The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Athletics Hosts Fourth Annual Zippy Awards
April 30 | General
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Department of Athletics held its Fourth Annual Zippy Awards banquet, celebrating the achievements of the department's 450-plus student-athletes on Sunday night in the Quaker Station ballroom.
Student-athletes and coaches from UA's 18 intercollegiate sports teams, along with athletics department staff, invited guests, and dignitaries, were on hand to celebrate a memorable year of achievements for the Zips.
Named the Caroline J. Pardee Female Athlete of the Year was golf sophomore Danielle Nicholson (Geneva, Ohio). Basketball senior Isaiah Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio) was named the James Horrigan Male Athlete of the Year.
The Bob Linton Student-Athlete Awards, which recognize students for their hard work in their respective sports, in the classroom, and in the community, went to basketball's Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) and men's soccer's Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio).
The male and female Newcomer of the Year Awards went to track and field's Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) and Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio).
The Jim Schonover Award for the highest team grade-point average was given to the women's soccer team (3.68 GPA) for spring 2017 and to the volleyball team (3.77 GPA) for fall 2016.
The Zippy Cup for team community service went to the track and field program, which accumulated more than 3,000 hours during the 2016-17 academic year. The Zips volunteered at events all over Akron, including the Alzheimer's Walk, Akron Marathon, Thank-a-thon, Swim & Dive Zippy Invitational, Tuesday night track and field clinics and assisting high school track meets on campus.
In a special honor, Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) was given the inaugural Clayton Murphy Outstanding Achievement Award for his outstanding accomplishments to the sport of track and field above and beyond being a Zip. Last year's James Horrigan Male Athlete of the Year, Murphy won two NCAA individual championships in 2016 and a bronze medal for Team USA at the Olympic Games in Rio. He is the first Olympic medalist in school history.
Emceed by Willy Kollman, Director of Alumni Relations, the program included remarks by Director of Athletics Larry Williams, Student-Athlete Advisory Council President Becky Szabo (track & field) as well as senior reflections from student-athletes Hannah Plybon (basketball) and Zachary Strohl (rifle).
In addition to honoring the student-athletes graduating in the spring and summer of 2017, the department also recognized seniors Hannah Plybon (basketball) and Brad Ruhaak (men's soccer's) for earning the 2017 Mid-American Conference Medal of Excellence Award. The award is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete at each MAC member institution who participated on the varsity level in a conference-sponsored sport and shown evidence of academic success with a minimum GPA of a 3.5.
2017 Zippy Award Winners
Caroline J. Pardee Female Athlete of the Year:
has given outstanding athletic performances within her sport over the past year and offered exceptional contributions to her team. Nominees can be from any class year and consideration is based mainly on athletic accomplishment.
Danielle Nicholson, Golf [Sophomore; Freshman last year]
• First-team All-MAC; individual champion at the 2016 MAC Championship (first in program history); 2016 MAC Freshman of the Year; Team's Most Valuable Player and Zip of the Year award winner; Dean's List
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) secretary/treasurer
• Finished freshman campaign ranked in Top 10 of MAC's scoring average (8th, 74.96 strokes)
• Led the Zips in six of nine stroke play events with eight Top 25 finishes, six Top 10 performances, and two wins
• Established Akron's all-time lowest 54-hole score with a 5-under par 211 and lowest single-round win with a 3-under 69 performance
James Horrigan Male Athlete of the Year:
has given outstanding athletic performances within his sport over the past year and offered exceptional contributions to his team. Nominees can be from any class year and consideration is based mainly on athletic accomplishment.
Isaiah Johnson, Basketball [Senior]
• Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, just the third player in school history to earn the honor
• 2017 MAC Player of the Year; first-team All-MAC, MAC All-Tournament team; first-team NABC All-District; MAC East Player of the Week three times; MVP of Savannah Invitational; Don Haskins Sun Bowl All-Tournament team; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative
• Helped Zips to a school record 27 wins
• Led Zips with 16.6 points per game and a MAC-best 62.5 percent shooting percentage
• Finished collegiate career with 1,374 points, 748 rebounds, 203 assists, 143 blocks, and 55 steals; part of 95 career wins, third-best class in program history
Bob Linton Female Student-Athlete of the Year:
recognizes a female student-athlete who has earned a varsity letter, is in her final year of eligibility, has maintained a GPA of 3.5 or better, and who is a leader on her team and in the community.
Hannah Plybon, Basketball [Senior]
• 3.543 in health care management (master's); Earned bachelor's degree in speech language in 2015.
• Three-time All-MAC honoree, Team captain; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative
• Holds the school record for career three-pointers made (313), which ranks third all-time in MAC women's basketball history
• Team's leader in points (16.4 ppg), threes (247), free throws (105) FT attempts (135), and defensive rebounds (122)
• Community service includes: UA Mentoring program; Akron Food Bank, Play4Kay, Education Day
Bob Linton Male Student-Athlete of the Year:
recognizes a male student-athlete who has earned a varsity letter, is in his final year of eligibility, has maintained a GPA of 3.5 or better, and who is a leader on his team and in the community.
Brad Ruhaak, Soccer [Senior]
• 3.605 in mechanical engineering
• First-team All-MAC; first-team All-Ohio; MAC All-Tournament Team; MAC
Distinguished Scholar-Athlete; Academic All-MAC; Dean's List; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative; Senior CLASS semifinalist
• Helped Zips to four consecutive MAC Championships and NCAA appearances
• Led the MAC in league games only goals per game (0.60) and was second in game-winning goals
(0.20) and points per game (1.20); finished 2016 season with four goals and three assists; helped defense to 11 shutouts
• Community service includes: Cascade Village Back to School Dodgeball Event, Summit Children's Services Christmas Adopt-A-Family Program, Akron's St. Patrick's Day Parade
Newcomer of the Year:
is presented to the male and female student-athletes who have shown outstanding athletic skill in their first year of competition at UA.
FEMALE
Lucy Bryan, Track & Field [Freshman]
• First-team All-American; finished fourth in the pole vault at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships; her mark of 14-5.25 meet represented the second-best jump in Akron program history
• 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year; MAC Athlete of the Week (Jan. 17, Jan. 24)
• Finished second in pole vault at the 2017 MAC Indoor Championship, eclipsing 13-8 (4.17m)
• Her mark of 14-5.25 at the NCAA meet represented the second-best jump in Akron program history
• Won first two collegiate competitions
MALE
Matt Ludwig, Track & Field [Sophomore]
• First-team All-American; finished third in the pole vault at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships
• 2017 MAC (indoor) pole vault champion, surpassing 17-1.50 (5.22m)
• MAC weekly Scholar-Athlete (Feb. 23); President's List (4.0 GPA); Dean's List
• Named MAC Athlete of the Week (Jan. 31, Feb. 7 and Feb. 21)
• Earned titles at the Akron Invitational (18-0.50/5.50m), Spire Invitational (17-5.75/5.33m), Zips Invitational (18-1/5.51m) and MAC Championships (17-1.50/5.22m)
Clayton Murphy Outstanding Achievement Award:
[new award in 2017]
recognizes a current or former student-athlete who has made exceptional contributions to his/her sport over the last year on a national or international level
Clayton Murphy, Track & Field
• Became Akron's first-ever Olympic medalist with a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
• Became Akron's first-ever NCAA Champion in a running event winning the 800 meters
at the 2016 NCAA Indoor T&F Championships
• Won his second NCAA championship in the 1500 meters at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships
• Four-time First-Team All-American
• Captured 12 MAC Championships
