Related Links:
VIDEO – Warhawk Athletics 2016-17 Year in Review
Photo Galleries – Purple Carpet ||| Program
2016-17 Chancellor's Scholar-Athletes (PDF)
Jenna Paez performance - "Can't Help Falling In Love"
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater department of intercollegiate athletics held its fourth annual Warhawk Awards Monday at Young Auditorium.
 
More than 400 attendees, including student-athletes, coaches, administrators, support staff, faculty, sponsors and other friends of Warhawk athletics, walked the purple carpet in a formal affair recognizing all 20 sports teams from the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The Warhawk Leadership Academy and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee partnered with several event sponsors, including Northwestern Mutual, Discover Whitewater Series and Badger Farms, to host the event.
 
Following hors d'oeuvres and photos on the purple carpet, a video with highlights from the past year was shown. Director of intercollegiate athletics Randy Marnocha gave a brief welcome.
 
Chancellor Beverly Kopper then came to the stage to introduce the Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete program, which rewards student-athletes in their senior year who maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 at the conclusion of the 2016 fall semester, achieve senior status in their academic program and have at least 90 degree credits.
 
A total of 44 student-athletes were named Chancellor's Scholar-Athletes. Click here to view more information on this year's honorees.
 
Dr. Kristina Navarro, assistant athletic director of leadership development and strategic partnerships, and Matt Lueder, representing Northwestern Mutual, presented all of the WLA's Veteran Warhawks with a certificate of completion and lapel pin.
 
Award winners were announced and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was recognized. Marnocha provided closing remarks.
 
Three musical acts were performed by student-athletes during the show. Baseball junior Blake Fleischman performed The Script's "Hall of Fame" on piano, women's soccer freshman Jenna Paez performed Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling In Love" on vocals and guitar, and men's tennis sophomore Rory Calabria, volleyball sophomore Kelley Berk and assistant tennis coach Byron Balkin performed Andy Grammer's "Back Home" on vocals and guitar.

The gymnastics team was also recognized by UW-Whitewater's student government for its 2017 national championship.
 
See below for nominees and winners in each award category.
 
Male Rising Warhawk Award
Recognizes an underclassman (freshman or sophomore) who serves as a leader by example for other Warhawk student-athletes. He exemplifies characteristics of academic excellence, leadership and character while also being actively engaged on campus and in the community.
 
Jordan Brand – Football
Cameron Gidlow – Swimming and Diving – WINNER
Trevor Johnson – Soccer
Zach Knobloch – Basketball
Matthew Primozic – Tennis
 
Female Rising Warhawk Award
Recognizes an underclassman (freshman or sophomore) who serves as a leader by example for other Warhawk student-athletes. She exemplifies characteristics of academic excellence, leadership and character while also being actively engaged on campus and in the community.
 
Kristin Bowe – Golf
Meredith Gustafson – Swimming and Diving – WINNER
Sara Klimisch – Soccer
Lisa O'Donnell – Gymnastics
Elizabeth Tworek – Volleyball
 
Male Veteran Warhawk Award
Recognizes an individual who is invested in the personal development of himself and others. He is dedicated to serving as an ambassador for athletics and academic excellence with a commitment to personal enhancement, social responsibility, Warhawk outreach and preparation for life after athletics.
 
Rory Calabria – Tennis – WINNER
Jack Deichl – Football
Austin Jones – Baseball
Andrew Langenhahn – Swimming and Diving
Chris Roche – Soccer
 
Female Veteran Warhawk Award
Recognizes an individual who is invested in the personal development of herself and others. She is dedicated to serving as an ambassador for athletics and academic excellence with a commitment to personal enhancement, social responsibility, Warhawk outreach and preparation for life after athletics.
 
Liz Mielke – Cross Country/Track and Field
Leah Nehila – Soccer
Morgan Parker – Volleyball
Courtney Pickett – Gymnastics
Amanda Van Duyn – Bowling – WINNER
 
Male Sportsmanship Award
Recognizes a student-athlete who demonstrates respect, honesty, integrity, sportsmanship and passion for his sport and teammates at all times. He improves the performance of his team during practice and competition by encouraging, supporting and pushing the team to reach its highest potential.
 
Michael Aiello – Baseball
Dan Bielski – Swimming and Diving
Tommy Miller – Football
Jerry Ngobi – Basketball – WINNER
Brian Zimdars – Soccer
 
Female Sportsmanship Award
Recognizes a student-athlete who demonstrates respect, honesty, integrity, sportsmanship and passion for her sport and teammates at all times. She improves the performance of her team during practice and competition by encouraging, supporting and pushing the team to reach its highest potential.
 
McKenzie Asplund – Swimming and Diving – WINNER
Emily Kraft – Basketball
Adria Schueler – Soccer
Cara Smoczynski – Softball
Tessa Weber – Volleyball
 
Mr. Warhawk
Recognizes a student-athlete who demonstrates the essence of the Division III philosophy. He exemplifies what it means to be a UW-Whitewater student-athlete and displays excellence in the classroom, on the playing surface and within the campus community. He has excelled athletically and academically throughout his career and is a role model for future Warhawks.
 
Jack Bullis – Track and Field
Jordan Kuczynski – Baseball
Vince Mason – Football
Jordan Newman – Wrestling
Michael Salm – Soccer – WINNER
 
Miss Warhawk
Recognizes a student-athlete who demonstrates the essence of the Division III philosophy. She exemplifies what it means to be a UW-Whitewater student-athlete and displays excellence in the classroom, on the playing surface and within the campus community. She has excelled athletically and academically throughout her career and is a role model for future Warhawks.
 
Katie Fiorilli – Gymnastics
Megan Humphreys – Tennis
Margaret Lotzer – Swimming and Diving
Lauren Pfeifer – Volleyball – WINNER
Amanda Strupp – Track and Field
 
Male Scholar-Athlete (2015-16)
 
Kyle Amundson – Swimming and Diving – WINNER
Kyle Christensen – Football
Nick Froland – Football
Mike Judd – Track and Field
Ryan Winske – Football
 
Female Scholar-Athlete (2015-16)
 
Emily Kahl – Cross Country
Hannah Lee – Gymnastics
Jessica Sabey – Volleyball
Emily Sodemann – Tennis – WINNER
Jenna Woodson – Soccer
 
Male Team Grade Point Average
 
Baseball
Cross Country – WINNER
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
 
Female Team Grade Point Average
 
Bowling
Cross Country
Golf
Softball – WINNER
Women's Tennis
 
Team Community Service
 
Gymnastics – CO-WINNER
Women's Soccer – CO-WINNER
Men's/Women's Swimming and Diving
Men's Tennis
Volleyball
 
Warhawk Cup
Team 2 – Amanda Van Duyn (Bowling), Kelley Berk (Volleyball)
Team 3 – Carina Krausert (Women's Soccer), Erin Hawker (Women's Swimming and Diving), Joe Bullis (Men's Track and Field)
Team 7 – Rory Calabria (Men's Tennis), Cara Smoczynski (Softball), Leah Nehila (Women's Soccer) – WINNER