ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University athletic department is excited to announce the 2025-26 award finalists in preparation for the annual Purple and Gold Awards on Sunday, May 3. 

The end-of-year celebration honors the department's top awards, along with MIAC and NCAA recognitions, and the many academic achievements of student-athletes across the university.

Members of the athletic department staff may nominate student-athletes for the McCahill Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sheila Brown Wildcat Award, and Brady Williams Spirit Award. Finalists are selected for both the Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors before winners are chosen. The administrative team then selects the recipients, including the annual Fleur-de-lis Award.

The Rookie of the Year award goes to a student-athlete competing in their first year of collegiate athletics and exemplifying athletic achievement as well as academic success, team leadership, and community involvement. The rookie finalists include Raquel Ahrens from golf, Ceci Emery from soccer, Marta Haugen from volleyball, and Eleanor Lindeman from cross country and track & field. 

The McCahill Athlete of the Year award is given to a student-athlete who exemplifies outstanding athletic achievement during this year's season as well as academic success, team leadership, and community involvement. This year, the finalists include Hattie Fox, Helen McKinnon, Bella Meier, and Ana Myers.

Raquel Ahrens, Fy., Golf 
Raquel Ahrens put together an impressive rookie season, posting the team's second-lowest scoring average at 79.3 across 17 rounds. She earned All-Tournament Team honors this fall after shooting an even-par 72 at the MIAC Championship, helping lead the Wildcats to a third-place finish while placing ninth individually. As a first-year, Raquel has already recorded five top-10 finishes, with one tournament still to play, firmly placing herself in the conversation for MIAC Rookie of the Year honors. She also earned All-MIAC recognition by finishing in the top 10 at the fall championships. The business major is one of the golf representatives on the Wildcat Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (WSAAC) and earned Dean's List honors in the fall. 

Ceci Emery, Fy., Soccer
First-year defender, Ceci Emery, played a pivotal role in the Wildcats historic season as a regular starter and played over 95 percent of the team's minutes at wide back. Ceci was honored as the MIAC Rookie of the Year as an anchor for a defense that recorded 13 shutouts and allowed just 12 goals all season.  Ceci scored her first collegiate goal in the Wildcats 5-1 defeat over Wisconsin-Stout and scored again in the next game, helping the team to a 4-0 win over Wisconsin-River Falls. Her first assist was in the 6-0 shutout against Concordia College and added one more in the 3-0 win over Gustavus Adolphus College for six total points on the season. A business major, Ceci made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball in her debut campaign.

Marta Haugen, Fy., Volleyball
First-year outside hitter Marta Haugen turned in a remarkable rookie campaign for the Wildcats. She was one of just three first-years named to the MIAC Volleyball All-Conference Team after leading the team in multiple offensive categories. Marta recorded a team-high 222 kills across 27 matches, contributing 28 blocks and 115 digs in an impressive all-around season. She totaled a team-leading 239.5 points over 96 sets, helping the Wildcats to earn the team the No. 5 seed in the MIAC Playoffs. Marta is a Fashion Design and Merchandising Major. 

Eleanor Lindeman, Fy., Cross Country/Track & Field
In her debut year, Eleanor Lindeman emerged as one of the top rookies in the MIAC, pacing the Wildcats across cross country and track & field. She became the first Wildcat since 2019 to earn a spot on the program's 6K Honor Roll, ranking No. 11 in the MIAC (23:43), while leading the team in every distance race, placing 41st at the MIAC Championships (23:44.5), and taking third overall at both the Toni St. Pierre and Finanger Invitationals. Indoors, she earned MIAC Honorable Mention in the 5,000m (6th overall), the program's best finish in the event since 2010, while recording three top-10 all-time marks: mile (5th, 5:23.72), 3,000m (4th, 10:38.92), and 5,000m (3rd, 18:39.72). She has continued that momentum outdoors with top-10 finishes in multiple meets and three additional top-10 program marks in the steeplechase (5th, 12:01.19), 5,000m (5th, 18:41.21), and 10,000m (5th, 39:51.26), and is set to compete in the steeplechase and 5,000m at the conference championships. Eleanor is an exercise science major, pre-physical therapy was was named to the St. Kate's Dean's List in the fall.  

Athlete of the Year Finalists

Hattie Fox, Jr., Basketball
Junior captain Hattie Fox led the Wildcat basketball team, scoring a team-best 359 points, earning MIAC All-Conference honors in the MIAC for the 2025–26 season and for the third consecutive season. She ranked third in the conference in free throw percentage (89%), second in free throws made (122), and third in attempts (137), despite playing fewer games than the league leader. Fox also finished eighth in scoring (14.4 ppg), 15th in rebounding (5.8 per game, 144 total), and seventh in offensive rebounds (2.2 per game, 56 total). She added 1.3 three-pointers per game (15th), 43 assists (1.7 per game), and 44 steals (1.8 per game, 15th). A key leader for the Wildcats, Fox was named Team MVP and surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in her career. The nursing major carries a perfect 4.0 GPA, was on the Dean's List in the fall, and was recognized as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection. 

Helen McKinnon, Sr., Softball
With four regular-season games left on the schedule, Helen McKinnon has already compiled one of the best seasons in program history. Before conference play even started, McKinnon reset the program's doubles record and has played a key role in the team's 21-14 season up to this point. McKinnon has tallied 36 runs off of 48 hits and is tied for third in the MIAC with 12 doubles so far, and also tied for third in the MIAC with three triples, plus a homer. She delivered 71 assists with ten double plays, helping her get recognized on the NFCA Player of the Year Watch List. She was the MIAC Athlete of the Week on March 16, hitting .565 with ten RBI and four extra base hits, leading St. Kate's to a 6-2 record on spring break. Helen was recently honored with the Thomas More Award by the university and also achieved top academic honors as a marketing and economics major. 

Bella Meier, Sr, Soccer
In her first official athletic season at St. Kate's, Bella Meier put together one of the program's best individual performances, earning MIAC All-Conference. Bella's team leading ten goal season on top of eight assists, the second most in the MIAC, led St. Kate's to the program's best overall record, and achieved a conference championship title and a bid to the NCAA National Tournament every season since 2020. She delivered four game winners, going 1-1 on penalty kicks. She was responsible for half of the team's goals in the 6-0 win over Concordia College and scored the team's first goal in the MIAC 2-1 semifinal win over Augsburg. She was named MIAC Athlete of the Week on October 20 after scoring in three back-to-back games with two assists and making the United Soccer Coaches All-Region First-Team. Bella was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious academic honor society, and is a Neuroscience major carrying a perfect 4.0 GPA, and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. 

Ana Myers, So., Hockey
Sophomore Ana Myers added another dominant season to her St. Kate's tenure in her second year. During the 2025-26 season, Ana finished tied for the second-most goals in the MIAC with 16 and led the league in shots (132) and shots per game (5.28). She led the conference in goals per game (.64) and dominated the draw, leading the MIAC with 374 face-off wins while ranking third in all of Division III. She was named MIAC Athlete of the Week on January 12 for a five-goal, six-point performance and tallied her third collegiate hat trick all within the first period. She earned MIAC All-Conference honors for the second season in a row and was on the St. Kate's Dean's List in the fall as a psychology, pre-medicine major with minors in chemistry and nutrition.