PUEBLO, Colo. – At this coming Sunday's Total Program Meeting in the Occhiato Student Center Ballroom, which will open the 2025-26 school year for CSU Pueblo student-athletes, the Tundra Spirit of the Pack Award will be awarded to one female and one male student-athlete.
The Tundra Spirit of the Pack Award, which was first awarded in 2020, is given to the student-athlete who most exemplifies the heart of the ThunderWolf spirit. Through selfless loyalty, dedication, and support of their teammates, the student encourages and inspires their teammates to be at their best not only on the field but as active members of the community. This student's enthusiasm and devotion to their Pack Family and CSU Pueblo embody the true spirit of the Pack.
Each winner of the award (male and female student-athlete) will receive a $1,000 scholarship (on top of their current award), and the award is given on behalf of Carol and Mark Rickman.
"Thanks to Carol and Mark Rickman, the Tundra Spirit of the Pack Award has gained tremendous momentum among our sport programs. Our coaches and student-athletes take great pride in this annual scholarship award because it celebrates character, leadership and the true spirit of Pack Athletics. It has become a meaningful tradition that not only recognizes excellence, but also inspires our teams to embody the values that make CSU Pueblo special," said CSU Pueblo Vice President of Athletics and Strategic Partnerships
Dr. Paul Plinske.
This year's list of nominees features eight male student-athletes from eight different sports, while there are 10 female student-athletes nominated from 10 different sports.
Their head coaches nominate the student-athletes, and those nominees are selected for the award by an "esteemed" panel in the athletics department.
Here are the 2025-26 Tundra Spirit of the Park Award nominees.
Male Student-Athletes
Neico Alire – Cheerleading
Solomon Arnds-Volcin – Wrestling
Jason Arriola – Baseball
Sebastian DeMark – Soccer
Sam Howery – Basketball
Lukas Moran – Cross Country/Track and Field
Agustin Pizzorno – Golf
Domingo Prince II – Football
Female Student-Athletes
Helen Braybrook – Cross Country/Track and Field
Destinee Earle – Cheerleading
Lisa Ekberg – Golf
Madelyn Huerta – Softball
Megan Mattingly – Volleyball
Faith Moa – Soccer
Carla Sanchez Guareno – Swimming
Genesis Sweetwine – Basketball
Yelena Travica – Tennis
Reese Wasmund – Lacrosse
Here are the previous recipients of the Tundra Spirit of the Pack Award.
2020
Jenna McKinley (Women's Track and Field)
Marcelo Laguera (Men's Cross Country/Track and Field)
2021
The Pack
2022
Brianna Fong (Cheerleading)
Clay Kucera (Men's Golf)
2023
Hannah Delor (Volleyball)
Nate Miller (Men's Track and Field)
2024
Katherine Higgins (Women's Track and Field)
Eli Pittman (Football)
2025
Margot Thomas-Gatel (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field)
Ignatius DeMark (Men's Soccer)
