The University of Denver Department of Athletics and recreation announced the end-of-the-year awards last night in a ceremony held in the Daniel L. Ritchie Center. The 72nd annual athletic awards ceremony recognized the best and brightest DU athletes.
The ceremony was hosted by juniors Peter Mannino and Alyssa Hampton for the second straight year. They helped get the festivities off on the right foot by throwing in some comedy. “Give some noise for the ridiculously good looking Peter Mannino,” said Hampton.
They thanked the cheer squad, Ruckus and pep band for their support throughout the athletic year. Then Hampton and Mannino made special mention of the fact that for the first time one of their own was running for president of the AUSA Senate. That athlete is junior gymnast Sasha Sullivan who came up and gave a speech to encourage her fellow athletes to go vote.
A highlight video featuring all the teams in action from throughout the year followed. The video gave special mention to the women’s gymnastics team which finished 10th at the NCAA Championships, the women’s golf team for receiving the highest NCAA seeding ever, the women’s soccer team advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament, swimmer Kelsey Tortura, skier Rene Reisshauer, tennis player Adam Holmstrom and skier Adam Cole.
After the video, the presentation of the awards began, with the listing of the awards and receipents.
Senior Jessica Lodders of the women’s lacrosse team was the first speaker.
“I can’t think of another group on campus more committed to goals that they set than we are,” said Lodders.
She continued with, “we have shown the classes that came in after us what it means to be a Pioneer.”
Lodders finished and then all four-year letter winners at DU were recognized and given a plaque with a “DU” letter inside.
The senior video featuring all Pioneer athletes graduating followed with applause constant throughout.
The final speaker of the evening, junior hockey player Zach Blom came to the stage to give the returning athletes an inspiring message.
“It seems pretty silly for me to be standing up here trying to inspire you, when it is you who inspires me,” said Blom.
The junior hockey player then remarked, “We are the Pioneers and we have come to take everything from you, because we want it more.”
It was a night that helped put to bed a DU athletic season that was frustrating, exciting, surprising and most of all, memorable.
The awards:
Male Strength and Conditioning Award: Senior hockey player J.D. Corbin (Littleton, Colo.) Corbin was a star in the weight room right out of the gates as he would stay after freshman year to continue to work out and worked very hard this past year to rehab from a leg injury.
Female Strength and Conditioning Award: Senior women’s soccer player Laura Mann (Fort Collins, Colo.) Has shown constant improvement in the gym said by head strength coach, Mike Sanders and a great example to her teammates.
Academic Award: Men and women’s swimming teams: The swimmers accomplished the best GPA in all of division 1 NCAA swimming. The men averaged a 3.48 and the women a 3.58 GPA.
Pioneer Sportswoman of the Year: Freshman Stephanie Sherlock (Barrie, Ontario) Finished first as an individual in three tournaments this season and recorded four rounds under-70.
Pioneer Sportsman of the Year: Sophomore Adam Cole (Park City, Utah) Helped the Pioneers to a second place finish in the NCAA Championships.
Female Athlete of the Year: Kristie Leggio (Bay Shore, N.Y.) won the award for the second straight season. Leggio will most likely be an All-American for a second straight season as well while leading the nation in scoring with 67 goals and tied for first with 111 points.
Male Athlete of the Year: Adam Holmstrom (Eskilstuna, Sweeden) Had a 18-1 dual mark and 32-5 overall mark this season while currently seeded in the top-16 for the NCAA tournament which will be held May 17-22.
Gold Vest Award: Women’s Gymnastics team: The Pioneers finished tenth in the NCAA Championships while also achieveing a 3.717 GPA in the classroom in the fall. Which is the highest for the gymnastics team since Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart arrived at DU in 1999.
