MANSFIELD, Mass. (5/13/25) - Representing the pinnacle of excellence in their respective programs, Franklin Pierce University has put forth a trio of decorated student-athletes as nominees for the 2024-25 NE10 Man and Woman of the Year awards, the league office announced Monday. Women's soccer senior defender Aino Martikainen and women's golf standout Kesinee Prukmathakul have been named the University's Woman of the Year nominees, while men's cross country and track & field senior Ryan Outerbridge will be the nominee on the men's side.
To be eligible for either honor, student-athletes must have exhausted their athletic eligibility by the end of the current academic year and completed their undergraduate degrees prior to the conclusion of the summer term.
Nominees are judged across four categories — academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership, and a personal written statement — with voting conducted by the NE10's twelve Senior Woman Administrators.
A cornerstone on the back line for the Ravens, Aino Martikainen caps a career that reads like a collection of firsts and bests. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team, earned D2CCA All-America honors, and became a CSC Academic All-American. Martikainen also claimed NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, All-NE10 First Team, and D2CCA First-Team All-Region honors, while being recognized on the USC First Team All-Region and CSC Academic All-District teams. Offensively, she finished her final season with seven goals and two assists for 16 points, going a perfect 4-for-4 on penalty kicks. Defensively, she anchored a unit that allowed just 0.61 goals per game, among the stingiest marks in the region.
Also nominated on the women's side is Kesinee Prukmathakul, one of the most decorated golfers in Franklin Pierce history. A three-time NE10 Player of the Year (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) and the league's 2021-22 Rookie of the Year, Prukmathakul earned Individual NE10 Medalist honors twice (2021-22, 2023-24). Her consistent dominance on the course set a new standard for the Ravens' program, and she finishes her career as one of the most decorated golfers in conference history.
On the men's side, Ryan Outerbridge closes out his career with accolades across cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. He broke the school record in the outdoor mile, earned All-Region honors from the USTFCCCA, and was an At-large NCAA Cross Country Championship selection. At the 2025 NE10 Indoor Championships, he was named both the Men's Outstanding Track Athlete and the Overall Most Valuable Performer after winning the men's mile and finishing third in the 800 meters. Outerbridge followed that with a dominating outdoor season, winning both the steeplechase and 10,000 meters at the 2025 NE10 Outdoor Championships.
The 2024 NE10 Man and Woman of the Year will be honored at the annual NE10 Awards Banquet, held on Tuesday, June 3, at Fratello's Events in the Millyard in Manchester, N.H.
