HILO, Hawai'i – A week after capturing back-to-back Pacific West Conference titles, Hawai'i Hilo Men's Golf took home Vulcan Team of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year at the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics 2023-24 All-Sports Banquet last week at The Arc of Hilo.

Nicholas Gomez, who claimed the PacWest Conference Men's Golf Individual Championship, was named Male Athlete of the Year. Kiersten Saludares, who captured the PacWest Women's Golf Individual Championship, was selected as Female Athlete of the Year.

The Imua Vulcan Award was introduced to the lineup this year, recognizing one male and one female student-athlete for making strides in their personal athletic journeys. This accolade is nominated by coaches and is meant to be a combination of most improved, breakout, comeback or sixth man of the year type of awards. The inaugural recipients are Kalique Mitchell of men's basketball and Megan Donovan of women's soccer. Mitchell had started just three games in 2022-23 before making his way onto the All-PacWest Second Team this season. Donovan had played sparingly in the three seasons prior to last fall before breaking out as a scorer to earn a starting spot and land All-PacWest Team and All-West Region Team honors.

David Mayser (men's soccer) and Filippa Graneld (women's soccer) were honored as the Joe and Harriet Estrella Male Scholar-Athlete and Sakai and Harue Wakakuwa Female Scholar-Athlete, respectively, for earning the highest cumulative grade point average through at least five semesters as a Vulcan.

The Ramon Goya Academic Teams of the Year for highest combined GPA went to Women's Cross Country and Women's Basketball.

Tani Hoke (women's volleyball) and James Yamasaki (baseball) served as senior speakers as part of the salute to the senior class of 2024.

2023-24 HAWAI'I HILO VULCANS ATHLETICS AWARDS

VULCAN TEAM OF THE YEAR
Men's Golf

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kiersten Saludares, Women's Golf

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Nicholas Gomez, Men's Golf

SAKAI AND HARUE WAKAKUWA FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE
Filippa Graneld, Women's Soccer

JOE AND HARRIET ESTRELLA MALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE
David Mayser, Men's Soccer

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
Women's Cross Country: Olivia Jarvis
Men's Soccer: David Mayser
Women's Soccer: Filippa Graneld
Women's Volleyball: Imani Lee
Men's Basketball: Cameron Wall
Women's Basketball: Kaile Cruz
Men's Golf: Ethan Hironaga
Women's Golf: Kailey Oki
Men's Tennis: Luca Matheiowetz
Women's Tennis: Julia Barden
Baseball: Mason Cook
Softball: Lexie Tilton

RAMON GOYA ACADEMIC TEAMS OF THE YEAR
Individual Sport: Women's Cross Country
Team Sport: Women's Basketball

IMUA VULCAN AWARDS
Male: Kalique Mitchell, Men's Basketball
Female: Megan Donovan, Women's Soccer

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT / SERVICE AWARDS
Women's Tennis
Women's Soccer

PONO VULCAN AWARDS
Women's Cross Country: Aurea Streadbeck
Men's Soccer: Tom Vorkastner
Women's Soccer: Filippa Graneld
Women's Volleyball: Isabella Aguinaldo
Men's Basketball: Cameron Wall
Women's Basketball: Kamalu Kamakawiwoole
Men's Golf: Nicholas Gomez
Women's Golf: Kailey Oki
Men's Tennis: Lamar Bartley
Women's Tennis: Lehua Jordan
Baseball: James Yamasaki
Softball: Lexie Tilton