May 2, 2016 Red Carpet Photo Gallery | #BearsShowcase
SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State University field hockey team took home the night's top honor at the seventh annual Bears All-Sports Showcase, Monday night at JQH Arena. A number of individual student-athletes were also recognized for their excellence as part of the year-end celebration of Bears Athletics.
The field hockey squad was the top point collector in the Bear Cup team competition for community service, academic excellence, athletic excellence, Bears supporting Bears and public affairs. The 2016 award marks the third time in four years that MSU field hockey has won the Bear Cup, edging runner-up volleyball and third-place women's track and field for this year's trophy.
Members of MSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) served as the presenters for the evening, which includes a red-carpet entry and awards similar to ESPN's Espy Awards. SAAC members also took the lead in the nomination and selection process for the event and the awards presented.
The event included a highlight reel of the program's 2,614 hours of volunteer and community service efforts during the 2015-16 year. The total economic impact of MSU's volunteer efforts is over $60,000 to the Springfield community.
All-MVC women's basketball standout Kenzie Williams (Sr., Mt. Vernon, Mo.) was awarded the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award, while swimmer Uvis Kalnins (Sr., Valmiera, Latvia) was selected as the recipient of the Bill Rowe Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Both awards were voted on by student-athlete peers among Missouri State's 17 intercollegiate athletic programs.
The Senior Student-Athletes of the Year were presented to Kalnins and women's basketball performer Tyonna Snow (Blue Springs, Mo.). Kalnins was previously named MSU's male Junior Student-Athlete of the Year (2014-15) and Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year (2013-14). Snow also earned MSU female Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year in 2013-14.
This year's Junior Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to highly-touted men's basketball player Dequon Miller (Charleston, W.Va.) and swimmer Lauren Pavel (Omaha, Neb.). Pavel became a multi-year winner after claiming MSU Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year in 2014-15.
The 2016 Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to baseball third baseman Jake Burger (Chesterfield, Mo.) and volleyball All-American Lily Johnson (Wildwood, Mo.), both recipients of the Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year awards last year. This year's Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year Awards went to NCAA swimming qualifier Artur Osvath (Budapest, Hungary) and volleyball defensive specialist Emily Butters (Richmond, Texas).
The individual sport most valuable players were also named, as voted on by head coaches. The men's team MVPs were awarded to: Jake Burger (baseball, So., Chesterfield, Mo.); Dequon Miller (basketball, Jr., Charleston, W.Va.); James Barnes (football, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.); Joey Johnson (golf, Sr., Ozark, Mo.); Brandon Barbero (soccer, Sr., Marietta, Ga.); and Uvis Kalnins (swimming and diving, Sr., Valmiera, Latvia). It was Johnson's third straight men's golf MVP honor and Kalnins' second swimming honor in three seasons.
Women's team MVPs were awarded to: Tyonna Snow (basketball, Sr., Blue Springs, Mo.); Cindy Forde (cross country, Sr., Bridgetown, Barbados); Charlie Redhead (field hockey, Sr., Norfolk, England); Megan Furnish (golf, Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa); Alix Opfer (soccer, Sr., Springfield, Mo.); Erin Duewel (softball, Sr., Lee's Summit, Mo.); Dora Kiss (swimming and diving, Sr., Budapest, Hungary); Ema Turudija (tennis, Sr., Belgrade, Serbia); Marissa Kurtimah (track and field, So., Guelph, Ontario, Canada); Lily Johnson (volleyball, So., Wildwood, Mo.). It marked Redhead's second time in three years to earn team MVP honors at the Showcase.
The 2015-16 MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award recipients were also recognized at the event. They were Tenaly Smith (women's cross country, Sr., Caldwell, Idaho); Ibby Simcox (women's swimming and diving, Sr., Blue Springs, Mo.); and Caroline Boone (women's golf, Jr., Wynne, Ark.).
The Missouri State softball team (3.57 GPA) claimed the Academic Excellence Award, while women's golf earned the Community Service Award. Additional team awards went to women's basketball (Athletic Excellence Award), men's soccer (Bears Supporting Bears Award), and field hockey (Public Affairs Award). It marked field hockey's second straight Public Affairs Award.
The inaugural Marine Corps Leadership Awards were presented to baseball multi-position threat Alex Jefferson (Normal, Ill.) and softball outfielder Sara Jones (Jefferson City, Mo.).
Approximately 350 student-athletes, coaches, staff and Athletics personnel attended the sixth annual event.
#MSUBears
Previous Bear Cup Winners
- 2009-10 Women's Soccer
- 2010-11 Women's Soccer
- 2011-12 Women's Soccer
- 2012-13 Field Hockey
- 2013-14 Field Hockey
- 2014-15 Softball
- 2015-16 Field Hockey
