MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – On Saturday, May 27, 2023, the Wesleyan University Athletic Department held its annual ice cream social during Commencement Weekend to honor its graduating senior student-athletes. The event was hosted by Director of Athletics Mike Whalen '83 and featured remarks from Wesleyan President Michael S. Roth '78.
 
The awards announced on Saturday afternoon included the Hoagland and Ahrens Awards, which are considered the highest female (Hoagland) and male (Ahrens) honors awarded in the department for graduating seniors (most outstanding athletes). In addition, the Cardinal Award was also handed out, an honor presented by the Athletic Director to a senior who has gone above and beyond for their team.
 
The winner of the Hoagland Award, which was presented by women's soccer head coach Eva Meredith and track & field coach Walter Curry, was National Champion Grace Devanny '23. Devanny closed out her career as one of the greatest individual athletes in school history, accumulating seven All-American honors as a two-sport star while she won the NCAA 400m Indoor National title in 2023. She is the first athlete in school history to earn NESCAC Most Outstanding Performer honors in track while she is the first-ever All-American in women's soccer in school history as she won First Team honors in 2021.
 
The Ahrens Award was a co-title as both Jake Lachance '23 and Nick Helbig '23 were honored. Lachance, a defenseman on the men's ice hockey team, was crowned the 2023 NESCAC Player of the Year in men's hockey and went on to become the first player in program history to earn First Team All-American honors. Helbig won NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in football for the second straight season in 2022, becoming just the third player in league history to earn multiple DPOY honors.
   
The Cardinal Award winner is Daniel Kraft '23 of the men's golf team. This specific honor is not given every year, only when it's earned as deemed by the Athletic Director. According to Whalen, "Daniel stepped-up during Coach Gilarde's illness and after his passing. He assisted with scheduling, planning team trips, and most importantly recruiting all while leading the team as captain."