INDIANA, Pa. - IUP Athletics has announced the finalists for the 2017-18 Crimson & Gray Awards. The combined 48 finalists for the awards were chosen from an initial list of more than 100 nominees spread out across IUP's 19 varsity sports.
Now in its second year of existence, the Crimson & Gray Awards consist of 18 total categories - nine women, nine men. Continuing from the inaugural year, awards are given to a member of both an IUP men's and women's team, and include: Coach of the Year, Performance of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, Postseason Performer of the Year, Senior of the Year, Team of the Year and Athlete of the Year. Also included are the Scholar-Athletes of the Year, selected by members of the athletics administration team.
RELATED | 2017-18 Crimson & Gray Awards home page
RELATED | Nominees announced for 2017-18 Crimson & Gray Awards
Process
Run by the IUP Sports Information Office, nominations are collected from head coaches and voted on by a select panel to determine three finalists in each category. That panel votes again to pick the award winners.
Winners of each award will be announced over a two-week period in June on IUPAthletics.com, and on IUP Athletics social media accounts.
FINALISTS FOR 2017-18 CRIMSON & GRAY AWARDS
Men's Team Coach of the Year
Frederick A. Joseph
Men's Golf
PSAC Coach of the Year ... Led IUP to second straight PSAC title in the fall ... 2nd seed in Atlantic Region for NCAA Championships ... Finished tied for 4th at Atlantic/East Region Championships, missing NCAA berth by one stroke
Paul
Tortorella
Football
Division II co-Coach of the Year ... Super Region One and PSAC West Coach of the Year ... Finished 13-1 and reached national semifinals for first time since 1999 ... Super Region One and PSAC Champions ... Coached program record seven All-Americans
Joey
Zins
Cross Country
Led IUP to first NCAA Championships appearance since 1993 ... 3rd of 19 at Atlantic Regionals ... Had 3 all-region runners ... 3rd of 16 at PSAC Championships with 3 All-PSAC runners
Women's Team Coach of the Year
Tom McConnell
Women's Basketball
PSAC West Coach of the Year ... NCAA Elite Eight semifinalists ... Atlantic Region Champions ... PSAC West Champions ... IUP's first national semifinalist appearance in program history ... 30 overall wins, 20 PSAC wins both program records
Scott
Pennewill
Women's Volleyball
PSAC Coach of the Year ... PSAC Southwest champions ... Earned 4th seed in Atlantic Region Championships ... 1st NCAA appearance in seven years, 1st tournament win in 12 years ... 25-10 overall record
Larry Peterson
Women's Tennis
Atlantic Region and PSAC West Coach of the Year ... Atlantic Region and PSAC Champions for 2nd straight year ... Reached NCAA round of 16 for 8th straight season ... 20-6 overall, 6-0 PSAC West record for 1st time in IUP history
Women's Performance of the Year
Ally Burrows
Women's Lacrosse
vs. Slippery Rock/Millersville, March 28/31 ... Best two-game scoring stretch in IUP history with 17 goals ... Scored 2nd most goals in IUP history with 8 in 16-15 loss to SRU ... Tied program mark with 9 goals in 22-14 win over Millersville ... PSAC co-Athlete of the Week
McKenna Keffel
Women's Soccer
at #2 Kutztown on Oct. 15 ... Scored game's lone goal, handing Kutztown its first loss of season ... Beat goalie 1-on-1 in 32nd minute ... KU had given up just 8 goals in 14 games heading into contest
Megan Smith
Women's Basketball
at UPJ on Jan. 3 ... Career-high 34 points in 72-53 road win ... Shot 12-18 from the field, including 6-9 from 3-point range ... 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals ... Tied for 5th most points in IUP single game history
Men's Performance of the Year
Samir Bullock
Football
at Seton Hill on Sept. 30 ... Tied PSAC single game record with 6 rushing touchdowns in 57-14 win ... Ran 31 times for 263 yards, the 4th most rushing yards in IUP single game history ... PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week
Ted DeSanti
Baseball
vs. Clarion on April 13-14 ... NCBWA Division II, Atlantic Region, PSAC West Hitter of the Week ... Hit .714 (10-14) with 4 home runs, 12 RBI and 1.643 slugging percentage ... Also had a double and scored 8 times ... 2 homers in 9-8 comeback win in game 4, including tying homer in 7th inning
Colter Long
Men's Swimming
at Mangus Cup on Nov. 17-19 ... Scored 108 points with five top-6 finishes ... Won 50 breaststroke, 2nd in 100 IM ... Set IUP record in 100 breaststroke ... PSAC Men's Swimmer of the Week
Men's Freshman of the Year
Lucas Bellier
Men's Swimming
All-PSAC in four events at PSAC Championships - 400 IM (5th), 1650 free (6th), 1000 freestyle and 500 freestyle ... Set IUP freshman record in 400 IM ... 6 1st place finishes during season
Justice Evans
Football
PSAC West Freshman of the Year ... 2nd team All-PSAC West ... Set IUP freshman record with 1,011 rushing yards ... 2nd on team in rushing yards, yards/game (72.2) and touchdowns (7) ... Had combined 300 rushing yards on 26 carries against West Chester and Assumption in NCAA playoffs
Sam Lenze
Men's Cross Country
4th freshman finisher at Atlantic Region Championships ... IUP's 4th best runner at regionals, coming in 28th overall
Women's Freshman of the Year
Nicole Beidacki
Women's Tennis
PSAC West Freshman of the Year ... 1st team All-PSAC West doubles, 2nd team All-PSAC West singles ... Played at IUP's No. 4 singles spot, No. 2 doubles ... Reached finals of PSAC and Atlantic Region doubles championships in the fall
Madeline Smakulski
Women's Soccer
Started 10 of 18 games in goal, splitting time with Makenzie Witzel ... Tied for 2nd in PSAC with 6 shutouts ... 3rd with .776 goals against average, giving up just 8 goals all year ... 4th with .849 save percentage
Renee Wall
Softball
PSAC Central Freshman of the Year ... 2nd team All-Atlantic Region ... Cleanup hitter, led IUP with .370 batting average, 13 doubles, .492 on-base percentage
Women's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Alaina Montgomery
Softball
3rd on team with .350 batting average ... Came into season as career .154 hitter ... 36 starts in center field, IUP's No. 2 hitter in lineup ... 20 stolen bases on 20 attempts
Nicole Smith
Women's Swimming
Honorable mention All-America in two events at NCAA ... Led team with 167 points scored, 14 first place finishes (11 wins last year) ... Set school record in 200 and 500 freestyle ... Scored 115 points at PSAC Championships (80 last year)
Jada Wilson
Women's Track & Field
Won 400 hurdles title at PSAC Outdoor Championships, after finishing 9th at last year's Championships ... Improved her time by nearly 4 seconds ... 6th in 100 hurdles at PSAC Outdoor ... 5th in 400 meters at PSAC Indoors ... All-Region in both events
Men's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Ted DeSanti
Baseball
1st team All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC West at second base ... Led IUP with 11 doubles, 7 home runs, 40 RBI, .664 slugging percentage and .477 on-base percentage ... Hit .376 with 34 runs and 47 hits ... Career .280 hitter with 18 extra base hits entering season
JR Stevens
Football
1st team AP All-American ... Consensus 1st team All-Region ... Led Division II and broke IUP record with 18 passes broken up ... 6th in DII with 7 interceptions ... 2 interceptions and 2 pass breakups in top 10 ESPN matchup at Slippery Rock
Dalton Trump
Men's Cross Country
All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC runner ... Finished 9th at PSACs, with his previous best finish 87th ... Finished 12th in his first career NCAA regional meet ... Breakthrough was critical component to IUP's NCAA Championship berth
Men's Postseason Performer of the Year
Joshua Bartley
Men's Golf
Won individual title at PSAC Championships with 3-under 139 for the tournament ... Shot tourney best 4-under 67 during 2nd round to lead IUP to team title ... Tied for 71st at NCAA regionals
Greg Beaudette
Men's Cross Country
IUP's top finisher at PSAC Championships (4th) and NCAA Championships (61st) ... 7th at regionals, helping IUP to 3rd place finish at NCAA berth ... 61st place finish at NCAAs was IUP's best since 2009 (33rd)
4x800 Relay
Men's Track & Field
Ryan Louther, Dylan Ruefle, Austin Cooper, Derek Noll ... Won PSAC title and set school and meet records with time of 7:39.12 at Outdoor Championships
Women's Postseason Performer of the Year
Carolyn Appleby
Women's Basketball
Atlantic Region Tournament MVP ... Elite Eight All-Tournament Team ... Averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists while shooting 55.6 percent during regionals ... Scored 23 points in Elite Eight win over Stonehill
Jarka Petercakova and Luise von Agris
Women's Tennis
As doubles team, went combined 4-0 in PSAC and NCAA Championships ... Beat #22-ranked doubles team from Northeastern State in round of 16 ... Jarka was 1-0, Luise 1-1 in singles play during postseason ... Luise named PSAC Tournament MVP
Nicole Smith
Women's Swimming
Honorable mention All-American in 200 and 500 free ... Set IUP records in both events at NCAA Championships ... Won 100 and 200 free at PSAC Championships ... Top 5 finishes in seven individual events at PSACs
Women's Senior of the Year
Natalie Cignetti
Women's Volleyball
Honorable mention All-American ... Consensus All-Atlantic Region ... PSAC Athlete of the Year ... Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team ... CoSIDA Academic All-America ... Led PSAC with 546 points, 4.79 points/set, 488 kills, and 4.28 kills/set
Megan Smith
Women's Basketball
2nd team All-Atlantic Region ... 1st team All-PSAC West ... Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team ... Set IUP single season record with 625 points ... 5th in PSAC with 18.4 PPG ... Led PSAC with 40.5 3FG%, 2nd with 2.6 made 3s per game
Luise von Agris
Women's Tennis
1st team All-PSAC West at singles and doubles ... Set IUP season records with 56 combined and 30 singles wins ... Went combined 12-0 in PSAC West matches ... ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership Award ... Played at No. 2 singles, No. 1 doubles spot ... Part of 50th ranked doubles team in DII
Men's Senior of the Year
Jemal Averette
Football
Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year nominee ... 2nd team All-American by Don Hansen Gazette ... 1st team All-Region, All-PSAC West ... Led IUP defensive linemen (6th on team) with 54 tackles ... 9.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, 2 blocked kicks, 1 forced fumble
Ted DeSanti
Baseball
1st team All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC West at second base ... Led IUP with 11 doubles, 7 home runs, 40 RBI, .664 slugging percentage and .477 on-base percentage ... Hit .376 with 34 runs and 47 hits ... IUP Baseball Player of the Year Award
Anthony Glover, Jr.
Basketball
4th team Division II Bulletin All-American ... 1st team NABC All-District ... PSAC West Athlete of the Year ... 584 points are 11th best season in IUP history ... 20.1 PPG 4th highest scoring average by IUP player since 2000 ... 8th in Division II with 3.4 3-pointers per game ... IUP record 100 made 3-pointers
Men's Team of the Year
Basketball
PSAC West champions for 8th time in last nine years ... 11th straight PSAC tournament appearance ... 22-8 overall and 18-4 in the PSAC ... Coached All-American and PSAC West Athlete of the Year Anthony Glover
Cross Country
Earned first NCAA Championships appearance since 1993 ... Finished 3rd of 19 at Atlantic Regionals ... Had 3 all-region runners ... 3rd of 16 at PSAC Championships with 3 All-PSAC runners
Football
Best season in nearly two decades ... Finished 13-1 and reached national semifinals for first time since 1999 ... Top seed in national semifinals ... Super Region One and PSAC Champions ... Ranked 3rd in Division II in season's final poll ... Earned No. 1 ranked by D2Football during season ... Set program record with 7 All-Americans and 18 PSAC honorees
Women's Team of the Year
Basketball
NCAA Elite Eight semifinalists ... Atlantic Region Champions ... PSAC West Champions ... IUP's first national semifinalist appearance in program history ... 30 overall wins, 20 PSAC wins both program records
Tennis
Atlantic Region and PSAC Champions for 2nd straight year ... Reached NCAA round of 16 for 8th straight season ... 20-6 overall, 6-0 PSAC West record for 1st time in IUP history
Volleyball
PSAC Southwest champions ... Top seed in PSAC tournament ... Earned 4th seed in Atlantic Region Championships ... 1st NCAA appearance in seven years, 1st tournament win in 12 years ... 25-10 overall record
Women's Athlete of the Year
Megan Smith - Basketball
2nd team All-Atlantic Region ... 1st team All-PSAC West ... Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team ... Set IUP single season record with 625 points ... 5th in PSAC with 18.4 PPG ... Led PSAC with 40.5 3FG%, 2nd with 2.6 made 3s per game
Luise von Agris - Tennis
1st team All-PSAC West at singles and doubles ... Set IUP season records with 56 combined and 30 singles wins ... Went combined 12-0 in PSAC West matches ... ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership Award ... Played at No. 2 singles, No. 1 doubles spot ... Part of 50th ranked doubles team in DII
Natalie Cignetti - Volleyball
Honorable mention All-American ... Consensus All-Atlantic Region ... PSAC Athlete of the Year ... Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team ... CoSIDA Academic All-America ... Led PSAC with 546 points, 4.79 points/set, 488 kills, and 4.28 kills/set
Men's Athlete of the Year
Ted DeSanti
Baseball
1st team All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC West at second base ... Led IUP with 11 doubles, 7 home runs, 40 RBI, .664 slugging percentage and .477 on-base percentage ... Hit .376 with 34 runs and 47 hits ... Career .280 hitter with 18 extra base hits entering season
Anthony Glover, Jr.
Men's Basketball
4th team Division II Bulletin All-American ... 1st team NABC All-District ... PSAC West Athlete of the Year ... 584 points are 11th best season in IUP history ... 20.1 PPG 4th highest scoring average by IUP player since 2000 ... 8th in Division II with 3.4 3-pointers per game ... IUP record 100 made 3-pointers
Max Redfield
Football
Cliff Harris Award finalist (top defensive player in Division II/III/NAIA) ... 1st team All-American by mulitple outlets ... 3rd on team with 78 tackles, 2nd with 4 interceptions ... Among national leaders with 13 passes defensed ... Only PSAC player invited to NFL combine
Schedule of announcements
May 16 - Announcement of awards nominees
May 25 – Announcement of award finalists
June 5-8 – Announcements for Scholar-Athlete, Coach, Performance, and Freshman
June 11-15 – Announcements for Breakthrough Athlete, Postseason Performer, Senior, Team and Athlete
Definition of awards
Below is a list of the nine awards selected to be given for the 2017-18 year, along with the eligibility definitions. Each of the nine awards will be given to a member of a men's and women's team, for 18 total awards.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Presented to senior men's and women's student-athletes who have displayed a combination of success both on the playing field and in the classroom during their time at IUP.
Coach of the Year: Presented to the men's and women's coaches who did the most outstanding job leading his or her team.
Performance of the Year: Presented to the student-athletes who had the most significant or extraordinary performance in a single game, event, or outing.
Freshman of the Year: Presented to a true freshman or redshirt freshman men's and women's student-athlete, who put together the best all-around season for a first-year college player.
Breakthrough Athlete of the Year: Presented to a first-year starter or first-time key contributor who has improved their season performance dramatically over the last year.
Postseason Performer of the Year: Presented to the student-athletes who put together the most significant combined performances in a PSAC or NCAA championship tournament.
Senior of the Year: Presented to senior eligible men's and women's student-athletes who had the most successful individual seasons.
Team of the Year: Presented to the men's and women's teams who had the most outstanding seasons.
Athlete of the Year: Presented to the men's and women's student-athletes, regardless of class eligibility, who had the best individual seasons.
History of IUP's year-end awards
The Crimson & Gray Awards were announced in April 2017 and first awarded for the 2016-17 season.
Prior to the current format, year-end athletic awards consisted of the Athletes of the Year and Scholar-Athletes of the Year. A singular Athlete of the Year honoree was first announced after the 2012-13 season and was determined by fan voting. For the 2013-14 season, both men's and women's Athletes of the Year were named, with fan voting eliminated, with that format running for three years.
Scholar-Athletes of the Year were announced in April at the President's annual All-American Banquet, with varying selection qualifications each year.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Athletics on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.
