Colorado University Athletics
Several Honored At Seventh Annual CUSPY's
May 01, 2007 | General
BOULDER - A dozen major awards were spread among members of five different University of Colorado athletic teams here Tuesday night as CU honored its best at the seventh annual CUSPY Awards (CU Sports Performers of the Year).
Over 300 student-athletes, coaches and staff attended the year-end banquet at the Coors Events Center, organized by CU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to honor athletic accomplishments for the 2006-07 athletic year.
Freshman soccer star Nikki Marshall not only claimed the Female Freshman of the Year Award, the Big 12 Conference's Newcomer of the Year became the first freshman, male or female, to win or share the Athlete of the Year honor. The league's leading scorer with 17 goals and three assists, she set 17 school records and was named an All-American by Soccer Buzz online magazine. She led CU to a 14-6-4 overall record, and the Buffaloes reached the Big 12 title game, succumbing to Texas in a shootout, but would advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time after beating in-state rivals Colorado College and Denver in the first two rounds.
The selection committee left open the possibility of the Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award being shared once the tennis and track seasons are complete, as two other finalists still have important portions of their seasons ahead of them: Monica Milewski (named to the All-Big 12 Tennis Team Tuesday) and Jenny Barringer (the national runner-up in cross country). Basketball's Jackie McFarland was the fourth finalist in what the committee determined to be the toughest group to judge since the award's inception in 1985.
The Male Athlete of the Year Award was presented to Stephen Pifer of the cross country and track teams. Pifer has excelled in every discipline this season. In cross country, he was CU's second finisher, taking 20th place (the 10th scorer) in earning All-America honors and helping CU to its third national title this decade. In the indoor season, he placed third in the mile at the NCAA Championships in 4:00.93 (he holds the school record in the event, which he set earlier in the year); he was second in the event at the Big 12 meet. Outdoors, he has excelled in the 1,500-meters and has already qualified for NCAA regionals.
Other finalists included Michael Baird (golf) and Abraham Wright (football).
The Male Freshman Athlete of the Year Award was given to Matt Gelso, who was the first CU freshman to win a Nordic race since 1991 (the 20k freestyle at Utah). Also the first American freshman to win a race in the west since the sport went coed in 1983, he posted 10 top five finishes in 12 races, was a National All-Academic Ski Team member and All-RMISA performer and earned first-team All-America honors in the classic and second-team accolades in the freestyle at the NCAA's. The other two finalists were Riar Geer (football) and Xavier Silas (basketball).
The Male Career Athletic Achievement Award probably had the least suspense of all the honors, as Mason Crosby, a two-time, first-team All-American and three-time, first-team All-Big 12 performer claimed the prize. Just the seventh football player in school history to earn first-team all-league honors three times, he set or tied 33 school records, including all major scoring and placekicking records. His top marks were points scored (307) and field goals made (66), as he had 12 career field goals of 50-plus yards (the previous record had been three). He owns school records for the longest field goal (60 yards) as well as the longest on the road (58 yards), and became the 25th player (and first placekicker) to have his jersey honored in football in school history. He was a sixth round selection by the Green Bay Packers in last weekend's NFL draft.
The other finalists were Dominique Coleman (basketball) and Billy Nelson (cross country and track).
The Female Career Athletic Achievement Award went to another likely candidate, volleyball All-American Ashley Nu'u. She finished her career third on CU's all-time assists chart (4,315) in guiding the volleyball team to a 17-12 record; one of the wins was over No. 1 Nebraska, the program's first-ever over a top-ranked team in would be the eventual national champion Huskers' only defeat. She was a first-team AVCA All-Central Region and All-Big 12 performer, an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection in 2004 and 2005 and was the 2003 Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year. She bested the other pair of finalists, Hannah Hoch (golf) and Laura Munnelly (soccer).
SAAC members selected several award winners, as assistant equipment manager Eric Smith, was recognized as the staff member of the year. Working with men's basketball and several Olympic sports, Smith also is on dialysis for his kidneys three times a week yet is dedicated to the CU student-athlete and their needs. The Student Athlete Support Award was given to the Compliance Office for the group's overall dedication for explaining eligibility rules and working with the students in a myriad of situations.
The prestigious Buffalo Award of Distinction, given to a student-athlete for outstanding contributions to his or her team, their peers and the athletic department overall, was presented to senior skier Kristin Taylor. The team captain, Taylor, a National All-Academic Team member, has a lengthy list of school and community service for her collegiate career, starting with four years of work with SAAC. In the last year alone, while studying one of the toughest majors on the UBC campus (integrative physiology), she served as the chairperson for community service within SAAC and made countless appearances on behalf of the school. As a volunteer for the Timmy Foundation, Taylor traveled to Ecuador over spring break to provide clinics on health education along with medical supplies. She was She also worked extensively with the EXPAND program, which provided programs for physically and mentally disabled individuals.
The SAAC Distinguished Service Award, presented to senior members who contributed significantly to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, was given to five seniors: Taylor, Mia Gaw (skiing), Hannah Hoch and Lindsay Koth (golf), and Austin Zimmerman (volleyball).
The Athlete's Choice Award, for the student who demonstrated outstanding spirit, enthusiasm and leadership while overcoming adversity, was awarded to Bernard Jackson (football). While ascending to the starting role as CU's quarterback in the second game of the season, Jackson also was concerned for his ill father and his own young son, who lost sight in one eye due to cancer.
The Speed, Strength & Conditioning Awards for the "lifters of the year" were awarded to four athletes: George Pincock (track, as the Olympic sports winner), Allie True (soccer, as the female recipient), and Hugh Charles and Jordon Dizon (the football honorees).
Created in 2001, the annual event is one of the most popular among the athletes, as they have tailored the function to be the final social gathering solely amongst themselves for the last time before finals and summer vacation, if not for a longer period of time for those graduating.
