Matt Willms, Earvin Morris among 34 UTEP student athletes set to graduate

It's been a rough past few months for Matt Willms on the athletic side, nursing a surgically repaired foot and not being able to be out there with his teammates this past season.

But the 7'1 big man will become a UTEP graduate this weekend along with 33 other student athletes who will see their hard work on the academic side pay off.

Eight of the graduates have eligibility remaining beyond the 2015-16 athletic year. They are Keighton Allen (soccer), Jerome Daniels (football), Silas Firstley(football), Cole Freytag (football), Fayon Gonzales (women's track & field), Christian Harper (football),  and Dashone Smith (football).

Earvin Morris will also walk the stage this weekend along with UTEP women's star Cameasha Turner who announced she will attend Norte Dame Law School.

Congrats to the graduating Miners!

May 2016 UTEP Graduating Student-Athlete Bios

Keighton Allen (Soccer)
Has battled through injuries to appear in seven matches, including three starts, as a goalkeeper for the Miner soccer program ... four-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal ... four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... named a UTEP Alumni Association Top 10 Senior for 2016 ... Economics major.

Amy Bock (Rifle)
Has been a leader for the UTEP rifle team in her two years with the program ... accomplished member of the Puerto Rico national team who took fourth place at the 2015 Pan American Games ... had the best overall aggregate on the team as a junior and second best as a senior ... political science major.

Trey Brown (Football)
Four-year letterwinner saw action in 45 games for the Orange and Blue ... registered 79 tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses, two fumble recoveries, one quarterback hurry, a pass breakup and an interception ... returned an interception 51 yards for a score versus Southern Miss in 2014 ... Multidisciplinary Studies Major.

Jerome Daniels (Football)
Two-year starter has played in a total of 32 games for the Miners ... part of a dominating offensive line that helped UTEP lead Conference USA in fewest sacks allowed in back-to-back years ... projected starter at left tackle in 2016 ... three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Management major.

Agata Dobrowolska (Women's Basketball)
Three-year letterwinner for the Miners ... played in 84 games, including 21 starts ... helped the Miners post two 20-win seasons, claim the 2016 C-USA Championship and make two deep runs in the WNIT ... three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Nick Dooley (Football)
Four-year long snapper saw action in 49 games for the Miners and garnered honorable mention All-Conference USA honors ... has earned a rookie mini camp invitation with the New Orleans Saints ... recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2013 ... three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Management major.

Rudiane Eduardo (Women's Basketball)
Two-year letterwinner for the Miners ... played in 48 games ... helped the Miners win the 2016 C-USA Championship and advance to the quarterfinals of the WNIT ... two-year member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... multidisciplinary studies major.

Silas Firstley (Football)
Three-year letterwinner has seen action in 36 games for the Miners ... has registered career totals of 64 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, one quarterback hurry and a sack ... notched career-best tackle performances versus Arkansas and Texas Tech ... projected starter at SAM linebacker in 2016 ... Criminal Justice major.

Cole Freytag (Football)
Three-year letterwinner has played in 33 games at UTEP ... during junior campaign recorded 14 receptions for 257 yards with a trio of touchdown receptions ... ranked second on the team in yards per reception (18.4) ... will be a major contributor at wide receiver as a senior in 2016 ... three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Communication major.

Ramon Garcia (Track & Field)
Registered a personal best time of 1:53.85 in the 800m run as a freshman ... clocked in with the best 1,500m run of his career as a freshman with a time of 4:04.04 ... ran the fastest mile of his career as a sophomore with a readout of 4:43.06 ... Mechanical Engineering major.

Fayon Gonzales (Track & Field)
Member of the first two conference championship teams in program history ... ranks seventh in school history with a personal best hammer throw of 53.64m ... placed fourth in the weight throw at the C-USA Indoor Meet ... ranks fourth in UTEP history in the event with a best mark of 17.80m ... four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Kinesiology major.

Christian Harper (Football)
Three-year letterwinner played in 32 games and started five on the offensive line as a freshman ... made the move to defensive line during his sophomore campaign ... saw action in all 12 games last season, playing on special teams and defense ... projected reserve defensive end as a senior in 2016 ... Communication major.

Carlos Hernandez (Track & Field)
Ranks tied for 12th in program history in the high jump ... recorded his personal best high jump of 2.11m at the Sun Angel Classic ... NCAA Regional participant in the high jump and long jump his senior year ... member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2015 ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Anna-Kay James (Track & Field)
Ranks sixth in program history in the 60m hurdles (8.37) ... ranks seventh in program history in the 100m hurdles (13.40) ... ran the eighth-fastest 400m hurdle time in program history as a junior (1:01.69) ... member of the first two conference championship teams in school history ... three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Accounting major.

Anete Kirsteine (Women's Basketball)
Three-year letterwinner for the Miners ... a sharpshooter who hit 52 three pointers in 69 games played ... helped the Miners notch two 20-win seasons, capture the 2016 C-USA Championship and make two deep runs in the WNIT ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Elphas Maiyo (Track & Field)
Member of 2014 cross country team that took second place at the Conference USA Championships ... ran a personal best 5,000m run of 14:25.76 as a sophomore ... two-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal ... four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Clinical Laboratory Science major.

Davina Meza (Tennis)
Played two seasons with the Miners before serving as an undergraduate student coach in 2016 ... ranked first in school history with a .712 doubles winning percentage and third with a .662 singles winning percentage ... three-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ...Organizational & Corporate Communication major.

A-Shawni Mitchell (Track & Field)
Won five different 4x400m relay medals during his career at the Conference USA Championships ... was a part of the fifth-fastest unit in school history ... recipient of a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2013 ... four-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Mechanical Engineering major.

Earvin Morris (Men's Basketball)
Named UTEP's team MVP for the 2015-16 season ... second on the team in scoring each of the last two years, collecting 11.0 ppg as a junior and 13.4 as a senior ... selected Conference USA Player of the Week this season after scoring 22 of his 28 points after halftime in the Miners' 99-90 double overtime win over Colorado State ... made 105 three-pointers in two years at UTEP ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Kawehiokalani Netane (Softball)
An inspirational leader for the UTEP softball program ... appeared in 184 games with 172 starts ... batted .308 with 23 home runs, 84 RBI, 28 doubles, five triples and 99 runs scored ... ranks no. 5 in school history in home runs, no. 6 in runs, no. 7 in RBI, no. 8 in hits and no. 9 in doubles ... four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Human Resource Management major.

Travaun Nixon (Football)
Transferred to UTEP in 2010 and played in 19 games, earning second team All-Conference honors as a junior ... registered 125 tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses, 16 pass breakups and eight interceptions ... also played special teams, recording eight punt returns for 129 yards and six kickoff returns for 122 yards ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Da'Carlos Renfro (Football)
Three-year letterwinner saw action in 26 games for the Miners, playing on defense and special teams ... registered 33 tackles, eight pass breakups, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and one interception ... recorded a career-best three pass breakups versus Old Dominion in 2015 ... Criminal Justice major.

Devante Richardson (Football)
Came to UTEP in 2012 and served a valuable role on the scout team ... appeared in the LA Tech game as a sophomore ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Jose Romero (Men's Golf)
Played a total of 56 rounds as a Miner with a career scoring average of 76.0 ... recorded a top-10 finish as a freshman at the New Mexico Collegiate Cup ... four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... International Business major.

Natanael Rodriguez (Football)
Walked on to the football team in 2012 ... was the 2013 recipient of the Thomas Howard Walk-on Award at the Dinner with the Miners banquet ... recipient of a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2012 ... five-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Education major.

Camino Sardinero (Women's Golf)
First Team All-Conference USA and NCAA Regional participant as a senior ... led the Miners in scoring average three years in a row ... UTEP's top finisher at 24 of 32 tournaments from 2012-15 ... three-time recipient of a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal ... five-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Finance/International Business major.

Josh Silvas (Football)
Member of the UTEP football team for the last three years ... as a senior saw action on the PAT unit in all 12 games ... as a junior played in all 13 games on special teams ... member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2015 ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Garrett Simpson (Football)
Appeared in five games as a reserve quarterback for the Miners ... threw for 55 yards at Tulane in 2013, completing all three of his pass attempts ... rushed for a touchdown against NM State in 2014 ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Dashone Smith (Football)
Three-year letterwinner has played in 33 games and started 17 contests ... has recorded 145 tackles, five tackles for losses, five pass breakups, one fumble recovery, four quarterback hurries, one sack and three interceptions ... ranked second on the team in tackles as a freshman ... projected starter at free safety in 2016 ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Anastasiya Sylenko (Tennis)
Member of the squad from 2011-15 ... tallied 12 singles victories and 22 doubles wins ... collected a career-best eight doubles wins as a sophomore... Finance major.

Cameasha Turner (Women's Basketball)
Four-year starter for the Miners ... two-time All-Conference USA and two-time member of the league's All-Defensive team ... 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American ... helped the Miners post three 20-win seasons, make two deep runs in the WNIT and claim the 2016 C-USA Championship ... ranks in the top 10 at UTEP for several stat categories ... 2016 UTEP Female Athlete of the Year ... four-time recipient of Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal ... four-time member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... Criminal Justice major.

Alex Villarreal (Football)
Two-year letterwinner played in 23 games and made four starts ... registered 23 tackles, one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry ... during senior campaign notched 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and quarterback hurry ... Multidisciplinary Studies major.

Matt Willms (Men's Basketball)
Has appeared in 63 games for the Miners with 34 starts ... has career totals of 328 points, 241 rebounds and 58 blocks with a .549 field goal percentage ... missed most of last season with a foot injury, but is on track to return for the 2016-17 campaign after undergoing surgery ... Member of Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2013) ... Communication major.

Saidah Zuberi-Allen (Women's Basketball)
Played in 21 games off the bench for the Miners during the 2012-13 season ... averaged 3.4 points and 4.7 rebounds while helping the Miners forge a 22-10 record ... Criminal Justice major.