The time has come for Huskie fans to select the Northern Illinois Athletics Play of the Year for “The Victors,” an all-sports, ESPY-style awards banquet scheduled for Monday, May 2.
Voting for the award ends Friday, April 29.
The five finalists include: men’s soccer player James Stevenson scoring a spectacular goal at Bradley, football player Chad Spann‘s 61-yard touchdown run through the Minnesota defense, men’s basketball player Xavier Silas‘ 39-point performance against MAC Champion Akron, women’s basketball player Courtney Shelton‘s game-winning buzzer beater from half-court at Southern Illinois and wrestler Brad Dieckhaus winning the MAC Championship at 184 pounds.
Video from nine 2010-11 plays were considered and that group was narrowed down to five finalists. To vote for your favorite, click the button corresponding to that play.
The Play of the Year is one of 24 awards that will be given out at The Victors, which will also recognize NIU’s 2010-11 seniors in all sports. Awards will honor NIU’s top male and female newcomer, scholar-athlete and community service participant, as well as the top male and female teams in terms of both athletic and academic accomplishment.
The NIU Alumni Association will present the Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards. The Huskies will also feature awards for the top unsung hero, comeback of the year and non-scholarship student-athlete. Results from the 2010 spring, 2010 fall and 2010-11 winter sports were considered in the nominations and selection of winners.
Northern Illinois coaches nominated student-athletes for the awards and that list was narrowed down to four finalists in each category by members of the Huskie Athletics executive staff. The winners for every award except the Top Plays will be selected by the Northern Illinois Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), which is made up of representatives from every NIU intercollegiate athletics team. Following is a list of finalists for The 2011 Victors.
Male Newcomer of the Year
Jimmie Ward, Football
Sean Totsch, Men’s Soccer
Maksym Bartiuk, Men’s Tennis
Nick Smith, Wrestling
Female Newcomer of the Year
Danielle Pulliam, Women’s Basketball
Adriana Sanchez, Softball
Amy Carr, Women’s Soccer
Lauren Wicinski, Volleyball
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Michael Krause, Football
Andrew Frame, Men’s Golf
Kyle Knotek, Men’s Soccer
Vince Castillo, Wrestling
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Jessica Watanabe, Gymnastics
Mo Smunt, Women’s Soccer
Breanna Brevitt, Track and Field
Kim Hunley, Women’s Golf
Unsung Hero of the Year
DeMarcus Grady, Men’s Basketball
Brittany Zimmermann, Gymnastics
Andrea Colosimo, Softball
Meaghan Bennett, Women’s Soccer
Male Community Service Award
Antone Christian, Men’s Basketball
Adam Kiel, Football
Mike Mascitti, Men’s Soccer
Jared Torrence, Wrestling
Female Community Service Award
Bianca Brown, Women’s Basketball
Allie Parthie, Women’s Golf
Samantha McConeghey, Track and Field
Kristin Hoffman, Volleyball
Huskie Heart Award
Chandler Harnish, Football
Brad Diekhaus, Wrestling
Holly Reichard, Gymnastics
Kayra Thompson, Women’s Soccer
Coach of the Year – Men’s Program
Tom Matukewicz, Football
Eric Luzzi, Men’s Soccer
Dave Grant, Wrestling
Coach of the Year – Women’s Program
Kathi Bennett, Women’s Basketball
Ray Gooden, Volleyball
Huskie Pride Award
Maggie Cimarolli, Gymnastics
Kurtis Luedtke, Men’s Golf
Alexandra Wulbecker, Softball
Mary Bull, Track and Field
Male Athlete of the Year
Xavier Silas, Men’s Basketball
Brad Diekhaus, Wrestling
Chandler Harnish, Football
Chad Spann, Football
Female Athlete of the Year
Marke Freeman, Women’s Basketball
Holly Reichard, Gymnastics
Mo Smunt, Women’s Soccer
Lauren Wicinski, Volleyball
Academic Team of the Year – Men’s Program
Men’s Golf
Men’s Soccer
Wrestling
Football
Academic Team of the Year – Women’s Program
Gymnastics
Volleyball
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Golf
Team of the Year – Men’s Program
Football
Team of the Year – Women’s Program
Volleyball
Community Service Team of the Year – Men’s Program
Men’s Soccer
Wrestling
Men’s Tennis
Men’s Basketball
Community Service Team of the Year – Women’s Program
Women’s Golf
Track
Volleyball
Softball
The Victors Cup Winner – Men’s Program
Wrestling
Baseball
Football
Men’s Soccer
The Victors Cup Winner – Women’s Program
Track
Volleyball
Women’s Soccer
Softball
Mr. Victor E. Huskie
Troy White, Baseball
Chandler Harnish, Football
Finn Jor, Men’s Soccer
Brad Dieckhaus, Wrestling
Ms. Victor E. Huskie
Kelsie Passolt, Women’s Golf
Mo Smunt, Women’s Soccer
Emily Rogers, Women’s Tennis
Kristin Hoffman, Volleyball
For more information about NIU athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.