SALEM, Va. - Carroll University Senior Olivia Rangel has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, as announced Friday by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va. Each year, the Jostens Trophy honors one male and one female from a list of 10 finalists from each gender, which recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's Division-III basketball players of the year. Rangel is the fifth Pioneer since 2010 to be named a Jostens Trophy finalist, joining John Hoch (2010), Lyndsey Seewald (2011), Emily DeNoyer (2014), and Malory Christenson (2016).
The award focuses on three major criteria: basketball ability, academic prowess, and service to one's surrounding communities, and models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of a well-rounded Division-III student-athlete. This year's award marks the 27th time the Jostens Trophy will be presented.
The 2025 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the Year and a four-time First Team All-Conference selection, Rangel finished this season ranking 35th in D-III for scoring average with a conference-best 18.7 points per game. She also led the CCIW in assists per game (4.7) and Assist-to-turnover ratio (1.51), which rank 28th and 80th, respectively, in D-III. A two-time All-America and All-Region selection from Franklin, Wis., Rangel ranks second in the conference and 32nd in the country, in steals per game (2.96), while also ranking fourth in the league and 94th in D-III for field goal percentage (.468).
Earlier this season, Rangel broke Carroll's career record for both assists and steals, while also shattering the school's single season steals record. Rangel, who ends her career ranking fourth in program history for career points (1,653), was named as a Third-Team Preseason All-America selection entering this season.
A Communications and Spanish major, Rangel helped lead Carroll to an 18-9 record this season, marking the fourth consecutive year the program has won at least 17 games, which is the longest-such streak in program history. The Pios advanced to the CCIW Tournament Championship game for the second consecutive season this year.
The Rotary Club of Salem is responsible for the initial review of the nominees, which it conducts over a two-week period. The Club's Jostens Trophy Committee objectively reviews the nominees and uses a numerical system to pare down the pools to an initial list of 20 finalists -- 10 for the men's award and 10 for the women's trophy.
The finalists will now be reviewed by the Jostens Trophy National Selection Committee, which is composed of men and women from across the country. The committee features current and former athletic administrators and head coaches, past Jostens Trophy recipients, and select members of the Division-III media. The committee will spend the next week-plus reviewing the nominees with the aim of announcing the two winners the week following both national championship events.