SEATTLE (May 30) – The Seattle University Athletics Department hosted its annual awards show on Tuesday night at Pigott Auditorium. The event recognized the Redhawks' efforts in competition, the classroom and the community during the 2016-17 year.
Seniors Wilma Afunugo (women's basketball) and Tanner Schelling (men's swimming) were named Eddie O'Brien Student-Athletes of the Year. Afunugo and Schelling both capped terrific athletic careers this year, as the pair will graduate with degrees in cell molecular biology in June.
Blaise Wittenauer-Lee (women's swimming) and Kyle Bjornethun (men's soccer) took home the Bill Fenton Athlete of the Year honors. Wittenauer-Lee was the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Female Swimmer of the Year and qualified for the NCAA Championships, while Bjornethun was selected WAC Defensive Player of the Year before picked in the MLS SuperDraft in January.
Mandie Maddux (women's track and field) and Ross Kukula (men's golf) hosted the show, incorporating pre-taped skits along with on-stage performances to delight the audience.
Wittenauer-Lee also collected the Competition of the Year award for her record-breaking performance in the 200 breaststroke at the 2017 WAC Championships. The senior swam a 2:09.85 in a dominant effort that broke a 14-year-old WAC record.
Claire Metoyer (women's basketball) was chosen Elgin Baylor Comeback Student-Athlete of the Year. The senior didn't play her junior season, but returned under new head coach Suzy Barcomb to have a stellar campaign for the Redhawks.
Seattle U honored the top rookie for each program with the ‘Freshman 15'. Mackenzie Curry (women's soccer), Julian Avila-Good (men's soccer), Katarina Marinkovic (volleyball), Kali McCollister (women's tennis), Arshak Ghazaryan (men's tennis), Siobhan Rubio (women's track and field), Steve Brown (men's track and field), Anastasia Honea (women's cross country), Mary Sloan Beger (rowing), Zach Overstreet (men's golf), Kelly Hunt (women's golf), Kamira Sanders (women's basketball), Matej Kavas (men's basketball), Kori Okamoto (dance), Austin Lively (baseball), Alyson Matriotti (softball), Jason Klein (men's swimming), and Jayna Van Stone (women's swimming) were recognized on stage.
Women's soccer claimed the Team Mission Award for its work with Special Olympics Washington and Bailey Gatzert Elementary School. Kailyn Skjonsby (women's tennis) was the Individual Mission Award winner for her efforts with the ‘ACE-ing Autism' organization in Seattle.
In the Mark Escandon Service category, the campus bookstore and Assistant Athletic Trainer Lauren Erickson were awarded for their work with the athletics department. The volleyball team collected the Redhawk Pride Cup, given to the program that best supports other SU teams.