RICHARDSON, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Softball's
Aylene Lucero has been recognized as the Lone Star Conference (LSC) 2025 Female Athletic Performance Athlete of the Year, announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon. ENMU Football's
Esaias Swindle was also recognized, being named to the LSC Athletic Performance All-Conference Team along with Lucero.
The all-conference team recognizes student-athletes who excel in work ethic, dedication to process, attendance, communication, leadership, and growth. The individual awards are voted upon by the league's athletic performance staff.
Lucero becomes the first Greyhound to win the award, while she and Swindle become the first Greyhounds to ever make the athletic performance all-conference teams (first teams were named in 2020). Twenty-two student athletes made up the all-conference teams, with nominations being put forward by institutions' athletic performance staff.
Lucero adds another accolade to their ENMU career, earning all-conference and all-region honors this past season on the softball field. "Lucero's work athletic in the weight room is unmatched to any student-athlete I have worked with," said Associate Athletic Director for Sports Performance
Justin McClure. "Laney is dedicated to her craft and makes her teammates better every single day. She is the type of student-athlete who is first to arrive and last to leave for a workout," said McClure. "I'm grateful to work with such an outstanding student-athlete like Laney,".
This past spring, Lucero led the Greyhounds with a .414 batting average, with 75 hits and 61 runs scored. The Albuquerque, N.M. native finished in the top-10 in the LSC for batting average, hit-by-pitch, hits, on-base percentage, runs, stolen bases, and total bases. The all-conference outfielder helped the team to its winningest season since 2006, making the Lone Star Conference Tournament Quarterfinals.
Swindle becomes the first Greyhound named to the men's athletic performance all-conference team, finishing their second season with ENMU football. "Esaias is a role model for his teammates despite being one of the youngest members of the Greyhound football program," said McClure. "Esaias has made vast improvements this spring, making major impacts in the weight room, and will be a big contributor to the program in the fall because of the work he has put in this semester," said McClure.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Swindle played in eight games this past season, totaling 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks during the 2024 season. The defensive lineman notched a career high five tackles against Midwestern State (all assists). Swindle recorded a solo sack against UT Permian Basin (11/9), with their tackle going for a four-yard loss.
