2016-17 Crimson & Gray Awards

The Crimson & Gray Awards were established in 2017 to recognize the top athletes, coaches, teams and performances of the 2016-17 IUP Athletics season. Awards consist of 18 total categories - nine women, nine men. The inaugural year of awards include: Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 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.

IUP's 2016-17 Scholar-Athletes of the Year have already been selected, as men's golf's Max Kirsch and softball's Hannah Mercer were honored during the annual All-American Banquet at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on April 20.

Over a two-week period beginning on Monday, June 5, a men's and women's award will be announced on IUPathletics.com. Check out the complete list below.

> May 17 | Nominees announced
> May 24 | Finalists announced

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Announced Thursday, June 15

Women's Winner
Lizzy Cunningham, Women's Track & Field

Men's Winner
DJ Horton, Men's Track & Field

Men's Finalists
Austin Cooper, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Max Kirsch, Men's Golf
Lenny Williams, Jr., Football

Women's Finalists
Natalie Cignetti, Women's Volleyball
Hannah Mercer, Softball
Jarka Petercakova, Women's Tennis

> Lizzy Cunningham named 2016-17 IUP Women’s Athlete of the Year
> DJ Horton named 2016-17 IUP Men’s Athlete of the Year
> Past winners

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Announced Wednesday, June 14

Men's Winner
Men's Golf

Women's Winner
Women's Tennis

Men's Finalists
Baseball
Men's Baskeball
Football

Women's Finalists
Women's Basketball
Women's Lacrosse
Women's Volleyball

> Men’s Golf named 2016-17 IUP Men’s Team of the Year
> Women’s Tennis named 2016-17 IUP Women’s Team of the Year

SENIOR OF THE YEAR

Announced Tuesday, June 13

Women's Winner
Lizzy Cunningham, Women's Track & Field

Men's Winner
Ethan Cooper, Football

Women's Finalists
Hannah Bertolo, Women's Lacrosse
Raquel Gonzalez, Women's Tennis
Hannah Mercer, Softball
Lindsay Moeller, Women's Volleyball

Men's Finalists
Greg Beaudette, Men's Track & Field
Scott Hess, Baseball
Max Kirsch, Men's Golf

> Lizzy Cunningham named IUP Women’s Senior of the Year
> Ethan Cooper named IUP Men’s Senior of the Year

POSTSEASON PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

Announced Monday, June 12

Men's Winner
Max Kirsch, Men's Golf

Women's Winner
Carolyn Appleby, Women's Basketball

Men's Finalists
Austin Cooper, Men's Cross Country
DJ Horton, Men's Track & Field

Women's Finalists
Natalie Cignetti, Women's Volleyball
Raquel Gonzalez, Women's Tennis

> Max Kirsch named IUP Men’s Postseason Performer of the Year
> Carolyn Appleby named IUP Women’s Postseason Performer of the Year

BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Announced Thursday, June 8

Women's Winner
Kassie Kesneck, Softball

Men's Winner
Dalton Trump, Men's Track & Field

Women's Finalists
Emily Dubler, Women's Track & Field
Mollie Gallagher, Women's Lacrosse
Lily McWilliams, Women's Volleyball

Men's Finalists
Nate Dickey, Baseball
John Michael Mihalek, Men's Cross Country

> Kassie Kesneck named IUP Women’s Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
> Dalton Trump named IUP Men’s Breakthrough Athlete of the Year

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Announced Wednesday, June 7

Men's Winner
Samir Bullock, Football

Women's Winner
Kaitlyn Beers, Softball

Men's Finalists
Chris Eisel, Baseball
Justin Jones, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field

Women's Finalists
Maura D'Anna, Women's Basketball
Kelly Shields, Women's Lacrosse
Nicole Smith, Women's Swimming

> Samir Bullock named IUP Men’s Freshman of the Year
> Kaitlyn Beers named IUP Women’s Freshman of the Year
> Past winners

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Announced Tuesday, June 6

Women's Winner
Jarka Petercakova and Luise von Agris, Women's Tennis

Men's Winner
DJ Horton, Men's Track & Field

Women's Finalists
Carolyn Appleby, Women's Basketball
Liz Coppella, Women's Track & Field
Carissa Smith, Women's Lacrosse
Nicole Smith, Women's Swimming

Men's Finalists
Max Kirsch, Men's Golf
Lenny Williams, Jr., Football

> Jarka Petercakova and Luise von Agris voted IUP Women’s Performance of the Year
> DJ Horton captures 2016-17 IUP Men's Performance of the Year

COACH OF THE YEAR

Announced Monday, June 5

Men's Team Winner
Anthony Rebyanski, Baseball

Women's Team Winner
Larry Peterson, Women's Tennis

Men's Team Finalists
Frederick A. Joseph, Men's Golf
Joe Lombardi, Men's Basketball

Women's Team Finalists
Tom McConnell, Women's Basketball
Scott Pennewill, Women's Volleyball

> Rebyanski named IUP Men's Coach of the Year
> Peterson named IUP Women's Coach of the Year

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Announced Thursday, April 20

Women's Winner
Hannah Mercer, Softball

Men's Winner
Max Kirsch, Men's Golf

> Hannah Mercer and Max Kirsch named 2016-17 IUP Scholar-Athletes of the Year
> Past winners