Tulsa Student-Athletes Honored at the 27th Golden ‘Cane Awards Gala

Red Carpet Photo Gallery
Award Winners and Performers

TULSA, Okla. –– After a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The University of Tulsa's Golden 'Cane Awards Gala returned to an in-person event on Tuesday, April 26, as Golden Hurricane student-athletes were honored for their athletic and academic achievements for the 2021-22 season.

A crowd of over 600 gathered for the 25^th Golden 'Cane Awards Gala, a Grammy Awards-type Ceremony, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on the TU campus.

The night was highlighted by the announcement of this year's "Ultimate Team", an award recognizing TU's top student-athletes based on academic achievement, athletic success, campus involvement, character and community outreach.

There were five female and five male selections to the Ultimate Team which included three-time recipient Chris Paul, from the Tulsa football team, and repeat winner from women's basketball Rebecca Lescay.

Paul has served the last two years as the American Athletic Conference's representative to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). He was also a member of the NCAA Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Equity and the DI Football Oversight Committee. Lescay was the 2021 AAC Scholar Athlete of the Year for women's basketball and has been involved in SAAC, Tulsa Athletics DEI and Mortar Board at TU.

In his career, Paul started 38 of 42 games including starts at four of the five offensive line positions. Lescay played in 139 career games with 119 starts and had a 7.0 career scoring average.

Darien Jackson (Men's Basketball) returned for his fifth season in 2021-22 and was the recipient of The American's Sportsmanship Award after a year earlier being recognized as the league's Sixth Man of the Year. He averaged 10.4 points and had a team-high .559 field goal percentage in 31 games this season. Jackson has worked at Greenwood Rising and has volunteered with Tulsa Plays and at the Tulsa Dream Center.

A 10-time letterwinner, Caroline Miller (Track/Cross Country) is a three-time all-conference selection for cross country as well as a three-time AAC all-academic team performer. A nursing major, Miller has completed 632 clinical hours. On the men's side, Henry Visser (Track & Field) has placed among the top-3 five times at the AAC Championships during his track career. He graduated with a double major in finance and economics. Miller has been a member of TUSNA, while Visser has been a member of Tulsa's Finance Association and Economics Association.

Men's soccer teammates Mitchell Cashion and Henry Sach helped their team post a 16-2 record, win the AAC Championship and advance to the NCAA Third Round, while the Hurricane team was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally. Cashion earned his finance degree in 3.5 years with a 3.64 GPA, while Sach has a 3.86 GPA in management.

Emily Brandenburg (Women's Soccer) has served as TU's SAAC President while also serving as a member of the Future Alumni Council and the Mortar Board at TU. She is a three-time AAC all-academic selection with a 3.885 GPA in biochemistry and has been a four-year captain. Brandenburg has volunteered with the Tulsa Dream Center and True Blue Pantry, worked with Team IMPACT and has been a part of the Kendall-Whitter Reading Partners program.

Maggie Hembree (Volleyball) and Samantha Pochop (Softball) have played vital roles for their teams as the final two members of the Ultimate Team. One of the league's top middle blockers in each of the last two seasons, Hembree had a team-best .304 attack percentage in the fall of 2021, while ranking second on the team for kills, blocks and points. A four-time AAC all-academic honoree, Hembree has maintained a 3.88 GPA in speech pathology and has spent time as a Young Life counselor.

A pitcher for the Golden Hurricane softball team, Pochop has moved herself into the top-10 for most strikeouts in school history. She has been a member of SAAC for three seasons and has volunteered for various community events like the Lift Up America Food Drive while earning AAC all-academic honors for four years.

A new award in 2021-22 is the Wilson Holloway Unsung Hero award, which is given to the student-athlete who has helped their team achieve success in ways that may not be found on the stat sheet. The inaugural winner is football's Tiller Bucktrot. According to his head coach, Philip Montgomery, Tiller is the consummate team player who is always willing to do whatever is best for the team. He has also been involved in Read Across America, TPS First Day of School, Lift Up America and countless other community outreach activities.

Volleyball student-athlete Lauren Isenberg was recognized as the Warren Garrison Academic Excellence Award Winner, presented in honor of TU's first academic advisor and given to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average. Isenberg has maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA in mechanical engineering.

The Ultimate Service Award was established in order to recognize the efforts of student support staff for service to teams and student-athletes. This year's recipient is football equipment manager Bobby Hester.

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 the football field 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 Courage award is presented annually to the TU student-athlete who exemplifies courage, perseverance and tenacity for overcoming adversity. Senior softball student-athlete MaKayla Jackson is this year's winner of the Dan Bitson Courage Award. Jackson overcame childhood cancer at the age of 13, lost both her parents and suffered an ACL injury, all while in high school, and at TU recovered from shoulder surgery as a freshman.

The Dr. Christopher Anderson 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 Addyson Guthrie from women's soccer, and football's TK Wilkerson.

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 was Chapman Clinical Associate Professor of Exercise & Sports Science Samantha Beams.

2021-22 SPECIAL AWARDS
Ultimate Team Members
This award is designed to recognize those student-athletes who exemplify the qualities consistent with the mission and values of TU and its athletics program. Selection is based upon five pillars: academic achievement, athletic participation, campus involvement, character, and community outreach.
Darien Jackson, Men's Basketball
Rebecca Lescay, Women's Basketball
Caroline Miller, Cross Country/Track & Field
Henry Visser, Cross Country/Track & Field
Chris Paul, Football
Mitchell Cashion, Men's Soccer
Henry Sach, Men's Soccer
Emily Brandenburg, Women's Soccer
Samantha Pochop, Softball
Maggie Hembree, Volleyball

Dan Bitson Courage Award
This award is named in honor of former TU football player Dan Bitson and is presented to the TU student-athlete who demonstrates courage and perseverance in overcoming adversity.
Makayla Jackson, Softball

Warren Garrison Academic Excellence Award
This award is named in honor of TU's first academic advisor for the athletic department and is given to the graduating student-athlete who has completed his or her eligibility with the highest undergraduate cumulative grade point average.
Lauren Isenberg, Volleyball

Wilson Holloway Unsung Hero Award
Established in 2022, this award is named in memory of TU football student-athlete, Wilson Holloway, and recognizes the student-athlete who has helped their team achieve success in ways that may not be found on the stat sheet. This award places emphasis on characteristics such as positive attitude, being a team player and a commitment to excellence in the pursuit of team goals.
Tiller Bucktrot, Football

Christopher Anderson Classroom Grit Award
This award is named in honor of retired Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature and former Faculty Athletics Representative at TU, Dr. Christopher Anderson. This award is presented to one male and one female graduating student-athlete for perseverance in the classroom.
Addyson Guthrie, Women's Soccer
TK Wilkerson, Football/Hurricane Ambassador

Ultimate Service Award
This award recognizes a student support staff member who goes above and beyond in their service to others and the University of Tulsa's athletics program.
Bobby Hester, Football Equipment Manager

Dr. Barry A. Kinsey Faculty Athletics Representative Award
This award is named in honor of a former and highly respected Faculty Athletics Representative at TU and recognizes the team that achieved the highest grade point average for the academic year.
Men's Tennis

Faculty Member of the Year Award
The faculty member who receives this honor is nominated by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the winner is then determined by a vote of TU student-athletes.
Samantha Beams, Chapman Clinical Associate Professor of Exercise & Sports Science

2021-22 INDIVIDUAL SPORT AWARD WINNERS
Men's Basketball
Offensive Player of the Year – Jeriah Horne
Defensive Player of the Year – Darien Jackson

Women's Basketball
Offensive Player of the Year – Temira Poindexter
Defensive Player of the Year – Maddie Bittle

Cross-Country
Female Athlete of the Year – Caroline Miller
Male Athlete of the Year – Scott Beattie

Football
Offensive Player of the Year – Shamari Brooks
Defensive Player of the Year – Justin Wright
Special Teams Player of the Year – Zack Long

Women's Golf
Golfer of the Year – Lilly Thomas

Women's Rowing
Most Valuable Rower – Becky Coleman
Team Spirit – Mary Madeleine Birthisel
Most Improved Rower – Bass Andre

Men's Soccer
Offensive Player of the Year – Alex Meinhard
Defensive Player of the Year – Til Zinnhardt

Women's Soccer
Offensive Player of the Year – Isold Runarsdottir
Defensive Player of the Year – Emily Brandenburg
Rookie of the Year – Madison Williams

Softball
Co-Offensive Player of the Year – Abby Jones
Co-Offensive Player of the Year – Haley Morgan
Defensive Player of the Year – Samantha Pochop

Men's Tennis
Most Valuable Player – Kody Pearson

Women's Tennis
Most Valuable Player – Laie Conde Monfort

Track & Field
Women's Indoor Athlete of the Year – Chloe Hershenow
Men's Indoor Athlete of the Year – Scott Beattie
Women's Outdoor Athlete of the Year – not decided until postseason
Men's Outdoor Athlete of the Year – not decided until postseason

Volleyball
Offensive Player of the Year – Kayley Cassaday
Defensive Player of the Year – Marta Pecalli

Tulsa Student-Athletes Honored at the 27th Golden ‘Cane Awards Gala

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