SAN FRANCISCO — The University of San Francisco athletics department was proud to celebrate its eighth annual Hilltop Awards at the Presentation Theater on Sunday night, as student-athletes were recognized for their achievements in the classroom and in the community.
The legendary Dons public address announcer and Don of the Year, Joe Hallisy announced all awards to the best and brightest student-athletes throughout Sunday night's ceremony.
Senior Tatjana Schulte from the women's cross country team took home the Charles Harney Academic Award after maintaining the highest grade point average during her tenure at the University. Schulte gathered her third WCC-All Academic Team nod with her 4.00 GPA in International Business. She grabbed top-50 finishes at the NCAA West Region Championship, WCC Championships and the Pre-Nationals Meet in Wisconsin. Alongside Schulte, is track and field runner Sadi Henderson who earned the Anne Dolan Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award. Henderson is currently ranked in the top-15 in the NCAA West at 800 and broke the school record in 800 meters and the 4x400m relay this season.
Frankie Ferrari and Riley Ornido were awarded the Bill Russell Award as both student-athletes displayed outstanding athletic performances in their seasons. Ferrari, a two-time All-WCC First Team honoree led the Dons with 456 points and 172 assists while becoming the 36th player in USF's history to record more than 1,000 points in his career. Ornido, the 2018 All-WCC First team standout currently leads the Dons' pitching staff in games started (12), innings pitched (74.0), and ERA (2.55) for the second-straight season. Ornido also holds 69 strikeouts so far this spring and is looking to lead the Dons to their second consecutive WCC Tournament appearance.
The Four Pillars award went to seniors' Jordan Hughes and Margarita Treyes as they both attained the highest standards of athletics performance, academic achievement, community service and leadership. Hughes from the men's soccer team is a two-time WCC All-Academic honoree with a 3.77 cumulative GPA. Treyes from the women's tennis team holds a 3.97 cumulative GPA, is a First-Team All-WCC and four-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic honoree. Treyes annually volunteers at the Harper for Kids (John Wooden's development program) and speaks in front of young students about the importance of developing charismatic traits to become successful.
Jason Kreske, a senior on the baseball team, and Madelyn LaFollette, a redshirt freshman on the beach volleyball team was awarded the Dante Benedetti Award. This accolade is to represent a male and female student-athlete who serves as an inspiration to their teammates through their unwavering sense of loyalty, self-sacrifice, unselfishness, positive attitude and hard work.
Chris Olley and Catherine Hill earned the Newcomer of the Year Award which represents a male and female first year student-athlete who has excelled in athletic competition. Olley finished in the top-10 in the NCAA West Region cross country championships, broke the school record in the 3000 meters run during the indoor season, and has run the second fastest 5000 meters in school history thus far. Hill was named to the WCC All-Freshman team after finishing the season with six shots, three on goal for a .500 shots on goal percentage while starting in all 20 matchups.
The men's tennis team took home the Stephen Privett, S.J. Award, which honored a student-athlete or team who demonstrated a commitment to a higher standard of learning and social justice through their outstanding work in the community. Every offseason, the tennis team spends their time influencing and encouraging young students at the Harper for Kids development program, they would spend time at the San Quentin prison along with educating inner city kids on how to play tennis and assisting with academics at the Youth Tennis Advantage Academy.
The baseball team was awarded the Spirit of '51 Award which presented a USF team that embodies success both on the field and in the classroom by creating leaders who are ready to make an impact on the world. The award is given in honor of USF's undefeated, untied and uninvited 1951 football team, whose supreme triumph came in its stand against racial inequality.
Nate Renfro and Miciah Madison, two talented athletes, represented the Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award after displaying maximum effort on and off the field of competition while bringing the best of his/her teammates through a consistent commitment to performance enhancement.
Mikayla Datu took home the Spirit Award and Aysha Benjamin earned the all new Cheer Award. Both awards represents veterans from USF, Dons Athletics, and the Spirit Squad with the utmost respect and professionalism. In addition to being a strong dancer, cheerleader and performer, this award winner is recognized for their positive attitude and supportive attitude towards their team mates.
Michelle Ho was named Nicole Siegel Athletic Training Student of the Year as this award represents "The USF Way" each and every day. Throughout the course of the year, this athletic training student has taken initiative, is highly accountable and has performed at the highest level. Ho will wrap up her second year with the USF's Sport Medicine program and will continue her talents in studying Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California this fall.
Renfro also walked away with the prestigious Athletic Director for Overall Excellence Award. This award is given out at the discretion of the Athletic Director based on his/her overall excellence and to a student who best exemplifies the USF philosophy of "Change the World From Here." Renfro was named to the CoSIDA District 8 First Team All-Academic Team as well as his third consecutive WCC All-Academic honors, is a three-time co-captain who led by example. He set the USF career record with 132 games played, in 24.9 minutes per contest he averaged 7.3 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game.
AWARD WINNERS
Anne Dolan Outstanding Female Athlete: Sadi Henderson
Bill Russell Award Outstanding Male Athlete: Frankie Ferrari and Riley Ornido
Four Pillars Award: Jordan Hughes and Margarita Treyes
Dante Benedetti Award: Jason Kreske and Madelyn LaFollette
Newcomer of the Year: Chris Olley and Catherine Hill
Stephen Privett, S.J. Award: Men's Tennis Team
Spirit of '51 Award: Baseball Team
Charles Harney Academic Award: Tatjana Schulte
Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award: Nate Renfro and Miciah Madison
Spirit Award: Mikayla Datu
Cheer Award: Aysha Benjamin
The Nicole Siegel Athletic Training Student of the Year: Michelle Ho
Athletic Director for Overall Excellence: Nate Renfro
Male Most Valuable Players
Sean Bowman - Men's Soccer
Jack Rowe - Cross Country
Frankie Ferrari - Men's Basketball
Jonathan Allen - Baseball
Chris Olley - Track and Field
Tim Widing - Men's Golf
Nitzan Ricklis - Men's Tennis
Female Most Valuable Players
Autumn Smithers - Women's Soccer
Tatjana Schulte - Cross Country
Anna Dalla Vecchia - Women's Volleyball
Shannon Powell - Women's Basketball
Dana Klein/Sadi Henderson - Track and Field
Samantha Gong - Women's Golf
Mya Bui - Women's Tennis
Carly Lowry and Anna Dalla Vecchia - Beach Volleyball
