BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortened seasons of some winter and spring sports, WKU Athletics opted to virtually announce a limited set of winners of its annual TOPSY awards Tuesday evening.
Members of WKU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) announced each award via Zoom across WKU's social media channels, in place of the typical awards ceremony that occurs on campus at the beginning of May. With the shortened seasons and the unseen potential of several WKU teams and student-athletes, many of the usual performance-based TOPSY award were not handed out.
WKU Athletics is excited to still continue some of its traditions from The Hill during this time, even with its student-athletes spread out across the globe.
Even in a pandemic, WKU student-athletes and teams have continued to put academics at the forefront of their efforts. Academic excellence is something sought after and achieved on The Hill. The Male Scholar Athlete of the Year was men's golf senior Tom Bevington with a 3.96 GPA while majoring in Business Economics. The Male Graduate Scholar Athlete of the Year was football's John Haggerty with a 4.00 GPA as he completes his master's in Recreation and Sport Administration.
WKU's Female Scholar Athlete of the Year with an undergraduate GPA of 3.97 was Sophia Cerino of Volleyball. The Female Graduate Scholar Athlete of the year was women's golf senior Mary Joiner as she completes her master's in Business Administration (MBA) with a perfect 4.00 GPA.
The Women's Scholar Team of the Year was awarded to Women's Golf with an overall team GPA of 3.74. Women's Golf has now won that same honor in back-to-back years. The Men's Scholar Team of the Year was Men's Golf with an overall team GPA of 3.38.
At the 2019 TOPSYs, a new award was created in honor of late men's golf head coach Phillip Hatchett. The Phillip Hatchett Hilltopper Spirit Award is given to a male or female student-athlete who embodies the same spirit as Coach Hatchett with his constant kindness, loyalty and love for WKU. He was an overall outstanding individual who exhibited pure class in everything he did. Senior Emma Kowalkowski (Volleyball) was awarded the Phillip Hatchett Hilltopper Spirit Award. Volleyball head coach Travis Hudson said: "Just as Phillip Hatchett did, Emma spends every day representing herself, her family and our program and this university in a first-class manner."
The Mr. and Ms. Hilltopper awards celebrate the student-athletes who embody everything it means to be a Hilltopper: leadership, being a team player, academic excellence and service to the community of Bowling Green. The honor is voted on by WKU Athletic staff, faculty and student-athletes.
Nominated by their peers for Ms. Hilltopper were Kelsey Aikey of softball, Kaylyn Bryant of soccer, Sophia Cerino of volleyball, Dee Givens of women's basketball, Mary Joiner of women's golf and Emma Kowalkowski of volleyball. Kaylyn Bryant was named Ms. Hilltopper after her continued dedication on the field and in the classroom, and her service as President of WKU's SAAC.
Up for Mr. Hilltopper were Taveion Hollingsworth of men's basketball, Lucky Jackson of football, Kevin Lambert of baseball, Dawson McDaniel of men's golf, Jared Savage of men's basketball, Clint Sherman of track & field/cross country, Ty Storey of football and Ray Zuberer III of baseball. Due to his performance on the court, leadership of his team and service to the community, Taveion Hollingsworth was named Mr. Hilltopper.
The John O. Oldham Student-Athlete of the Year honor is awarded to the male and female student-athlete who has statistically had the best on field or on court performance in the 2019-20 athletic season. Lauren Matthews of Volleyball was named the John O. Oldham Female Student-Athlete of the Year while Lucky Jackson of Football was named the John O. Oldham Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year - Sophia Cerino (Volleyball)
Female Graduate Scholar Athlete of the Year - Mary Joiner (Women's Golf)
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year - Tom Bevington (Men's Golf)
Male Graduate Scholar Athlete of the Year - John Haggerty (Football)
Women's Scholar Team of the Year - Women's Golf
Men's Scholar Team of the Year - Men's Golf
Phillip Hatchett Hilltopper Spirit Award - Emma Kowalkowki (Volleyball)
Ms. Hilltopper - Kaylyn Bryant (Soccer)
Mr. Hilltopper - Taveion Hollingsworth (Men's Basketball)
John O. Oldham Female Student-Athlete of the Year - Lauren Matthews (Volleyball)
John O. Oldham Male Student-Athlete of the Year - Lucky Jackson (Football)
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