Pitt athletics announces Panthers' Choice Awards winners
Apr. 19—Pitt's student-athletes were honored Sunday evening for their achievement in athletics, as well as in the classroom and their community.
The Pitt athletics department recognized some of the university's best and brightest in a virtual celebration as part of the fourth annual Panthers' Choice Awards.
Herb Douglas, a 1948 Olympic medalist, presented the Heart of a Panther Award to Pitt gymnast Olivia Miller.
The coveted Panther Awards and Blue-Gold Awards also were presented. The recipients' names will be engraved on the Varsity Walk between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel.
Jimmy Morrissey, Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver from the football team; volleyball players Kayla Lund and Chinaza Ndee; and wrestler Jake Wentzel will each have their names engraved on the Varsity Walk.
Below is a full list of awards:
Top Overall Academic Teams of the Year
Reserved for the male and female team with the highest cumulative GPA for the spring and fall semesters of 2020.
—Winners: Men's Cross Country and Volleyball
Bridge Builder Award
Presented to the team whose student-athletes demonstrate the strongest commitment to making an impact in the community.
—Winners: Gymnastics and Women's Lacrosse
Heart of a Panther Award
Presented to the student-athlete who best embodies the spirit of service through the Pitt Promise and is involved in the community above and beyond what is required.
—Winner: Olivia Miller (Gymnastics)
Gold Standard Teammates of the Year
Presented to the student-athlete who most effectively inspires his or her team through exemplary commitment, composure and integrity.
—Baseball: Nico Samarkos
—Men's basketball: Nike Sibande
—Women's basketball: Gabbie Green
—Men's cross country: Josh Higgins
—Women's cross country: Ally Brunton
—Football: David Green
—Gymnastics: Katrina Coca
—Women's lacrosse: Therese Pittman
—Men's soccer: Valentin Noel
—Women's soccer: Celia Lopez
—Softball: Morgan Batesole
—Men's swimming and diving: Judd Fishman
—Women's swimming and diving: Kathleen Lynch
—Men's track and field: Ade Jones-Roundtree
—Women's track and field: Abena Atuobi
—Volleyball: Kylee Levers
—Wrestling: Jake Wentzel
—Cheer: Matthew Nolan
—Dance: Teegan Zeh
Gold Standard Administrator of the Year
Presented to a non-coaching staff member(s) of the athletic department who has gone above and beyond to ensure success and development of the student-athletes.
—Winner: Pitt's Sports Medicine Team for all their hard work during covid-19
James Conner Comeback of the Year
Presented to a student-athlete who, having recovered from an injury, illness or hardship, returns to make a noteworthy contribution to their teams' athletic success.
—Winner: Rashad Weaver (Football)
David Sandberg Champion Award
In memory of the former Pitt wrestler and assistant coach, this award is presented to the senior who best exemplifies the qualities that Sandberg embraced: dedication to academic and athletic excellence, with an unyielding spirit and passionate commitment to the improvement of the university and its surrounding communities.
—Winner: David Yanni (Baseball)
Male and Female Performance of the Year
Presented to a male and female student-athlete for the most remarkable or significant performance achieved in 2020-21.
—Winners: Nino Bonaccorsi and Jake Wentzel (Wrestling) and Kayla Lund (Volleyball)
Newcomer of the Year
Presented to the student-athlete who has made an immediate impact at Pitt in their first year of intercollegiate competition. Nominees may include freshmen and redshirts.
—Winners: Valeria Vazquez Gomez (Volleyball) and Filip Mirkovic (Men's Soccer)
Team Moment of the Year
Presented in recognition of a striking performance by an individual or group in a specific competition that led to a shift in momentum.
—Winner: Men's Soccer first ACC Championship appearance in program history
Male and Female Athlete of the Year
Presented to a male and female standout student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic performance during competition and has been instrumental to their teams' success.
—Winners: Blaise Vera (Men's Swimming & Diving) and Amanda West (Women's Soccer)
Team of the Year
Reserved for the team that exemplified outstanding athletic achievement in the 2020-21 season.
—Winner: Men's Soccer
Blue-Gold Award
Presented to the male and female senior student-athlete who best represents the student-athlete "ideal" based on academic scholarship, athletic achievement, leadership qualities and citizenship. These recipients will be forever recognized on the Varsity Walk.
—Winners: Chinaza Ndee (Volleyball) and Jimmy Morrissey (Football), Jake Wentzel (Wrestling)
Panther Award
Presented to the male and female senior student-athlete who has promoted Pitt athletics through his or her outstanding athletic achievement. These recipients will be forever recognized on the Varsity Walk.
—Winners: Kayla Lund (Volleyball) and Rashad Weaver (Football), Patrick Jones II (Football)
Carson Graduate Fellowship Full Award
Stewarded to the best candidate who is of high moral character and has shown outstanding undergraduate academic achievement at Pitt, who demonstrates the potential for outstanding graduate study in continuing their graduate or professional education at Pitt.
—Winner: Monica McNeil (Women's Track & Field)
Script Writer Award
Recognizes a student-athlete who best embraces Pitt athletics' seven bridges achieving comprehensive excellence within the classroom, on the field/court of play, within the university community, and within the city of Pittsburgh.
—Winner: Monica McNeil (Women's Track & Field)
Bill Hartlep is a Tribune-Review sports editor. You can contact Bill by email at bhartlep@triblive.com or via Twitter .
