Bowling Green State University Athletics

Aspen Searle, Kohl Taberner Named MAC Medal Of Excellence Winners
May 31, 2018 | General, Men's Cross Country, Softball, Falcon Club, Student-Athlete Services
Bowling Green State University's Aspen Searle and Kohl Taberner were awarded with the Mid-American Conference Medal of Excellence Awards during last night's Honors Dinner Ceremony at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel as part of the MAC Spring Meetings.
The Medal of Excellence is an award presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 conference member institutions.
"The Medal of Excellence Award is a reinforcement of the core values that we as a conference and each of our member institutions all possess with excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "We congratulate all of our Medal of Excellence Award winners."
To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a conference-sponsored sport and show evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade-point average, exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
The Medal of Excellence has been awarded in each of the past five years. The complete list of 2018 honorees, as well as the all-time list of BGSU winners, follows...
BGSU'S MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS
2018 - Kohl Taberner (men's cross country); Aspen Searle (softball)
2017 - Joe Sullivan (men's soccer); Madeline Garda (volleyball)
2016 - Ryan James (men's soccer); Alyssa Nocella (gymnastics)
2015 - Christian Piazza (football); Deborah Hoekstra (women's basketball)
2014 - Cody Apthorpe (baseball); Nikki Chiricosta (tennis)
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2018 MAC MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
Akron: Zach Guiser (football); Jackie Siefring (women's track & field)
Ball State: Vinnie Palazeti (football); Alyssa Heintschel (women's soccer)
Bowling Green: Kohl Taberner (men's cross country); Aspen Searle (softball)
Buffalo: Tim Roberts (football); Liisa Ups (women's basketball)
Central Michigan: Joe Ostman (football); Kathryn Clements (women's gymnastics)
Eastern Michigan: Luke DeVenney (baseball); Kendall Valentin (women's gymnastics)
Kent State: Mason Mamarella (baseball); Samantha Tollerud (women's track & field)
Miami: Katie Tomasic (women's volleyball)
Northern Illinois: Drew Donnally (men's soccer); Kedisha Dallas (women's track & field)
Ohio: Bradley Miller (men's cross country); Emma Ryan (women's track & field)
Toledo: Sam Shutes (baseball); Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott (women's basketball)
Western Michigan: Brandon Bye (men's soccer); Maria Jaramillo (women's soccer)
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The Medal of Excellence is an award presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 conference member institutions.
"The Medal of Excellence Award is a reinforcement of the core values that we as a conference and each of our member institutions all possess with excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "We congratulate all of our Medal of Excellence Award winners."
To be honored with the Medal of Excellence Award, student-athletes had to participate on the varsity level in a conference-sponsored sport and show evidence of academic success with a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade-point average, exhibited athletics excellence, leadership and service. Selection of the recipients was made by each MAC institution.
The Medal of Excellence has been awarded in each of the past five years. The complete list of 2018 honorees, as well as the all-time list of BGSU winners, follows...
BGSU'S MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS
2018 - Kohl Taberner (men's cross country); Aspen Searle (softball)
2017 - Joe Sullivan (men's soccer); Madeline Garda (volleyball)
2016 - Ryan James (men's soccer); Alyssa Nocella (gymnastics)
2015 - Christian Piazza (football); Deborah Hoekstra (women's basketball)
2014 - Cody Apthorpe (baseball); Nikki Chiricosta (tennis)
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2018 MAC MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
Akron: Zach Guiser (football); Jackie Siefring (women's track & field)
Ball State: Vinnie Palazeti (football); Alyssa Heintschel (women's soccer)
Bowling Green: Kohl Taberner (men's cross country); Aspen Searle (softball)
Buffalo: Tim Roberts (football); Liisa Ups (women's basketball)
Central Michigan: Joe Ostman (football); Kathryn Clements (women's gymnastics)
Eastern Michigan: Luke DeVenney (baseball); Kendall Valentin (women's gymnastics)
Kent State: Mason Mamarella (baseball); Samantha Tollerud (women's track & field)
Miami: Katie Tomasic (women's volleyball)
Northern Illinois: Drew Donnally (men's soccer); Kedisha Dallas (women's track & field)
Ohio: Bradley Miller (men's cross country); Emma Ryan (women's track & field)
Toledo: Sam Shutes (baseball); Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott (women's basketball)
Western Michigan: Brandon Bye (men's soccer); Maria Jaramillo (women's soccer)
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Players Mentioned
Eric Nichols Post-Practice Interview (Sept. 19, 2025)
Friday, September 19
Off The Pitch: Trace Terry (Sept. 18, 2025)
Friday, September 19
BG VB : Postgame Interviews 9.17
Thursday, September 18
BGSU MSOC: USMNT GOAT (Lucas Kleimeyer)
Wednesday, September 17