DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University athletic department honored its student-athletes on Friday, May 6, with the annual year end banquet presented by Daktronics. A wide array of awards and honors were handed out as the Bulldogs put the finishing touches on a successful 2015-16 season in competition and in the classroom.
Ten student-athletes were presented the MVC Presidents Council Award, for seniors within 18 hours of graduation, who have achieved a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.80 or higher and participated in athletics for a minimum of two years. Honored were Cassie Aerts (Cross Country/Track & Field), Kayla Bell (Track & Field), Katie Clausen (Women's Golf), Emma Huston (Cross Country/Track & Field), Ali Jandal (Cross Country/Track & Field), Maddie Johnson (Women's Tennis), Rob McCann (Cross Country/Track & Field), James Saxton (Cross Country/Track & Field), Alex Troester (Men's Soccer) and Bri Varela (Rowing).
For the first time, the Bulldogs' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee presented the Bulldog Cup, an award given to athletic teams for their participation in supporting other teams, conducting community service and fostering an atmosphere of collegiality. Women's tennis received the Bulldog Cup for 2015-16 with rowing, men's soccer and football coming in next in the standings created by SAAC.
SAAC representatives Ali Jandal and Bri Varela also recognized the 17 Bulldogs listed below who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 4.0.
Kayla Caldwell, Rowing, Graphic Design
Nathan Clayberg, Football, Actuarial Science/Finance
Linda Fiorito, Women's Soccer, Business Studies
Madison Glennie, Women's Golf, English & Law, Politics and Society
Sydnie Gutzmann, CHEER, Biochemistry, Cell, Molecular Biology
Ali Jandal, Men's Track/Cross Country, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Cell, Molecular Biology
Griffin Jaworski, Men's Track/Cross Country, Master of Financial Management
Maddie Johnson Women's Tennis, Psychology
Steven Jordan, Men's Track, Pharmacy
Vanessa Kavan, Women's Soccer, Marketing
Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Football, Environmental Science
Karl Madison, Men's Basketball, Master of Public Administration
Krista Maguire, Women's Cross Country, Master of Business Administration
Haley Morris, Women's Soccer, Marketing & Advertising
Sara Rhine, Women's Basketball, Elementary Education
Ali Smith, Women's Soccer, Finance and International Business
Ben Troester, Men's Soccer, Accounting & Finance
Bri Varela, Rowing, Elementary Education
Kevin Vaughan-Carber, CHEER, Actuarial Science & Physics
Drake's strength and conditioning staff also recognized its each team's top performer in the weight room as well as the department's strength and conditioning athlete's of the year, Kayla Bell (Track & Field) and Eric Saubert (Football). Below are the individual honorees from each sport.
Men's Basketball – Reed Timmer
Women's Basketball – Lizzy Wendell
Cheer – Sarah Worrell
Men's Cross Country – Ali Jandal
Women's Cross Country – Laura Gann
Football – Eric Saubert
Men's Golf – Will McDonald
Women's Golf – Katie Clausen
Women's Rowing – Emily Householter
Men's Soccer – James Grunert
Women's Soccer – Sarah Grace Nicholson
Softball – Mariah McKinnon
Men's Tennis – Bayo Philips
Women's Tennis – Maddie Johnson
Men's Track & Field – Pierce Vincent
Women's Track & Field – Kayla Bell
Volleyball – Michelle Thommi
The Bulldog Way Players' Choice Award, was presented for the third consecutive year to an athlete from each team in the Drake athletic department, who has distinguished themselves on and off the field in living out the vision and values expressed in the Bulldog Way. Student-athletes were nominated by their teammates and the student-athlete receiving the most votes was recognized. They were:
Women's Basketball – Emma Donahue
Men's Basketball – A.J. Rutter
Cheerleading – Sarah Dean
Men's Cross Country – Reed Fischer
Women's Cross Country – Bailee Cofer
Football – Taylor Coleman
Men's Golf – Karter Smith
Women's Golf – Katie Clausen
Rowing – Sadie Robb
Men's Soccer – Ben LeMay
Women's Soccer – Haley Morris
Softball – Kaitlyn Finneran
Men's Tennis – Calum MacGeoch
Women's Tennis – Maddie Johnson
Men's Track and Field – Pierce Vincent
Women's Track and Field – Kayla Bell
Volleyball – Chandelle Davidson
Members of Drake's coaching staff and support staff were also honored for their commitment to the Bulldog Way as women's soccer's Lindsey Horner was named the Bulldog Way Coach of the Year while Tom Florian, assistant director of ticket operations and donor management, was the recipient of the Bulldog Way Leader of the Year.
The Bulldog Club awarded its first 'Commitment Award' to a Bulldog Club member that went above and beyond in their commitment to Drake athletics and Bulldog Club. Dixie Byers was the recipient of the award for generating more than 25 new commitments to the Bulldog Club or season tickets and securing the funding to endow women's basketball's 'Hoops For Hope' game in honor of Dr. Deb Welker.
Finally, Mr. Drake himself, Paul Morrison, honored this year's four-year letterwinners. This year's honorees include 42 student-athletes that have reached one of the pinnacles of athletic success at Drake in earning a letter during all four years of competition and being among the finest of the more than 5,000 letterwinners that have represented Drake University. Below are those student-athletes that Mr. Morrison bestowed with fourth letter.
Karl Madison—Men's Basketball
Emma Donahue—Women's Basketball
Rob McCann—Cross Country/Track & Field
James Saxton—Cross Country/Track & Field
Cassie Aerts—Cross Country/Track & Field
Emma Huston—Cross Country/Track & Field
Krista Maguire—Cross Country/Track & Field
Taylor Scholl—Cross Country/Track & Field
Jack Beck—Football
John Bloss—Football
Cam Bohnert—Football
Brad Duwe—Football
Michael Hudson—Football
John Hugunin—Football
Aaron Johnson—Football
John McMahon—Football
Bob Quilico, Jr.—Football
Gary Scott, Jr.—Football
Katie Clausen—Women's Golf
Emily Householter—Rowing
Alex Lueck – Rowing
Tristina Meister – Rowing
Bri Varela – Rowing
Alec Bartlett—Men's Soccer
Austin Reutzel—Men's Soccer
Alex Troester—Men's Soccer
Kyle Whigham—Men's Soccer
Mariah Boncek—Women's Soccer
Kylie DeHaven—Women's Soccer
Rhian Pritchard—Women's Soccer
Mariah McKinnon—Softball
Ben Lott—Men's Tennis
Mariel Ante—Women's Tennis
Maddie Johnson—Women's Tennis
Lea Kozulic—Women's Tennis
Jordan Eggleston—Women's Tennis
Ryan Cook—Track & Field
David Silkman—Track & Field
Jaclyn Aremka—Track & Field
Destani Welch—Track & Field
Rebecca Brown—Volleyball
Shelby Daum—Volleyball
With spring sports still competing, the Bulldogs will announce additional awards during the annual Welcome Back Picnic on Aug. 28. There, Drake will honor the Dixie Byers Comeback Player of the Year, the Howlett Awards given to the Student-Athletes of the Year, the Newcomer of the Year Award and the Bulldog Way Director's Cup.
