by David Rung
The Newman athletics department celebrated its student-athletes at the 4th Annual Jetspy Awards May 1, to cap the 2017-18 sports season.
The yearly awards gala featured 26 awards presented to individuals or teams, as over 300 athletes from Newman’s 19 teams descended on the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center for dinner and the awards show.
The event was sponsored by the Newman Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and co-hosted by wrestler Kyle Ryan, men’s golfer Stefan DeDominicis and men’s basketball player Anthony Harvey Jr.
Before the event started, the Newman 360Five crew hosted their own version of “Red Carpet Live,” interviewing attendees as they arrived for the big night.
A list of the night’s winners follows:
Play of the Year: Paul Rupnik, Baseball, home run to tie game vs. No. 9 Lubbock Christian
Female Rookie of the Year (freshman): Kyra Butler, Women’s Soccer
Male Rookie of the Year (freshman): Tyler Lawley, Wrestling
Gamechanger Award (transfer athlete): Lauri Soome, Men’s Tennis
Female Maverick (Leadership): Delaney Hiegert, Softball
Male Maverick (Leadership): Paul Rupnik, Baseball
Special Ops Award (faculty/staff member): Dr. Jill Fort, Faculty Athletic Representative and professor of criminal justice
Special Ops Award (athletics staff behind the scenes): Joe Cannady, Baseball
Ghost Rider Award (no athletic scholarship money): Damien Akao, Men’s Basketball
Female Wingman (non-starter): Sarah Peterson, Volleyball
Male Wingman (non-starter): Cory Clausing, Men’s Bowling
Female Top Gun (four-year senior): Kelly Machacek, Women’s Bowling
Male Top Gun (four-year senior): Jamie Barkway, Men’s Soccer
Turnaround Team Award: Men’s Basketball
Game of the Year: Women’s Basketball vs. No. 11 Emporia State
Community Outreach Award: Cheer and Dance
Breakthrough Athlete of the Year: Dalton Weidl, Wrestling
Comeback Athlete of the Year: Vitor Okamoto, Men’s Soccer
Female Scholar Team: Women’s Golf
Male Scholar Team: Men’s Triathlon
Women’s Best of the Best (top team): Women’s Bowling
Men’s Best of the Best (top team): Wrestling
Ms. Jet: Quincy Plank, Women’s Soccer
Mr. Jet: Vince Couto, Men’s Soccer
Female Athlete of the Year: Emily Harvey, Volleyball
Male Athlete of the Year: Noel Torres, Wrestling
