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M State honors Spartan student-athletes

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Three of the four 2025-2026 Spartans Student Athlete of the Year award winners pose in front of an M State Spartans banner, holding their framed certificates.
2025-2026 Spartans Student Athletes of the Year award winners Braylon Baldwin and Kaitlyn Olson, and Spartans Coaches Award winner Terri Wind, left to right, with their framed certificates during this week's awards banquet. Not pictured is Coaches Award winner Logan Hammer.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) held its 2025-2026 Spartans Student Athlete of the Year awards banquet on Monday in Legacy Hall at the Fergus Falls campus. 

The annual ceremony honors student-athletes’ hard work and dedication in the classroom and in competition. Awards are presented for both men’s and women’s sports. 

This year’s Women’s Student Athlete of the Year award was presented to Kaitlyn Olson, a sophomore from Roseau, Minnesota. Olson played volleyball and basketball for the Lady Spartans, averaging a double-double with 11.3 points per game and 10.7 rebounds and being selected for the 2nd Team All Southern Division. Also recognized for academic excellence in the Echocardiography associate degree program, Olson exemplified outstanding leadership and sportsmanship on and off the court. 

This year’s Men’s Student Athlete of the Year award was presented to Braylon Baldwin, a sophomore from Grafton, North Dakota. On the basketball court, Baldwin was a two-year starter and a leader of the team, averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Mayville State University and plans to continue his education in agribusiness. 

In addition to the Athlete of the Year awards, Spartans coaches also select annual Coaches Award winners, from both men’s and women’s sports. These awards are presented to student-athletes who exemplify what it means to be a Spartan—people of high character, great teammates, and players who are always willing to help coaches and others be their best.

This year’s Coaches Award winners are Terri Wind, a freshman from Cass Lake, Minnesota who participated in Lady Spartans volleyball and basketball, and Logan Hammer, a sophomore baseball player from Calgary, Alberta.