Lexington Honors Wildcats at 2025 CATSPY Awards

News Summary

The 2025 CATSPY Awards held at the Historic Memorial Coliseum celebrated the achievements of University of Kentucky athletes. With accolades for 35 individuals and 15 teams, the event honored top performances in sports and academics. Highlights included the volleyball team’s SEC Championship and the baseball team’s historic College World Series appearance. Special awards recognized both athletic prowess and academic excellence, showcasing the commitment of the Wildcats to succeed in all areas.

Lexington Celebrates Wildcat Triumphs at the 2025 CATSPY Awards

This past Monday, the Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington became a stage of celebration, as the University of Kentucky Athletics held its highly anticipated 23rd annual CATSPY Awards. The event brought together student-athletes, coaches, and fans to recognize outstanding achievements in both athletics and academics from April 2024 to April 2025.

A Night Full of Honors

Amidst the cheers and applause, a total of 35 individuals and 15 teams received accolades for their remarkable performances, highlighting the rich talent and dedication present across various sports at the university. The evening buzzed with excitement as the winning teams of the year were announced, with volleyball, rifle, and baseball taking center stage.

Volleyball Reigns Supreme Once Again

The Kentucky volleyball team truly stole the spotlight, successfully defending their title with an impressive showing during the season. They achieved an eighth consecutive SEC Championship, finishing with a remarkable 23-8 overall record and an astounding 14-2 in league matches. Closing the regular season with a stunning 11-match winning streak, the team also hosted NCAA Tournament rounds at their home ground.

Individually, two athletes earned particular recognition. Brooklyn DeLeye was honored as the SEC Player of the Year, while Emma Grome also received accolades as an All-American. Head coach Craig Skinner added yet another feather to his cap by being named SEC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year, a commendable achievement in six of the past seven years!

The honors didn’t end there; Molly Tuozzo was recognized as All-SEC, and Asia Thigpen and Brooke Bultema made their mark by receiving spots on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Truly, it was a night to remember for the volleyball program.

Rifle Team Shines at Nationals

Another highlight of the evening was the recognition of the UK rifle team, who made their mark with an impressive performance at the 2025 NCAA Rifle National Championships. Finishing second overall, the rifle team secured the national runner-up title and took second place in smallbore while earning third place in air rifle.

Among their top performers were Braden Peiser and Sofia Ceccarello, both of whom earned the title of unanimous first-team All-Americans. Peiser’s remarkable talent earned him a national silver medal in air rifle, showcasing the level of skill and dedication present within the team.

Baseball Makes History

And who could forget the baseball team’s historic achievements? The Wildcats made waves by becoming the first Kentucky team to reach the Men’s College World Series. With a program record of 46 wins and crowned SEC Champions, they secured the prestigious No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Two baseball players earned All-American honors: Ryan Waldschmidt and Emilien Pitre, while head coach Nick Mingione was once again recognized as SEC Coach of the Year, adding to the excitement of the night.

Academic Achievements Also Celebrated

Outside of sports, the academic prowess of the Wildcats shone just as brightly. Seven student-athletes were honored with the prestigious Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards for maintaining impressive GPAs, demonstrating that the commitment to excellence goes beyond just physical competitions.

Other special awards presented on this memorable night included the Mr. Wildcat awards handed out to Eli Cox (football), Devin Burkes (baseball), and Lamont Butler (men’s basketball). The honors for women were equally impressive, with Isabella Magnelli (gymnastics), Brooklyn DeLeye, and Emma Grome (volleyball) receiving Miss Wildcat recognition.

Celebrating Team Spirit

Academic Teams of the Year were recognized as well, with the men’s cross country and women’s golf teams taking home those honors. The evening concluded with the presentation of the Heart of a Wildcat Award to UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto for his support and commitment to the athletic department.

A Night to Remember

With various awards acknowledging both athletic and academic excellence across multiple sports, the 2025 CATSPY Awards proved to be a night of triumph and celebration for the Wildcats. Hosted by Christi Thomas of the UK Sports Network, it created lasting memories and showcased the incredible talent within the University of Kentucky Athletics.

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Additional Resources

• WKYT: UK Recognizes Teams & Athletes at Annual CATSPY Awards
• UK Athletics: 2023 CATSPY Awards Presented
• LEX18: Burkes is Back – UK Baseball Catcher Returning in 2025
• Kentucky.com: UK Basketball Insights
• UK Athletics: 2024 CATSPY Awards Presented
• Wikipedia: University of Kentucky
• Google Search: University of Kentucky Athletics
• Google Scholar: University of Kentucky Athletic Achievements
• Encyclopedia Britannica: University of Kentucky
• Google News: University of Kentucky CATSPY Awards