On Sunday evening inside Pioneer Gymnasium, Cal State East Bay hosted its Pioneer Athletic Awards Banquet, for the first time named 'The Pios'. Student-athletes from Cal State East Bay were honored for athletic, academic and community impact. Men's soccer goalkeeper and 2024-25 SAAC President Kelekolio Mateo Jr. was the emcee for the special event.
Below are the recipients of the 2024-25 Pioneer Athletic Awards.
Dominick Najar - Baseball
Female Freshman of the YearAlexia Fajardo - Women's Swimming
Emilie Giannini – Women's Swimming
Pioneer Impact AwardJeslyn Cuellar – Softball
Eugenio Perez-Vera Merino – Men's Soccer
Marissa Quintero – Softball
Kelekolio Mateo Jr. – Men's Soccer
#bEBold AwardAbigail Kern – Women's Soccer
Female Career Pioneer AwardAnnelise Garcia - Softball
Male Career Pioneer AwardCole McKain – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Easton Hether - Men's Golf
Ashlee Toy - Softball
Latest Men's Cross Country
- Dr. Summer Jackson Named FARA's 2025 Division II Newcomer of the YearCOLUMBIA, Mo. - The Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (FARA) has announced that Cal State East Bay's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), Dr. Summer Jackson, has been named Division II Newcomer of the Year by the FARA Honors and Awards Committee.
- Men's Cross Country Picked for Sixth in CCAAALISO VIEJO, Calif. - On Wednesday, the CCAA announced the 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll for men's cross country. Picked to finish sixth in the conference is Cal State East Bay, matching the same actual scoring finish for the Pioneers at the 2024 CCAA Cross Country Championships.
- Pioneer Spotlight: Matthew Morgon
- Pioneer Teams and Student-Athletes Collect a Variety of Academic Awards in 2024-25In 2024-25, the academic year once again was outstanding for many Cal State East Bay student-athletes and teams.
- Cal State East Bay Finishes 4th in 2024-25 Hiegert Cup StandingsALISO VIEJO, Calif. - With the 2024-25 athletic year complete in NCAA Division II, the CCAA announced its final standings for the year for the Robert J. Hiegert Commissioner's Cup. Since joining the CCAA, Cal State East Bay had its highest finish in department history, placing fourth among the 12 CCAA member institutions.
- Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Summer JacksonWhen Dr. Summer Jackson stepped into the role of Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) at Cal State East Bay in 2023, it was more than a professional milestone—it was a full-circle moment. A former Division I swimmer at the University of Arkansas and a proud inductee into the Sequim (Washington) Hall of Fame's inaugural class for her swimming accomplishments, Dr. Jackson brought with her not only an impressive academic background but a deeply personal connection to the student-athlete journey.
