April 24, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn Athletics Department honored the best in athletic and academic achievement for Athletics teams and individuals during the Spring 2016, Fall 2016 and Winter 2017 seasons. Below are the winners:
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Equestrian ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ The equestrian team won its fourth overall NCEA title in 2016, while also win the Southeastern Conference. It posted its best season in school history, recording a 16-1 overall record and 5-1 mark in SEC play. Head coach Greg Williams' squad outscored its opponents 211-118.
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Mustapha Heron, Men's Basketball ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ As a freshman, Mustapha Heron ranked ninth in the SEC in scoring with his team-leading 15.2 points per game. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC team and set freshman school records for double-digit scoring in his first 25 collegiate games and 31-of-32 contests. He also set the Auburn freshman record for starts with 31.
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Julie Meynen, Swimming and Diving ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Julie Meynen had an instant impact on the Auburn swimming and diving team during her first year. After finishing 25th in the 100 free in the Olympics, she went undefeated in the 100 free in Auburn's dual meets. She finished the season earning three All-America honors at the NCAA meet. By the close of the year, Julie has become the fourth-fastest performer in school history in the 100 free and the sixth-fastest in the 50 free.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Daniel Carlson, Football ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Daniel Carlson was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award for the second consecutive year. He was a first-team All-SEC selection and second-team All-America selection. He holds 12 Auburn kicking school records, and is Auburn's all-time leader in field goals made, attempted and percentage (career and season). His streak of 141 consecutive PAT is the longest in Auburn history and second-longest in the SEC.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (three winners):
Elizabeth Benson, Equestrian ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Elizabeth Benson will go down as the best rider in Auburn equestrian history. In 2016, she led her team to an NCEA Championship, while earning First-Team All-America honors in Fences and Flat. She was also the NCEA Most Outstanding Player on the Flat, and the SEC Co-Rider of the Year in Flat. She earned All-SEC honors in both Fences and Flat. She broke the Auburn career wins record in Flat.
Kasey Cooper, Softball ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Kasey Cooper became the first female softball player to be named the SEC Player of the Year and the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She won the NCAA Elite 90 award, the espnW Player of the Year, a Top-3 Finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year, and an NFCA First-Team All-American. She set seven individual single-season program records and four career records, while only a junior.
Casie Ramsier, Soccer ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Casie Ramsier was a First-Team All-SEC selection and an NSCAA All-American, while also being named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She broke career school records for game-winning goals with 13 and finished her career with the second most goals with 37 and third in points with 94. She was also a finalist for the CLASS Award and MAC Hermann Trophy (best player in the nation).
COMEBACK AWARD: Softball's comeback win in Game 2 of the Women's College World Series ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Down 7-0 in the Women's College World Series final series elimination game, the Tigers rallied to score 11 unanswered runs to win the game and force a Game 3. Auburn broke an NCAA record for biggest WCWS comeback, and snapped a 31-game Oklahoma winning streak. Several exciting moments highlighted the game, including a home run-robbing catch by Tiffany Howard in the seventh and Emily Carosone hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth.
WAR EAGLE MOMENT: Gymnastics' win over Alabama ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Auburn trailed Alabama 147-.95-147.825 heading into the final rotation, and the Tigers shined on floor exercise to beat the Crimson Tide by .025. Caitlin Atkinson needed a 9.925 for the win and go just that in the final performance of the night. The win snapped a 117-meet skid to UA.
INSPIRATION AWARD: Haley Gerken, Soccer ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Haley Gerken saw a torn ACL sideline her from finishing her senior year with her class in 2015. That season, Auburn soccer made the Sweet 16 for the first time. However, she delayed master's graduation and PT school in order to come back for 2016, and in doing so helped lead Auburn Soccer to the best season in program history, an NCAA Elite 8 appearance. She finished her career as a three-time captain and scored the game-winning goal in the NCAA first-round game vs. South Carolina.
SASS Academic Achievement Award: Wellington Zaza, Track and Field ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ Wellington Zaza came to the United States as a refugee from Liberia during a Civil War, which included stints in refugee camps, traveling through dangerous landscapes in Africa. His father was jailed, his mother fled to the U.S. and his grandmother who was his caregiver died. He came to the U.S. not knowing English, but has built a successful athletic and academic career. He became an All-American in the 60-meter hurdles and will graduate in May.
Highest Spring 2016 Team GPA: Women's Cross Country 3.52; Men's Tennis 3.56
Highest Fall 2016 Team GPA: Women's Cross Country 3.64; Men's Tennis 3.53
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Bri Heilsnis, Track and Field; and Kasey Cooper, Softball
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Conner Huertas del Pino, Men's Tennis
Spirit Award: Alyse Scott, soccer
Passion Award: Stephanie Campbell, Volleyball
Life Skills Award: (overall) Equestrian, (female) Gymnastics, (male) Men's Basketball