Tulsa Student-Athletes Honored at the 23rd Annual Golden ‘Cane Awards Gala Tuesday
4/24/2018 8:28:00 PM | Tulsa Hurricane
TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa student-athletes were honored for their athletic and academic achievements Tuesday night at the school's Golden 'Cane Awards Gala.
A crowd of over 750 gathered for the 23rd Annual Golden 'Cane Awards Gala, a Grammy Awards-type Ceremony, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on the TU campus.
The top awards were given to TU's "Ultimate Team", recognizing the top student-athletes based on academic achievement, athletic success, campus involvement and community outreach.
Ksenia Laskutova, who recently helped the Tulsa women's tennis team win the American Athletic Conference Championship, is one of nine selections to the Ultimate Team. Joining Laskutova is four-time all-conference performer Rachel Thun-Blankenship (Women's Soccer), 2017 second-team All-American Emily Watson (Softball), 1,000-point career scorer Erika Wakefield (Women's Basketball), the 2018 American Athletic Conference's Female Scholar Athlete of the Year recipient for rowing Hannah Vissers (Rowing), two-time NCAA Regional qualifier Kiarra Reed (Track & Field) and volleyball's Ashton Anderson, who is already working on her MBA.
Football three-year offensive line starter Willie Wright is the lone junior on this year's Ultimate Team, while rounding out the nine-member team is the American Athletic Conference's 2018 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year recipient for cross-country, Adam Roderique.
Roderique and rowing team member Stephanie Call were recognized as the Warren Garrison Academic Excellence Award-Winners, presented in honor of TU's first academic advisor and given to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average. Call has a 4.0 GPA in chemical engineering, while Roderique maintains a 3.91 GPA in mechanical engineering.
The Wilson Holloway "Ultimate Service" Award was established in order to recognize the efforts of student support staff for service to the teams and student-athletes. This year's honoree is four-year women's basketball manager Darian Dozier.
In December 1989, Tulsa football All-America receiver Dan Bitson's life was altered when his automobile was struck head-on just a mile from campus. His unlikely return to football in 1991 was inspirational to many and remains an inspiration to Tulsa student-athletes today with the establishment of the Dan Bitson Courage Award.
The award is presented annually to the TU student-athlete who exemplifies courage, perseverance and tenacity for overcoming adversity. This year, two senior student-athletes were recognized with the Dan Bitson Courage Award, including basketball student-athlete Junior Etou and football defensive lineman Jesse Brubaker.
When Etou came to the United States seven years ago alone he was not able to speak English, but since then has added English as a sixth language, while embracing TU and Tulsa as his home. Brubaker suffered a horrific eye injury when prior to the 2014 season he suffered a blow-out fracture of his left eye orbit.
The Faculty Athletic Board Classroom Grit Award, which recognizes one female and one male graduating senior student-athlete who has faced the rigors of TU classes with extraordinary commitment and effort, went to Brooke Berryhill from volleyball and football's Nigel Carter.
Each year, Tulsa student-athletes have the opportunity to select the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Faculty Member of the Year Award. This year's selection is Warren Clinic Associate Professor of Sports Administration Dr. Adrien Bouchet.
Rachel Thun-Blankenship, Ksenia Laskutova, Adam Roderique, Hannah Vissers,
Erika Wakefield, Emily Watson)
2017-18 SPECIAL AWARDS
Ultimate Team Members (awarded to student-athletes based on academic success, campus involvement, community outreach and athletic participation)
Ashton Anderson, Volleyball
Ksenia Laskutova, Women's Tennis
Kiarra Reed, Women's Cross Country/Track
Adam Roderique, Men's Cross Country/Track
Rachel Thun-Blankenship, Women's Soccer
Hannah Vissers, Rowing
Erika Wakefield, Women's Basketball
Emily Watson, Softball
Willie Wright, Football
Wilson Holloway Ultimate Service Award (recognize the efforts of student support staff for service to the teams and student-athletes)
Darian Dozier, Women's Basketball Manager
Dan Bitson Courage Award (presented to the TU student-athlete who exemplifies courage, perseverance and tenacity for overcoming adversity)
Jesse Brubaker, Football
Junior Etou, Men's Basketball
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Faculty Member of the Year Award (selected by the TU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee)
Adrian Bouchet, Warren Clinic Associate Professor of Sports Administration
Warren Garrison Academic Excellence Award (presented to student-athletes who have maintained 4.0 cumulative GPA)
Stephanie Call, Rowing
Adam Roderique, Cross Country/Track &Field
Faculty Athletic Board Classroom Grit Award (awarded to one male and one female graduating senior student-athlete who has faced the rigors of TU classes with extraordinary commitment and effort)
Brooke Berryhill, Volleyball
Nigel Carter, Football
2017-18 INDIVIDUAL SPORT AWARD WINNERS
Men's Basketball
Offensive Player of the Year – Junior Etou
Defensive Player of the Year – DaQuan Jeffries
Women's Basketball
Offensive Player of the Year – Shug Dickson
Defensive Player of the Year – Erika Wakefield
Women's & Men's Cross Country
Female Athlete of the Year – Ashley Barnes
Male Athlete of the Year – Ben Preisner
Football
Offensive Player of the Year – D'Angelo Brewer
Defensive Player of the Year – Jeremy Smith
Special Teams Player of the Year – Redford Jones
Women's Golf
Golfer of the Year – Olivia Jackson
Women's Rowing
Co-Team MVPs – Hannah Vissers and Ellie Russell
Men's Soccer
Offensive Player of the Year – Rollie Rocha
Defensive Player of the Year – Koray Easterling
Women's Soccer
Offensive Player of the Year – Rachel Thun Blankenship
Defensive Player of the Year – Amanda Creason
Softball
Co-Offensive Players of the Year – Shelby Estocado and Julia Hollingsworth
Defensive Player of the Year – Emily Watson
Men's Tennis
Most Valuable Player – Majed Kilani
Women's Tennis
Most Valuable Player – Ksenia Laskutova
Men's Track & Field
Indoor Athlete of the Year – Ben Preisner
Outdoor Athlete of the Year – not announced until after season
Women's Track & Field
Indoor Athlete of the Year – Caitlin Klopfer
Outdoor Athlete of the Year – not announced until after season
Volleyball
Offensive Player of the Year – Emily Thorson
Defensive Player of the Year – Taylor Horsfall
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