Gallery
BALTIMORE, Md. (April 29, 2026) -- Morgan State University celebrated its outstanding student-athletes and coaches at the 38th Annual Athletics Awards Ceremony on Wednesday evening, celebrating the achievements of more than 300 student-athletes from the 2025–26 academic year.
The event, held in the MSU Student Center, culminated in the crowning of Amira Bergaoui (women's tennis) as the Female Student-Athlete of the Year and Eugene Harney (wrestling) as the Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Their exceptional performances throughout the year earned them this prestigious recognition. Adding to the evening's accolades, Head Tennis Coach Matthew Townes was named Coach of the Year, a testament to his leadership and the team's success under his guidance.
Morgan State wrestling's redshirt freshman Eugene Harney delivered one of the most historic seasons in program history. Harney became the first Bear to earn EIWA Freshman Wrestler of the Year honors and the program's first-ever EIWA champion, claiming the 149-pound title to punch his ticket to the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. He continued to make history on the national stage, advancing to day two of the NCAA Championships—another major milestone for the program.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native wrapped up his standout campaign with a 29-6 overall record, highlighted by a team-best 17 decision wins, along with four pins and six major decisions. A rising force in college wrestling, Harney is quickly establishing himself as one of Morgan State's brightest stars.
For her standout performance, Bargaoui was named the MEAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Performer and earned All-Tournament honors at No. 3 singles. The Lady Bears also finished as MEAC regular-season co-champions with Norfolk State and entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed. The team will now take on host and No. 8 seed North Carolina State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Bargaoui continues to lead the way, pacing the team with a 14-6 record and riding an impressive 10-match singles winning streak.
Head coach Matt Townes delivered a championship-caliber season at the helm of Morgan State tennis. Townes guided the women's team to the program's third MEAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Tennis Team Championship, highlighted by a thrilling 4-3 victory over Norfolk State. For his efforts, he was named the MEAC Championship's Most Outstanding Coach.
The Lady Bears finished 15-7 overall and 5-1 in conference play, earning a share of the MEAC regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Riding a five-match winning streak, the team also notched a historic milestone with its first-ever win over George Washington (4-3) and put together a six-match winning streak—the program's longest since 2018.
Individually, Tyler Williams earned two MEAC Player of the Week honors and has been dominant in singles play with a 13-1 record, currently riding a 13-match winning streak. Amira Bargaoui leads the team with 14 singles victories, continuing her standout campaign.
On the men's side, the Bears also made history with their first-ever win over Navy (4-3). The squad was led by Ilya Maltsev, who earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors and was named to the All-MEAC Second Team.
A season filled with milestones and momentum, Townes continues to elevate Morgan State tennis on both sides.
2026 MSU Awards Ceremony Team Award Winners
| Men's Basketball |
|
| Co-MVP |
Elijah Davis |
| Co-MVP |
Alfred Worrell Jr. |
| Women's Basketball |
|
| Team MVP |
Kailyn Nash |
| Most Improved |
Jael Butler |
| Bowling |
|
| MVP |
Johnna Hill |
| Most Improved |
Ayanna Carroll |
| Cheerleading |
|
| Most Improved |
Taionna Jackson |
| Rookie |
Alahni Napier |
| Women's Cross Country |
|
| Team MVP |
Crystal Coke |
| Rookie |
Natalia Eastman |
| Men's Cross Country |
|
| Team MVP |
Caleb Mincey |
| Rookie |
Natnael Gebremariam |
| Football |
|
| Team MVP |
Erick Hunter |
| Rookie |
Randall Nauden |
| Women's Indoor Track |
|
| Team MVP |
Keira Stewart |
| Rookie |
Terry-Ann Thompson |
| Men's Indoor Track |
|
| Team MVP |
Jeryco Sheppard |
| Most Improved |
Demond Smith |
| Volleyball |
|
| Co-MVP |
Jada Williams |
| Co-MVP |
Daniela Ferreira |
| Softball |
|
| Co-MVP |
Amelia Cousins |
| Co-MVP |
Cassis White |
| Women's Tennis |
|
| Team MVP |
Michaela Stephens |
| Most Improved |
Tyler Williams |
| Men's Tennis |
|
| Most improved |
Mohamed Ridha Ghettas |
| Rookie |
Ilya Maltsev |
| Women's Outdoor Track |
|
| Co-MVP |
Brylan Carter |
| Co-MVP |
Kiera Stewart |
| Men's Outdoor Track |
|
| Co-MVP |
Caleb Mincey |
| Co-MVP |
Jeryco Sheppard |
| Wrestling |
|
| Team MVP |
Eugene Harney |
| Most Improved |
Yannis Charles |
| Acrobatics & Tumbling |
|
| Co-MVP |
Makaya Stubbs |
| Co-MVP |
Rayla Bucknor |
| Athletic Administrative |
|
| Intern Award |
Elijah McClary |
| Major Awards |
|
| Sterling Steward, Jr. Impact Award |
Tyler Starr |
| Effietee M. Payne Achievement Award |
Brylan Carter, Track & Field /
Erick Hunter, Football |
| Elijah Rowe Award for Academic Excellence |
Johnna Hill, Bowling |
| Varsity M Club Award for Academic Excellence |
Arturo Mattocks, Football |
| Theresa Coleman-Gibson Award for Academic Excellence |
Peyton Rodriguez |
| Earl C. Banks Female Athlete of the Year |
Amira Bergaoui, Tennis |
| Edward P. Hurt Male Athlete of the Year |
Eugene Harney, Wrestling |
| Talmadge L. Hill Coach of the Year |
Matthew Townes |
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
