SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances throughout the calendar month, sophomore Evan Fukuhara of the weightlifting program and sophomore Hayley Miles of the track & field program have been recognized as the Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Month for December 2023. The winners emerged from a vote conducted on Tuesday (Jan. 9) by attendees at the BAAM luncheon. Both honorees have won this award for the first time.
A native of Sacramento, Calif., Fukuhara is establishing himself as one of the top collegiate weightlifters in the country. At the one outing for December, Fukuhara made the most of it in winning the 67kg championship at the prestigious North American Open Finals. He outlifted a field of 27 competitors in the field in Wilmington, N.C., on Dec. 7 while totaling 256kg – 111kg in snatch and 145kg in clean and jerk. In addition to the title at the North American Open Finals, Fukuhara was the winner of the 73kg title at the Iowa Championships (Nov. 4) with a 270kg total, which ranked eighth best in the nation for college lifters at the time. A national qualifier last season, Fukuhara first joined Head Coach Freddie Myles’ program beginning with the spring semester of 2023. Fukuhara will make a return to the University Weightlifting National Championships in Columbus, Ohio, March 1-3.
The North Platte, Neb., native Miles got the 2023-24 indoor season started with a bang while in action at the Bulldog Early Bird Meet on Dec. 9. Miles broke a school record that had stood since 1989 thanks to her meet-winning long jump of 19’ 4 ¼” (5.90 meters). That mark continues to rank No. 1 among NAIA women’s long jumpers this season. In addition, Miles placed third in the triple jump at the Bulldog Early Bird, landing at 37’ 1 ¾.” As a freshman in 2023, Miles earned all-conference awards for indoor in the triple jump and for outdoor in the long jump. She will make her first career appearance at a national meet when the NAIA indoor championships are held in Brookings, S.D., Feb. 29 – March 2.
BAAM Athletes of the Month are rewarded out of the pool of student-athletes that garner BAAM Athlete of the Week recognition throughout the month.
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
December – Evan Fukuhara (weightlifting) / Hayley Miles (track & field)
November – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
October – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
2022-23 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Jenna Esch (track & field) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
March – Wyatt Hambly (shooting sports) / Claire Kee (shooting sports) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
February – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
January – Rylee Haecker (track & field) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Gage Smith (basketball)
November – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
October – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Korrell Koehlmoos (football) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
September – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / Camden Sesna (cross country)