Gymnastics | 4/23/2019 10:07:00 PM

By Brian Magloyoan | Texas Woman's Athletics Communications
 
DENTON (April 23, 2019) — On Tuesday, TWU Athletics celebrated the year that was with a brand-new, revamped awards ceremony dubbed The Oakleys, after the university's beloved mascot.
 
On a night that commemorated the great moments and individual accomplishments that helped define the 2018-19 season, the department also recognized the contributions of those that extended beyond the arena of competition.
 
The first award presented was the Pioneer Athletics Champion Award, given to an individual, a couple or business that has demonstrated outstanding support of the Pioneer teams and staff. This year's recipients were Bob Trevino, TWU Landscape Operations Manager, and former TWU faculty member Sherrie Taylor and her late husband Bill.
 
Each team then recognized their outstanding student-athletes with Carissa Moody (Basketball), Erin Alderman (Gymnastics), Libby Murphy (Soccer), Paige Tamayo (Softball) and Katy Ranes (Volleyball) named as the recipients in their respective sports.
 
Softball's Avery Williams was chosen by the TWU Sports Medicine staff as the recipient of the Golden Cast Award for her diligence during rehabilitation from an injury.
 
Three new awards were introduced by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee this year. Comeback Player of the Year went to Soccer's Brittany Jones, and Play of the Year was presented to Soccer for Hannah Schneider's golden goal against Midwestern State in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament. Following a stellar freshman campaign, Soccer's goalkeeper Jazmine Maxwell earned inaugural Newcomer of the Year honors.  
 
Head Sports Performance Coach Brett Crossland named his All-Sports Performance Team with Gymnastics' Alderman, Soccer's Jones, Softball's Tara Solomon and Volleyball's Ranes earning those honors.
 
The Dr. Bettye Myers Award, which recognizes a student-athlete who is making a significant contribution to her community through her time, actions, talents and dedication to volunteer service, was awarded to Soccer's Lexi D'Abrosca while Macy Wilkerson, from Basketball, was presented with the Dianne Baker Award for Intensity from Coach Baker herself.
 
After Alexa Neifert was named the recipient of the Kitty Magee Award for Dedication and Katy Ranes was chosen the inaugural Athlete's Choice Award winner, the graduating seniors were recognized and presented their graduation stoles from retiring Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Don Edwards.
 
Unbeknownst to him, following the presentation of the stoles, the retiring Dr. Edwards, whose tenure at TWU spans 36 years, including serving as the FAR for the last 15 years, was presented with a tribute that included messages from a number of his students, both past and present.