The University of Tulsa student-athletes were honored for their athletic and academic achievements last month at the school’s Golden ‘Cane Awards Gala.
A crowd of over 600 gathered for the 24th Annual Golden ‘Cane Awards Gala, a Grammy Awards-type Ceremony, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on the TU campus.
The night was highlighted by the announcement of this year’s “Ultimate Team”- an award recognizing TU’s top student-athletes based on academic achievement, athletic success, campus involvement and community outreach.
There were six female and five male selections to the Ultimate Team which included repeat winner Willie Wright, from the Tulsa football team. Joining Wright was senior teammate Chandler Miller, a two-time all-conference selection who started all 50 games at offensive center since starting the season opener as a freshman.
Six-time American Athletic Conference track & field distance champion Ben Priesner and 10-time letter winner Alyssa Bolliger represented the sports of cross country and track & field. The senior duo of Julia Hollingsworth, the league’s top hitter this year, and three-time conference tournament selection Morgan Neal represent the Tulsa softball team.
Taylor Horsfall (volleyball), a two-time all-league selection, was the lone junior named to the Ultimate Team.
DaQuan Jeffries (basketball), Tulsa’s leader for scoring and recent winner of the College Slam Dunk Contest; women’s basketball’s leading scorer and rebounder Crystal Polk, Majed Kilani (Men’s Tennis), one of the nation’s top-ranked tennis players; and graduate rower Ellie Russell, a member of the 2018 American Athletic Conference Boat of the Year crew; round out the 2019 Ultimate Team.
Volleyball student-athlete Emily Thorson and football’s Will Hefley III were recognized as the Warren Garrison Academic Excellence Award-Winners, presented in honor of TU’s first academic advisor and given to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average. Thorson had a 3.811 GPA in management, while Hefley maintained a 3.772 GPA in biology/pre-med.
The Wilson Holloway “Ultimate Service” Award winners were student athletic trainer Mary Beth Sawyer and football equipment manager Caleb Cantwell.
In December 1989, Tulsa football All-America receiver Dan Bitson’s life was altered when his automobile was struck head-on just a mile from campus. His unlikely return to the football field in 1991 was inspirational to many and remains an inspiration to Tulsa student-athletes today with the establishment of the Dan Bitson Courage Award.
The Courage award was presented to senior football quarterback Chad President.
The Faculty Athletic Board Classroom Grit Award went to Caitlin Barry from rowing, and football’s McKinley Whitfield
Each year, Tulsa student-athletes have the opportunity to select the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Faculty Member of the Year Award. This year’s selection was Assistant Professor of Art History Maria Maurer.