WAVERLY, Iowa --- Wartburg Athletics has announced its department awards for the 2025-26 academic year, as selected by the coaches and the athletic committee.
 
Hertel Award - Female: Rewa Chababo & Katie Boulanger | Male: Kasey Ross

The Hertel Award is presented to the most outstanding male and female athletes of the year. The recipients are selected by the coaching staff and athletic committee. The award is named in honor of Dr. Elmer Hertel, longtime professor, coach, athletic director, and Iowa Conference secretary.
 
Chababo earned All-American honors with a third-place finish at the inaugural 2026 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships held last March in Coralville, Iowa. The senior from Katy, Texas helped lead the Knights to their highest team point total (39.5) and best team finish (11th) at a national championship meet in program history. This past season Chababo posted a 28-3 record with 10 pins and seven technical falls, contributing 124 team points. She captured titles at the A-R-C Championships, Region V Championships, D3 Invite, and Luther Open while earning A-R-C MVP. Additionally, Chababo also received NWCA Scholar All-American, CSC Academic All-District and A-R-C All-Academic recognitions.
 
Boulanger was named the D3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year in 2025-26 after bursting on the scene for the Knights with a 27-point collegiate debut against Knox College. The first-year forward went on to lead all of Division III in three-point percentage at 49.1% and was one of two players in all of Division III to average 17 or more points per game on 50+% shooting from the field, 45+% shooting from three and 85+% shooting from the free throw line. The New Prague, Minn. native helped lead the Knights to a fourth consecutive A-R-C regular season title and was named Third Team All-Region by D3hoops.com, First Team All-Conference and A-R-C Rookie of the Year.

Ross put together a perfect 30-0 season at 184 pounds, including 14 technical falls, seven pins and four major decisions. The senior captured the NCAA Division III national championship, earning All-American honors and helping cement one of the most successful seasons of his collegiate career. Ross also won the NCAA Region VI Championship, was named A-R-C Most Valuable Performer and captured the Concordia University Wisconsin Invite title. He was also recognized as an NWCA Scholar All-American.

Chellevold Award - JoJo Tyynismaa
The Chellevold Award is given to a graduating senior female student-athlete selected by the faculty athletic committee. The selection is based on athletic achievement, scholarship and attitude. The award is named in honor of the late Dr. John Chellevold, former Dean of the College and lifelong athletic supporter.
 
Tyynismaa capped off an amazing collegiate career with the Knights in 2025-26 as she collected eight NCAA All-America honors across the indoor and outdoor campaigns while sweeping the American Rivers Conference Most Valuable Performer awards. At indoor national championships, the Tama, Iowa native earned First-team All-American honors in the 60m hurdles, 60m and 4x400. At the outdoor national championships, the senior was a First-team All-American in the 100m hurdles and the 4x400. She closed her career with 14 total All-American honors and four A-R-C MVP honors between the indoor and outdoor seasons. Additionally, Tynismaa earned CSC Academic All-American honors in 2025-26 and is a previous CSC Academic All-District honoree. She also has been named to the USTFCCA All-Academic team two times and is a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
 
Voecks Award - Lance Sobaski & Keenan Tyler
The Voecks Award is given to a graduating senior male student-athlete selected by the faculty athletic committee. The selection is based on athletic achievement, scholarship and attitude. The award is named in honor of Dr. Walter Voecks, former chair of the Wartburg College Board of Regents.
 
Sobaski wrapped up a decorated 12-time All-American career in both cross country and track & field following the 2025-26 academic year. In cross country, the senior earned All-American honors for the second time of his career while helping the Knights to a third-place finish that marked back-to-back podium finishes for Wartburg. He earned All-Region and All-Conference honors all four seasons of his cross county career. During indoor the track, the Brighton, Iowa native garnered First Team All-America honors in both the 3,000-meter run and the distance medley relay. He followed that with another standout outdoor campaign, finishing as the NCAA Division III national runner-up in the 3,000-meter steeplechase while adding a fifth-place finish in the 5,000-meter run to earn two more All-America honors. Sobaski owns the second fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase in Division III history after winning the event at the Portland Track Festival in a time of 8:37.25. Additionally, Sobaski was named a CSC Academic All-American last season for the first time of his career. He is also a six-time Academic All-Conference honoree between cross country and track and field.
 
Tyler put together a standout season on the field in 2025 to help lead one of Division III's top defenses. He earned All-America honors from all three major publications, receiving Second-Team recognition from D3football.com and First-Team honors from both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Associated Press (AP). The Decorah, Iowa native was a First-Team All-American Rivers Conference selection and was named the 2025 A-R-C Defensive MVP, marking the fourth consecutive season a Wartburg player has earned the award. He was also named to D3football.com's First-Team All-Region Defense. In his career, the senior linebacker totaled three All-American honors, two All-Region honors and two All-Conference nods. During the 2025 season, Tyler totaled 124 tackles, the fourth-highest single-season total in program history. He ranked second in the A-R-C in solo tackles per game (6.64) and third in total tackles. Tyler recorded career highs in solo tackles (73), assisted tackles (51), tackles for loss (7), and pass breakups (7). Additionally, Tyler earned a CSC Academic All-American honor for the first time of his career. He is also a two-time CSC Academic All-District and two-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
 
Other Golden Knight Award winners (presented in May)
Iron Knight male: Jake Walker
Iron Knight female: Aspen Falk
Sportsmanship male: Conner Grover
Sportsmanship female: Peyton Robinson
Rookie of the year male: Kade Blume
Rookie of the year female: Katie Boulanger
Moment of the year: Baseball – Winning the A-R-C Tournament as the #4 Seed over Coe 5-2 in a winner take all title game and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
Athlete of the year male: Kasey Ross
Athlete of the year female: Rewa Chababo
Coaching Staff of the Year: Men's Wrestling – 2026 Division III National Champions
Team Service Award: Softball
Team Spirit Award: Softball
Classroom Golden Knight male: Clay Nielsen
Classroom Golden Knight female: Kenna Hemann