Taylor Cutajar Assistant Athletic Trainer (Assistant Football) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
Taylor Cutajar Assistant Athletic Trainer (Assistant Football) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
Wayne State University athletes Kayla Giroux and John Rayba have been honored with the GLIAC Commissioner's Award, as announced by the league office. The award recognizes student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically.
Kayla Giroux, a junior volleyball player from Flat Rock, Michigan, is the first in her program to receive this accolade. Earlier this month, she was named a College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American, marking another first for her team. During the 2024 season, Giroux led the GLIAC in hitting percentage at .404 and ranked ninth nationally. She also set a new school record in hitting percentage, surpassing her previous mark of .3538. Her performance included 370 kills, placing her fourth in the league and 72nd in Division II. She also achieved career highs in several categories including kills per set and total blocks.
Academically, Giroux maintains a 3.988 GPA as an Accounting major and has consistently been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. She has earned multiple First Team All-GLIAC selections and was recognized as the 2022 GLIAC Freshman of the Year.
John Rayba, a senior tight end from Rochester Hills, Michigan, joins Trent Brodbeck as one of only two WSU tight ends to receive this award. Rayba led his team with five touchdown receptions last fall—the most for any WSU tight end since at least 1960—and played all 32 games over three seasons. He has amassed 28 receptions totaling 315 yards during his college career.
Rayba is also noted for his academic achievements as a Finance major with a cumulative GPA of 3.82. He has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll every semester and will be recognized on the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team for three consecutive years.
The criteria for receiving this award include completing four semesters of full-time enrollment with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and being either a starter or key reserve on their team.
The selections of Giroux and Rayba bring Wayne State University's total number of honorees to 86 since the inception of this award in the 2007-08 academic year—a figure tied for second-most within the conference.
The GLIAC Commissioner's Awards are presented after each athletic season—fall, winter, and spring—to six male and six female student-athletes who demonstrate excellence both academically and athletically.
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