SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist University Athletics Department celebrated its historic 2017-18 academic year Tuesday night at the fourth annual Bison Sports Awards inside Raley Chapel.
This year marked OBU's first as a full member of NCAA Division II and the Great American Conference after the university successfully completed the three-year transition period from the NAIA in September. A number of Bison and Lady Bison student-athletes and teams earned distinction in their first seasons of eligibility for conference and national postseason competition.
The highest NCAA finishers of any OBU program, the men's and women's swimming and diving teams were well represented at this year's BSAs, taking home a total of seven awards highlighted by Sam Freas being named Coach of the Year, and senior David Lambert earning Male Athlete of the Year and Individual Performance of the Year.
Cross country and track and field senior Abby Hoover, who became the first NCAA All-American in OBU history as a result of her performance at the 2017 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, was named Female Athlete of the Year.
Women's basketball's McKenzie Cooper earned Comeback of the Year for her successful return from injury, while the Bison football program earned the BSA Community Service Award, and women's soccer took home the trophy for highest team GPA.
Football and basketball season ticket holder Stephanie Taylor was named Fan of the Year, and the volleyball team took home the 2017-18 Dav Cup, awarded annually to the team that best supports their fellow student-athletes and engages with the community.
A complete list of award winners can be found below. Additional photos and video will be posted to the official OBU Athletics Facebook page,
Facebook.com/OBUBison.
2018 Bison Sports Award Winners
Athlete of the Year
David Lambert (Men's Swimming)
Abby Hoover (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Coach of the Year
Sam Freas (Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving)
Assistant Coach of the Year
Greg Gothard (Football)
Comeback of the Year
McKenzie Cooper (Women's Basketball)
Breakout Athlete of the Year
Preston Haire (Football)
Faith Moss (Women's Swimming)
Newcomer of the Year
Jake Gozzo (Baseball)
Hannah White (Women's Soccer)
Standout Athlete of the Year
Otto Lehtonen (Men's Diving)
Celina Marquez (Women's Swimming)
Team Performance of the Year
Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving
Individual Performance of the Year
David Lambert (Men's Swimming)
Jonathan Award
Bryan Geurkink (Baseball)
Megan Bowlin (Women's Tennis)
Bison Fan Award
Stephanie Taylor
The Dav Cup
Volleyball
Community Service Award
Football
Team GPA Award
Women's Soccer
BSA Icon Award
Cadyn Laing (Volleyball)
Albert Monge (Football)
Jennifer Goethe (Women's Soccer)
Shannen Stewart (Women's Golf)
Thomas Shroder (Baseball)
Peyton Jenkins (Cheer)
Mariah Knight (Pom)
Katie Reyes (Softball)
Tasha Edge (Women's Basketball)
Caroline Abbe (Women's Tennis)
Babji Atturu (Men's Tennis)
Emily Bontekoe (Lacrosse)
Chad Brandon (Men's Swimming & Diving)
Megan Conner (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Dalton Rhoden (Men's Golf)
Chandler Rickey (Men's Basketball)
Josue De Paz (Men's Soccer)
Sydney Lawrence (Women's Cross Country)
Jacob Janzen (Men's Cross Country)
McKae Mitchell (Women's Track & Field)
Saleem Fadel (Men's Track & Field)
