Celebrating The 2025 Senior Class

Seniors from 10 different teams have competed at the NCAA Championships, while several have been named All-American, All-Big West and Player of the Week. This class has excelled in the classroom as well as in their sports, making them great examples of #IAmUCI. Once an Anteater, Always an Anteater! Congratulations Class of 2025.

Men's Soccer

UC Irvine's men's soccer senior class has picked up a Big West regular season title, championship title, and NCAA Tournament berth in their time within the program. The ‘Eaters picked up 44 results including 31 wins in the last four seasons with results against programs like Cal, Creighton, and last year’s national champions, Vermont.

Mario Anaya became the program's sixth Scholar All-American this season, the only in the Far West Region, and was among two Academic All-District student-athletes. On the field, the Anteater seniors earned All-Far West Region four times, seven All-Big West accolades, twice were named Big West Player of the Week, and took home a Big West Freshman of the Year and helped head coach Yossi Raz to Big West Coach of the Year in 2021.

The field players scored 18 goals with 35 assists among the crew, and the goalkeepers have 22 wins, eight draws, and 17 shutouts between them with a collective 183 saves.

Women's Soccer

UC Irvine's women's soccer seniors have been part of the most successful run in program history making the NCAA Tournament three times reaching the Sweet Sixteen twice which has included two wins over UCLA and one over USC. UCI women's soccer became the first team in women's soccer history to defeat a No. 1 seed and reach the Sweet Sixteen in the same NCAA Tournament in 2023.

The Anteaters took home a Big West regular season title in 2021 and three Big West Championship titles holding opponents without a goal during their three-year run. The Anteater senior class has produced a record of 43-27-19 record.

Anteater seniors took home plenty of hardware including All-Region honors, four times Academic All-District, eight All-Big West honorees, and seven times Big West Player of the Week including National Team of the Week once.

As a collective, the seniors put home 36 goals including 15 game-winners, and assisted on 33 others. Seven 'Eaters reached 50 career matches including four with 75 or more matches led by 82 matches played by Desiree Mendoza and 83 matches be Kiera Smeenge with each scored over 70 games, and grad transfers Ashley Naylor, who went 6-7-6 with five shutouts and saved 52 shots, and Lawson Willis were each present in all 19 matches in 2024.

Women's Volleyball

The senior class did what only one other team has done in program history and they did it twice, beat Hawaii (3-43). The first win came in dramatic reverse sweep fashion in Hawaii and the second on senior night at the Bren Events Center.

This class helped UCI qualify for the first two Big West Championships.

Katie Smith and Hunter Riedl were both selected to the Big West honorable mention team.

Smith led the Big West in ace average and was 10th in points and 12th in kills. 

Middle blocker Ofure Iselen led the league in blocks and her 11 rejections against CSU Bakersfield were the second most by a Big West player this season.

Men's Water Polo

The men's water polo senior class helped to elevate the program back into the national spotlight with a trip the NCAA tournament in 2023 for the first time since 1993. In the same year, the Anteaters won the regular season title with a 4-1 Big West record, another first since 2000. Jacob Pyle was named the MVP of the inaugural Big West championship 

This graduating class helped to establish dominance in the league within the first two years of the Big West sponsoring the sport as they also helped UCI to their second straight regular season title with an unblemished 5-0 record against league foes.

These seniors pulled together, especially in 2024, to upset Cal, 13-5, inside the Anteater Aquatics Complex and then a top-five nationally ranked Pepperdine squad, 20-10. The squad rose up to fifth in the national polls both in 2023 and 2024 for their first top-five national ranking since 2012.

Four seniors have earned multiple all-conference recognitions with Tyler Padua claiming an accolade in all four seasons. Padua is also a two-time All-America alongside Ethan Shipman who received All-American status in 2022 after being named the Golden Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year.

Men's Basketball

UC Irvine men’s basketball’s senior class set a school record 32 wins, pulled together three 20-win seasons, and have recorded a 94-39 (0.707) overall record since the 2021-22 season. In Big West play, they put up a 58-16 (0.784) record and won back-to-back regular season titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24. This year’s graduates brought the Anteaters to three straight National Invitation Tournament's (NIT) in addition to winning their first postseason game in the tournament since 1986 and a spot in the 2025 final, another program first.

Four seniors graduate with All-Big West distinctions with Andre Henry as the Best Defensive Player in 2023-24. Bent Leuchten is a first team selection in 2024-25 as he set the single season rebounding record as well as free throws made and attempted in a season which were both held by the greats Kevin Magee and Jerry Green, respectively. Devin Tillis, a 2024-25 second teamer finished top-10 in the program 500-career rebounds ladder (9th, 703). Sixth-year student-athlete Justin Hohn earned both first team (2023-24) and honorable mention (2024-25) accolades while finishing fifth and eighth all-time in steals (152) and three-pointers (173). Hohn, Leuchten, and Tillis all reached the 1,000-career point scoring milestone in their final year with the program. Lastly, Ofure Ujadughele stamped his name in the record book both for the 'Eaters and the Big West for 159 career games played. 

Women's Basketball

UC Irvine women’s basketball’s senior class produced the best four-year stretch in program history. Since their arrival in 2021-22, the Anteaters went 90-38 overall (.703) with four consecutive 20-win seasons. They were even better in Big West play where they were 61-15 (.803). This year’s graduates also made UCI's first NCAA tournament appearance in 29 years, while earning two WNIT bids, with a first-round victory in 2023. They hung two banners at the Bren Events Center with a Big West regular-season championship in 2022-23 and a conference tournament title in 2023-24.

As a group, the seniors combined for eight All-Big West selections. Déja Lee was also the 2023-24 Big West Player of the Year and Big West Championship MVP. Lee will graduate as the 10th-leading scorer at UC Irvine with 1,108 career points, while Nikki Tom leaves as the program’s all-time leader in career steals (205), games played (128), games started (105) and minutes played (3,726).

Baseball

UC Irvine baseball has continued its success largely due to the senior class that has put up a record of 158-72 over the last four years. Those four years have included a Big West regular season title, 13 wins over ranked teams, and a pair of NCAA Regional berths winning four games in them.

Anteater honors included a Gold Glove national semifinalist, five All-Big West accolades, three Big West Player of the Week honors, and one NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.

Among the statistical feats, UCI's senior class donned a new home run king for the program as Chase Call hit 30 home runs over his career, the all-time leader in hit by pitch Will Bermudez at 66 which includes the NCAA single-season record 175 hit by pitch as a team in 2024, and senior pitchers that tossed 228.2 innings striking out 241 hitters including a pair of 10-strikeout games from Danny Suarez, and putting up a record of 10-7 with one save among them.

Men's Cross Country/Track & Field

The UC Irvine men’s track & field seniors have etched their names in the Anteater record books with nine marks that rank among the all-time top-10, including two school records. In 2024, Jacob Hawkins took down a 41-year-old standard in the discus with a personal-best 59.03 meters (193-8). Liam Miksic also broke the javelin school record on two occasions, most recently with a toss of 71.06m (233-1) at the 2025 Big West Championships. 

Miksic, Hawkins and Max Daniels combined for seven All-Big West honors over the last three seasons. Miksic is a three-time conference champion in the javelin, while Hawkins won the discus in 2024. In addition, Miksic, Hawkins, Logan Peyton and Joshua Schuld qualified for the NCAA West First Round during their UCI careers.

Three of UC Irvine’s men’s cross country seniors will graduate with an 8K time that ranks among the top-10 in program history. In 2022, Zeid Hussain tied the school record at 23:47.0, while Schuld clocked the Anteaters’ seventh-fastest time at 24:15.0. In 2024, Jacob Bustamante (24:16.1) and Cameron Smith (24:18.8) ran personal bests to come in at No. 7 and No. 10, respectively. This season, all of UCI’s graduating seniors competed at the Big West Championships and helped the Anteaters to their best conference showing since 2016.

Women's Cross Country/Track & Field

The Anteater seniors combined for 56 points in individual events to lead UC Irvine to its first Big West Women’s Track & Field Championship in program history. Jazzmine Davis, who was named the Big West Women’s Track Athlete of the Meet, led the way with 20 points as she won the 400m hurdles, placed third in the 100m hurdles and came in fifth in the heptathlon. Luz Mercado took home the 800m title, while Malia Gay was the runner-up in both the 800m and 1500m. Davis, Mercado, Gay, Sameen Andar, and Reyna Johnson have also advanced to the NCAA West First Round during their storied careers. In addition, the senior class set 16 marks that rank among the program’s all-time top-10. 

The graduating class has left their mark on UC Irvine's indoor track & field records as well. Malia Gay broke the school record in both the 600m (1:32.23) and 800m (2:09.52). She was also part of the distance medley relay team that clocked a program-best 11:36.11 at the MPSF Championships, while Davis was a member of the 4x400 that set UCI’s new standard at 3:47.85. At the conference level, Reyna Johnson became the Anteaters’ first MPSF champion with an individual victory in the long jump in 2024.

UC Irvine women’s cross country placed among the top half of the conference in each of the last four seasons. In 2022, five members of this year’s senior class helped the 'Eaters to a runner-up showing at the Big West Championships, marking their best finish since 2008. It was also the closest finish in Big West history as UCI came in one point behind Cal Poly. Sameen Andar and Anna Vogtmann were both two-time All-Big West performers. This year, Vogtmann broke her own school record in the 6K at 19:49.3 to place second at the Big West Championships. Andar owns the 4K school record (14:10.4), and ranks second in program history in the 6K (19:57.6). Vogtmann (14:24.9), Olivia Liuson (14:41.3) and Maggie Sczupak (14:42.5) are also among UCI’s all-time top-10 in the 4K. 

Men's Tennis

The UC Irvine men’s tennis seniors will graduate as one of the most accomplished classes in program history. During their time at UCI, the Anteaters won three Big West Championships and made three NCAA team appearances (2022, 2024, 2025), while they also claimed a share of the Big West regular season title in 2023. Over the last four years, the ‘Eaters have boasted a 65-28 dual match record.

In 2025, UC Irvine was among the top-50 in every ITA Team Poll starting on February 20, with a high ranking of No. 36. The Anteaters closed out the year at No. 44, marking the third time in the last four seasons they were featured in the final ITA rankings.

The senior class combined for 13 All-Big West honors (8 singles, 5 doubles). Noah Zamora led the way as a four-time all-conference selection in both singles and doubles. He was also named the 2025 Big West Player of the Year and the 2022 co-Big West Freshman of the Year. As a senior, Zamora became the first Anteater to compete in the NCAA Singles Championships since 2011, and the first to advance in the tournament since 1989 after upsetting the 13th-ranked player in the nation in the Round of 64.

Men's Volleyball

The men’s volleyball players have helped UCI accumulate 56 wins and advance to the Big West title match the last two years as well as advancing to the NCAA semifinals in 2024. The Anteaters finished the season ranked No. 5 after holding the No. 2 spot for several weeks.

Hilir Henno was named the 2024 AVCA and Big West Player of the Year tying the NCAA all-time record for aces with 255 in his career. He graduates holding the UCI records for career, season and match aces. He also holds the career and match ace records for the Big West. Henno was a three-time first team All-American, one of only three Anteaters to earn the distinction. He was also a four-time first team All-Big West honoree, one of only two Big West players to accomplish the feat.

Setter Joe Karlous set the UCI rally scoring and Big West record for most set assists in a match with 73 against USC. The All-America was named Big West Setter of the Week twice this season.

Middle blocker Maxim Grigoriev, a two-time All-American and first-team All-Big West selection, had a career-high 12 total blocks versus the Trojans, which was second most in the country this year. The 2023 Big West Freshman of the Year ranked third in the Big West in aces and sixth in blocking. 

Outside hitter Nolan Flexen was named a second team-All-American and first team All-Big West. He was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Feb. 18 and earned Big West Offensive Player of the Week twice this season. This summer, he is playing with the United State’s National Team.

Women's Water Polo

The women's water polo senior class continued the tradition of the program with a Big West regular season title and tournament championship for a spot in the NCAA tournament in 2023. It was the second straight trip for Big West Coach of the Year Dan Klatt's squad and first regular season crown since 2017. 

The graduating class was also able to produce a No. 3 national ranking during the 2023 season, tying the program's best ever mark just set one time before. 

In 2025, the Anteaters put their name in the record book twice. The first was a school record 28-goal performance over Concordia Irvine, besting the 24 goal mark which was help set by these seniors. They also set the most goals in a season and a goals per game records at 413 and 14.80, respectively. 

Several Anteaters earned Big West recognition which included a first team selection for Libby Alexander to go along with her third team All-American recognition.

2025 Anteater Graduating Seniors

Men's Soccer
Samuel Atiye - Division of Continuing Education
Danny de Lorijn - Division of Continuing Education
Francesco Montanile - Division of Continuing Education
Mario Anaya - Division of Continuing Education
Josh Kenworthy - Business Economics
Roman Warren - English
Mathias Winum - Sociology
Noah Clarkson - Earth System Science
Luke Pruter - Business Economics

Women's Soccer
Ashley Naylor - Division of Continuing Education
Lawson Willis - Division of Continuing Education
Kiera Smeenge - Division of Continuing Education
Aveka Singh - Business Economics
Desiree Mendoza - Education
Autumn Thompkins - Criminology, Law, & Society
Suus de Bakker - Business Economics
Alyssa Wheeler - Business Economics
Alana Odom - Business Administration
Mihaela Perez - Public Health Policy
Chloe Ragon - Sociology
Laila El Behery - Business Economics

Women's Volleyball
Ella Gardiner - Division of Continuing Education
Ellen Veargason - Master's of Public Policy
Amanda Leinbach - Sociology
Ofure Iselen - Political Science
Indy De Smet - Mechanical Engineering
Soana Leaea - Sociology
Katie Smith - Master's of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Hunter Riedl - Master's of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Men's Water Polo
Thomas Cass - Psychological Science
Aidan Byrne - International Studies
Tyler Padua - Urban Studies
Stewart Campbell - International Studies
Jacob Pyle - Business Analytics
Ethan Shipman - Political Science
Jack Stevens - Business Economics

Men's Basketball
Devin Tillis - Division of Continuing Education
Justin Hohn - Division of Continuing Education
Andre Henry - Master's of Finance
Bent Leuchten - Environmental Science and Policy
Langston Redfield - Urban Studies
Ofure Ujadughele - Master's of Finance
Akiva McBirney-Griffin - Social Ecology

Women's Basketball
Déja Lee - Biological Science
Hunter Hernandez - Business Administration
Amelia Scharpf - Criminology, Law, & Society
Nikki Tom - Business Administration
Olivia Williams - Psychological Science

Baseball
Will Bermudez - Division of Continuing Education
Ryan Kysar - Division of Continuing Education
Finnegan Wall - Social Ecology
Blake Penso - Psychological Science
David Utagawa - Psychological Science
Danny Suarez - Sociology
Chase Call - Public Health Policy

Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Bryce Bushnell - Sociology
Max Daniels - Sociology
Ashton Fegel - Business Economics
Jacob Hawkins - Sociology
Garren Haynes - Film & Media Studies
Zeid Hussain - Business Economics
Liam Miksic - Sociology
Logan Peyton - Social Ecology
AJ Sager - Master's of Business Analytics
Juan Sanchez - Biological Science
Joshua Schuld - Business Administration
Cameron Smith - Division of Continuing Education

Women's Cross County/Track & Field
Montgomery Allison - Literary Journalism
Sameen Andar - Biological Science
Abby Binder - Business Economics
Jazzmine Davis - Sociology
Malia Gay - Public Health Policy
Reyna Johnson - Sociology
Olivia Liuson - Nursing Science
Sophie Lopez - Education
Luz Mercado - Division of Continuing Education
Kathleen Overbaugh - Master's of Business Analytics
Maggie Sczupak - History
Roxane Thomas - Public Health Science
Laura Yontz - Human Biology

Men's Golf
Joshua Lane - Criminology, Law, & Society
Kevin McGough - Economics
JJ Nakao - Sociology

Women's Golf
Chanelle Hwang - Psychology
Charlotte Ryoo - Psychology

Men's Tennis
Sohrob Amiryavari - Division of Continuing Education
Rithvik Krishna - Film & Media Studies
Hiroki Sakagawa - Master's of Accountancy
Noah Zamora - Business Economics

Women's Tennis
Kayla Meraz - Public Health Policy

Men's Volleyball
Hilir Henno - International Studies
Maxim Grigoriev - Business Economics
Nolan Flexen - International Studies
Joe Karlous - Master's of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Women's Water Polo
Brooke Hourigan - Postbaccalaureate Program
Libby Alexander - Public Health Sciences
Alex Mould - Film & Media Studies
Avy Newton - Urban Studies
Gracie Helberg - Public Health Sciences
Madi O'Hara - Criminology, Law, & Society
Kennedy East - Public Health Sciences