With Virginia athletics in a short exam break for the most part - the tennis teams host NCAA Tournament matches this weekend, the men’s lacrosse team plays in Charlotte for the ACC Tournament, and the women’s golf team begins NCAA Regional play early next week - the Cavaliers celebrated their annual Hoos Choice Awards this week.
The two big honorees: Connor Shellenberger and Gretchen Walsh, who were selected as UVA’s top male and female athletes for the 2023-24 academic year. Shellenberger received the WINA Award as the top male athlete, while Walsh earned the IMP Award as the top female athlete. It’s not hard to see why the duo claimed that recognition. Both fan favorites have risen to the top of their respective sports nationally during their careers.
Shellenberger led the Hoos back to the NCAA Final Four last May with another All-American season. He’s followed that up with another stellar season. The two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist is once again a nominee for that award this season. He is the active Division I leader in career assists (183). He became UVA’s all-time record holder in both career assists and points earlier this season.
Walsh, meanwhile, dominated the postseason in college swimming. She won three individual NCAA titles and participated on four NCAA relay titles as well while the Wahoos won their fourth straight National Championship. Walsh set NCAA, American, and US Open records in all three of her individual swims. She’s been named the Honda Sport Award winner for her sport, the CSCAA Women’s Swimmer of the Year, and ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Year.
Other award winners included baseball’s Henry Ford and women’s basketball’s Kymora Johnson as Rookies of the Year, swimming and diving’s Ella Bathurst as the 1*15*41 Award (given to the individual who best displayed selflessness, commitment, school pride and leadership), Associate Athletics Director Jess Wilk as the Bus Male Memorial Award recipient (for dedication, service and spirit), baseball’s Matthew Buchanan as the Craig Fielder Memorial Award honoree (overcoming adversity), and swimming and diving’s Amanda Leizman as the Susan J. Grossman Memorial Award honoree (outstanding service to student-athletes and contributions to the Student-Athlete Mentor Program). Jacob Hayley (men’s tennis) received the Bob Goodman Memorial award for outstanding student manager, while Maggie Rutherford earned The Marlee Morgan Service Award (given in recognition of a student manager who serves as an inspiration to others as a result of their perseverance, commitment and work ethic).
The Virginia team awards were announced as follows:
- Baseball - Billy Word Memorial Award - TBD
- Men’s Basketball - Sidney Young Memorial Award - Tristan How
- Women’s Basketball - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Sam Brunelle
- Men’s Cross Country - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Will Anthony
- Women’s Cross Country - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Jenny Schilling
- Field Hockey - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Lauren Kenah
- Football - John Acree Memorial Award - Malachi Fields
- Men’s Golf - F. Dixon Brooke Memorial Award - Liam Powderly
- Women’s Golf - William E. Eacho Memorial Award - Jennifer Cleary
- Men’s Lacrosse - Henry Gaver Memorial Award - Mitchell Whalen
- Women’s Lacrosse - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Mackenzie Hoeg
- Rowing - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Izzie Bird
- Men’s Soccer - Stanley Lerner Memorial Award - Paul Wiese
- Women’s Soccer - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Alexis Theoret
- Softball - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Leah Boggs
- Men’s Squash - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Myles McIntyre
- Women’s Squash - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Olivia Walsh
- Men’s Swimming & Diving - Brooke Maury Memorial Award - Tanner Hering
- Women’s Swimming & Diving - Diane Montgomery Greene Memorial Award - Abby Harter
- Men’s Tennis - Norton Pritchett Memorial Award - Jeffrey von der Schulenburg
- Women’s Tennis - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Hibah Shaikh
- Men’s Track & Field - Henry Cummings Memorial Award - TBD
- Women’s Track & Field - Z Society - The Lou Onesty Memorial Award - TBD
- Men’s Indoor Track & Field - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Gary Martin
- Women’s Indoor Track & Field - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Samantha Romano
- Volleyball - Coach’s Award for Excellence - Madison Morey
- Wrestling - David Senft Memorial Award - Justin McCoy
Who would you select as your male and female athlete of the year at Virginia? Share it on the message boards! Here are our weekly fan picks too.
Fan(s) Of The Week
Smile if you love the Wahoos.
Student Fan(s) Of The Week
Throw on a robe and cheer for the Hoos!
Feature Photo Of The Week
Malik Washington was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
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