McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University Athletic Communications Office has been recognized with two awards in the College Sports Communicators Fred Stabley Writing Contest. The winners were announced on May 14, highlighting the achievements of Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Communications Katie Gonzales and Assistant Director Taiah Gallisath. Both received runner-up honors for their contributions in the District 5 college division.

Katie Gonzales was awarded for her general feature/blog, which focused on IWU athletic communications student workers and athletes Emma Thorman and Eddie Cisneros. Her article, part of the DIII50 celebration marking 50 years of NCAA Division III, detailed Thorman's successful women's golf career and her involvement in athletic communications. It also covered Cisneros's role as a videographer for Titan athletics and his recent internship with the Cleveland Browns.

Taiah Gallisath earned recognition for her historical feature on Lon Erickson, a notable figure in IWU football history. Erickson is celebrated for his record-breaking performance as a quarterback and for being the only Titan to win the Gagliardi Trophy, an award recognizing excellence in Division III football.

These accomplishments contribute to the office's history of accolades, including receiving the D3SIDA Region 4 Communicator(s) of the Year award in 2024.