The Aurora University athletics program had another successful season in Spartan athletics history throughout the 2016-2017 academic year, with the AU seeing the schools first NCAA Division III National Championship. The championship was won by junior men's track and field standout Ryan Njegovan in the indoor shot put and then again in the outdoor shot put.

The AU athletic programs finished the 2016-2017 academic year 8th out of the 450 Division III athletic programs in the Learfield6 Sports Directors' Cup Division III standings. The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is a comprehensive ranking of intercollegiate athletic departments based on their participation in NCAA Championship events.

In the classroom the Spartans once again were successful with 259 student-athletes earning Spartan Scholar designation. A Spartan Scholar is a student-athlete from any of the 22 current NCAA sports who earned a 3.25 gpa or above for the 2016-2017 academic year.

AU also unveiled the plans and saw construction on the Spartan Athletic Park (SAP) begin. The SAP will house numerous outdoor sport programs in one location close to campus. Learn more at spartans.aurora.edu.
 
NCAA Division III Championship Appearances
Women's Cross Country (one individual)
Women's Golf
Men's Lacrosse
Men's Indoor Track and Field (three individuals)
Women's Indoor Track and Field (three individuals)
Men's Outdoor Track and Field (three individuals)
Women's Outdoor Track and Field (four individuals and a relay team)
 
Conference Championships
Football
Women's Cross Country
Men's Cross Country
Women's Golf
Men's Lacrosse
Women's Indoor Track and Field
Women's Outdoor Track and Field

Individually, AU student-athletes also had a tremendous year garnering both athletic and academic awards, including 15 All-Americans, three Academic or Scholar All-Americans, 26 All-Region players, eight Conference Players of the Year, one Freshman of the Year and six Conference Coaches of the Year.

AU Awards
Spartan Woman of the Year - Nikki Funk (women's golf)
Spartan Man of the Year - Will Bradshaw (men's lacrosse)
Female Athlete of the Year - Lisa Rodriguez (women's track and field)
Male Athlete of the Year - Ryan Njegovan (men's track and field)
Richard Rickey Senior Award - Zach Burdick (football)
Chris Thompson Senior Award - Mikayla O'Brien (women's volleyball)
 
All-Americans
Ryan Njegovan (men's indoor track and field): NCAA All-American and National Champion - shot put; (men's outdoor track and field): NCAA All-American and National Champion - discus; NCAA All-American - shot put
Lisa Rodriguez (women's outdoor track and field): NCAA All-American - 100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100 meter relay
Deterrica Simpkins (women's indoor track and field): NCAA All-American - 200 meter; (women's outdoor track and field): NCAA All-American - 100 meter and 4x100 meter relay
Brandon Pichen (men's indoor track and field): NCAA All-American - weight throw; (men's outdoor track and field): NCAA All-American - hammer throw
Crystal Abernathy (women's outdoor track and field): NCAA All-American - 4x100 meter relay
Taylor Jefford (women's outdoor track and field): NCAA All-American - 4x100 meter relay
Bobby Cooks (men's indoor track and field): NCAA All-American - 60 meter hurdles
Jason Koziol (men's lacrosse): United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Honorable Mention

Academic or Scholar All-Americans
Laura Dierking (softball): Third-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American
Jason Koziol (men's lacrosse): United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
Will Bradshaw (men's lacrosse): United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association

All-Region Players
Crystal Abernathy (women's outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Gaby Adamson (women's soccer): Third-Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America
Will Bradshaw (men's lacrosse): Honorable Mention IMLCA
Bobby Cooks (men's indoor and outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Taylor Jefford (women's indoor and outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Jason Koziol (men's lacrosse): Second-Team IMLCA
Ryan Njegovan (men's indoor and outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Brandon Pichen (men's indoor and outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Adriana Ramirez (women's outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Jazzmine Reyes (women's cross country): USTFCCCA
Lisa Rodriguez (women's outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Jackie Schane (women's cross country and women's outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Deterrica Simpkins (women's indoor and outdoor track and field): USTFCCCA
Katie Vondra (women's volleyball): Honorable Mention AVCA
Elaine Walker (softball): Second-Team National Fastpitch Coaches Association

Conference Players of the Year
Christian Barajas (men's cross country)
Jackie Schane (women's cross country)
Katie Vondra (women's volleyball)
Jason Koziol (men's lacrosse): Offensive Player of the Year
Hannah Meager (women's outdoor track and field): Field Athlete of the Meet
Taylor Jefford (women's indoor track and field): Overall Athlete of the Meet; (women's outdoor track and field): Overall Athlete of the Meet
Ryan Njegovan (men's outdoor track and field): Field Athlete of the Meet
 
Freshman of the Year
Reilly Armstrong (women's lacrosse)
 
Conference Coach of the Year
Nicole Farr (men's and women's cross country)
Rick Ponx (football)
Brandon Sturman (women's indoor track and field and women's outdoor track and field)
Justin Wyeth (women's golf)