MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 28, 2021) - St. Thomas University Athletics hosted its annual Bobcat Choice Awards to recognize each team's student-athletes for their athletic achievements on Tuesday evening from Paul Demie Mainieri Field. Giovanni Rosello and Donnell Bennett III hosted the annual award ceremony.
The STU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) put on the award show and oversaw the nomination process.
The 2021 Bobcat Choice Awards began with honoring the fall sports at STU, Football, Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Men's Cross Country, and Women's Cross Country.
In the second season, Bobcat Football finished the 2020 campaign with the first winning season in program history. STU placed ten student-athletes on the Mid-South All-Academic team, as well as 12 on All-Mid-South Conference Teams. St. Thomas also had seven players recognized as Mid-South Players of the Week, including Sidney Porter, who became the first player in program history to be named as an NAIA National Player of the Week. Porter, a two-time Mid-South Player of the Week, finished tied for second on the Bobcats in tackles (40) and led St. Thomas in interceptions (3).
Team Most Valuable Bobcat: Sidney Porter
Volleyball, in the first year under Head Coach Whitney Battoe, returned to the Sun Conference Semifinals for the first time since the 2017 season. The Bobcats placed four players on the All-Sun Conference First-Team, and four on the All-Academic team. STU was led by junior Arianna Bolinger, who earned the second All-Conference First-Team honor of her carrier, finished the season ranked third in the Sun Conference in kills (234) and eighth in hitting percentage (0.223).
Most Valuable Bobcat: Arianna Bolinger
The Bobcats Men's Soccer team has continued a dominant 2020-21 season, now features a bid to the NAIA National Tournament for the second time in program history. STU defeated Keiser University in the Sun Conference Tournament Championship game, claiming the third tournament championship crown in the previous five seasons. Juan Manuel Collazo has captained St. Thomas throughout the year, appearing in 15-of-18 games for STU. The Bobcats clinched the title at the Lawrenceville Bracket against Milligan University with a 2-1 victory on Saturday, April 24.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Juan Manuel Collazo
Developmental Team Most Valuable Bobcat: Juan Angulo
Women's Soccer ended the season with a 7-8 record, including a berth in the Sun Conference Championship Tournament. The Bobcats had five players recognized as All-Sun Conference Honorable Mentions and seven All-Academic members. Leonie Weide appeared in 15-games for STU, scoring three goals and tallying seven points.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Leonie Weide
Developmental Team Most Valuable Bobcat: Maite Sanchez
The St. Thomas University Cross Country Men's and Women's teams competed in several meets on the 2020 season. Jonathan Memnon, Calyope Ortega, and Lesly Marcin all earned victories on the year. Memnon was also the lone representative for the Bobcats in the NAIA National Championship meet.
Men's Most Valuable Bobcat: Jonathan Memnon
Women's Most Valuable Bobcat: Calyope Ortega
The first STU-perlative (superlative) award of the evening honored the Male and Female student-athletes that were most successful both on the field, and in the classroom. The recipients of the Men's and Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were Nicholas Foster (Wrestling) and Kyleigh Beecham (Volleyball).
St. Thomas University began its wrestling program in the 2020-21 athletic year, competing in the Mid-South Conference. The Bobcats also had the program's first Mid-South Conference Champion, as Nick Foster won the 133-lb bracket and earned the sophomore All-Mid-South Conference First-Team honors.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Nicholas Foster
Bobcat Swimming & Diving became another sport that enjoyed an inaugural season this year at St. Thomas. STU competed in the Swimming & Diving Collegiate Championship for the first competition in program history.
Men's Swimming & Diving Most Valuable Bobcat: Troy Gardner
Women's Swimming & Diving Most Valuable Bobcat: Alexandra Perez
STU finished the 2020-21 Men's Basketball season with the program's second consecutive appearance in the Sun Conference Tournament Championship. Dwayne Russell and Jahsim Floyd were both recognized by the Sun Conference, with Russell earning All-Conference First-Team honors and Floyd being named to the Second-Team for the second consecutive.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Dwayne Russell
For the third time in four seasons under Head Coach Candace Walker, STU advanced back to the Sun Conference Tournament Championship game. Gianni Domond and Anari Dozier were both recognized as Sun Conference First-Team members.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Patricia Martinez-Sanz
Most Valuable Bobcat (Cheer): Leslie Collar
Most Valuable Bobcat (Dance): Ashley David
Most Valuable Bobcat (eSports): Paulo Delfino
The second STU-peralitive of the evening recognized the senior student-athletes who have lived St. Thomas University's mission as "Leaders for Life" in their pursuit of limitless opportunities. The inaugural "Legacy Award" recipients were Gus Guerra (Baseball) and Andrea Manzur (Women's Soccer).
St. Thomas University Beach Volleyball enjoyed the most successful season in the program's brief history, advancing to the Small College Beach Volleyball Championships. Kamden Maas, a graduate student for STU, was a leader throughout the season for the Bobcats and a top performer.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Kamden Maas
Women's Flag Football at St. Thomas University debuted in 2021, with STU as the flagship program for the emerging sport. The Bobcats advanced to the inaugural Sun Conference Tournament, defeating Webber International University in the semifinal round. Jada Graham was named the first Sun Conference Co-Player of the Year, and Kayla Alvarez shared the Champion of Character award.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Jada Graham
The Bobcats Men's Tennis team is currently ranked 17th in the NAIA and is looking ahead to the Sun Conference tournament, which begins on Thursday, April 29. Robin Calais and Alessandro Tabares both were named to the Second-Team All-Sun Conference on Wednesday afternoon. Calais also earned three Sun Conference Player of the Week honors in his first season as a Bobcat.
STU Women's Tennis clinched the fourth seed in the Sun Conference Tournament and will also begin competition on Thursday afternoon.
Men's Most Valuable Bobcat: Robin Calais
Women's Most Valuable Bobcat: Lia Pena
St. Thomas University Track & Field has excelled on the 2021 season, with several student-athletes earning NAIA National Championship meet bids and have two 2021 Summer Olympic hopefuls.
Men's Most Valuable Bobcats: Elijah Hernandez, Isaac Joseph, Marvin Williams, and Bradley Bowlin (4x100m)
Women's Most Valuable Bobcat: Pamela Sanders-Booker
The St. Thomas University Men's and Women's Golf programs are in the process of completing the 2020-21 competitions. The Bobcats Men's Golf program finished the season at the Sun Conference Championship Tournament, with the Bobcats placing fifth overall. The STU Women's Golf team, led by Sereh Khanyereri's two wins, looks ahead to the Sun Conference Championship next week.
Men's Golf Most Valuable Bobcat: Alec Quiroga
Women's Golf Most Valuable Bobcat: Sereh Khanyereri
No. 12 St. Thomas University Baseball has begun to play its best baseball of the season as the season progresses to the postseason. The Bobcats have won 5-of-6 Sun Conference games to end the season, including winning a series against No. 2 Southeastern University. Daniel Mondejar is second on the team in home runs (9) and second in batting average (0.382).
Most Valuable Bobcat: Daniel Mondejar
The Softball team during the 2021 season has recorded two upset victories over two ranked Sun Conference opponents. Eliza Artiles has been a spark all season for the Bobcats, hitting 0.387 and has stolen a team-leading 15 bases.
Most Valuable Bobcat: Eliza Artiles
STU-Perlatives
Team of the Year: Men's Tennis
Coach of the Year: Candace Walker
Ultimate Bobcat: Chrystal Pressley
Silver Bobcat: Lee Richmond (Men's Basketball), Nicole Maribona (Women's Soccer)
Golden Bobcat: Arianna Bolinger (Volleyball), Sidney Porter (Football)
Congratulations to all the student-athletes on their accomplishments throughout the 2020-21 athletic year!
-STU-
