William Jewell Athletics in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee celebrated the third annual JESPY Awards during the week of May 11-15. The awards were announced via social media in lieu of the on-campus ceremony being canceled due to COVID-19.
In total, 19 individual and team awards were handed out, along with 19 Senior Excellence honors. Some of the annual performance awards, such as the Male and Female Athlete of the Year, were not given out to ensure equality across the department as spring sports were unable to complete their seasons. Overall, 16 teams were represented with nominees for various awards with 11 different sports boasting winners.
Nominees are selected the Athletic Awards Committee which is made up of coaches, athletic support staff and administration and SAAC officers. Winners are selected by a variety of methods including student-athlete votes, athletic staff votes, and numerical data such as grade point average. Student-Athletes who completed their seasons are eligible for awards, including fall 2019 graduates. Below is a recap of the 2020 JESPY Awards.
R.E. Bowles Award
One of the most prestigious honors for male student-athletes at William Jewell College, the R.E. Bowles Award celebrates the highest levels of leadership dedication and perseverance.
2020 Winner: Ryan Hoffman, Track & Field
Nominees:
Nick Bradley, Basketball •
Donte' Colum, Football •
Bjorn Myers, Tennis •
Ben Pautler, Baseball
Omar William Nadler Award
One of the most prestigious honors for female student-athletes at William Jewell College, the Omar William Award celebrates the highest levels of leadership dedication and perseverance.
2020 Winner: Sydney Offield, Basketball
Nominees:
Lindsay Glynn, Softball •
Delaney Haralson, Swimming •
Hannah Keeney, Track & Field •
Tori Vogt, Volleyball
Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year
The sophomore, junior or senior male student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA
2020 Winner: John Zimmerman, Basketball
Finalists:
Logan McKinney, Football •
Ben Pautler, Baseball
Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year
The sophomore, junior or senior women's student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA
2020 Winner: Kaylie Kappelmann, Women's Soccer •
Katie Pohl, Women's Soccer (tie)
Finalists:
Lexie Stull, Track & Field •
Haley Unruh, Swimming
Men's Team Scholar Excellence Award
The men's team with the highest GPA in the fall semester
2020 Winner: Tennis
Finalists: Swimming • Track & Field
Women's Team Scholar Excellence Award
The men's team with the highest GPA in the fall semester
2020 Winner: Tennis
Finalists: Swimming • Soccer
Men's Comeback Athlete of the Year
Student-athletes who have shown outstanding effort and perseverance to overcome injury or other adversities & a dedication to the return to their sport
2020 Winner: Nyk Yaquab, Baseball
Finalists:
Christian Santiago, Cross Country/Track & Field •
Blake Desselle, Soccer
Women's Comeback Athlete of the Year
Student-athletes who have shown outstanding effort and perseverance to overcome injury or other adversities & a dedication to the return to their sport
2020 Winner: Rhyann Fisher, Basketball
Finalists:
Annalee Arbeitman, Soccer •
Caylee Clawson, Swimming
Men's Sportsmanship Award
Recognition of a men's team who has displayed outstanding character and respect for opponents & officials during competition
2020 Winner: Basketball
Nominees: Soccer • Track & Field
Women's Sportsmanship Award
Recognition of a women's team who has displayed outstanding character and respect for opponents & officials during competition
2020 Winner: Volleyball
Nominees: Swimming • Tennis
Men's Cardinal Tough Award
Recognition of excellence in the athletic performance program
2020 Winner: Ben Pautler, Baseball
Nominees:
Donte' Colum, Football •
Stephen Lancaster, Swimming
Women's Cardinal Tough Award
Recognition of excellence in the athletic performance program
2020 Winner: Sydney Offield, Basketball
Nominees:
Annalee Arbeitman, Soccer •
Tori Vogt, Volleyball
Cardinal Spirit Award
For enhancing the game day atmosphere
2020 Winner: Crimson Dancers
Nominees: Cheerleading • Cardinal Drumline
Ted Graves Memorial Cardinal Pride Award
Recognition of extraordinary service by a Jewell student, going above and beyond in service to Cardinal Athletics. Named for former Cardinal student-athlete, coach, and Alumni Board of Governors member Ted Graves, '84, who was a member of the Jewell community for more than 40 years prior to his death in 2019.
2020 Winner: Gray Paholke, GLVCSN Voice of the Cardinals
Nominees: Victoria Defarraris, Basketball/Events •
Trace Williams, Equipment Room
Ann Martin Service Award
Recognition of a team who shows outstanding dedication to community and leads the department in service hours during the academic year. Named for Mrs. Ann Martin who served Cardinal student-athletes for 30 years before her retirement in 2016.
2020 Winner: Softball
Nominees: Track & Field • Volleyball
Faculty Fan of the Year
Presented to a member of the Jewell faculty or staff who has gone above and beyond in support of student-athletes both in the classroom and on the field
2020 Winner: Dr. Debbie Chasteen, Department of Communication
Nominees: Dr. Ed Lane, Registrar • Kathy LeBlanc, Business Office
Dr. Norris Patterson Staff Member of the Year
Recognition of extraordinary service to Jewell student-athletes as a member of the Athletics support staff
2020 Winner: Gage Rosier, Director of Athletic Performance
Nominees:
JaeLynn Ellison, Assistant Athletics Director for Communication •
Chase Kearney, Assistant Athletics Director for Events, Facilities & Equipment •
Ashley Watson, Assistant Athletic Trainer
Win of the Year
The most outstanding win of the year
2020 Winner: Men's Basketball vs. #12 Bellarmine
Nominees: Softball vs. #3 Grand Valley • Men's Tennis (
Pedro Braga/
Cutter Sanders) vs. #9 Northwest Missouri State
Senior Excellence Awards
Recognizing an outstanding senior member of each team who displays extraordinary levels of discipline in academics, athletics, work ethic, community involvement, service leadership and all-around character. Selected by the respective coaching staff or athletic administration and support staff if a coaching change has occurred
Baseball: Ben Pautler
"One motto of our program is Excellence on and off the field. Of course we all fall short but I believe Ben wakes up every morning with his absolute best effort striving for the highest standards in discipline, fitness, determination and mental toughness. Ben consistently exemplifies these qualities." -
Mike Stockton, head coach
Men's Basketball:
John Ekwomadu
"John is a senior who poured himself into the program despite minimal playing time. He is a leader in the locker room who is respected by players & staff." -
Chris McCabe, head coach
Women's Basketball:
Kelly Hendershot
"Kelly has been a part of our team for four years. She has worked hard every day in practice and has always been a positive encouraging teammate. She represents our program and William Jewell well on and off the court." -
Jill Slominski, head coach
Cheerleading:
Olivia Hoseth
Crimson Dancers: Gillian Flaherty
Football:
Jack Gordon
Men's Golf:
Jameson Howard
"Jameson is a natural leader, on and off the golf course. During the coaching transition, he was always willing to communicate on behalf of the team. In addition to his timely and clear communication, his actions in training sessions as well as our competition were influential to the team." - Bob Cole, head coach
Women's Golf:
Katie Bird
"During the fall season, Katie was a very motivated leader. To maintain a positive attitude on the golf course is easy to talk about, but very tough to actually accomplish. Katie somehow made it look easy." - Bob Cole, head coach
Men's Soccer:
Parker Tergin
"Parker understood and accepted that the team goals supersede individual goals. Role acceptance as a non starter requires humility and sacrifice Parker accepted his role and was supportive of everything about William Jewell soccer which is not easy to do your senior season." -
Eddie Horn, head coach
Women's Soccer:
Bella Catano
"Clear leader within the program. She continues to want to help grow the standard of what it means to be a Jewell women's soccer player."
Softball:
Emily Hoover
"Emily has made a remarkable impact to the culture of the Jewell softball program. Her leadership, work ethic and commitment to her teammates and coaches is tremendous." -
Dustin Combs, head coach
Men's Swimming:
Chris Davison
"Chris has shown an ability to lead during training and has demonstrated an incredible commitment to his academic success as well." -
Greg Temple, head coach
Women's Swimming:
Delaney Haralson
"Delaney showed instant buy-in to the direction I am taking the program. She has zero fear in training/competing and I wish she wasn't a senior." -
Greg Temple, head coach
Men's Tennis:
Bjorn Myers/
Hayden Fulk
"Bjorn and Hayden's pursuit of excellence in themselves and helping and motivating that pursuit in others." -
Doug Elly, head coach
Women's Tennis:
Jessica Farris
"Jessica came to practice every day with an incredible desire to improve her skills as a tennis player. She is a great teammate, very respectful and motivating and as a competitor humble but fierce." -
Doug Elly, head coach
Men's Track & Field/Cross Country:
Ryan Hoffman
"Ryan shows pride and always goes beyond what is asked of him." -
Alisha Samuel, head coach
Women's Track & Field/Cross Country:
Lexie Stull
"
Lexie Stull is someone who shows commitment to her team and goes beyond the call for the work she does as the track representative and president of SAAC." -
Alisha Samuel, head coach
Volleyball:
Megan Rhule
"Megan came in as a transfer and fully embraced our CARDS culture the right away. She grew into a strong confident young woman, was involved on campus and had the respect of her teammates as a leader. Her transformation during her career at Jewell left an impact on our program and me as a coach." -
Carolyn Raynes, head coach
