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Rylee Lemos

General Chris Brannick

Rylee Lemos, Gabe Johnson, Named MIAA Student-Athletes of the Year

Bronchos Win Both Female & Male Student-Athlete of the Year Awards

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Central Oklahoma swept the MIAA's top honors as Rylee Lemos and Gabe Johnson were named Ken B. Jones Female and Male Student-Athletes of the Year.
 
The league announced the winners at its annual year-end awards show where it also recognized its newest Hall of Fame class among other awards.
 
The MIAA presents the Ken B. Jones Award, named after the league's first full-time commissioner, to the top female and top male student athletes in the conference. Presented by Summit Pointe Financial Group, the Ken B. Jones Award honors student-athletes with the best accomplishments on the field of play, in the classroom, and on-campus involvement and community service. The award has been given annually since the 1993-94 academic year.
 
This year marked just the second and third winners from Central Oklahoma. Former wrestler and national champion Chris Watson won the Ken B. Jones Award following the 2014-15 academic year.
 
Both Lemos and Johnson were named UCO's Female & Male Student-Athletes of the Year at the annual Stampede Awards in April. Both were nominated by campus administrators for the Ken B. Jones Award. Of the 14 schools in the league, votes were submitted and five female and five male finalists were named. The finalists were all invited to the MIAA Awards June 1 in Kansas City, where the winners were announced.
 
Lemos was selected UCO Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the MIAA Player of the Year, the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, and the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year. The senior outfielder wrapped up a brilliant record-setting career this season and led the Bronchos to the NCAA Super Regionals.
 
A career 4.0 student majoring in Human Resource Management, Lemos is from South Coffeyville, Oklahoma. She played in and started 245 games for the Bronchos from 2023-26, the second most games played in school history.
 
Lemos set career records for runs scored (256) and triples (24). She finished second in UCO history in at bats (795), stolen bases (79), hit by pitch (39), and games played. She finished in the top 10 in school history in 11 different statistical categories.
 
Lemos is a two-time All-American, three-time All-Region pick, and a four-time All-MIAA selection.
 
Johnson was named UCO Male Student-Athlete of the Year, the MIAA Wrestler of the Year, the NWCA Super Region IV Wrestler of the Year, and the NWCA Division II National Wrestler of the Year.
 
From Choctaw, Oklahoma, Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in marketing in 2025 and is finishing her master's degree in business administration. He just wrapped up one of the best individual careers in UCO wrestling's rich history.
 
Johnson won his third consecutive national championship this season, going 23-0 to finish his career at UCO a four-time All-American. He ended his spectacular career with a 114-16 record and won 64 of his last 65 matches, including the last 36 straight. Johnson ranks sixth at UCO for career winning percentage (.877) and is 17th on the all-time wins list in addition to having the career record for technical falls with 30. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Rylee Lemos

#8 Rylee Lemos

OF
5' 6"
Senior
L/R
Gabe Johnson

Gabe Johnson

5' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Rylee Lemos

#8 Rylee Lemos

5' 6"
Senior
L/R
OF
Gabe Johnson

Gabe Johnson

5' 8"
Senior
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