Page 1 of 1

2021 Virtual Pony Awards Recap

PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2021 6:21 pm
by PonyPride
From SMUMustangs.com:

2021 Virtual Pony Awards Recap

SMU Athletics held its second consecutive virtual Pony Awards on Sunday night, bringing student-athletes together remotely for their end-of-the-year award ceremony. Select Mustangs earned recognition for their contributions to their teams through academics, leadership, service and standout athletics throughout the unprecedented 2020-21 campaign.

The most prestigious honor, the Athletic Director's S.P.I.R.I.T. Award, was presented to Track and Field's Ashton Woods and Football's Shane Buechele for representing the Mustangs' values of Service, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork in their sport, school and community.

The full list of nominees and award winners below:

Highest Team GPA: Presented to a male and female sport in recognition of the highest team GPA for the spring and fall semesters of 2020.
Men's Swimming and Diving
Cross Country


Most Improved Team GPA: An annual award in honor of the team with the most improved GPA for the spring and fall semesters of 2020.
Women's Golf


Academic Momentum Award: Recognizes a male or female Student-Athlete who persevered on the quest for academic success.
Jewel Boland – Women's Soccer


Sportsmanship Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship in the competitive arena.

Female Nominees
Cassie Ackemann – Track and Field
Johanna Holloway – Diving – Winner
Madi Johnson – Equestrian
Nicole Petchey – Tennis
BreyAnn Sands – Volleyball
Serena Shah – Golf
Tatum Sutherland – Soccer
Madison van Meel – Rowing

Male Nominees
Colin Feehery – Swimming
Patrick Michael Hillyard – Soccer – Winner
Hayden Howerton – Football
Isiah Jasey – Basketball


Perseverance Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who have demonstrated an exceptional degree of determination in overcoming personal, medical and/or academic obstacles while maintaining good academic standing.

Female Nominees
Katie Crown – Diving
Samantha Estrada – Soccer
Victoria Franklin – Rowing – Winner
Katie James – Golf
Angel Jones – Volleyball
Lior Kremer – Track and Field/ Cross Country

Male Nominees
Ryan Capo – Soccer
Daniel Forndal – Swimming
Everett Ray – Basketball
Reggie Roberson, Jr. – Football – Winner


Red & Blue Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who exhibit the greatest passion and spirit to SMU Athletics. These individuals bleed red and blue and represent SMU in all they do. (Intended for a student-athlete who has gone above and beyond in supporting other student-athletes and the department.)

Female Nominees
Annabelle Corcoran – Swimming
Sophie DiGesualdo – Golf
Madigan Eppink – Equestrian – Winner
Brooke Golik – Soccer
Addison Iliria – Rowing
Meryn Kennedy – Volleyball

Male Nominees
Ryan Aroesty – Swimming
Shaine Hailey – Football
Feron Hunt – Basketball
Brandon Terwege – Soccer
Justin Thompson – Golf – Winner


Newcomer of the Year Award: Presented to the freshman or first-year transfer male and female student-athletes whose presence at SMU has made an immediate impact in their sport.

Female Nominees
Hadley Doyle – Tennis
Anne Ensley – Rowing
Alina Khan – Soccer
Nya Kearns – Equestrian – Winner
Funminiyi Olajide – Track and Field
Maxine Parkinson – Swimming
Nicole Vivier – Golf

Male Nominees
Brandon Crossley – Football
Evan McCormick – Swimming
Nathan Petronzio – Golf – Winner
Skage Simonsen – Soccer


Student-Athlete of the Year Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who have achieved a high level of success in the competitive arena while maintaining good academic standing. This award recognizes a team leader whose performance impacts the collective ability of their teammates and brings a positive image to SMU.

Female Nominees
Aubrey Alderman – Equestrian – Winner
Olivia Grossklaus – Swimming
Kennedy Pedigo – Golf
Nicole Petchey – Tennis
Juliet Traylor – Rowing
Katina Tsapos – Soccer
Ashton Woods – Track and Field

Male Nominees
Knut Ahlander – Soccer
Shane Buechele – Football
Kendric Davis – Basketball
Ollie Osborne – Golf
Caleb Rhodenbaugh – Swimming – Winner


Athletic Director's S.P.I.R.I.T. Award: The most prestigious honor bestowed upon student-athletes. This award honors a male and female student-athlete who are an inspiration to others, giving unselfishly of their time and talents for the betterment of the team. They epitomize the values of Service, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork.

Female Nominees
Aubrey Alderman – Equestrian
Megan Hewison – Rowing
Madison Kinsey – Swimming
Kennedy Pedigo – Golf
Katina Tsapos – Soccer
Ashton Woods – Track and Field – Winner

Men's Nominees
Emmanuel Bandoumel – Basketball
Jack Easton – Swimming
Noah Hilt – Soccer
Shane Buechele – Football – Winner


Unity In Service Award: This award is presented to the student-athlete whose community involvement has made outstanding contributions in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion in the Dallas and SMU communities.

Nominees
Jewel Boland – Women's Soccer
Ra-Sun Kazadi – Football – Winner
Meryn Kennedy – Volleyball
Atipa Mabonga – Track and Field
Peyton Matthews – Rowing
Serena Shah – Women's Golf
Lauren Thompson – Women's Swimming
BriShonne Tollie – Women's Basketball


Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board
Ashton Woods – Track and Field
Justin Thompson – Men's Golf
Elise Johnson – Women's Swimming and Diving
Meryn Kennedy – Volleyball
Cassie Ackemann – Track and Field


Presidential Award of Excellence: Presented to a graduating senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who has demonstrated outstanding ability in their sport and in the classroom.
Mac Meissner – Men's Golf

Re: 2021 Virtual Pony Awards Recap

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 11:09 am
by AusTxPony
Congrats to all the Nominees... and a toast to your future successes.

Re: 2021 Virtual Pony Awards Recap

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 1:19 pm
by Charleston Pony
Reggie Roberson getting the perseverance award is so fitting. So impressed (and pleased) by his decision to return to SMU for another year. He's been through so much and has been such a huge factor in this offense when healthy. Hope he is able to avoid injury, have a great season, position himself for a professional career and that he has also used this time to position himself academically to succeed in life after football.

And yes...congrats to all the winners who are well deserving of these awards.

Re: 2021 Virtual Pony Awards Recap

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 2:06 pm
by DanFreibergerForHeisman
Congratulations to the winners and to all of the nominees for representing SMU so well!