Student-Athletes Honored at Blue and White Awards Show
5/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
BUFFALO, NY – Jonathan Jones of the men's track and field team and Megan Burns of the women's swimming and diving team were named the male and female Student-Athlete of the Year, respectively, to highlight the University at Buffalo Blue and White Awards Show held at Alumni Arena on Sunday afternoon. Again this year, the show aired live on ESPN3.
This is the second-straight year Jones was named male Student-Athlete of the Year after becoming the school's first individual national champion in 2015. The six-time All-American won the men's shot put with a school-record throw of 20.78 at the Outdoor Track and Field NCAA Championships on the University of Oregon's campus. Jones also earned the gold medal at the Outdoor Mid-American Conference Championships in May 2015.
Burns won the 50 free, 100 free, and 800 free relay at the 2016 MAC Championships. She set the 50 free school record in the opening leg of the 200 free relay with a time of 22.16 and the 800 free relay with a time of 7:13.83 during the season. Burns qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 50 free and 100 free. The sophomore swimmer has won every 50 free and 100 free events at conference meets during her UB tenure.
Austin Price won the Clifford C. Furnas Award. Provided through annual interest earnings from the C.C. Furnas Fund in the University at Buffalo Foundation, Inc., it recognizes outstanding undergraduate performance in scholarship and athletic prowess. The recipient must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and be committed to graduate study, have strong personal character and outstanding athletic accomplishments.
Football's Matt Weiser and softball's Kenzie Koch were given the Ideal Bull Distinguished Student-Athlete Leadership Award. In honor of Solomon Jackson, who tragically passed away earlier this year, the award was also presented posthumously to Solomon's family on his behalf. The award is given by the Intercollegiate Athletics Board to honor senior athletes who have demonstrated leadership beyond their own teams to the Division and/or the campus, and whose character, actions, excellence and concern for other student-athletes make them strong ambassadors for the Division of Athletics and the University at Buffalo.
Frankie Pfeil, a distance runner on the cross country and track and field teams earned the Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award. Selected by SAAC, the award recognizes an individual who makes a significant contribution on the court, field or in the pool and is recognized for his or her dedication, unselfishness and contribution to the team. The award is named in honor of Christine Dickerson, a member of UB's rowing team who died tragically in a car accident in Ellicottville on December 11, 2002.
The Formid-a-Bull Scholar Award is a new academic award this season. It was established and will be handed out by former women's soccer player Megan Abman. Boise Ross (football), Valerie Lortie (swimming and diving) and Raheem Johnson (men's basketball) were presented with the award.
Here is a list of team award winners:
2015 Men's Cross Country
Most Valuable Player – Barrett Kemp
Most Improved Player – Tyler Scheving
Top Newcomer – Adam Hunt
2015 Women's Cross Country
Most Outstanding Performer – Amy Shaw
Most Improved Performer – Corinne Birchard
Top Newcomer – Chardae Henry
2015 Football
Most Valuable Player – Nick Gilbo
Offensive MVP- Matt Weiser
Defensive MVP – Nick Gilbo
Special Teams MBP – Tyler Grassman
Captain's Plaque – Joe Licata & Okezie Alozie
Community Service Award – Joe Licata
2015 Men's Soccer
Most Valuable Player – Russell Cicerone
Most Improved Player – Steven Stryker
Top Newcomer – Nick Forrester
2015 Women's Soccer
Most Valuable Player - Jackie Hall
Most Improved Player – Andrea Niper
Top Newcomer – Moira Petrie
2015 Volleyball
Most Valuable Player – Megan Lipski
Most Improved Player – Tessa Ooyama
Top Newcomer – Valisha Watkins
2016 Men's Basketball
Most Valuable Player – LaMonte Bearden & Blake Hamilton
Most Improved Player – Nick Perkins
Top Newcomer – Willie Conner
2016 Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player – JoAnna Smith
Most Improved Player – Katherine Ups
Top Newcomer – Mirte Scheper
2016 Men's Swimming & Diving
Most Valuable Player – Mason Miller
Most Improved Player– Garrett Clarke
Top Newcomer – Mason Miller
Top Diver - Derek Linebaugh
Leadership Award – Andrew Cole-Goins
Diver of The Year – Nick Rodriguez
Most Improved Diver – Troy Birdsall
2015 Women's Swimming & Diving
Most Valuable Swimmer – Megan Burns
Most Improved – Hannah Miller
Top Newcomer – Sarah Baxter
Leadership Award – Holly Olsen
Top Diver – Abbey Croce
Most Improved Diver – Kelly Moran
2016 Men's Indoor Track & Field
Most Outstanding Performer – Darien Johnson
Most Improved Performer – Ryan Cribbin
Top Newcomer – JerMichael Bunch
2016 Women's Indoor Track & Field
Most Outstanding Performer – Malayah White
Most Improved Performer – Amy Shaw
Top Newcomer – Chardae Henry
2016 Wrestling
Most Valuable Wrestler – Kyle Akins & Jake Gunning
Most Improved Wrestler – James Benjamin
Top Newcomer – Bryan Lantry
2015 Baseball
Most Valuable Player – Nick Sinay
Most Improved Player – Brent Cleland
Top Newcomer – Bobby Sheppard
2016 Women's Rowing
Most Valuable Rower – Samantha Paige
Most Improved Rower – Sarah Butler
Bulls Pride Award – Clare Costello
2015 Softball
Most Valuable Player – Alexis Curtiss
Most Improved Player – Hayley Barrow
Top Newcomer – Leandra Jew
2016 Men's Tennis
Most Valuable Player: Sergio Arevalillo
Most Improved Player: Amar Hromic
Top Newcomer: Ethan Nittolo
2016 Women's Tennis
Most Valuable Player - Tanja Stojanovska
Most Improved Player – Mercedes Losada Rubio
Top Newcomer – Chantal Martinez Blanco
2015 Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Most Outstanding Performer – Jon Jones
Most Improved Performer – Ryan Billian
Top Newcomer – Devon Patterson
2015 Women's Outdoor Track and Field
Most Outstanding Performer – Meg Manley
Most Improved Performer – Tyra Forbes
Top Newcomer – McKenzie Kuehlewind
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