DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University athletic department welcomed back nearly 400 student-athletes and staff back to campus to celebrate the 2017-18 season and kickoff the 2018-19 academic and athletic season.
Director of Athletics Brian Hardin began the reflection, acknowledging the Bulldogs' five conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017-18, along with the department's impressive accomplishments in the classroom and community.
In continuing to honor the accomplishments of the 2017-18 season, the department's annual award winners were also announced as individual accomplishments from the tremendous season were recognized and celebrated.
Women's basketball was honored as the recipient of the Bulldog Way Director's Cup for excelling in competition, in the classroom, on campus and in the community. The team is coming off their second-straight MVC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance along with achieving success in the classroom and completing more than 1,000 hours of community service.
The department also honored its Howlett Award Winners, given annually to the top male and female student-athletes at Drake.
Softball's Nicole Newman was named the female Howlett Award winner for her tremendous junior season in which she earned All-America honors while leading the Bulldogs to the MVC title and an NCAA appearance. In the circle, she amassed a 22-5 record with a 0.89 ERA and 245 strikeouts.
Reed Timmer was named the male Howlett Award winner after earning MVC men's basketball all-conference honors and becoming Drake's all-time scoring leader with 2,000 career points. The senior also earned Academic All-America honors and was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the third-straight year.
Newman also garnered Dixie Byers' Comeback Player of the Year honors for returning from a season-ending injury in 2017 and offseason surgery to lead the Bulldogs in 2018 and amass the awards detailed above.
Finally, Drake honored its freshmen of the year award winners.
Women's soccer's Hannah Bormann was named the Female Freshman of the Year after being named the MVC Freshman of the Year while leading the team in assists with four and finishing second in goals scored with three.
Track and field's Kundai Maguranyanga was named the Male Freshman of the Year following a season in which he was the MVC Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year while scoring a total of 21 points at the MVC Championships as a freshman. He finished second in the 200 meters and third in the 100 meters while recording the second-fastest 200-meter time in school history.
The student-athletes in attendance also received words of encouragement and support from their peers, along with former Drake track and field standout Kayla Bell. Bell addressed the crowd with insights from her student-athlete experience and a challenge to current Bulldog upperclassmen and leaders to develop their legacy during the upcoming 2018-19 season.
