The University of Akron Athletics
Athletics Hosts Second Annual Zippy Awards
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Department of Athletics held its Second Annual Zippy Awards banquet, celebrating the achievements of the department's 400-plus student-athletes on Monday night in the ballroom of the University's Student Union.
Student-athletes and coaches from UA's 19 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 basketball senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio). Track and field junior Shawn Barber (Kingwood, Texas) was named the James Horrigan Male Athlete of the Year for the second time.
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 women's basketball's Sina King and cross country runner Kyle Cochrun (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio).
The male and female Newcomer of the Year Awards went to track's Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) and men's basketball's Noah Robotham (Las Vegas, Nev.).
The Jim Schonover Award for the highest team grade-point average was given to the women's golf team (3.63 GPA) for spring 2014 and to the women's soccer team (3.58 GPA) for fall 2014.
For the second consecutive year, the Zippy Cup for team community service went to the swimming and diving program, which accumulated more than 3,000 hours during the 2014-15 academic year. The swimmers volunteered at events all over Akron, including the Heart Walk, Akron Marathon, Humane Society, and Haven of Rest.
Emceed by Willy Kollman, Associate Director of Alumni Relations, the program included remarks by Director of Athletics Tom Wistrcill, Student-Athlete Advisory Council President Lisa Lash (softball) as well as senior reflections from student-athletes Sina King (women's basketball) and Justin March (football).
In addition to honoring the student-athletes graduating in the spring and summer of 2014, the department also recognized seniors Kelsey Ferrante (swimming and diving) and Kyle Cochrun (cross country/track) for earning the 2015 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.
2015 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.
Sina King, Basketball [Senior]
• Team captain
• 2015 WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, MAC Player of the Year, first-team All-MAC
• One of three national finalists for the 2015 Giant Steps’ Courageous Female Student-Athlete
• Started all 31 games and led the conference in scoring (20.3), rebounding (9.3) and defensive rebounding (6.8), while ranking third in three-point shooting (.382), sixth in field-goal percentage (.478), and in free-throw percentage (.789).
• Scored in double figures in all 31 games en route to posting a league-best 16 double-doubles and being named MAC Eastern Division Player of the Week four times.
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.
Shawn Barber, Track & Field [Junior]
• Five-time USTFCCCA First-Team All-American
• Two-time NCAA Champion in pole vault
• Five-time MAC Champion in pole vault
• 2015 Sullivan Award Finalist; 2015 Bowerman Award Watch List
• Currently holds the NCAA collegiate and Canadian (indoor and outdoor) pole vault records
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.
Sina King, Basketball [Senior]
• Undergrad 3.680 GPA in Dietetics; Grad 3.563 GPA in Exercise Science & Physiology
• 2015 WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, MAC Player of the Year,
first-team All-MAC; Academic All-MAC, Team Captain; Dean’s List
• One of three national finalists for the 2015 Giant Steps’ Courageous Female Student-Athlete
• Started all 31 games and led the conference in scoring (20.3), rebounding (9.3) and
defensive rebounding (6.8), while ranking third in three-point shooting (.382), sixth in
field-goal percentage (.478), and in free-throw percentage (.789).
• Scored in double figures in all 31 games en route to posting a league-best 16 double-
doubles and being named MAC Eastern Division Player of the Week four times.
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.
Kyle Cochrun, Cross Country/Track [Senior]
• 3.856 in English
• USTFCCA Academic All-America; Academic All-MAC; CoSIDA Academic All-District;
2014 First-Team All-MAC; 2014 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete; Dean’s List
• Three-time MAC Champion: 3,000-meters (2014 Indoor), 5,000-meters (2014
Indoor/2014 Outdoor)
• 2014 MAC Most Valuable Performer
• Won the 2014 Tommy Evans Invite; named MAC XC Runner of the Week
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
Claudia Garcia Jou, Track & Field [Senior]
• Named USTFCCCA first-team All-American
• Registered a school-record jump of 6-2.75 (1.90m) to garner runner-up and All-American accolades in the women's high jump at NCAA Championship
• 2015 MAC Indoor Champion in the high jump; three-time MAC Track & Field Athlete of
the Week during indoor season
• Owns Akron indoor and outdoor women’s high jump records
• Jumped 6-1.50 to set new outdoor high jump standard at Northeast Ohio Quad
MALE
Noah Robotham, Basketball [Freshman]
• Named to the MAC All-Freshman team.
• Finished tied for second on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg) and second among MACfreshmen (10th overall) in assists per game (3.3).
• Appeared in 26 games, making 25 starts, before an ACL injury against Miami (Ohio) on Feb. 21 ended his season.
• Scored in double figures on 14 occasions, including a career-high 18 points on Nov. 25 at Penn State, and posted at least three assists in 19-of-26 games.
• Earned MAC East Division Player of the Week on Nov. 24, his first full week as a Zip.
