Army West Point Athletics
Army Salutes Season with Black Knight Awards
May 21, 2017 | General, Athletics
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army Athletic Association held the 2017 Black Knight Awards ceremony on Sunday night at Robinson Auditorium in Thayer Hall. The department's premiere year-end event honored teams and individuals for their successes throughout the 2016-17 season. After finishing the season with an 8-5 record, defeating Navy for the first time since 2001 and winning the Zaxby Heart of Dallas Bowl, the football program took home the Team of the Year award.
In its 10th year of existence, the Black Knight Awards honored the best that Army West Point's 28 athletic teams had to offer in 2016-17 in an award-show format similar to the ESPY Awards. Rich DeMarco, assistant athletic director for multimedia and broadcasting, emceed the event and guided an audience that included West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Diana Holland, Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Cindy Jebb and Army West Point Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan.
The night opened with a large group of athletes being recognized for being league major award winners, scholar-athletes, All-Americans and NCAA participants.
The first three awards of the evening featured winners with a passion for sport, selflessness and giving back. Junior Jon Rosoff of the baseball team collected the Maggie Dixon Inspiration Award for fearless competitiveness and love of sport. Volleyball's senior Olivia Fairfield garnered the Gene Uchacz Memorial Award for being the epitome of a "team player," while women's lacrosse senior Shelby Lindsay earned the Community Service Award for participating in a number of outreach programs, including serving as the Community Service Officer of Company A-2. Women's swimming and diving senior Kelly Hamilton garnered the first-ever Academic Excellence Award from Dr. Jon Healy, Director of Athletic Academic Support.
The remaining awards were distributed on athletic performance alone during the 2016-17 season. Three finalists for each category were highlighted through a video presentation leading into each award with the majority including a men's and women's category. The evening followed with awards for Rookie of the Year, Yearling of the Year, Cow of the Year, Firstie of the Year, Performance of the Year and Play of the Year. All of the winners were presented with a marble Black Knight Award for their accomplishments.
Votes were tabulated using a combination of social media, athletic department committee and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
2017 Black Knight Award Winners
Maggie Dixon Inspiration Award
Jon Rosoff (Baseball)
Gene Uchacz Memorial Award
Olivia Fairfield (Volleyball)
Community Service Award
Shelby Lindsay (Women's Lacrosse)
Academic Excellence Award
Kelly Hamilton (Swimming & Diving)
Play of the Year
Ahmad Bradshaw's game-winning touchdown vs. Navy (Football)
Men's Performance of the Year
Peter Kim (Golf) - Course and league record-low 63 at Patriot League Championships
Women's Performance of the Year
Calli McMullen (Track & Field) - Rookie of the Meet at Patriot League Outdoor Championships
Men's Rookie of the Year
Rex Epps (Soccer)
Women's Rookie of the Year
Bayleigh Gable (Rugby)
Men's Yearling of the Year
Kenneth Brinson (Football / Track & Field)
Women's Yearling of the Year
Madison Hovren (Basketball)
Men's Cow of the Year
Michael Nguyen (Tennis)
Women's Cow of the Year
Carolyn Bockrath (Volleyball)
Men's Firstie of the Year
Parker Gahagen (Hockey)
Women's Firstie of the Year
Kelly Hamilton (Swimming & Diving)
Team of the Year
Football
Players Mentioned
