, James pushed the team to excellence all year. He is organized and efficient, making sure that all the officers do their jobs quickly and efficiently. James has demonstrated exceptional leadership in all areas, including fostering good relations with San Diego State University and the Mission Bay Aquatic Center, creating team spirit, and always making the right decision.

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Sam Koehler

University of Tennessee

For the 2026 Male Leader of the Year Award, I nominate Sam Koehler, president of the Tennessee Water Ski Team. As the team’s founding president, Sam has played an instrumental role in turning an idea into a thriving collegiate waterski program. From recruiting new members and organizing practices to coordinating tournament travel and promoting the team across campus, Sam has consistently gone above and beyond to help Tennessee Water Ski continue to grow and succeed.

Starting a collegiate sports team from scratch is no easy task, but Sam embraced the challenge wholeheartedly. Under his leadership, the team grew from just five members in the spring to fifteen active tournament skiers by the end of our first year. His dedication helped the team attend every Southern Atlantic Conference tournament during both the spring and fall seasons and achieve a 7th-place finish in the SAC region, an impressive accomplishment for a brand-new program.

What truly sets Sam apart, however, is the way he leads people. He has been one of the most welcoming and encouraging individuals on the team, making every new member feel valued regardless of skill level or waterskiing experience. Whether he is helping a beginner learn the basics, answering questions from prospective members, or creating an environment where everyone feels included, Sam’s kindness and positivity have helped shape team culture.

Through his leadership, dedication, and genuine care for others, Sam has established a strong foundation for the University of Tennessee Water Ski Team. His tireless efforts have made the team stronger on and off the water and he is extremely deserving of recognition.

After nearly a decade without an active water ski team at the University of Tennessee, Sam Koehler took on the challenge of rebuilding a program from the ground up. Through his initiative, dedication, and selfless leadership, Sam has transformed a small group of students with a shared passion for water skiing into a growing collegiate program with a promising future.

In the fall of 2025, Sam and a handful of students began skiing together, and he quickly emerged as a natural leader. Although Tennessee had not yet established an official club, Sam and two teammates attended the SAC Winter Conference to connect with collegiate skiers across the region. When Tennessee was called upon during team reports, Sam stepped forward to deliver an impromptu update on the team’s progress and ambitions. Even before the team officially existed, he was already representing Tennessee within the NCWSA.

During his second semester, Sam spearheaded the effort to formally reestablish the University of Tennessee Water Ski Team. He navigated the university’s approval process, established a team bank account, and cultivated relationships with alumni and local supporters. Without a boat of its own, Tennessee depends on these supporters to provide opportunities for members to practice. Sam has worked tirelessly to maintain these relationships and get his teammates on the water despite limited resources.

The results were immediate. In its first semester as an officially recognized club, Tennessee tripled its membership from five to fifteen students and earned a seventh-place finish at the SAC Regional Championships. Returning to regional competition after nearly a decade, without a team boat, was a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the foundation Sam helped establish.

What truly distinguishes Sam, however, is how he leads. He consistently puts his teammates ahead of himself, often surrendering his practice slot so another skier can get on the water. When the team’s Treasurer resigned, Sam assumed those responsibilities until a replacement could be elected. He is routinely the first to arrive and the last to leave, willingly taking on whatever work is necessary for the team’s success.

Sam also understands that a sustainable program cannot depend on one individual. Rather than managing everything himself, he empowers fellow officers with the resources and support they need to succeed. His emphasis on shared responsibility and developing future leaders is establishing a program built to endure beyond his time at Tennessee.

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Honorable Mentions

Chase Sparks and Ryan Emering received nominations recognizing their commitment to their teams. Their submitted descriptions did not provide enough specific examples of leadership actions for inclusion on this ballot. We recognize them as honorable mentions for Male Outstanding Leader of the Year.

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Athlete of the Year

Recognizes a collegiate skier who achieved outstanding success during the fall 2026 season through tournament results, records, personal improvement, consistency, or contributions to team performance.

Female

Male

Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah

Florida Southern College

Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah absolutely crushed it for Florida Southern Waterski, showing off the kind of talent that makes everyone stop and watch. She jumped like a baller, flying down the lake with incredible power and confidence, and then brought the energy to the trick course with an amazing flip hand pass. Her combination of athleticism, technical skill, and fearless skiing makes her a huge asset to the Mocs. Aaliyah consistently proves that she can deliver when it matters most, and her performances at Nationals helped Florida Southern secure an impressive third-place team finish. Whether she’s sending it off the jump or throwing big tricks, Aaliyah brings excitement to the water and represents Florida Southern and the NCWSA community at an incredibly high level.

Aaliyah Yoong- she dominated this year, especially in women’s jump and trick. Her jumping 154 ft at nationals is actually crazy and coming away with 1st place in jump, trick and third overall is incredible. She is also such a nice person and always wants the best for her competitors

Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah (FSC): Aali has always been a beast but this year Aaliyah went above and beyond, winning both regionals and nationals in trick and jump, and jumping a 154 being 5 feet from the NCWSA Women’s jump record. A distance that hasn’t been flirted with in years. Aaliyah’s determination and hard working mindset put her into this position, and it is beyond impressive.

It is with great pride that I nominate Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah of Florida Southern College for recognition of her outstanding achievements in collegiate water skiing.

As a senior, Aaliyah has had an incredible season, finishing her collegiate career with two national titles in tricks and jump, along with a third-place finish in the overall competition at the National Championships. Winning one national title is an incredible accomplishment, but capturing two in different disciplines speaks to her exceptional talent, versatility, and dedication to the sport.

Adding to these achievements, Aaliyah also recorded the highest women’s trick score in Florida Southern College history, setting a new benchmark for the program and leaving her mark in the school’s record books.

Beyond the titles and records, Aaliyah’s accomplishments reflect years of hard work, discipline, and commitment to becoming the best skier she can be. Her performances have not only contributed to Florida Southern’s success but have also set an example of excellence for future generations of collegiate water skiers.

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Amber Hansford

Cal Poly

Amber Hansford (cal poly) – Amber has become a solid skier through her past few years at Cal Poly. Despite learning to waterski on the team her freshmen year (3 years ago), she is now consistently podiuming in trick, jump, and overall at WCWSA tournaments. At west coast regionals, she got 1st place in jump. She also competed at 2026 NCWSA All Stars in both the jump and overall events! I’ve met no other athlete who has made such insane progress in such a short amount of time in this sport. Amber is dedicated to the sport of waterskiing and being women’s captain for her team. Amber can always be found carrying skis, getting freshmen ready for their sets, and cheering on her teammates. She never stops! She has an amazing attitude and a strong work ethic for waterskiing.

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Cailee Kravick

University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Cailee Kravick, a senior on the UWL Waterski Team, has shown incredible determination, dedication, and growth throughout her final season of collegiate waterskiing. This year, Cailee made it her goal to compete in all three events, and she was determined to make it happen. Although she competed on the A team for slalom and jump, she didn’t mind competing on the B team for tricks. For Cailee, it wasn’t about which team she was on, but about making the most of her final year and doing what she loves.

Cailee has worked incredibly hard on her jumping this season, setting goals for herself and refusing to back down from a challenge. No matter how many times she falls or how difficult a jump may be, she always comes back with a smile on her face and the determination to try again. Her willingness to push herself and continue improving shows just how much passion she has for the sport.

Slalom is where Cailee truly shines, and anyone who has watched her ski can see just how much love and passion she has for the event. She has put countless hours into improving her technique, challenging herself, and pushing past limits she never thought she could reach. Whether it’s working toward that next buoy, increasing her speed, or trying to improve her personal best, Cailee never settles for where she is. She is constantly finding ways to become a better skier and isn’t afraid to put in the hard work to get there. Even when a set doesn’t go the way she hoped, she comes back more determined than before. Her excitement for slalom is something that stands out, and it is clear that she will miss competing in the event once her collegiate skiing career comes to an end.

What makes Cailee stand out is not just her talent on the water, but also her attitude and determination. Her hard work, strength, and positive mindset are contagious, encouraging her teammates to push themselves and never give up. Cailee has made the most of her senior season, proving that being a great athlete is about more than just scores and placements. Her dedication, passion, and constant drive to improve make her deserving of Female Athlete of the Year.

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Claire Eddins

University of Alabama

Claire Eddins – Claire won third place in D1 women’s slalom at this past nationals. There was no one more deserving of a top five spot than her. She put in the time on and off the water to ski her absolute best at nationals. Along with that, Claire was added at the last minute to Alabama’s trick rotation. Even though she had hurt her foot after slalom, she went out there and threw every trick she knew how to do and stood up her run doing it. She stepped up in every area where Alabama needed her to and she did more.

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Hannah Stopnicki

Rollins College

Hannah Stopnicki delivered an outstanding 2026 fall collegiate season, demonstrating exceptional athletic performance, personal improvement, and competitive consistency across two disciplines while contributing significantly to Rollins College’s fourth-place finish at the NCWSA National Championships. Beyond her competitive achievements, her leadership, sportsmanship, and commitment to giving back to collegiate waterskiing further distinguish her as an exceptional student-athlete and candidate for the 2026 NCWSA Female Athlete of the Year.

Throughout the fall season, Hannah consistently delivered top-level performances in women’s tricks. At the Rollins–FSC tournament, she placed first while achieving a personal-best score of 4,540 points in her toe-trick pass. She followed this with another first-place finish at the SAC Regional Championships, scoring 4,140 points in her hand-trick pass, before earning the silver medal at the NCWSA National Championships with 4,450 points, successfully maximizing the scoring potential of her current hand-trick run.

Her national silver medal marked her third consecutive NCWSA National Championships podium finish, following silver in 2025 and bronze in 2024, demonstrating sustained excellence and the ability to perform under pressure.

Hannah also excelled in women’s slalom, achieving a season personal best of 2 buoys at 12 metres (2@12), marking an impressive five-buoy improvement and tying for ninth place nationally. Her ability to perform at a high level in both tricks and slalom made her an especially valuable contributor to Rollins College.

At Nationals, Hannah was Rollins College’s top-performing female trick skier and second-highest performing female slalom skier, earning 590 of a possible 600 team points in tricks and 495 of 600 in slalom. Her combined 1,085 points represented nearly 11% of Rollins College’s total points, helping the team secure an impressive fourth-place national finish.

Beyond her competitive achievements, Hannah demonstrates a genuine commitment to service and giving back to the sport. As a Senior 3-Event International Judge, she stepped in to officiate at both the SAC Regional Championships and the Rollins–FSC tournament, balancing her responsibilities as a competing athlete with those of a tournament official. She also actively supports her teammates, offers coaching assistance during practices, and extends that same encouragement and support to fellow competitors from other schools. Her dedication to the sport, sportsmanship, and commitment to giving back have also earned her national recognition as the current recipient of the prestigious Manoo & Jean Gurjar Scholarship Award, which honours Canadian waterski athletes who demonstrate excellence in sport, education, and service to the waterski community. Her willingness to contribute wherever needed reflects her dedication to her team and the broader collegiate waterski community.

What further distinguishes Hannah is her ability to maintain this level of collegiate performance while balancing a demanding international competition schedule. As the reigning U21 World Champion in Women’s Tricks, she is currently preparing to defend her title at the World Championships in January 2027. Among her other accomplishments, Hannah earned a bronze medal at the most recent Junior Pan American Games (2025), finished third on the 2026 Open Pro Trick Tour, and currently holds first place in the 2026 U21 Nautique Waterski World Series standings and fifth place in the Open Division. As of October 2026, she is also ranked 2nd in the world in U21 Women’s Tricks and 9th in Open Women’s Tricks.

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Kate Pinsonneault

Florida Southern College

I nominate Kate Pinsonneault of Florida Southern College for recognition of her outstanding achievements at this year’s nationals.

Kate delivered an exceptional performance earning the title of Women’s Overall National Champion, along with second-place finishes in both slalom and jump. Her results are a remarkable demonstration of her versatility, consistency, and ability to compete at the highest level across multiple disciplines.

Winning the overall national title is no small accomplishment. It requires an athlete to excel across slalom, tricks, and jump, and Kate’s performance is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and determination she brings to the sport.

Her accomplishments also played an important role in helping Florida Southern College secure a third-place team finish at Nationals. In a season that brought unexpected challenges for the program, Kate delivered when it mattered most, contributing valuable points to her team’s success.

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Katie Thornton

Auburn University

Katie Thornton, significant improvement and won slalom for D2 women at her first National Tournament.

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Kennedy Van Den Elzen

University of Wisconsin Madison

Kennedy Van Den Elzen has shown extraordinary growth and dedication over her collegiate career. In just two years, she transformed from a B-team skier—tricking 40 points, running the mini course at 24 mph, and jumping 35 feet—to

earning third overall at MCWSA Regionals with new personal bests of 1,140 points in trick, 3@30 15′ in slalom, and a 57-foot jump. Her rapid progression across all three events is a testament to her focus, discipline, and relentless work ethic. Beyond her athletic achievements, Kennedy has invested countless hours into supporting the NCWSA and her teammates, embodying the spirit of leadership and dedication.

Kennedy Van Den Elzen from Wisconsin-Madison. She broke her school trick record with 1410 points and consistently placed in the top three overall for women throughout the season.

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Megan Pelkey

University Louisiana-Lafayette

Megan Pelkey. Such a strong tournament skier always does exactly what she needs to do. When the slalom score buildup was 2 at 35, she obviously ran 3 at 35, because that’s just what she does. Her team needed a big trick score to come back from what could’ve been a big deficit in the women’s trick event, and she stood up her run for third place in the event. When she needed to jump far, she booted a big 128 (collegiate PB). She always clutches up for the team and got herself runner-up for overall champion.

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Skye Elzaurdia

University of Wisconsin Madison

Skye Elzaurdia- UW-Madison. Our midwest Regional champion, and has an incredible success story. Skye started off as a freshman with minimal waterski experience, fell in love with waterski, and is now DOMINATING in all three events. Skye has placed first in slalom, jump, and overall at almost all midwest tournaments this year. Skye’s talent is usually acquired after years of practice and time on the water, but Skye has been one of the most successful athletes in the Midwest after four short years. Skye’s progression and skill as a waterskier is an anomaly, but can be credited to their hard work and time dedicated to practice and passion.

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Taylor Cole

San Diego State University

I nominate Taylor Cole from San Diego State University as female athlete of the year. Tay is a monster skier, placing 4th for jump in d2 at nationals. She also is SDSUs fifth round slalomer . Taylor shows exceptional athletic ability, outjumping most of the guys on our team

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Honorable Mentions

Emma Wakefield received a nomination, but the submission included no athletic accomplishments or supporting description. She is recognized as an honorable mention rather than a ballot candidate.

BC Bickley

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

BG BICKLEY!!! As a freshman, this guy is an insane athlete. After taking an unfortunate early fall in tricks at nationals, he didn’t let that stop him from getting a great overall score. Continued on to run 2 at 39, a PB for him, and jump a HUGE 185, also a collegiate PB by 14 feet!!! He still ended up in 3rd overall even with only half a trick run, which would otherwise be worth well over 5000 points. He solidified himself onto all three teams early on in the fall season, and has done nothing but make the team proud. He is such a team player and is always there for his teammates, on and off the water. BG is also SO polite, always saying “thank you” instead of “ready” to let the driver know he’s ready to go in practice, every pass, every set. He is such a big help and really just a standout individual. Cajunski, and many others, LOVE bg and would probably take a bullet for him. He’s just the best❤️

BG Bickley!! I really believe BG deserves this award. He is a freshman and went into Nationals jumping a huge 185ft putting him in 2nd place! but most importantly his sportsmanship and love for the team is amazing. He was more happy that he jumped a PB for the team than for himself and I think that deserves the athlete of the year award in itself. He is so kind, works extremely hard and is an overall amazing skier. Not only did he come 2nd in jump at nattys, but also came away with a collegiate slalom PB and third in mens overall (with falling early in trick) which is highly competitive . After he tricked me badly I did not hear him complain once, instead he was there for all the other boys supporting them and so happy for them when they stood up. The team has so much love for him and we are so proud that he is a Cajun!

BG Bickley! He’s a freshman at ULL who jumped 185 at nationals. He not only put a huge performance out for a team that seemed to be struggling but also is a good well rounded person!

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Dominic Kuhn

Florida Southern College

I would like to nominate Dominic Kuhn for Male Athlete of the Year in recognition of his outstanding achievements, remarkable improvement, and invaluable contribution to the FSC Mocs.

Dominic finished 2nd in Trick at the Collegiate National Championships, demonstrating his ability to compete at the highest collegiate level. This season, he also broke the Austrian national record in Trick with an incredible 11,040 points, becoming the first Austrian skier ever to score over 11,000 points. This milestone reflects not only his exceptional talent but also his dedication, hard work, and commitment to continuous improvement.

Over the past year, Dominic has made tremendous progress as an athlete, taking a significant leap in performance and consistently raising his level of skiing. He brought this improvement to the FSC Mocs when it mattered most, delivering strong performances at both Regionals and Nationals and making a meaningful contribution to the team’s success.

Beyond his individual achievements, Dominic embodies what it means to be a true team player. He consistently supports his teammates both on and off the water, encourages those around him, and contributes to the positive team spirit that makes the FSC Mocs stronger as a whole.

Dominic’s record-breaking performance, outstanding results at the national level, significant year-over-year improvement, and unwavering commitment to his team make him an exceptional candidate for Male Athlete of the Year. He represents the very best of collegiate water skiing, both as an athlete and as a teammate.

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Dylan Anderson

Kansas State University

I would like to nominate Dylan Anderson for this award. In his freshman year, he broke the Great Plains Collegiate slalom record with an outstanding score of 5 buoys at 38-off. He has also played a key role in helping Kansas State qualify for Nationals, contributing both through his individual performance and his support of the team’s success.

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Grant Stenerson

University of Illinois

Grant Stenerson from the University of Illinois is deserving of the athlete of the year award for his hard work on the water. This season, he scored 75.5 buoys (3.5 at 34 mph, 22’ off) in slalom, 1090 points in trick, and 87ft in jump. He is a great all round skier, placing in multiple events throughout the season, including 5th place overall at Great Plains Regionals. The most impressive part of it all is that he had very little experience in skiing just 4 years ago, barely knowing how to get up on a slalom ski, never been on trick skis, and never gone over the jump. At his first tournament, he scored all zeros, and now he contributes the most points in his team every tournament. He achieved all of this by not missing a single tournament, going to as many practices as possible, and spending his spring and summer breaks at ski schools. Although Grant may not be the best performing skier in the NCWSA, he definitely is the hardest working, making him an amazing athlete.

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Jake Abelson

Arizona State University

Jake Abelson had an absolutely unreal freshman year at Arizona State Waterski, making an immediate impact by winning both the men’s jump and trick events while tying for men’s overall. Achieving that kind of success in your very first year of college skiing is no small feat, and it speaks volumes about Jake’s talent, work ethic, and competitive drive. Whether he was sending it off the jump or throwing down an incredible trick run, Jake consistently showed that he belongs among the best in collegiate waterskiing. Beyond the results, having a skier of his caliber representing ASU brings excitement and pride to the entire team. Jake is the kind of athlete who makes everyone around him better and embodies the competitive spirit of Sun Devil Waterski. Winning two events and tying for overall as a freshman is an incredible accomplishment, and he’s already established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the NCWSA!

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Jake Hooper

San Diego State University

Jake Hooper from SDSU is a crazy athlete. As a fifth-year, he is our team’s most experienced skier, performing well in all three events. Jake jumps 99 feet (chasing century club), as well as scoring highly in trick and slalom. His performance in all three events at regionals was crucial for our team to qualify for nationals, and without his skiing we likely would have been cooked. He is always pushing to go harder, cut later, and show everyone how it’s done.

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Reid Meinhardt

University of Michigan

Reid Meinhardt – University of Michigan Reid is a freshman on this year’s team and he won slalom and trick at every single tournament. Setting the Midwest trick record and then breaking it again at regionals. He consistently won both events by upwards of 3-4 thousand points and his 3 at 39.5 won regionals by two full passes. Without Reid our team would not have been even close to as competitive

Reid Meinhardt Reid started at the University of Michigan as a freshman this year and already broke the Midwest trick record and won the region in slalom by over a full pass, getting 3 at 39.5. As a Michigan skier, he gave our program a huge boost in our effort to make it to nationals and stood out immensely in our region.

Reid Meinhardt for breaking the midwest regional trick record twice in his first season with Michigan and being an amazingly supportive teammate while doing it.

Reid Meinhardt — he broke the midwest trick record twice this season with over 5000 points as well as getting buoys at 39, winning slalom and trick at every tournament that he attended this season.

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Honorable Mentions

Carter Reese, Chuck Sandgran, Joshua Wein, and Will Kraklow received nominations recognizing their skiing, character, coaching, or support for teammates. The submissions did not identify specific athletic results, records, or demonstrated performance improvements sufficient for this athlete ballot. They are recognized as honorable mentions.

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Team of the Year

Arizona State University

Tempe, Arizona

Arizona State University deserves recognition for the incredible culture and dedication its water ski team embodies. Through my brother’s involvement with the team, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of its members personally, and they are some of the most genuine, welcoming, and passionate people I have met in collegiate water skiing. Their enthusiasm for the sport and unwavering support for one another first inspired my passion for collegiate water skiing and ultimately motivated me to help re-establish the University of Tennessee’s team.

Beyond their positive team culture, ASU has consistently demonstrated remarkable commitment, growth, and perseverance. They continue to raise the standard for themselves, showing significant improvement year after year while maintaining an environment that is both competitive and enjoyable. The team’s work ethic, sportsmanship, and dedication to advancing collegiate water skiing make them truly deserving of recognition. I would love to see their hard work and the positive impact they have on the sport honored through this award.

ASU Waterski is a perfect example of what college waterskiing and the NCWSA community are all about. Despite facing significant hardships, including losing access to a home site, dealing with equipment and trailer issues, and operating without coaches, our team continues to persevere through the dedication and passion of its student-athletes. ASU Waterski is entirely student-run, meaning everything from organizing practices and managing finances to coordinating tournaments and maintaining relationships with alumni falls on the students themselves. Despite these challenges, our team continues to compete, grow, and create a welcoming environment for skiers of all skill levels. We embody the resilience, sportsmanship, leadership, and community that make the NCWSA special. ASU Waterski deserves to be Team of the Year because we demonstrate that a team’s success is not defined by the resources it has, but by the commitment, character, and determination of the people who make it what it is.

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Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama

The D2 champions, Auburn worked really hard this year to set themselves up for a good season after graduating some of their key members. Despite all of their struggles, Auburn worked their way to nationals and then skied their absolute best to get to the top of D2.

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Cal Poly

San Luis Obispo, California

This team has exploded with membership growth since 2021, when they had two new members, to 2026 when they had a new member’s weekend with 30 new people who came out to ski. Over the past few years, they have had multiple skiers podium at both D2 Syndicate Nationals and NCWSA All Stars.

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Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University Water Ski Team. CU Ski always brings the energy. Despite having a unique set up, where team members have to deal with the challenges of public water when going out to practice, Clemson consistently puts together a spirited group of heavy hitters that can contend even with scholarship giving teams.

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Florida Southern College

Lakeland, Florida

The adversity created by Florida Southern leadership and the loss of two coaches this season rattled the team skiers!! However, through their struggle, the team members continued to train, encourage and support each other, and stayed positive. Together they built a strong team culture that was hard to ignore at this year’s national competition. While the current team had the fortitude to remain strong and composed , the solidarity of the program became evident when alumni stepped up to support the current team! The depth and strength of this team and its history is what carried them through an amazing performance this season!! Shared history, challenges, sacrifice, and the bonds that inspire future generations is what this team is all about!! Current and past team members should be commended for their dedication and support to each other and the sport. This is the true definition of a team….

I am proud to nominate the Florida Southern College Water Ski Team for the Team of the Year Award. Their results at this year’s National Championships were outstanding, but what makes this group so deserving of recognition goes well beyond what they accomplished on the water.

Just a few weeks before Nationals, the team faced an unexpected challenge when their head coach stepped down for personal reasons. With the biggest competition of the season approaching, the athletes were left facing uncertainty. Two Florida Southern alumni, Thibaut Dailland and Lauren Morgan, stepped in to help. Thibaut took on the role of interim head coach, spending countless hours in the boat preparing the athletes, while Lauren joined us at the nationals as an assistant coach, offering support and encouragement throughout the transition.

What followed was a remarkable example of what a team can accomplish when its members truly believe in one another. Despite the challenges, Florida Southern finished third in the nation. Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah won national titles in tricks and jump and placed third overall. Kate Pinsonneault earned the overall national title and placed second in slalom and jump. Solie Stenger tied for fourth in slalom, while Perrine Sonier placed fourth in jump and fifth overall. On the men’s side, Dominic Kuhn placed second in tricks and overall, and Chase Sparks finished fourth in jump. Several athletes also achieved personal bests.

But what stands out most about this group is not the medals or podium finishes. It is the way they support one another. The alumni who stepped in to coach shared that they had never seen a group so close-knit, so supportive, and so genuinely happy for each other’s successes. Through a coaching change and the pressure of national competition, these athletes kept showing up for one another.

There is something special about a team that celebrates each other’s victories as if they were their own and stands just as strongly together when things do not go as planned. That spirit is difficult to measure in points, but it is exactly what makes collegiate water skiing meaningful.

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Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

I would like to nominate Kansas State for this award. After a long absence, they have earned their way back to Nationals, a significant achievement that reflects the hard work and perseverance of their team. They have successfully rebuilt their program and created a sustainable path to national-level competition. Furthermore, they have helped grow the sport by co-hosting a fall tournament for the past few years.

Kansas State University – They grew substantially this year from not even placing in the top 10 teams at Midwest regionals in 2025 to finishing top 5 in the region for the 2026 season and competing at collegiate nationals after a long absence. One of their members broke the GPWSA slalom record.

Kansas State made it back to Nationals after a long absence, proving their hard work and dedication has paid off. Their membership numbers are growing, and their team is always high in spirit at tournaments, encouraging every one of their skiers to have fun and challenge themselves.

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Michigan Technological University

Houghton County, Michigan

Michigan Tech University. They worked hard to start their team recently and are committed to traveling far distances for the chance to ski, always with a smile on their face! They have demonstrated great sportsmanship at every tournament attended. Every skier they have is committed to furthering their ability, while working hard to build their team up.

Rollins College

Winter Park, Florida

This season, Rollins College showcased outstanding results on the water, with multiple men’s and women’s skiers achieving podium finishes and contributing to an overall improved team placement. Beyond the scores, Rollins demonstrated a dramatic increase in team spirit and cohesiveness. At Nationals, the team brought energy and enthusiasm like never before—matching outfits, chants, and unbridled support for every skier, from world-record holders to first-time competitors. This combination of elite performance, dedication, and infectious positivity has strengthened team unity and promoted sportsmanship, making Rollins College Waterski a standout in the collegiate waterskiing community.

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San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University SDSU hosted wetset which was one of the best tournaments all year on the west coast. They also have tons of volunteers for each tournament and consistently show the team spirit every team should aspire to have. They also have a huge wakeboard side of the team and from what I hear they will be hosting the first ever combined tournament!

San Diego State University. Continues to grow and expand skills on the water for people who have never been on the water. Work very hard to make nationals and show up with a lot of spirit. Always have volunteers at tournaments, and continue to give back to the sport in many different ways.

I would like to nominate San Diego State University for team of the year. I believe they deserve this nomination for their commitment to membership growth and athletic achievement. This group of people is so hard working, and welcoming to everyone they meet. They have advanced collegiate waterskiing by promoting it to the entire school. This is done primarily through their tabling events, which allow people to meet people on the team and learn about what it offers. Additionally, SDSU hosts the best tournaments. These tournaments are so much fun and all guests are well taken care of. Along with that, the team ensures the whole event runs smoothly!

sdsu waterski and wakesports. We are so hardworking and grind to get better everyday. We also love to give back and hold fundraisers, participate in on campus activities, and just be super awesome people! We are such a close team, more like a family. I think we deserve to win because of our dedication to each other.

San Diego State University! They host the best tournaments and always bring the most skiers to cheer everyone on and continue to create such amazing environments at the tournaments. They have consistently done very well in the west coast region every year and even won D2 nationals last year, making them the overall team of the year considering all the variables!

San Diego State University. The San Diego state team has had the most spirit that I have ever seen. During every time that they have a skier going off the dock their entire team will flood the dock and take total control of it. Their team watches every skier that goes and cheers like crazy. They also performed really well despite losing a lot of their older skiers and got 3rd at nationals when they were seeded 10th.

I would like to nominate San Diego State as team of the year. After winning D2 last year, the team lost their entire girls A team roster. However, this year they placed 3rd in D2 despite being seeded much lower. The team works great with the university, keeps a complex but very positive relationship with the Mission Bay Aquatic Center in order to ski, and maintains one of the only public jump ramps, helping the ski community. San Diego State is known for their team spirit and camaraderie, winning second in spirit despite being on the D2 lake, away from all the voting officials.This is a testament to how much they care about each other and about the great sport of waterskiing.

Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, Illinois

SIU has demonstrated tremendous growth and leadership, hosting multiple tournaments, reviving an old site, sweeping D2 Jump gold medals, and supporting their new region through leadership positions. Their team and team members represent the values of the NCWSA. The team is joined arm in arm in every effort, from fundraising to coordinated dance social media videos.

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA

Although I may be biased, being part of the Ragin’ Cajuns Waterski Team has been one of the best decisions of my life. The support and sense of family I feel within this team is like nothing else. As being part of the team’s leadership, I have seen firsthand the challenges and obstacles we have faced, especially throughout this year. Overcoming them has required an incredible amount of hard work, trust, commitment, and resilience from every member of the team. Despite these challenges, we have once again come out on top at the NCWSA Nationals! If you look at the top 4 team placements at nationals, we are the only team without a coach and I believe that that makes the dedication, discipline, and teamwork of every skier even more special. Every achievement we earn is a reflection of the effort each person puts into this team, both on and off the water, and I could not be prouder to be part of something so special.

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University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

I’m nominating the University of Tennessee Waterski Team for NCWSA Team of the Year because of how much they’ve accomplished in their first year. They just started this year, already have 15 members, and made it to every SAC tournament. Getting a new team going takes a lot of work, and showing up to every tournament while figuring everything out says a lot about their commitment.

They ski on Melton Hill Lake and the Tennessee River, and they’re already planning to host their first tournament this spring at Barking Dog Saloon. Going from starting a team to planning a tournament in that short amount of time is impressive. They’re putting in the work to give their members opportunities to ski while also contributing to the conference.

It’s been exciting to see UTK get started and become part of the SAC community. Starting a team, recruiting 15 members, attending every tournament, and now working toward hosting one themselves is a lot to accomplish in their first year. I think that effort and enthusiasm make them deserving of Team of the Year.

I would like to nominate the University of Tennessee Water Ski Team for the 2026 NCWSA Team of the Year Award. In just the team’s first year as a program, they have grown tremendously, going from five founding members in the spring to fifteen active tournament skiers by season’s end. Building a collegiate waterski team from the ground up has taken tremendous commitment, enthusiasm, and hard work from every member, and what they have accomplished together is incredibly impressive.

Despite being a brand-new team, UTK attended every SAC tournament during both the spring and fall seasons. Competing against well-established programs, they finished 7th in the SAC region, an achievement that reflects the dedication of their members and the strength of their developing program. For a team that did not exist before Spring 2026, this result shows how much effort their members have put into representing the University of Tennessee.

Beyond competing, they are planning to host a tournament at Barkin’ Dog Saloon in Spring 2027, a significant undertaking for such a young team. In a region where the majority of tournaments are traditionally hosted by the same few established programs, taking the initiative to organize and host their own event shows their commitment not only to their team’s success, but to supporting the growth and accessibility of the sport for other collegiate skiers as well.

What makes the team especially deserving of this recognition is not just their competitive success, but the culture they have built. From day one, they have focused on creating a welcoming, supportive environment where teammates push each other to improve both on and off the water. The friendships, team spirit, and school pride that have developed throughout their first year have been the foundation of their success.

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University of Wisconsin- La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin Lacrosse has been an amazing team this year and I think they should be recognized for being able to compete as a smaller d3 school making it to nationals multiple years in a row. We have had an amazing program for multiple years and pushing everyone who joins to be the best skier and students they can be. We have become more than just a team but a family

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Waterski Team has shown incredible growth and dedication this season. After losing many experienced seniors last year, the team welcomed a large group of freshmen and new members. While this came with challenges, it also created an amazing opportunity to introduce new faces to the sport. Returning members have spent countless hours teaching new skiers, helping them build confidence, and encouraging them to improve their skills. It has been so exciting to watch new members grow, from learning how to get up on skis to competing in their first tournaments.

At the same time, experienced skiers have continued pushing themselves to improve their own skills while helping the team grow stronger as a whole. Despite having a younger team, UWL has continued to find success throughout the season, earning second place at Great Plains Regionals and entering Nationals ranked first in Division 2.

Beyond the accomplishments on the water, this team has created an environment where everyone feels welcomed, supported, and encouraged to succeed. What makes UWL Waterski special is the willingness of its members to help one another, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, and make the sport fun for everyone. This season has shown that success is not just about winning tournaments, but also about growing the sport, building friendships, and creating opportunities for the next generation of collegiate waterskiers.

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Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

WWU has been the foothold of the whole pacific northwest region of the united states and reaching into Canada. Being a smaller school the team impact can be felt when showing up to AWSA and regional events/tournaments. The team sent members to multiple tournaments over the summer and the community was pleased to have us. Members volunteered fulfilling roles supporting tournaments. From a competitive perspective the team continued their qualification to nationals in a consecutive appearance since COVID. This year the Western region presented a slot of 7 teams bidding for 5 spots. One of the more competitive regional tournaments in recent memory. The team qualified for nationals beating expectations that had WWU outside of the top 5 from most peoples perspectives. The teams try it out day this fall was also the most successful dating back to Spring of 2022. The team showed up and showed out running the boat from 11 am to sunset pulling new members all day. Many people got up for the first time or tried waterskiing for the first time. Due to some injuries, illness, and setbacks the scores at nationals did not fully encompass the power that WWU has built on the water. Our Men and Women have built a depth which scored across the board especially at nationals better than we have in previous years. The team was highlighted by a couple individuals. Namely Ellie Witulski who scored 450 points this fall in trick placing her 8th all time for WWU Women’s Trick. Kyle Huard also scored 740 points, placing himself 6th all time. In a team that has been building back from a team who used to recruit talent. Now has primary in house built skiers these scores were built from 0. WWU skiers also volunteer within the community coaching at camps who have watersport programs across the country. At the same venue the team skis with teammates over the summers coaching and providing support. The campers at these programs often ask questions and have inquired continuously about waterskiing as a sport. Some have inquired about skiing in college and starting a team at other universities they are thinking about attending. The impact of WWU as a smaller school in the northwest corner has been branching out and effecting more than its own smaller college community.

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Volunteer of the Year

Andre Broussard

SAC Vice Chairman, NCWSA Membership Committee Chair, NCWSA Historian, and NCWSA Representative on the USA-WSWS Waterways Committee

I would like to nominate Andre Broussard for Volunteer of the Year. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of working closely with Andre as our team re-established itself, and I can confidently say that his impact has been extremely valuable. From the very beginning, he has been incredibly generous with his time, knowledge, and support, helping guide us through every step of the process. Because he lives nearby, he has also dedicated countless hours to coaching and mentoring our team, giving us opportunities and resources that would not have been possible otherwise.

Andre’s commitment to collegiate water skiing is truly unmatched. He invests an extraordinary amount of time and energy into growing the sport, not only by helping new teams get off the ground but also by supporting and strengthening established programs across the country. His willingness to volunteer wherever needed and his passion for ensuring the continued success of collegiate water skiing have had a lasting impact on countless athletes and teams.

On a personal level, I feel incredibly fortunate that our team has been able to build such a strong relationship with Andre. Watching firsthand the dedication, effort, and care he brings to this sport has been inspiring. Everything he does is driven by a genuine desire to help student-athletes succeed and to see collegiate water skiing thrive. For these reasons, I believe Andre is exceptionally deserving of the Volunteer of the Year Award.

I’m nominating Andre Broussard for everything he does to help collegiate waterskiing grow. As SAC Vice Chairman and Membership Committee Chair, Andre helps new teams across the country get off the ground and join the NCWSA. Starting a team can be a lot to figure out, and having someone willing to help through that process makes a huge difference. In the past few years, over 11 new NCWSA teams have joined the SAC. And I know his work getting new teams to join in other regions is just as high; I just don’t have a good figure. I constantly see him reaching out in Facebook groups trying to find alumni and waterskiers interested in helping collegiate teams get off the ground.

His work with UTK is a great example of how much he’s willing to do. Andre has gone out of his way to help them start their team and currently offers his own boat for all of their practices. He has also introduced them to many of the private lakes in East Tennessee that they also get the opportunity to ski on. That’s a big commitment of both time and resources, and it gives their members the chance to get on the water and build the program.

Andre puts real effort into helping new teams succeed. From working with schools around the country to making his boat available for UTK, he follows through with the support teams need. Collegiate skiing grows because people are willing to do things like this, and I think Andre deserves recognition for the opportunities he’s helping create.

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Darren Janzig

I would like to nominate Darren Janzig for this award. This year, he helped organize a clinic that allowed collegiate skiers to earn their official ratings. As a result of the clinic, 10 new officials were certified. In addition, Darren is always willing to help at our regional tournaments and serves as an appointed driver at Collegiate Nationals. His contributions have had a significant impact not only on the Great Plains Region but on collegiate skiing as a whole.

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Gabrielle “Ellie” Klemm

Gabrielle “Ellie” Klemm has been an invaluable asset for the west coast region since she graduated in 2025. As a chief safety, she has been in charge of several tournaments, always diligently ensuring that skiing can proceed under proper precautions. In addition to being chief safety, she has come to several tournaments in the west as an official and helped with safety at even more, even traveling from San Diego to Boulder, Colorado for their tournament. She continues to make an impact on SDSU as an alumna and connect the region together.

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Kelvin Kelm

NCWSA Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Kelvin Kelm is one of the nicest humans I have met and I believe all of his hard work for the sport should not go unrecognized. Whenever you need a hand with something he is the first person to come and help you. He is at nearly every tournament setting up cameras, driving and helping around the site.

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Matt Page

NCWSA SAC Chair, NCWSA IAC Committee Member, and NCWSA Representative on the USA-WSWS Bylaws Committee

Matt Page – very few individuals put in the time that Matt does both in supporting events but also now running Waterski Atlanta. Even fewer are willing to work events not only in the United States but all over the world in order to help make sure our juniors and collegiate skiers have a positive experience. Matt is truly a terrific asset for the sport and he deserves the recognition for all of the different areas where he helps.

Matt Page!! From building collegiate teams to supporting struggling programs and providing necessary leadership Matt had done it all. His knowledge and quiet support in every aspect of collegiate skiing is evident everywhere!

Matt Page – Matt Page is the most dedicated volunteer by far. He helps plan and coordinate every single SAC tournament throughout the year as well as some tournaments for other regions as well. Along with that, he was the chief scorer at nationals this year. Matt cares so much about the NCWSA and helping it grow and I can’t think of anyone more dedicated than he is.

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Honorable Mentions

Leah Lindemeyer and Victor Moisan received Volunteer of the Year nominations in recognition of their contributions to collegiate water skiing. Because they are collegiate skiers as of 2026, they are not eligible for this award under the NCWSA Annual Awards Policies and Procedures. We recognize them here as honorable mentions. Cal O’Callahan and Matthew Leach are also recognized as honorable mentions; their submissions did not include supporting descriptions. See the NCWSA Annual Awards Policies and Procedures for volunteer eligibility.

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https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIcBoseJw60wtankuBLwrmZfYqhIgPh5fxvZQMu0L0JWInoA/viewform

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Latest posts by Leah Lindemeyer (see all)

Leah Lindemeyer

NCWSA Marketing Chairwoman | Alumna & former Public Relations Chair of Michigan State Water Ski | Ohio State Water Ski Alumna