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ANAHEIM, Calif. – Three UC Irvine student-athletes were honored at the first annual OC Sports Awards Tuesday at Angel Stadium.

Volleyball player Hilir Henno was honored as the Male College Athlete of the Year, track & field athlete Kailah McKenzie was the Female College Athlete of the Year, while baseball player Will Bermudez was recognized with the Heart & Hustle Award.

The star-studded event sponsored by the Orange County Sports Commission celebrated the achievements of athletes and prominent sports figures who have made a significant impact on the Orange County's sports community.

Henno ends his UC Irvine career as one of the most decorated players in program history. The 2024 National Player of the Year had another outstanding year, leading UC Irvine to a No. 5 ranking. He tied the NCAA all-time ace record in the final match of the season with 255 in his career. He received the American Volleyball Coaches Association Distinction of Excellence Award, which recognizes a student-athlete whose contribution to the sport extends beyond accolades, uniting generational athletic excellence with personal integrity, academic commitment, and a long-term impact. He became a first-team All-American for the third consecutive year, joining only two other Anteaters to earn that status. He also was a four-time first team All-Big West selection something only one other Big West player has accomplished. The lefty graduates holding the UCI and Big West records for career and match ace records as well as the season record of 87 which is third all-time in NCAA history. He was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week five times this season and was National Player of the Week once. Henno ended the year second in the country in kills (4.40), points (5.47) and ace average (0.78).

McKenzie was an NCAA regional qualifier in the high jump and long jump. She also scored in both events at the conference championships to help UC Irvine win its first Big West Women's Track & Field team title in program history. During the regular season, she was a two-time Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week. McKenzie started the 2025 campaign with a win in the high jump at the Beach Opener where she cleared 1.76 meters (5-9.25). That height was just a half-inch shy of her personal record that ranks fifth in school history. McKenzie won the award again following a lifetime-best 6.33m (20-9.25) in a long jump victory at the Challenge Cup. McKenzie's leap was the Anteaters' best since 1983 as she moved up to No. 2 among UCI's all-time leaders. She closed out her season ranked 33rd in the nation in the long jump and 79th in the high jump. During the indoor campaign, McKenzie set personal records in the long jump, high jump and 60m hurdles. She ranks third in program history in the long jump (5.93m/19-5.5), is tied for fourth in the high jump (1.73m/5-8) and is sixth in the 60H (8.66).

Bermudez exemplifies heart and hustle on and off the baseball field. Since becoming an Anteater, he has played 125 games, starting 120 and putting up over 100 hits. He has scored over 100 runs while adding seven home runs and driven in 92. His 65 times hit by pitch set a UC Irvine record and helped the team break an NCAA record in 2024 with 175 as a team. Bermudez was honored as the CalHOPE Courage Award winner in January and was Cal Hope's winner for 2024-25. His story is one of resilience, perseverance, and unyielding determination. In May 2019, during a travel baseball game, the 17-year-old collided with a teammate while chasing a pop fly, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Although Will quickly regained mobility, the collision also resulted in a traumatic brain injury that caused him to lose five years of memory. A few months after his injury, he suffered his first epileptic seizure. Will was diagnosed with Myoclonic Juvenile Epilepsy, leading the Air Force Academy to rescind his scholarship. The injury took a toll on Will's physical and mental health. In addition to extensive rehabilitation, Will leaned on his faith and the coping skills he developed in mental health counseling. Determined to forge a path forward, he enrolled at UC Davis. Since baseball was not a good fit at the time, he focused on his academics and getting healthy. Wanting to play baseball again, in 2022, he transferred to Mt. San Antonio College, where he excelled, batting .343. His play caught the attention of the coaches at UC Irvine, where he transferred in 2023 and quickly earned the starting position at second base to where he stands now.

 Baseball player Ricky Ojeda, the Big West Pitcher of the Year who leads the nation in wins with a 13-1 record, and men's tennis player Noah Zamora, the Big West Player of the Year, who competed in the NCAAs individually as well as with the Big West Champion Anteaters, were also nominees. Former UC Irvine women's water polo assistant Kaleigh Gilchrist received the Evolution Award.