The 68th annual athletic awards ceremony earlier this month gave University of Denver athletes the chance to recognize the academic and athletic accomplishments of their teammates.

Senior defenseman for the hockey team Aaron MacKenzie took home the trophy for the male athlete of the year and senior soccer player Katie Antongiovanni won the honor for the women.

Mackenzie won the award partly for being WCHA co-defensive player of the year and Antongiovanni is currently playing professional soccer in Atlanta.

Athletic Director M. Dianne Murphy spoke about team accomplishments throughout the year. Murphy described how each team finished its respective season.

Associate Athletics Director for External Relations Ran Railey presented the behind-the-scenes award to Julie Campbell, associate director of sports medicine, who recently had the opportunity to work at the 2003 World University Games in Italy.

Associate Athletics Director Pam Wettig presented freshman swimmer Michaela Amereller with the Pioneer sportswoman award for being the standout female freshman athlete this year. Nejc Smole of the men’s tennis team won the award on the men’s side.

Senior gymnast Michelle Kasuga was nominated by DU for NCAA Woman of the Year award, an award that takes into account academic and athletic prowess.

Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations Heather Weems presented the scholar-athlete of the year award to freshman Caitlin Boulger of the women’s cross country team.

Brian Flaherty of the men’s swimming team and Brett Seger of the men’s basketball team were freshman recipients.

Sophomore recipients included Stephanie Carroll of the women’s golf team and Christian Bowers of the men’s soccer team.

Golfer Sara Silva and lacrosse player Cory Vann were junior recipients.

Angie Portincasa of the women’s soccer team and basketball player Brett Starkey were senior recipients.

The Most Valuable Performer Award went to B.J. Pratt and Brett Starkey for men’s basketball while Ashley Atkinson won the award on the women’s side.

Hans Leithe took the award in men’s cross country and Dru Weaver for women’s cross country.

Shawn Wills and Kelly Schaub were recipients for golf while Michelle Kasuga won the award for gymnastics and Aaron Mackenzie was the recipient for hockey.

Jeff Nunziato and Mari Spry won men’s and women’s lacrosse while John Kolstoe and Michaela Amereller were men’s and women’s swimming and diving recipients.

The men’s soccer most valuable performer award went to Nat Borchers while Kristen Warren and Katie Antongiovanni won it on the women’s side.

Karin Camenisch, Dylan Prosser, Sophie Ormond, and Chris Berg were all recipients for either Nordic or downhill skiing.

DU’s top middle blocker, junior Andrea Baron was the women’s volleyball recipient.

Urban Ljubic was the men’s tennis recipient while Yanick Dullens and Suzana Maksovic shared the honor on the women’s side.