SEATTLE - Seattle U celebrated another impressive year in the athletic department with its annual award show, the Rudy's, honoring all the accomplishments on the field and in the classroom.
The Rudy's began with the Seattle U service to athletics award. This year's recipient was Tyler Murphy, Assistant Director for Housing Operations and Occupancy. Murphy was selected for leading the partnership between athletics and on campus housing.
The D'Vonne Pickett Jr. Individual and Team Mission Awards went to Andre Philibbosian of men's soccer and the Redhawk softball team. Philibbosian, a freshman, has volunteered countless hours at St. Francis House in Seattle. He helped serve food and visited with those less fortunate in the Seattle area. Softball took home the team portion of the award for the second straight year, both coaches and players helped complete 139 hours of service by helping welcome elementary students back to school, helping clean around campus on NCAA Civic Day, and a variety of other opportunities.
Lamija Avdic of women's tennis capped off an impressive first year by taking home Freshman of the Year honors. The Kirkland native was named WAC Freshman of the year while going a perfect 7-0 in conference play. She also posted a 12-5 mark with her doubles partner, Lola Tavcar, and was named First Team All-WAC.
Kevin Li was also named Freshman of the Year. A standout on the golf team, Li captured the WAC Individual Championship, the first freshman to do so since 2015. He was also named the WAC Freshman of the Year and to First Team All-WAC.
For the first time since the 2014-15 season, there were co-recipients of the Competition of the Year award. Women's golf secured the program's first ever WAC Team Championship while men's basketball went on a postseason run to capture the CBI Championship.
The TREX award saw it's second ever recipient, as Kate Connelly of women's soccer was named for the 2023-24 year. Connelly serves as the SAAC President and has embodied what the Redhawk Experience stands for.
For the 2022-23 Athlete of the Year, Rivekka Jumagulova of golf and Cameron Tyson of basketball took home the awards. Jumagulova, a junior from Kazakhstan, became the first WAC Player of the Year in program history. She secured a new single-season program record by shooting a 73.1 average, and also took home two WAC Player of the Week honors and was named First Team All-WAC.
Cameron Tyson secured his second straight Athlete of the Year honor after helping lead the Redhawks to the CBI Championship. He averaged nearly 18 points per game while draining 117 three pointers, good for third most in the nation this past season. The Seattle U all-time three-point record holder, Cam was named to the NABC All-District First Team, the All-WAC First team and the CBI Tournament MVP.
Brooke Wilson of women's soccer was the recipient of the Elgin Baylor Inspiration Award, as announced by Beverly Verduin, Assistant Athletic Director for Development. Fighting through setbacks and always willing to help others, Wilson has been an inspiration to not only her team, but the entire Seattle U community.
The final award of the night was the Eddie O'Brien Student Athlete of the Year Awards. Lily Garcia, a senior on the softball team, went back-to-back as a recipient. She grabbed her third straight WAC All-Defensive award, becoming the first WAC athlete to take the honor over the first three years of its existence. Garcia claimed her sixth career academic award and second straight CSC Academic All-District honor.
James Morris, a fifth-year senior on the men's soccer team, was also named a recipient. He had one of the greatest statistical seasons in Redhawk men's soccer history in 2023. He led the team in goals and assists while captaining the Redhawks to their highest ever national ranking and a berth in the NCAA tournament. He was also a standout in the classroom, being named to the WAC All-Academic team and securing his second CSC Academic All-District honor.
The Rudy's began with the Seattle U service to athletics award. This year's recipient was Tyler Murphy, Assistant Director for Housing Operations and Occupancy. Murphy was selected for leading the partnership between athletics and on campus housing.
The D'Vonne Pickett Jr. Individual and Team Mission Awards went to Andre Philibbosian of men's soccer and the Redhawk softball team. Philibbosian, a freshman, has volunteered countless hours at St. Francis House in Seattle. He helped serve food and visited with those less fortunate in the Seattle area. Softball took home the team portion of the award for the second straight year, both coaches and players helped complete 139 hours of service by helping welcome elementary students back to school, helping clean around campus on NCAA Civic Day, and a variety of other opportunities.
Lamija Avdic of women's tennis capped off an impressive first year by taking home Freshman of the Year honors. The Kirkland native was named WAC Freshman of the year while going a perfect 7-0 in conference play. She also posted a 12-5 mark with her doubles partner, Lola Tavcar, and was named First Team All-WAC.
Kevin Li was also named Freshman of the Year. A standout on the golf team, Li captured the WAC Individual Championship, the first freshman to do so since 2015. He was also named the WAC Freshman of the Year and to First Team All-WAC.
For the first time since the 2014-15 season, there were co-recipients of the Competition of the Year award. Women's golf secured the program's first ever WAC Team Championship while men's basketball went on a postseason run to capture the CBI Championship.
The TREX award saw it's second ever recipient, as Kate Connelly of women's soccer was named for the 2023-24 year. Connelly serves as the SAAC President and has embodied what the Redhawk Experience stands for.
For the 2022-23 Athlete of the Year, Rivekka Jumagulova of golf and Cameron Tyson of basketball took home the awards. Jumagulova, a junior from Kazakhstan, became the first WAC Player of the Year in program history. She secured a new single-season program record by shooting a 73.1 average, and also took home two WAC Player of the Week honors and was named First Team All-WAC.
Cameron Tyson secured his second straight Athlete of the Year honor after helping lead the Redhawks to the CBI Championship. He averaged nearly 18 points per game while draining 117 three pointers, good for third most in the nation this past season. The Seattle U all-time three-point record holder, Cam was named to the NABC All-District First Team, the All-WAC First team and the CBI Tournament MVP.
Brooke Wilson of women's soccer was the recipient of the Elgin Baylor Inspiration Award, as announced by Beverly Verduin, Assistant Athletic Director for Development. Fighting through setbacks and always willing to help others, Wilson has been an inspiration to not only her team, but the entire Seattle U community.
The final award of the night was the Eddie O'Brien Student Athlete of the Year Awards. Lily Garcia, a senior on the softball team, went back-to-back as a recipient. She grabbed her third straight WAC All-Defensive award, becoming the first WAC athlete to take the honor over the first three years of its existence. Garcia claimed her sixth career academic award and second straight CSC Academic All-District honor.
James Morris, a fifth-year senior on the men's soccer team, was also named a recipient. He had one of the greatest statistical seasons in Redhawk men's soccer history in 2023. He led the team in goals and assists while captaining the Redhawks to their highest ever national ranking and a berth in the NCAA tournament. He was also a standout in the classroom, being named to the WAC All-Academic team and securing his second CSC Academic All-District honor.