Feb. 7, 2025

Four Ferris State student-athletes honored with GLIAC Commissioner's Award for academic and athletic excellence

 

A league-high four Ferris State University student-athletes have been honored as Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner's Award recipients for the fall 2024 campaign.

The awards are bestowed annually after the fall, winter and spring athletic seasons to six female and six male student-athletes of junior, senior or graduate school status who excel both in the classroom and in competition. All must carry at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and be a key starter or reserve on their respective squads.

Two Ferris State football student-athletes were honored in junior linebacker Sefa Saipaia and junior kicker Mitchell Middleton, along with two members of the Bulldog volleyball program in senior libero Leah Bylut and senior middle hitter Chelsie Freeman.

The Bulldogs' four recipients represented one-third of the total selections for the fall season and FSU was the only school with three or more student-athletes claiming the distinction as no other institution had more than two. Saipaia was the top male vote getter for the fall season.

Since the awards were first presented in 2007, the Bulldogs have now had a total of 91 student-athletes be recognized among the league's best, which ranks among the most of any school in the conference.

Bylut, a senior from Palos Heights, Illinois, is an Actuarial Science major. She concluded her career as one of the school's all-time bests at the libero position, helping lead Ferris State to the 2024 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship and a Division II Elite Eight appearance.

Freeman, a senior from Amarillo, Texas, is a Psychology major. She tallied 250 kills to go with a team-high 108 total blocks in addition to 85 digs and 26 service aces while playing all 120 sets on the season and starting all 35 matches during a memorable 34-1 campaign

Middleton, a junior from Middlevile, is a Mechanical Engineering Technology major. The kicker played a key role in helping the Bulldogs claim their third NCAA Division II Football National Championship in the past four seasons this campaign. Middleton finished the year as one of the squad's top two scorers with 107 total points, converting 86 PAT's and seven made field goals as Ferris State posted a 14-1 overall record.

Saipaia, a junior from Fort Collins, Colorado, is a Data Science and Analytics major. 
The linebacker served as a team captain and led Ferris State with a team-high 93 total tackles this year, including 34 solo stops and 59 assists to go with eight tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a touchdown.