?The Elite 13 Award, formerly the CCAA Championship Scholar Award, recognizes the academic and athletic achievement of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the conference championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
Instituted in 2017-18, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final CCAA championship site in each conference-sponsored sport.
Past Elite 13/Championship Scholar Award Winners
2025-26 Elite 13 Award Winners
| Women's Cross Country |
Men's Cross Country |
Women's Soccer |
Men's Soccer |
Volleyball |
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CASSIDY ANDREADAKIS
Cal State Monterey Bay |
CAMERON CORNFORTH
Cal State Monterey Bay |
KLAYRE BARRES
Chico State |
Cal State East Bay |
REBECA FREITAS
Cal State East Bay |
JR | Orcutt, Calif.
Biology |
JR | Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
Statistics |
SR | Eureka, Calif.
Political Science & Criminal Justice |
SR | Suzuka, Japan
Business Administration |
JR | Hercules, Calif.
Health Sciences |
| Women's Basketball |
Men's Basketball |
Women's Golf |
Men's Golf |
Softball |
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RILEY SANZ
Cal Poly Humboldt |
BRANDON BENTO-JACKSON
Cal Poly Humboldt |
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SO | Camas, Wash.
Business Administration |
JR | Arcata, Calif.
Communications |
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Women's Track & Field |
Men's Track & Field |
Baseball |
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Women's Cross Country
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?The 2025 Elite 13 Award in women's cross country went to
Cassidy Andreadakis from Cal State Monterey Bay. The junior Biology major is the fourth Otter in program history to collect the Elite 13 Award, and the first since 2021. Andreadakis ran in six meets in the fall, including the CCAA Championships and the NCAA West Regional.
Men's Cross Country
Cal State Monterey Bay's Cameron Cornforth has been selected as the CCAA's Elite 13 Award Winner for Men's Cross Country. Cornforth is the first Otter to earn Elite 13 honors in men's cross country since Logan Phillips in 2018. The Statistics major ran in six meets during his junior season, and posted personal records in the 8k at the Santa Clara Broncos Invitational and in the 10k at the NCAA West Regional.
Women's Soccer
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?Klayre Barres from Chico State was selected as the CCAA's Elite 13 Award winner for women's soccer. Barres, who is a double major in Political Science and Criminal Justice, started all 20 matches for a Chico State team that went 10-6-4 on the season and placed second in the CCAA with a 7-2-2 record. Barres posted three assists during her senior season.
Men's Soccer
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?Yuto Hatayama is the first Pioneer to ever earn an Elite 13 Award in Men's Soccer. The senior Business Administration major from Suzuka, Japan, posted a 3.88 GPA and helped Cal State East Bay win a match in the CCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. He recorded three goals, including the game-winner against Dominican.
Volleyball
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The CCAA Elite 13 Award for volleyball went to Cal State East Bay's
Rebeca Freitas. The junior from Hercules, Calif., has a near-perfect grade point average as a Health Science major. She helped CSUEB secure a berth in the CCAA Tournament and earn the program's first postseason win since 2018. Freitas averaged 1.87digs per set and started 17 of 27 matches, including both playoff matches. She is the first Pioneer since 2018 to earn the Elite 13 Award.
Men's Basketball
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?The CCAA proudly presented the 2025-26 Elite 13 Award for men's basketball to Cal Poly Humboldt's
Brandon Bento-Jackson. He is a junior Communications major at Humboldt, and this year he helped lead the Lumberjacks to their best season in a decade. Bento-Jackson started all 31 games and led the team in made 3-pointers. He helped guide the Lumberjacks to an appearance in the CCAA Tournament Championship game and to their first NCAA Regional in 10 seasons.
Women's Basketball
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Riley Sanz from Cal Poly Humboldt was selected as the Elite 13 Award winner for women's basketball. Sanz is a Business Administration major, and this year she helped guide Cal Poly Humboldt to a second-place finish in the CCAA with an 18-4 record. The sophomore started 21 games and averaged 7.7 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game.