Student-Athletes Recognized at Annual Victors Celebration
5/7/2024 5:55:00 PM | Cross Country, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Softball, Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball, Wrestling, Swimming and Diving, Office of Student-Athlete Success, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
BUFFALO, NY – UB Athletics held its annual Victors award show on Monday night. The event honors the academic and athletic success of UB student-athletes.
The top award of Male and Female Athlete of the Year went to Jonathan Surdej of men's track and field and Chellia Watson of women's basketball, respectively. Surdej continued his dominance in the shot put, winning the gold medal in the event at the 2023 Outdoor MAC Championships and the 2024 Indoor MAC Championships. Watson earned WBCA Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-MAC honors after ranking fourth in the nation in scoring while also ranking in the top 10 nationally in total points and field goals made. The five-time MAC Player of the Week also set a school record with 47 points against Toledo in January.
The Team of the Year Award went to volleyball for their 2023 MAC East division title and second straight trip to the NIVC.
The Individual Moment of the Year was awarded to Ryan Buzby of track and field and women's swimming and diving's Marialis Kwak. Buzby won the 5,000-meter run at the 2024 Indoor MAC Championships for the first gold medal of his career. Kwak was named MAC Diver of the Year after taking the gold in the 1-meter and 3-meter dive at the 2024 MAC Championships.
The Newcomer of the Year was awarded to men's basketball's Ryan Sabol and women's basketball's Kirsten Lewis-Williams. Sabol appeared in all 31 games, shooting 38% from behind the arc, including a seven-triple performance against Bowling Green which ranks in the top 10 all-time in program history. Lewis-Williams was the MAC Freshman of the Year as well as an All-Freshman Team selection after starting all 33 games for the Bulls. She lead the team in steals and ranked second in scoring and third in assists, while scoring in double figures 23 times.
The night also included several academic awards.
The MAC Medal of Excellence was awarded to women's track and field's Scilla Benussi and Finn Macnamara of men's tennis.
The FormidaBULL Scholar Award was given to three student-athletes - football's Daishon Folsom, women's basketball's Chellia Watson and women's tennis' Azra Deniz Comlek.
Softball's Alexis Lucyshyn was recognized for earning the Clifford C. Furnace Award.
The Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award was given to Konrad Krzyszton football team.
Wrestling's Ty Raines and women's basketball's Rana Elhusseini, respectively, were presented with the Male and Female Ideal Bull Award.
The One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award was presented to Amanda Neeb of swimming & diving.
The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award went to student-athletes Taji Johnson and Rana Elhusseini, track & field assistant coach Jhad Jones and Erik Silis in Compliance.
The top award of Male and Female Athlete of the Year went to Jonathan Surdej of men's track and field and Chellia Watson of women's basketball, respectively. Surdej continued his dominance in the shot put, winning the gold medal in the event at the 2023 Outdoor MAC Championships and the 2024 Indoor MAC Championships. Watson earned WBCA Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-MAC honors after ranking fourth in the nation in scoring while also ranking in the top 10 nationally in total points and field goals made. The five-time MAC Player of the Week also set a school record with 47 points against Toledo in January.
The Team of the Year Award went to volleyball for their 2023 MAC East division title and second straight trip to the NIVC.
The Individual Moment of the Year was awarded to Ryan Buzby of track and field and women's swimming and diving's Marialis Kwak. Buzby won the 5,000-meter run at the 2024 Indoor MAC Championships for the first gold medal of his career. Kwak was named MAC Diver of the Year after taking the gold in the 1-meter and 3-meter dive at the 2024 MAC Championships.
The Newcomer of the Year was awarded to men's basketball's Ryan Sabol and women's basketball's Kirsten Lewis-Williams. Sabol appeared in all 31 games, shooting 38% from behind the arc, including a seven-triple performance against Bowling Green which ranks in the top 10 all-time in program history. Lewis-Williams was the MAC Freshman of the Year as well as an All-Freshman Team selection after starting all 33 games for the Bulls. She lead the team in steals and ranked second in scoring and third in assists, while scoring in double figures 23 times.
The night also included several academic awards.
The MAC Medal of Excellence was awarded to women's track and field's Scilla Benussi and Finn Macnamara of men's tennis.
The FormidaBULL Scholar Award was given to three student-athletes - football's Daishon Folsom, women's basketball's Chellia Watson and women's tennis' Azra Deniz Comlek.
Softball's Alexis Lucyshyn was recognized for earning the Clifford C. Furnace Award.
The Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award was given to Konrad Krzyszton football team.
Wrestling's Ty Raines and women's basketball's Rana Elhusseini, respectively, were presented with the Male and Female Ideal Bull Award.
The One4Mon Courageous Student-Athlete Award was presented to Amanda Neeb of swimming & diving.
The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award went to student-athletes Taji Johnson and Rana Elhusseini, track & field assistant coach Jhad Jones and Erik Silis in Compliance.
Players Mentioned
/ Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
/ Track and Field
/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Football
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/ Football
/ Swimming and Diving
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Softball
/ Men's Tennis
/ Swimming and Diving
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/ Wrestling
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/ Men's Basketball
/ Track and Field
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