Golden Bobcats Week Closes; Highlights Past Two Years of Bobcat Athletics
4/23/2021 1:14:00 PM | General
The Montana State Athletics Department spent the past week recognizing its Golden Bobcats award winners on social media in lieu of the annual award banquet done in person over the years. The week of awards highlighted winners for this season as well as during the 2019-20 season due to the cancellation of spring activities a year ago
The Montana State Athletics Department spent the past week recognizing its Golden Bobcats award winners on social media in lieu of the annual award banquet done in person over the years. The week of awards highlighted winners for this season as well as during the 2019-20 season due to the cancellation of spring activities a year ago.
Below are a breakdown of the nominees and award winners selected for the 2021 Golden Bobcats.
Outstanding Faculty Award
Presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated a commitment to teaching and to fostering the intellectual and personal growth of Montana State student-athletes
Winner: Dr. Katie Banner (Mathematical Sciences)
Inspiration Award
Presented to a member of the Bobcat Athletics community whose personal efforts and contributions embody the mission of the Athletic Department and serves as an inspiration to all of those around them
Winner: Bobcat Athletic Training staff (Rob Higgs, Brett Ritter, Justin Halvorson, Jennifer Chiu, Ben Huver, Keyton Gines, McKenna Drevno, Austin Yapias) and Bozeman Health staff
Unsung Hero Award (Staff)
Presented to a staff member in the Bobcat Athletics community, whose efforts toward, and passion for, the program go above and beyond
Winner: Emily Keller (Academic Services)
Top Academic Team
Presented to the team with the highest GPA in the previous calendar year
Winner: Women's Tennis (3.85 GPA)
Academic Excellence Award
Presented to any graduating student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA
Recipients: Kyle Finch (Football), Anna French (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Madison Liechty (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Alec Nehring (Men's Track & Field)
Academic Achievement Award
Presented to the male and female senior student-athletes who best exemplify the spirit of hard work resulting in academic success and improved academic progress throughout their time at MSU
Recipients: Chase Benson (Football), Ti Donaldson (Nordic Skiing), Alex Hellenberg (Women's Track & Field), Devin Kirby (Men's Basketball), Hannah Scott (Volleyball)
Unsung Hero Award (Student-Athletes)
Presented to one member of every team whose efforts toward, and passion for, the program go above and beyond
Recipients: Eli Hermanson (Nordic Skiing), Gabby Mocchi (Women's Basketball), Jubrile Belo (Men's Basketball), Age Solheim (Alpine Skiing), Taylor Tuiasosopo (Football), Laura Mary (Women's Tennis), Emma West (Volleyball), Alec Nehring (Men's TF/XC), Leah Klein (Women's TF/XC), Hannah Rosanova (Golf), Necj Sitar (Men's Tennis), Maria Gallivan (Spirit Squad)
Rising Leader Award
Presented to one underclassmen on every team who is an outstanding leader, student, and role model for other student-athletes
Recipients: Aubrey LeClair (Nordic Skiing), Darian White (Women's Basketball), Kellen Tynes (Men's Basketball), Riley Seger (Alpine Skiing), Jaden Smith (Football), Mirte Van Baelen (Women's Tennis), Emma Pence (Volleyball), Carder Slade (Men's TF/XC), Kyla Bush (Women's TF/XC), Cora Rosanova (Golf), Brad Buckland (Men's Tennis)
Bobcat Spirit Award
Presented to the male and female student-athletes who displays perseverance, ambition, and leadership as they strive to fulfill the demanding role of the student-athlete at Montana State
Nico Harrison Bobcat Spirit Award
Nominees: Xavier Bishop (Men's Basketball), Joaquin Espinoza (Men's Tennis), Lewis Kidd (Football)
Winners: Brent Lloyd (Spirit Squad), Alec Nehring (Men's Track and Field)
Dr. Ginny Hunt Bobcat Spirit Award
Nominees: Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Susanna Sovde (Volleyball), Carley VonHeeder (Women's Track and Field)
Winners: Kristiane Bekkestad (Alpine Skiing), Kelly Hooper (Golf)
Newcomer of the Year Award
Presented to the male and female newcomer who have excelled in their first year of competition at MSU
Nominees: Brad Buckland (Men's Tennis), Jourdain Klein (Volleyball), Leah Klein (Women's TF/XC), Katelynn Limardo (Women's Basketball), Abdul Mohamed (Men's Basketball), Nellie Talbot (Alpine Skiing), Dawson Yates (Alpine Skiing)
2019-20 Winners: Jubrile Belo (Men's Basketball), Darian White (Women's Basketball)
2020-21 Winners: Damien Nelson (Men's Track and Field), Carla Nicosia (Women's Track and Field)
Bobcat of the Year Award
Presented to the male and female student-athletes who are outstanding citizens, leaders, scholars and athletes, one who embodies everything it means to be a student-athlete at Montana State
Tennyson Ballek Bobcat of the Year Award
Nominees: Kylie Christiansen (Women's Track and Field), Madeline Smith (Women's Basketball), Susanna Sovde (Volleyball)
Winners: Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Hannah Scott (Volleyball)
Travis Lulay Bobcat of the Year Award
Nominees: Duncan Hamilton (Men's TF/XC), Alec Nehring (Men's Track and Field), Caleb Neth (Men's Track and Field)
Winners: Harald Frey (Men's Basketball), Louis Muhlen-Schulte (Alpine Skiing)
Golden Bobcats MVP Award
Presented to the top male and female athletes at Montana State
Nominees: Troy Andersen (Football), Jubrile Belo (Men's Basketball), Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Camila Noe (Women's TF/XC), Age Solheim (Alpine Skiing), Darian White (Women's Basketball)
Winners (2019-20): Mitch Brott (Football), Fallyn Freije (Women's Basketball)
Winners (2020-21): Duncan Hamilton (Men's TF/XC), Kira Thomsen (Volleyball)
Below are a breakdown of the nominees and award winners selected for the 2021 Golden Bobcats.
Outstanding Faculty Award
Presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated a commitment to teaching and to fostering the intellectual and personal growth of Montana State student-athletes
Winner: Dr. Katie Banner (Mathematical Sciences)
Inspiration Award
Presented to a member of the Bobcat Athletics community whose personal efforts and contributions embody the mission of the Athletic Department and serves as an inspiration to all of those around them
Winner: Bobcat Athletic Training staff (Rob Higgs, Brett Ritter, Justin Halvorson, Jennifer Chiu, Ben Huver, Keyton Gines, McKenna Drevno, Austin Yapias) and Bozeman Health staff
Unsung Hero Award (Staff)
Presented to a staff member in the Bobcat Athletics community, whose efforts toward, and passion for, the program go above and beyond
Winner: Emily Keller (Academic Services)
Top Academic Team
Presented to the team with the highest GPA in the previous calendar year
Winner: Women's Tennis (3.85 GPA)
Academic Excellence Award
Presented to any graduating student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA
Recipients: Kyle Finch (Football), Anna French (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Madison Liechty (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Alec Nehring (Men's Track & Field)
Academic Achievement Award
Presented to the male and female senior student-athletes who best exemplify the spirit of hard work resulting in academic success and improved academic progress throughout their time at MSU
Recipients: Chase Benson (Football), Ti Donaldson (Nordic Skiing), Alex Hellenberg (Women's Track & Field), Devin Kirby (Men's Basketball), Hannah Scott (Volleyball)
Unsung Hero Award (Student-Athletes)
Presented to one member of every team whose efforts toward, and passion for, the program go above and beyond
Recipients: Eli Hermanson (Nordic Skiing), Gabby Mocchi (Women's Basketball), Jubrile Belo (Men's Basketball), Age Solheim (Alpine Skiing), Taylor Tuiasosopo (Football), Laura Mary (Women's Tennis), Emma West (Volleyball), Alec Nehring (Men's TF/XC), Leah Klein (Women's TF/XC), Hannah Rosanova (Golf), Necj Sitar (Men's Tennis), Maria Gallivan (Spirit Squad)
Rising Leader Award
Presented to one underclassmen on every team who is an outstanding leader, student, and role model for other student-athletes
Recipients: Aubrey LeClair (Nordic Skiing), Darian White (Women's Basketball), Kellen Tynes (Men's Basketball), Riley Seger (Alpine Skiing), Jaden Smith (Football), Mirte Van Baelen (Women's Tennis), Emma Pence (Volleyball), Carder Slade (Men's TF/XC), Kyla Bush (Women's TF/XC), Cora Rosanova (Golf), Brad Buckland (Men's Tennis)
Bobcat Spirit Award
Presented to the male and female student-athletes who displays perseverance, ambition, and leadership as they strive to fulfill the demanding role of the student-athlete at Montana State
Nico Harrison Bobcat Spirit Award
Nominees: Xavier Bishop (Men's Basketball), Joaquin Espinoza (Men's Tennis), Lewis Kidd (Football)
Winners: Brent Lloyd (Spirit Squad), Alec Nehring (Men's Track and Field)
Dr. Ginny Hunt Bobcat Spirit Award
Nominees: Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Susanna Sovde (Volleyball), Carley VonHeeder (Women's Track and Field)
Winners: Kristiane Bekkestad (Alpine Skiing), Kelly Hooper (Golf)
Newcomer of the Year Award
Presented to the male and female newcomer who have excelled in their first year of competition at MSU
Nominees: Brad Buckland (Men's Tennis), Jourdain Klein (Volleyball), Leah Klein (Women's TF/XC), Katelynn Limardo (Women's Basketball), Abdul Mohamed (Men's Basketball), Nellie Talbot (Alpine Skiing), Dawson Yates (Alpine Skiing)
2019-20 Winners: Jubrile Belo (Men's Basketball), Darian White (Women's Basketball)
2020-21 Winners: Damien Nelson (Men's Track and Field), Carla Nicosia (Women's Track and Field)
Bobcat of the Year Award
Presented to the male and female student-athletes who are outstanding citizens, leaders, scholars and athletes, one who embodies everything it means to be a student-athlete at Montana State
Tennyson Ballek Bobcat of the Year Award
Nominees: Kylie Christiansen (Women's Track and Field), Madeline Smith (Women's Basketball), Susanna Sovde (Volleyball)
Winners: Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Hannah Scott (Volleyball)
Travis Lulay Bobcat of the Year Award
Nominees: Duncan Hamilton (Men's TF/XC), Alec Nehring (Men's Track and Field), Caleb Neth (Men's Track and Field)
Winners: Harald Frey (Men's Basketball), Louis Muhlen-Schulte (Alpine Skiing)
Golden Bobcats MVP Award
Presented to the top male and female athletes at Montana State
Nominees: Troy Andersen (Football), Jubrile Belo (Men's Basketball), Tori Martell (Women's Basketball), Camila Noe (Women's TF/XC), Age Solheim (Alpine Skiing), Darian White (Women's Basketball)
Winners (2019-20): Mitch Brott (Football), Fallyn Freije (Women's Basketball)
Winners (2020-21): Duncan Hamilton (Men's TF/XC), Kira Thomsen (Volleyball)
Leon Blue and Gold Gala Tickets
Friday, September 05
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
