UTSA Athletics recognizes student-athletes on Sunday night at The RowdysUTSA Athletics recognizes student-athletes on Sunday night at The Rowdys
Jacob Hernandez
Athletics

UTSA Athletics recognizes student-athletes on Sunday night at The Rowdys

by Michael Stambaugh

SAN ANTONIO — It was a great evening for the Roadrunners on Sunday night, as UTSA Athletics honored its student-athletes for their academic and athletic successes at The Rowdys annual awards show at SeaWorld San Antonio. 

The experience was complete with a “blue carpet” entrance for student-athlete photos, a pre-show reception and the annual awards ceremony with the Roadrunners taking over the park for various rides and exhibits all to themselves.

In addition to the regular awards slate, the show featured a few special presentations, most notably Track & Field/Cross Country’s local freshman twins Marissa and Melody Espinoza, honored with the Joey Longoria Inspiration Award for their perseverance through the greatest hardships to achieve their dreams as DI college student-athletes and find the “light on the other side.” For more on their story, please read it here.

Below is a list of award recipients for the 2023-24 academic year.

Roadrunner All-Academic Team
Presented to the top GPA holder for each team
Baseball — Isaiah Walker
Men’s Basketball — Massal Diouf
Men’s Cross Country — OJ Ruiz
Football — Jackson Gilkey
Men’s Golf — David Harrison
Men’s Tennis — Danijal Muminovic
Men’s Track & Field — Gabriel Green
Women’s Basketball — Hailey Atwood
Women’s Cross Country — Chante Dixon
Women’s Golf — Morgan Ellison
Soccer — Alissa Stewart
Softball — Caton Letbetter
Women’s Tennis — Eva Beyebach
Women’s Track & Field — Maren Wilms
Volleyball — Mia Sorensen
Coed Cheer — Asya'h Redd

Female Newcomer of the Year - Nominees
Ida Breigan, Track and Field 
Jasmine Kessler, Soccer 
Jaylen Prichard, Softball 
Mia Sorensen, Volleyball 
Idara Udo, Women’s Basketball 
Ekua Youri, Women’s Tennis
*winner will be announced this summer

Male Newcomer of the Year - Nominees
Dre Fuller Jr., Men’s Basketball 
Vijay Kuripalacios, Cheer 
Mason Lytle, Baseball 
Devin McCuin, Football
*winner will be announced this summer

Moment of the Year
Football earned the program’s first-ever bowl win in 2023 Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl, topping Marshall 35-17

Clutch Performance of the Year
The men’s track & field 4x400-meter relay squad of Martín Kouyoumdjian, Noah Rhodes, Nabil Tezkratt, and Mike Roth ran the second-fastest time in UTSA history coming from behind to win the 96th Texas Relays at the finish line.

Strength & Conditioning Awards
Presented to one player on each team who brings intensity, energy and a positive attitude to help lift their team to the next level
Baseball — Zane Spinn
Men’s Basketball — Nazar Mahmoud
Men’s Cross Country — Victor Charo
Football — Cam Cooper
Men’s Golf — Jack Wehman
Men’s Tennis — Tomás Pinho
Men’s Track & Field — Christiaan Le Roux
Coed Cheer — Isaac Rosas
Women’s Basketball — Sidney Love
Women’s Cross Country — Abby Barraza
Women’s Golf — Daniela Abonce
Soccer — Jordan Walker
Softball — Kenzi Schultz
Women’s Tennis — Aleksandra Zlatarova
Women’s Track & Field — Madelen Sveingngsen
Volleyball — Faye Wilbricht

Coach of the Year Nominees
Karen Aston, Women’s Basketball 
Pat Hallmark, Baseball 
Jeff Traylor, Football 
*winner will be announced this summer

Team of the Year Nominees
Baseball 
Women’s Basketball 
Cheer 
Football 
*winner will be announced this summer

Upset of the Year
Baseball won 2-of-3 in the series against 10th ranked ECU, earning the first program three-game series win over a top-10 team

Run As One Team Award
Presented to the one team that stood out this year in their efforts to support and attend Run As One games
Cross Country and Track and Field

Roadrunner Pride Award
Presented to student-athletes who are committed to the success of UTSA Athletics, active in the department, campus and community, and exhibit a willingness to volunteer in an effort to improve UTSA Athletics
Hailey Atwood, Women’s Basketball
David Harrison, Men’s Golf

Rowdy Award for Best Teammate
Presented to one student-athlete per team who demonstrates the core values of UTSA Athletics — excellence, integrity and unity
Baseball — Ulises Quiroga
Men’s Basketball — Isaiah Wyatt
Men’s Cross Country — OJ Ruiz
Football — Joe Evans
Men’s Golf — Jack Wehman
Men’s Tennis — Miguel Alonso
Men’s Track & Field — Dennis Phillips
Cheer - Coed — Mundo Perez
Women’s Basketball — Kyra White
Women’s Cross Country — Melody Espinoza
Women’s Golf — Daniela Abonce
Soccer — Jordan Walker
Softball — Aubrie Henderson
Women’s Tennis — Cassie McLay
Women’s Track & Field — Maren Wilms
Volleyball — Makenna Wiepert
Cheer - All-Girl — Olivia Merrill

Barry McKinney Unity Award
Presented to an individual who has gone above and beyond to connect UTSA student-athletes to the campus community
Ibiso David-West, Women’s Track & Field

Rowdy Cup Team Award
Cross Country and Track & Field

Team Community Service Award
Cross Country and Track & Field

Individual Community Service Award
Jasmine Kessler, Soccer 
Emily Dear, Softball 
Dennis Phillips, Men’s Track and Field

Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Nominees
Ida Breigan, Womens Track & Field
Camryn Carreon, Women’s Golf  
Ekua Youri, Women’s Tennis 
*winner will be announced this summer

Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year Nominees
Miguel Alonso, Men’s Tennis  
Gabe Binion, Men’s Track and Field  
Frank Harris, Football  
Jordan Ivy- Curry, Men's Basketball  
Ruger Riojas, Baseball
*winner will be announced this summer

Will & Mary Hathaway Academic Athletes of the Year
This award recognizes one male and one female student-athlete for their outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments. They must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better and have made significant contributions to their team as well as showed leadership, community engagement and good sportsmanship.
Lucas Dean, Football
Alissa Stewart, Soccer
Maren Wilms, Women’s Track & Field 

Letterwinners Awards
Presented to two seniors who must be graduating, have had outstanding athletic accomplishments and have exhausted their eligibility.
Camryn Carreon, Women’s Golf
Frank Harris, Football

  

-UTSA-