2025-26 Rock M’mys: Best Performance in a Supporting Role

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It’s awards season at Rock M Nation, and we’ve got a lot to celebrate from the 2025-26 school year. New hires, postseason highs, incredible individual and team performances… There’s a lot of good things going on in CoMo, and we intend to talk about it.

And because we always strive to do things a bit differently around here, we created our own award, the Rock M’my, a few years ago. Consider it to be part Emmy, part Espy, and all parts love of Mizzou Athletics. (pronounced Rock Emmy)

I encouraged the staff to not just consider the major sports and the top dogs, but to dig below the surface and select worthy nominees from all the teams. Luckily, Rock M Nation represents a diverse group of writers with knowledge about a variety of Mizzou sports, so this wasn’t too much of an ask. With each nomination, you’ll also find a bit of backstory, so you, the fans, can make an informed decision, because at the end of each post, you’ll vote. Forget to cast your ballot one day? No big deal. I’ll provide links to the other awards from the preceding posts.

Once all the votes for each award have been tabulated, I’ll present a winners list, and that student-athlete/team/coach will win our completely serious award that will undoubtedly be the greatest triumph of their lives thus far.

Voting closes Friday, July 31 at 10pm CST.​

In case you missed the other votes:​

• Best Photo
• Best Interview
• Best Performance
• Newcomer of the Year
• Most Euphoric Moment

Let’s begin.​

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Teams don’t win because of the contribution of one star. After all, there are 24 individual routines in a gymnastics meet, six players on the volleyball court, five on Norm Stewart Court, and 11 on the field at Faurot during a game. Players like Mark Mitchell and Ahmad Hardy can’t singlehandedly win the game for Missouri. Kimarra Echols can’t compete her masterful Yurchenko Full six times in one vault rotation. Abby Hay can’t score all the runs while also pitching a complete game.

The 11 nominees for best performance in a supporting role were not the most famous faces on their respective teams, but should be remembered for what they accomplished this past season just the same.

Here are the nominees for Best Performance in a Supporting Role:​

Jayla Smith, Women’s Hoops​

After transferring from Purdue, Jayla Smith didn’t find herself in a consistent starting role in coach Kellie Harper’s inaugural season, but that didn’t stop her from being a key contributor in her 23.7 minutes per game. Smith averaged 7.8 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 43.5% from the field and 88.2% from the charity stripe. Plus, her defense was invaluable, showing through in her 1.0 and 0.8 blocks per game.

Perhaps Smith’s most important game as a Tiger came in an 81-70 win against Texas A&M, where she scored 15 points on 5-11 shooting and 4-4 from the line. While not a superstar for Mizzou, Jayla Smith brought a consistency that made her a great asset to the Tigers’ roster last season. —Dylan Heinrich

Cierra Harrison, Softball​

But Karen, you ask, why on Earth would you put CC Harrison, the best pitcher on Mizzou’s roster, in the supporting category? That’s insanity, you say. Well, friends, it’s because she spent the season drastically underestimated by the Mizzou fanbase, tossed aside like she was second-rate. As president of the Team CC For Life Fan Club, I thought the KC girl deserved some credit in her final season in the black and gold. And because she was the best pitcher on the roster! (I’d underline that if this software allowed me to)

Larissa Anderson agreed with me. After beating Tennessee in Missouri’s regular season finale, she was asked about CC’s legacy. She said, “She is one of the toughest pitchers that I’ve faced, that I’ve coached, that I’ve had an opportunity to be able to coach. She just guts and wills herself to get the job done. She’s 5-foot-2. She’s throwing upper 60s, and she just wills herself to be able to get batters out. I said in the in the headset interview that I would want her in my foxhole. She is such a tough, tough kid that will do anything for her teammates, and as soon as she comes out of the game, she’s not thinking about herself and the fact that her career ended on our field, and those last time she’s going to be able to play in front of her hometown, she’s thinking about the team and winning, and she’s right back up on the bench and cheering for everybody.”

During her senior season, CC had a 3.36 ERA in a career-high 30 appearances and 125 innings, with five complete games (also a career-high) and a career high in strikeouts (100) while giving up a career-low homeruns. She pitched a no-no in the 8-0 run rule victory over SIUE in late March, and despite the end results of the SEC Tournament game against Auburn, it was not on her, throwing five innings of three-hit ball, allowing just one run. Harrison was the best Tiger pitcher in SEC play, full stop. She threw four innings of three-hit ball in the home finale, allowing just two runs in what was a pivotal win over Tennessee, and 4 2/3 innings of three-hit ball (no runs) at Arkansas in a 3-1 win. For her efforts, CC made the NFCA All-Region Third Team, the first al-region honor of her career.

With no replacement in sight for CC Harrison on the 2026-27 roster, I feel it will make her absence even more noticeable (at least by me, you ungrateful jerks). —Karen Steger

Zoey Matias-Lopez, Volleyball​

Zoey Matias-Lopez may not have been the headline-grabber on Missouri’s SEC Tournament team, but her steady presence was instrumental to the Tigers’ success throughout the 2025 season. As a freshman libero, she appeared in 26 matches and totaled 265 digs, 48 assists and 25 service aces, consistently providing stability in the back row while complementing SEC Libero of the Year Maya Sands. Whether recording double-digit digs in 14 matches or setting a season high of 22 against Auburn, Matias-Lopez embraced her supporting role and emerged as one of the Tigers’ most dependable contributors, giving Missouri one of the SEC’s strongest defensive duos. —Aaron Segal

(Editor’s Note: it also was fun to watch her exuberance, oftentimes found jumping into the arms of her teammates in celebration)

Keagen Trost, Football​

Did you know who Keagen Trost was before he committed to Mizzou? Likely not. Did anyone in the country outside of the ACC? Likely not. Now? A whole lot of people not only know him, they’re counting on him to make plays at the NFL level. That’s because Trost arrived as just another member of a strong ’25 portal class and became a First Team All-SEC and All-American selection. And he did it despite not being the star or the main man on the line. Instead, Trost showed up week-in-and-week-out and perfected his role at right tackle. That’s how you get an M’my (and drafted in the Third Round of the NFL Draft.) —Josh Matejka

The Divers, Swim + Dive​

What a season for Mizzou’s divers! Looking for a way to maximize points, the coaching staff, led by head coach Andrew Grevers and diving coach Kyle Bogner, wisely placed an added emphasis on diving in the 2025-26 season, looking for what Bogner described as “the right people on the team and people who are going to be able to make it and score points at NCAAs.”

At the winter sports media day in mid-November, Grevers said, “There are several in the SEC who want to prioritize swimming over diving. So I consider that an opportunity, right? They’re going to open that door for us. We’re going to step right in and get those points…We see the opportunity. We want to seize it.”

Seize it, they did!

On the women’s side, freshman Jazzelle Eikerman Gregorchuk had a phenomenal season, earning All-SEC Freshman honors based on her 6th place finish on Platform at SECs. Joining her in the platform points barrage were Olivia Liddle (9th), Megan Jolly (12th) and Gaby San Juan Carmona (17th). Jolly also placed 14th in the 1-meter and 9th in the 3-meter.

Eikerman then went to the NCAA Zone D Meet (a qualifier meet for NCAAs) and placed fourth in platform to earn a spot at NCAAs, where she finished an impressive 17th. Liddle finished 9th and Mia Henninger finished 18th in the sam event (up from 28th the year before) both qualifying as well. Only Carmona was left on the outside of NCAAs, finishing 18th at the Zone D meet.

On the men’s side, Collier Dyer, whose performance will be addressed in another category, earned All-SEC Third Team with his third place finish in the 1-meter, as well as All-American honors at NCAAs. He additionally finished 9th in the 3-meter. Texas transfer and former Big 12 champ Tanner Braunton arrived in the offseason, earning All-American Honorable Mention honors after finishing 11th in platform at the national championships. He placed 9th on the event at SECs. Also joining the duo at NCAAs was Derek Colbert and Tommaso Zannella, who finished 28th and 34th, respectively (out of point contention) in platform. Zannella had taken sixth at Zone D to earn his spot. Colbert finished 11th on platform at SECs

Bringing 8/10 divers to nationals was quite the accomplishment for the Tigers in 2025-26, and despite Bogner announcing his retirement in May, the diving roster appears to be in good shape moving forward. —Karen Steger

Gracie Britton, Softball​

As a freshman, it’s hard to make an impact in the SEC. This difficulty increases when you graduate early and on a collegiate roster at the age of 17. But none of this stopped Gracie Britton, who carved out a key role as a pinch-hitter for Mizzou softball and was critical down the stretch. After graduating from nearby Southern Boone High School in December, Britton immediately found herself a spot on the Tigers’ roster. A natural catcher, she didn’t see much action behind the plate in her freshman season as she was firmly entrenched behind Stefania Abruscato, who had a great season. Instead, she found herself a key bench role, playing in 25 games, recording six hits and drawing six walks for an absurd .333 average and .538 on base percentage. While her role was small, Gracie Britton’s impact on every at-bat she took was massive. —Dylan Heinrich

Ayla Acevedo, Gymnastics​

After not making any lineups her freshman season, the sophomore devoted her offseason to training and wow, did it pay off this past season. The Goddess in Glasses, as she became known by the Gymternet, became a fan favorite and reliable contributor on floor, making a dozen appearances and earning three scores of 9.90-plus, including a 9.925 in the historic win over #2 Florida in February. Her high-flying double pike was marveled at, her drive was oftentimes mentioned by her teammates, and her three-pass routine — a rarity in NCAA these days — was always praised on tv. “You just don’t see that that much anymore,” they’d say.

After making her collegiate debut in the team’s opener against Iowa State, her teammates rushed the floor and I totally teared up. Hannah Horton beamed with pride when asked about her teammate’s debut.

“Let me just say, you can see the growth from her freshman year to now, and it’s like, wow, you have been putting in the work and you’ve been trusting everything. I’m so proud of her,” she said. “My heart was literally like, ‘Oh, Ayla!’”

In a pinch, Ayla also found herself in vault lineups in four meets (not counting exhibition appearances), oftentimes serving as the next one up, able to fill in at a moment’s notice. Her best performance was a 9.85 on her Yurchenko Full (9.95 start value) at SECs, which helped secure the Tigers’ second place finish in Session 1, as well as her 9.80 in the Regional Finals, when she filled in for Kaia as a last minute change.

“I think what’s so cool is that we have so much depth in our lineups,” Addi Lawrence said, also after the first meet. “Even in the alternate position or in the outside training positions, everyone has a shot to be in the lineup, and whoever’s day is that day.” —Karen Steger

Nicholas Rodriguez, Football​

Nicholas Rodriguez only started three games last season, but he was a stalwart at the second level of the defense by the end of the season and had a starter-level impact. His expanded role was especially impressive given the presence of returning players in Triston Newson and Khalil Jacobs, something that made his path to more playing time seem narrow at the start of the year. And he showed a glimpse into his future during the Gator Bowl, notching a team-high 16 total tackles and establishing himself as a likely leader of this upcoming year’s unit. — Matthew Gustafson

Monica Wanjiku- T&F/XC​

Freshman Monica Wanjiku absolutely tore up the grass in 2025, cultivating her spectacular cross-country season with an elite 35th-place finish at the NCAA Division I Championships. She carried that momentum straight into the 2026 track season, capturing a first-place victory in the 1,500 meters at the Drake Relays and a fifth-place finish in the 10,000 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Her athletic ability was shown most when she she secured fifth place in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters at the SEC Indoor Championships against tough competitors. Her incredible range, from middle distance to a 10,000-meter race on the track and 6,000-meter race on the turf is why her championship-level abilities make her worthy of a nomination. –Sophie Silvers

Hailey Chambliss, Soccer​

Coming back to the pitch at Audrey J. Walton was a win in itself for Chambliss after wearing the pink shirt in 2024 following the birth of her daughter, Oakley. But she ended the 2025 season as the Tigers’ most effective player off the bench. Through 15 matches and 457 minutes, Chambliss led the team with eight points and was tied for the most goals on the team with three. She assisted on two goals in the 3-1 win over Texas and booted in two of her own within a minute of each other against Youngstown State to headline her best performances. – Colin Simmons

Trent Pierce, Men’s Basketball​

Mark Mitchell was the focal point of Mizzou Basketball last season, but Trent Pierce played his best game as a Tiger when they needed him the most. Pierce had a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds in an 86-85 road win over Texas A&M to inch Missouri closer to an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. Through his career, Pierce has been inconsistent, mostly due to injuries, but has also shown flashes of potential. The talent is certainly there with Pierce as he heads into his senior season looking to be the leader of a new-look team. — Sammy Stava

Time to vote!​

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