EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Athletics Department is proud to announce the 2025-26 Super Six Winners. Last year's class includes multiple All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, national qualifiers, conference champions, and conference scholar athletes.
The winners of the university's highest athletics honor are:
Kayla Behnke –
women's track & field
Keeley Behr –
women's cross country, women's track & field
Kylee Grabarski –
women's track & field
Max Gutjahr –
men's ice hockey
Paige Lathrop -
softball
Bailey Leeke -
volleyball
The Super Six award, in its 40th year of existence, is the highest award that department awards to its student athletes. The criteria for candidates is they must have completed their senior season of eligibility, have attended UWEC for two years, have a cumulative resident GPA of 3.00 or better, and have made an impact throughout the community. Candidates are nominated by their head coach and have reached the upper echelon with performance in their sport, their academics, and community engagement.
Kayla Behnke (
women's track & field)
A double major graduate in Computer Science and Mathematics with a perfect 4.00 GPA, Kayla Behnke earned numerous academic honors, including back-to-back CSC Academic All-America First Team selections, six combined Indoor and Outdoor Academic All-American honors, the 2026 NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award and five consecutive WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll selections. Her athletic accomplishments are equally exceptional, highlighted by 10 All-American honors across the discus, hammer and weight throw, multiple WIAC championships, two team MVP awards, the 2025-26 UW-Eau Claire Athlete of the Year award and school records in the discus and weight throw. Beyond competition and the classroom, Behnke demonstrated a commitment to the UW-Eau Claire community through her involvement with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, membership in the Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College and three years as a student researcher in machine learning, including a presentation at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research.
Keeley Behr (
women's cross country, women's track & field)
A double major graduate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a 3.99 GPA, Keeley Behr has earned USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete recognition in both cross country and track & field, received the 2025 Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete Award and maintained a place on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll throughout her collegiate career. Her academic accomplishments also include multiple competitive scholarships, the ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry and membership in the University Honors College. Athletically, Behr qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships four consecutive years, earned three NCAA All-North Region honors, captured the 2025 WIAC Indoor 5K championship and established the UW-Eau Claire 10K school record. Her impact extends well beyond competition and the classroom through her work as a biology lab assistant, chemistry and biochemistry tutor, analytical chemistry course grader and Biology Research Scholar investigating stress and early neurodevelopment. She also contributed to Wisconsin's biohealth industry as a Database Coordinator for BioForward Wisconsin, helping develop a digital resource designed to strengthen collaboration and accessibility.
Kylee Grabarski (
women's track & field)
A Physical Education Teaching graduate with concentrations in Health Education and Adapted Physical Education, Kylee Grabarski graduated magna cum laude while earning USTFCCCA Academic All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor track & field in 2025 and 2026, along with four consecutive years of USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete recognition. On the track, she became a four-time NCAA All-American in relay events, including helping the Blugolds to a fourth-place team finish at the 2025 Outdoor Championships, and qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 400 meters, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay in both 2025 and 2026. A two-time WIAC runner-up in the 400 meters and 2026 4x400 relay runner-up, she also holds the UW-Eau Claire indoor 4x400 relay school record and ranks second in program history in the outdoor 400 meters. Grabarski served as team captain in 2026 and has further demonstrated her commitment to the profession through membership in WHPE and the SHAPE Club.
Max Gutjahr (
men's ice hockey)
A Kinesiology graduate with a 3.39 GPA, Gutjahr established himself as one of the most accomplished goaltenders in program history, earning WIAC Co-Player of the Year honors in 2024, All-WIAC First Team recognition in 2024 and 2026, and Honorable Mention honors in 2025. His consistency and durability are reflected in school records for games played by a goaltender, with 104 appearances, and career shutouts, with 17. Gutjahr's contributions were recognized within the program through back-to-back Team MVP selections in 2025 and 2026, and he was entrusted with team captaincy during his senior season. Over the course of his career, he provided a steady presence in goal while helping establish a standard of leadership and competitiveness for the Blugold hockey program.
Paige Lathrop (
softball)
A Rehab Science graduate with a 3.89 GPA, Lathrop earned CSC Academic All-District honors three times, four consecutive NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete selections and the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll every year of her career, while making the Dean's List and earning Academic Distinction every semester. Her softball career was equally impressive, highlighted by becoming the first player in program history to earn a Rawlings Gold Glove Award, receiving NFCA All-Region honors in 2025 and 2026, earning Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week recognition and twice appearing on the NFCA Player of the Year Watchlist. A two-time All-WIAC First Team selection and 2026 WIAC Player of the Year finalist, Lathrop also served as team captain during her senior season. Her commitment to others is particularly noteworthy, with involvement ranging from The Miracle League and the PRIDE program to community fitness and cancer recovery programs, softball camps and clinics, and peer tutoring. She further contributed through undergraduate research, earned a certificate in American Sign Language and participated in the Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College and Kinesiology Club.
Bailey Leeke (
volleyball)
A Marketing–Professional Sales graduate with a Sales certificate and a 3.80 GPA, Leeke earned CSC Academic All-District honors in 2024 and 2025, the 2025 WIAC Volleyball Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete Award and four consecutive years on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She maintained Academic Distinction every semester, earned six College of Business Dean's List selections, studied abroad at Deakin University in Australia and graduated in just three and a half years. On the court, Leeke helped lead the Blugolds to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight run in 2025, while earning AVCA All-Region First Team and All-American honors in both 2024 and 2025. She was named the 2025 Carnegie Mellon Regional Most Outstanding Player, earned consecutive All-WIAC First Team selections and ranks sixth in program history in career points. Her leadership and professional development have extended beyond volleyball through four semesters on the UW-Eau Claire Sales Team, serving as team captain in 2025, participation in Sales Ambassadors and the American Marketing Association, and a third-place finish at the 2025 Twin Cities Collegiate Sales Team Championship. Leeke also consistently gave back through Blugold Athlete Day, the Eau Claire Marathon and UW-Eau Claire summer camps, while previously serving as a high school summer camp coach.
