Joshua Jefferson and Mercyline Kirwa named Iowa State athletes of the year
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 1, 2026, 6:50 PM
Last updated Jul 1, 2026
Iowa State announced Joshua Jefferson and Mercyline Kirwa as its athletes of the year for the 2025-26 season. Jefferson, a basketball standout, received the Gary Thompson Male Athlete of the Year award, marking him as the first men's basketball player to earn the honor since 2017. He concluded his season with an impressive triple-double record and was selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Kirwa was honored as the Celia Barquin Arozamena Female Athlete of the Year after winning the national title in the 10,000-meter at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Both athletes will be recognized during the Iowa State football season opener at Jack Trice Stadium on September 5.
- •Jefferson is the 18th men's basketball player to win the award.
- •He maintained a scoring streak before an injury in the NCAA Tournament.
- •Kirwa scored 18 points at the NCAA Championships, the highest for any woman.
- •Both will be recognized at the football season opener on September 5.
- •Kirwa holds the indoor 5,000-meter school record.
- 6:50 PMYahoo Sports — Jefferson, Kirwa named Iowa State athletes of the year
"Iowa State has named basketball standout Joshua Jefferson and NCAA champion Mercyline Kirwa its athletes of the year for the 2025-26 season, the school announced this week. Jefferson received the Gary Thompson Male Athlete of the Year award, becoming the 18th men’s basketball player to earn the honor and the first since 2017. Selected in […]
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