Inaugurated in 2015, the Jetspys Awards has become a favorite tradition of Newman University students, coaches, administrators and alumni. It is Newman Athletics’ annual year-end awards banquet to celebrate the achievements of its talented athletes and teams for the 2023-24 sports season.
The university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) organized and hosted the awards held in Fugate Gymnasium on April 30.
The night kicked off with the Comeback Athlete of the Year award, which went to Jackie Gold from the softball team. The senior pitcher from Syracuse, Utah, started 20 games, chalking up 11 wins, 93 strikeouts and an earned run average of 3.94.
The men’s soccer team was recognized as the Turnaround Team, matching overall and league win totals from the three previous seasons.
The Game of the Year award went to the men’s basketball team for its heart-stopping overtime victory against Fort Hays State. The Jets outlasted their in-state rival 77-75 in their final game before the winter break.
Joe Kinneberg from the baseball team was named the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. The senior from Sandy, Utah, hit .346 with six home runs and 32 runs batted in.
Throughout the night, awards were handed out to deserving athletes and teams. Names including Latik Murphy, Delainey Wylie, Kaeson Fisher-Brown, Grace Long, Alberto Romano, and Natalie Morales were called to the stage, their hard work and dedication being recognized.
Special awards like the Supporting Role Award to Mo Rohleder, the Maverick Awards to Sam Somerhalder and McKinzie Weaver, and the Top Gun Awards to Luca Penteado and Natalie Morales celebrated the unsung heroes and standout performers.
The women’s golf team’s impressive 3.833 team grade point average earned them the Team GPA Award, highlighting their commitment to excellence both on and off the field.
As the night drew to a close, the most prestigious awards were presented. Softball junior Hayley Bonython from Adelaide, Australia, and basketball junior Stevie Strong from Kansas City were crowned Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, their outstanding performances throughout the season setting them apart. Bonython hit .370 with 41 RBI and 33 runs, while Strong led the Jets in scoring (14.8 points per game) and assists (100 for the season).
The evening culminated with the presentation of the Ms. Jet and Mr. Jet awards. Natalie Trigo from the volleyball team and Chase Wiebe from the basketball team received the honors.
LIST OF 2024 JETSPY HONOREES:
- COMEBACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – JACKIE GOLD – SOFTBALL
- TURNAROUND TEAM – MEN’S SOCCER
- GAME OF THE YEAR – MEN’S BASKETBALL’S OVERTIME VICTORY OVER FT HAYS STATE
- BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – JOE KINNEBERG – BASEBALL
- SPECIAL OPS AWARD – RICHARD RICO
- COMMUNITY OUTREACH – WOMEN’S SOCCER
- WINGMAN-MALE – LATIK MURPHY – BASKETBALL
- WINGMAN-FEMALE – DELAINEY WYLIE – BASKETBALL
- MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – KAESON FISHER-BROWN – BASKETBALL
- FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – GRACE LONG – SOCCER
- GAME CHANGER OF THE YEAR – ALBERTO ROMANO – MEN’S SOCCER
- PLAY OF THE YEAR – KAESON FISHER-BROWN’S BUZZER BEATER VS CENTRAL MISSOURI
- SUPPORTING ROLE AWARD – MO ROHLEDER – ASSOCIATE AD COMPLIANCE/SWA
- FEMALE TOP GUN AWARD – NATALIE MORALES – VOLLEYBALL
- MALE TOP GUN AWARD – LUCA PENTEADO – TENNIS
- MALE MAVERICK AWARD – SAM SOMERHALDER – BASKETBALL
- FEMALE MAVERICK AWARD – MCKINZIE WEAVER – VOLLEYBALL
- MALE BEST OF THE BEST – BOWLING
- FEMALE BEST OF THE BEST – BOWLING
- TEAM GPA AWARDS AWARDS – 3.833 GPA – WOMEN’S GOLF
- ATHLETES OF THE WEEK AWARDS:
- HITTER OF THE WEEK CONNOR OWENS – BASEBALL
- BOWLER OF THE WEEK KASSIDY MILLER X2 – WOMEN’S BOWLING
- WRESTLER OF THE WEEK JACE FISHER – WRESTLING
- GAC POTW CARLOS BELLOSTA MANCHON X2 – MENS SOCCER
- ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS:
- 1ST TEAM
- JACE FISHER – WRESTLING
- KENSLEY MORRIS – WOMEN’S BOWLING
- 2ND TEAM
- CARLOS BELLOSTA MANCHON – MEN‘S SOCCER
- FELIX TELLEZ RAMIREZ – MEN‘S SOCCER
- ALBERTO ROMANO – MEN‘S SOCCER
- ALEXIS SHEA – WOMEN’S BOWLING
- HAYLEY BONYTHON – SOFTBALL
- HONORABLE MENTION
- OZIOMA AJEKWU – VOLLEYBALL
- MAYLANI BIRCKBICHLER – WOMEN’S SOCCER
- STEVIE STRONG – MEN’S BASKETBALL
- GLVC JAMES R SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – CARIANNE TAKEUCHI – WOMEN’S BOWLING
- GLVC JAMES R SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD – WOMEN’S BOWLING
- 1ST TEAM
- NATIONAL AWARDS
- NTCA DIVISION II ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: ALEXIS SHEA – WOMEN’S BOWLING
- HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN: NOAH AKIONA – MEN’S BOWLING
- FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – HAYLEY BONYTHON – SOFTBALL
- MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – STEVIE STRONG – BASKETBALL
- MS. JET AWARD – NATALIE TRIGO – VOLLEYBALL
- MR.JET AWARD – CHASE WIEBE – BASKETBALL
Explore Newman Athletics
Find the latest rosters, schedules, order gear and more at NewmanJets.com
