SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State University women's track and field team took home the night's top honor for the second straight year at the 15th annual Bears Choice Awards, Wednesday evening.
 
Coach Jordan Fife's squad was the top point collector in the Bear Cup team competition for community service, academic excellence, athletic excellence, Bears supporting Bears, and personal development. It is the track team's fourth Bear Cup run and third in the last four years.

Women's golf, women's soccer and women's swimming were also finalists for this year's Bear Cup honors. 
 
A number of individual student-athletes were also recognized for their excellence as part of the year-end celebration of Bears Athletics. Members of Missouri State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) served as the presenters for the evening, which included a red-carpet entry and awards ceremony. SAAC members also took the lead in the nomination, selection and voting processes for the event and the awards presented.
 
The event included a tribute to more than 1,455 hours of volunteer and community service efforts by MSU's student-athletes during the 2023-24 academic year. The total economic impact of MSU's student-athlete volunteer efforts was over $49,000 to the Springfield community.

Women's swimming standout and SAAC president Lily DeSpain (Springdale, Ark.) was awarded the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award, while golfer Max Kreikemeier (Chesterfield, Mo.) was selected as the recipient of the Bill Rowe Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Kreikemeier, a fifth-year performer, was named the Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year in 2023.
 
This year's Senior Student-Athletes of the Year were presented to swimmer Dylan Moffatt (Independence, Iowa) and women's soccer goalkeeper Camille Day. The Junior Student-Athletes of the Year awards went to swimming freestyler Brunno Suzuki-Tomiyama (São Paulo, Brazil) and MVC Newcomer of the Year Lacy Stokes (Mt. Vernon, Mo.) from women's basketball. 

The 2024 Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to baseball outfielder Zack Stewart (Lebanon, Mo.) and swimmer Lana Janson (Cape Town, South Africa), while this year's Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year honors were given to baseball's Caden Bogenpohl (Jackson, Mo.) and softball's Kayla Ulrich (Sullivan, Mo.). Stewart was named Male Freshman of the Year in 2023. 

The male and female Scholar-Athletes of the Year were awarded to swimmers Kelly Sego (Batavia, Ill.) and Nicholas Schuster (Muskego, Wis.).
 
The individual sport most valuable players were also named, as voted on by head coaches. The men's team MVPs were awarded to: soccer's Jesus Barea (Cadiz, Spain); golf's Kreikemeier; basketball's Alston Mason (Phoenix, Ariz.); swimming's Dylan Moffatt (Independence, Iowa); football's Raylen Sharpe (Allen, Texas); and baseball's Zack Stewart (Lebanon, Mo.). It was the fifth men's golf MVP award in as many years for Kreikemeier and second MVP honor for Moffatt.

Women's team MVPs were awarded to: volleyball's Maddy Bushnell (Springfield, Mo.); swimmer Lily DeSpain (Springdale, Ark.); tennis standout Tuana Gunal (Gebze, Turkey); cross country's Mia McLain (Benton, Ill.); softball's Annie Mueller (Pacific, Mo.); beach volleyball's Olivia Muriel (Long Beach, Calif.); golfer Kayla Pfitzner (Ozark, Mo.); trackster Olivia Rogers (Dearborn, Mo.); and basketball's Lacy Stokes (Mt. Vernon, Mo.). No MVP was awarded for women's soccer.

In its eighth year in the award rotation, the Heart of the Bear Award was established to recognize two inspirational, hard-working student-athletes for their determination on and off the field of play. The award honors the top individuals who have shown leadership, commitment, and grit. For the 2024 awards show, a dozen individuals were given the award, including: men's soccer's Ollie Bate (Yorkshire, England); football's Grant Burkett (Joplin, Mo.); cross country's Natalie Clayton (Rogersville, Mo.); beach volleyball's Amanda Cleary (Barrington, Ill.); tennis standout Amy Henning (Stellenbosch, South Africa); men's swimmer AJ Huskey (Columbia, Mo.); track's Rachel Lacey (Wheaton, Mo.); baseball's Dylan Leach (Carthage, Texas); men's basketball's Tommy Pinegar (Springfield, Mo.); women's swimmer Kelly Sego (Batavia, Ill.); volleyball's Katie Wemhoener (Belleville, Ill.); and women's golfer Johanna Wollenhaupt (Hamburg, Germany). 

The Missouri State women's golf team claimed the Academic Excellence Award for the first time. Baseball earned the Community Service Award, also for the first time, becoming the first men's sport to ever win the award. Additional team awards went to women's track and field (Personal Development Award), men's soccer (Athletic Excellence Award), women's soccer (Bears Supporting Bears Award), and women's swimming and diving (BearsUnite Award). It was the fourth Athletic Excellence Award for men's soccer in five years (third in a row), women's soccer's third Bears Supporting Bears honor (second in a row), and softball third Community Service Award.
 
Women's swimming and diving was voted as the Team of the Year, and coach Dave Collins from swimming was named Coach of the Year. 

This year's senior speeches were presented by cross country and track runner Margo Nea (Dexter, Mo.) and men's soccer performer Kian Yari (Manchester, England).