From IUP Athletics:
INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP Department of Athletics announced the winners of the sixth annual Crimson & Gray Awards Thursday afternoon, honoring the top student-athletes, teams and performances from the 2021-2022 athletic season. The awards were announced on the IUP Athletics’ Twitter (@IUPCrimsonHawk) and Instagram (iupathletics) social media accounts. The awards celebrate the top performers of the 2021-22 regular and post seasons across 22 total categories — 11 men and 11 women. They recognize the best athletic performances by our student-athletes, coaches and teams, as well as individual and team academic accomplishments. Below are the award winners announced Thursday:SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEARPresented to men’s and women’s upperclassmen who have displayed a combination of success both on the playing field and in the classroom during their time at IUP.Winners:Karolin Kirchtag; Senior – Women’s Tennis4.0 GPA / Major: Sport AdministrationPSAC West Athlete of the Year; First team All-PSAC West in singles and doubles; PSAC Champion Scholar for women’s tennisWon singles and doubles titles at Atlantic Region and PSAC tournaments in the fall Josh Dauberman; Senior – Football3.85 GPA / Major: CriminologyAFCA First Team All-American, D2Football Elite 100, First Team All-PSAC WestStarted 10 games at right guard, led offensive line that gave up 8 sacks ACADEMIC TEAM OF THE YEARPresented to the men’s and women’s teams with the highest cumulative grade point average during the 2021-22 academic year.Winners: Men’s Golf (3.70), Women’s Tennis (3.78)CRIMSON TEAMMATES OF THE YEARPresented to a student-athlete from each sport who inspires his or her teammates with the five pillars of the IUP Athletics vision: Experience, Leadership, Community, Excellence and Integrity. Baseball: Colin WilliamsMen’s Basketball: Ethan PorterfieldWomen’s Basketball: Courtney AlexanderMen’s Cross Country: Evan WeaverWomen’s Cross Country: Erin McGrathField Hockey: Blaise CuginiFootball: Josh DaubermanMen’s Golf: Jack BuccigrossWomen’s Lacrosse: Leah HunterWomen’s Soccer: DeAvion AndersonSoftball: Hope JonesMen’s Swimming & Diving: Chris ScoboriaWomen’s Swimming & Diving: Brooke ChristianWomen’s Tennis: Natasha MundayMen’s Track and Field: Dan GibneyWomen’s Track and Field: Tori JamesWomen’s Volleyball: Sydnie JohnsonCOACH OF THE YEARPresented to the men’s and women’s head coaches who did the most outstanding job leading his or her team.Winners: Larry Peterson – Women’s Tennis18-8 overall record, first in PSAC West with 6-0 recordPSAC West champion, PSAC tournament champion, Atlantic Region champion; advanced to final 16 teams of NCAA tournamentCoached Atlantic Region and PSAC singles and doubles champions in the fall Steve Kline – Baseball27-22 overall record, tied for fourth in PSAC West at 16-12In first year, led +25 win improvement from 2021 (2-35)Team ERA dropped by 2.96 (9.22-6.26); team BAvg improved by 72 points (.234-.306) PERFORMANCE OF THE YEARPresented to the student-athletes who had the most significant or extraordinary performance in a single game, event, or outing.Winners: Markus Cestra – BaseballWent 8-for-9 (.889) with a 1.778 slugging percentage in doubleheader sweep of UPJ on April 15Had 5 doubles, 1 home run, 7 RBI and scored 3 runsWent 5-for-5 with 4 doubles, 1 homer, and 5 RBI in game one alone Karolin Kirchtag – Women’s TennisWon singles and doubles titles at ITA Atlantic Region Championship tournamentWent combined 10-0 over three days (5-0 singles, 5-0 doubles)Four of five singles opponents were ranked among top-13 players in the region FRESHMAN OF THE YEARPresented to a true freshman or redshirt freshman men’s and women’s student-athlete who put together the best all-around season for a first-year college player.Winners: Kiera Baughman – Women’s BasketballTeam-high 73 assists, fourth on team with 9.7 points per game291 points most by an IUP freshman since Cathy Torchia’s 369 (13.7 PPG) in 1989-90Led team with three double-doubles, including 13 points and 10 rebounds vs. Cal in NCAA tournament Jimmy Tooley – Men’s BaseballLed IUP in ERA (4.17), wins (8-1), strikeouts per 7 innings (6.8), and opp batting average (.234)Tossed 1-hitter in 1-0 win over Clarion, giving up hit with two outs in the seventh; PSAC West Pitcher of the WeekMost wins and lowest ERA by an IUP starting pitcher since Stephen Cooke in 2012 (8-2, 2.00) BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEARPresented to a first-year starter or first-time key contributor who has improved their season performance dramatically over the last year.Winners: Tomiwa Sulaiman – Men’s BasketballPSAC West Freshman of the Year; Averaged 7.1 points and 5.9 rebounds; second on team with 55.3 field goal pct.; started 18 of final 21 gamesPlayed in three games during COVID-shortened 2020-21 season; averaged 9.3 points and 10.7 rebounds Karolin Kirchtag – Women’s TennisPSAC West Athlete of the Year; Won singles and doubles titles at Atlantic Region and PSAC tournaments; Set IUP record with 31 singles victoriesHad 7-8 singles record, including 3-2 against PSAC West, in 2020-21 season POSTSEASON PERFORMER OF THE YEARPresented to the men’s and women’s student-athletes who put together the most significant combined performances in a PSAC or NCAA championship tournament/event.Winners: Claire Mikesell – Women’s Swimming & DivingTwo-time All-American at NCAA ChampionshipsFinished fourth in 200 breaststroke, fifth in 100 breaststroke; set IUP records in bothPSAC Champion in 200 breast; finished in top-8 in four of six events at PSAC Championships Dave Morris – Men’s BasketballNamed to Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team; helped team to PSAC and region tournament championships, national semifinal appearanceLed IUP in 3-pointers made (26) and steals (22) in 8 postseason games; Second on team in scoring (13.8 pg), rebounds (6.3 pg) and assists (3.1 pg)Tied career-high with 6 3-pointers in NCAA opening round win, had 5 3-pointers in Elite Eight win over Hillsdale SENIOR OF THE YEARPresented to senior eligible men’s and women’s student-athletes who had the most successful individual seasons.Winners: Josh Dauberman – FootballAFCA First Team All-American, D2Football Elite 100, First Team All-PSAC WestStarted 10 games at right guard, led offensive line that gave up only 8 sacks3-time All-PSAC West; 2019 all-region; named to IUP’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s Claire Mikesell – Women’s Swimming & DivingTwo-time All-American at NCAA Championships; Finished fourth in 200 breaststroke, fifth in 100 breaststroke, setting IUP records in bothPSAC Champion in 200 breast; finished in top-8 in four of six events at PSAC ChampionshipsNine first place finishes during season, scored 286 points TEAM OF THE YEARPresented to the men’s and women’s teams who had the most outstanding seasons.Winners: Women’s Tennis18-8 overall record, first in PSAC West with 6-0 recordPSAC West champion, PSAC tournament champion, Atlantic Region champion; advanced to final 16 teams of NCAA tournamentAtlantic Region and PSAC tournament singles and doubles champions in the fall Men’s Basketball33-3 overall record, first in PSAC West at 20-2PSAC West regular season, PSAC Tournament, Atlantic Region Tournament championsAdvanced to national semifinals of Elite Eight; tied program record for wins in a season (33) ATHLETE OF THE YEARPresented to the men’s and women’s student-athletes, regardless of class eligibility, who had the best individual seasons. Winners: Armoni Foster – Men’s BasketballAll-American and NABC National Player of the Year finalist; PSAC West Athlete of the YearAveraged 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game; Led NCAA with 2 triple-doubles, second in Division II in total assists and fifth in free throws madeBroke IUP record for assists in a season (234); third-most points (642) in a single seasonLed IUP to PSAC West, PSAC tournament, and Atlantic Region titles, national semifinal game Karolin Kirchtag – Women’s TennisPSAC West Athlete of the Year; first team All-PSAC West in singles and doublesAtlantic Region and PSAC tournament singles and doubles champion in the fall; PSAC Tournament MVP in the springSet IUP record with 31 singles victories; started year with 21 straight combined winsReached as high as No. 13 singles ranking, No. 8 doubles ranking in Division II
