National champions Esther Conde-Turpin and Liam Pritchard added to their season successes with selection as the 2026 Lone Star Conference Athletes of the Year announced by the league office on Monday (June 29).
 
Conde-Turpin, a multi-events specialist with the West Texas A&M track and field program, was selected as the LSC Women's Athlete of the Year while Pritchard, a midfielder with the Midwestern State soccer program, was named the LSC Men's Athlete of the Year.
 
The 2026 LSC Athletes of the Year were chosen from a distinguished group of 18 women and 17 men nominated by their respective institutions. The annual awards are determined by vote of the conference sports information directors and media representatives. This is the 28th year the Lone Star Conference has presented its Athletes of the Year awards.
 
Conde-Turpin (Reunion Island, France) concluded the year as one of the most top track and field student-athletes in NCAA Division II and the LSC. Over the 2026 season, the senior won two individual national titles, set the Division II heptathlon record (6,161 pts.), and played a key role in West Texas A&M winning the Division II Outdoor Track and Field team title as well as LSC indoor and outdoor team championships. Conde-Turpin collected the pentathlon title at the indoor national championships then came back at the outdoor championships to win the heptathlon. Between the two national championships, Conde-Turpin earned All-America citations in five events -- indoor pentathlon, long jump and 60-meter hurdles, and outdoor heptathlon and 100m hurdles.
 
Conde-Turpin’s national success was primed at the LSC indoor and outdoor track and field championships. A win in the 60m hurdles and top three placings in long jump, high jump and shot put led to the LSC Indoor Outstanding Field Athlete of the Year award. She then won LSC outdoor titles in the javelin, long jump, 100m hurdles and 4x100m relay and was named LSC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Conde-Turpin earned All-LSC First Team indoor and outdoor citations and was selected South Central Region Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
Pritchard (Hartlepool, England) helped lead Midwestern State men's soccer to the NCAA Division II national championship, winning the LSC season and tournament titles and NCAA Super Region IV championship along the way. Named Most Outstanding Player of the Division II championship, Pritchard posted two assists in the national semifinal and scored the game-sealing goal in the title match vs. Rollins. He contributed to five of the Mustangs’ goals during the NCAA tournament including the game-winning goal in three of the five MSU tournament matches.
 
The senior finished 2025 season scoring three goals and eight assists from midfield (14 points), ranking No. 23 in Division II and second in the LSC for total assists. Pritchard was named LSC Midfielder of the Year and All-Conference First Team and was an All-South Central Region First Team selection by United Soccer Coaches and Division II Conference Commissioners Association.
 
Overall, nominees for the 2026 LSC Athlete of the Year awards included individuals who led their teams to top national, regional and conference championship finishes; received LSC and national athletic and academic awards; and earned recognition on All-America, All-Region, All-Conference and All-Tournament lists. In addition to Conde-Turpin, the top three women’s award votes included Ella Cheek, DBU (golf) and Maddie Parrish, Angelo State (volleyball) while on the men’s side, Austin Beck, Angelo State (baseball) and Kelly Giese, Lubbock Christian (golf) were among the top three with Pritchard.
 
 
2026 LSC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Women: Esther Conde-Turpin, Sr., West Texas A&M, Track and Field
Men: Liam Pritchard, Sr., Midwestern State, Soccer
 
Campus Nominees for 2026 LSC Athlete of the Year

Madi Parrish	Angelo State	Jr.	Volleyball
Austin Beck	Angelo State	Sr.	Baseball
Haley Gardella	Cameron	So.	Softball
Lukas Janousek	Cameron	So.	Tennis
Ella Cheek	DBU	Jr.	Golf
Xavion Brown	DBU	Sr.	Basketball
Christina Meneses	Eastern New Mexico	So.	Softball
Jose Murillo	Eastern New Mexico	Sr.	Basketball
Lily Bickley	Lubbock Christian	Sr.	Volleyball
Kelly Giese	Lubbock Christian	Jr.	Tennis
Selin Sepken	Midwestern State	Gr.	Tennis
Liam Pritchard	Midwestern State	Sr.	Soccer
Laniyah Curry	Oklahoma Christian	So.	Track and Field
Ethan Nakolo	Oklahoma Christian	So.	Soccer
Suni Davis	St. Edward’s	Jr.	Basketball
Blake Nielsen	St. Edward's	Sr.	Basketball
Taylor Wilczek	St. Mary’s	Jr.	Golf
Kongpop Kaikaew	St. Mary's	Sr.	Golf
Victoria Aguayo	Sul Ross State	Sr.	Basketball
Benjamin Aviles	Sul Ross State	So.	Soccer
Racheal Emmanuel	Texas A&M International	Sr.	Basketball
Ian Rono	Texas A&M International	Fr.	Cross Country
Yosiris Cordoba	Texas A&M-Kingsville	Jr.	Track & Field
King Phillips	Texas A&M-Kingsville	So.	Football
Gabby Elliott	Texas Woman’s	Sr.	Basketball
Brooke Yount	UT Dallas	So.	Golf
Chris Benavidez	UT Dallas	Jr.	Baseball
Valeria Delgado	UT Permian Basin	Jr.	Soccer
Will Tate	UT Permian Basin	Sr.	Golf
Juliane Frueh	UT Tyler	Sr.	Track & Field
Cole Ketzner	UT Tyler	Sr.	Baseball
Esther Conde-Turpin	West Texas A&M	Sr.	Track & Field
RJ Martinez	West Texas A&M	Sr.	Football
Jenna Peters	Western New Mexico	Sr.	Softball
Andre Harris	Western New Mexico	Jr.	Basketball

 
ALL-TIME LSC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
 

Women
2026	Esther Conde-Turpin, West Texas A&M, Sr., Track and Field
2025	Emilee Boyer, West Texas A&M, Jr., Softball
2024	Florance Uwajeneza, West Texas A&M, Gr., Track and Field
2023	Tatum Goff, UT Tyler, Jr., Softball
2022	Zada Swoopes, West Texas A&M, Sr., Track and Field
2021	Shanna McBroom, West Texas A&M, Sr., Softball
2020	Maddi Chitsey, Lubbock Christian, Sr., Basketball
2019	Fatim Affessi, West Texas A&M. Jr., Track and Field
2018	Kami Norton, Angelo State, Sr., Track and Field
2017	Rellie Kaputin, West Texas A&M, Sr., Track and Field
2016	Isabel Jimenez-Perea, Tarleton State, Sr., Golf
2015	Brenna Moore, Midwestern State, Sr., Golf
2014	Renee Erwin, West Texas A&M, Jr., Softball
2013	Katie Hines, Texas Woman's, Jr., Softball
2012	Elsamartina Apo, Angelo State, Sr., Softball
2011	Carla Cooper, Tarleton State, Sr., Golf
2010	Aisha Adams, Angelo State, Sr., Track and Field
2009	Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, Sr., Basketball
2008	Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, Jr., Basketball
2007	Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, So., Basketball
2006	Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, Fr., Basketball
2005	Celeste Stevenson, West Texas A&M, Basketball
2004	Michelle Hofmann, Angelo State, Softball
2003	LaTasha Mosley, Angelo State, Track and Field
2002	Brandi Robinson, Southeastern Okla., Basketball
2001	Precious Thibodeaux, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Basketball/Track and Field
2000	Sarah Butler, West Texas A&M, Volleyball
1999	Tracy Barnes, Abilene Christian, Track and Field
Men
2026	Liam Pritchard, Midwestern State, Sr., Soccer
2025	Brevin McCool, Lubbock Christian, Sr., Baseball
2024	William Amponsah, West Texas A&M, Jr., Cross Country/Track and Field
2023	Kade Bragg, Angelo State, Jr., Baseball
2022	Benjamin Azamati, West Texas A&M, So., Track and Field
2021	Benjamin Azamati, West Texas A&M, So., Track and Field
2020	Zimari Manning, Tarleton State, Sr., Football
2019	Markus Jones, Angelo State, Sr., Football
2018	Luis Perez, Texas A&M-Commerce, Sr., Football
2017 (co)	Daeshon Francis, UT Permian Basin, Jr., Basketball
2017 (co)	Marshall Kasowski, West Texas A&M, Jr., Baseball
2016	Marqui Christian, Midwestern State, Sr., Football
2015	Steve Naemark, Angelo State, Jr., Baseball
2014	Dustin Vaughan, West Texas A&M, Sr., Football
2013	Alex Carpenter, Abilene Christian, Sr., Golf
2012	Nick Jones, Abilene Christian, Sr., Track and Field
2011	Chase Larsson, Cameron, Jr., Baseball
2010	Cyril Bouniol, Abilene Christian, Jr., Golf
2009	Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian, Sr., Football
2008	Sam Belt, Central Oklahoma, Sr., Basketball
2007	Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian, Sr., Cross Country/Track and Field
2006	Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian, Football
2005	Drew Beard, Southeastern Okla., Football
2004	Cole Province, Central Oklahoma, Wrestling
2003	Olan Coleman, Tarleton State, Football/Track and Field
2002	Steve Kelly, Tarleton State, Football
2001	Roberto Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Football/Track and Field
2000	Roberto Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Football/Track and Field
1999	Eddie Robinson, Central Oklahoma, Basketball