SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco held its ninth annual Hilltop Awards on Sunday morning, and for the first time in program history the event was held online, allowing Dons from across the globe to celebrate the success of the 2019-20 athletic season.
Sunday's 50 minute video presentation, which was put together but USF's talented Director of Creative Video,
Katie Morgan and her tremendous team, was hosted by legendary public address announcer Joe Hallisy. Hallisy, in his self-described "understated approach," brought a warmth that the Dons have long come to expect.
If you missed the broadcast, you can watch it in its entirety
here, or by visiting the Dons Athletics YouTube page.
The video opened with USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. who shared his sympathies to the student-athletes who had their spring season cut short and how he would not be able to hand the graduating seniors their diploma at graduation due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
Women's cross country's and track and field runner
Aoibhe Richardson took home the Anne Dolan Female Athlete of the year, while
Tim Widing of men's golf was named the Bill Russell Male Athlete of the Year.
Richardson was a First Team All-American in cross country and became the first woman in USF history to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, setting a new school record in the 5000m.
Widing took home Ping All-Region honors for the third time in his brilliant career. He led the Dons with three top-10 finishes, including an individual championship in the final tournament of the season.
Candace Hillegas from women's soccer and
Jordan Ratinho from men's basketball were named the Female and Male Dante Benedetti Award Winners, respectively. This award is given a male and female student-athlete who serve as an inspiration to their teammates through their unwavering sense of loyalty, self-sacrifice, unselfishness, positive attitude, and hard work.
The Stephen Privett, S.J. Award, which honors 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, was awarded to
Jamal Bernardez of men's soccer and the women's golf team highlighted by co-captain
Carley Hopton.
To say Jamal has been busy off the pitch would be an understatement. While also earning a 3.26 grade point average in the fall, he's maintained incredible roots in the community. He's been with east bay community energy, which aims to provide cleaner, greener energy. He also has volunteered for Glide Memorial in the Tenderloin and worked an internship in the counseling department at Longfellow Middle School.
The women's golf team set a tremendous example of engaging in the community – led by Hopton, the Dons were active with programs such as Harper for Kids and Best Buddies – all-virtually. The women's golf team posted a team GPA of 3.65 in the fall.
Senior
Nicole Kelsey from women's soccer was named the Charles Harney Academic Award Winner after maintaining the highest grade point during her tenure at the University. The defender capped off her career playing in 20 games this year, giving her 77 games played in career which is tied for seventh most all-time, she helped the Dons finished the year 10-8-2, marking just the 10
th time in program history the Dons have eclipsed the 10-win plateau. Off the pitch, Kelsey maintained a 3.99 GPA while studying kinesiology while earning WCC All-Academic honors.
For the second-consecutive year, the baseball program earned the Spirit of '51 Award. The award is presented to 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.
The USF baseball team saw its 56-game season cut dramatically short this spring with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dons were just beginning to find their stride in March, having won seven of their last nine games heading into a weekend series on the road at nationally ranked Pepperdine to open West Coast Conference play. But their bus was told to turn around and come back home before they could even reach Malibu, and they wouldn't play another game this spring. The team has stayed in high spirits, meeting weekly through Zoom, supporting each other and continuing to set goals for the future.
Alex Pham of baseball and
Catherine Hill from women's soccer were honored with the Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award. The award is chosen by the athletic training staff and is given to two athletes who 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.
Jimbo Lull from men's basketball was named the Roger and Claudia Salquist Athletic Director's Leadership Award. The awarded is given annually at the discretion of the Athletic Director and given for overall excellence and to a student who achieves a high level of excellence in athletic performance, academic achievement, community service and leadership. Determined by Executive Staff. Lull wrapped up his brilliant career on the hardwood having a career year. The center finished the season taking home All-WCC Honorable Mention accolades after posting career numbers in points, rebounds and minutes played while guiding the Dons to a 22-win season.
Women's basketball's graduate student
Mikayla Williams and men's basketball's redshirt sophomore
Khalil Shabazz were named the female and male newcomer of the year.
Williams had a fantastic final year of her college career on The Hilltop. She was named
Second Team All-West Coast Conference after averaging 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while totaling 30 blocks and posting 10 double-doubles on the year. Shabazz finished the year fourth on the team in points and tallied 17 games in double figures, none bigger than his 32 point outburst against BYU on Jan. 25 when we went 10-for-10 from the field and 6-for-6 from beyond the arc as the Dons stunned the Cougars.
AWARD WINNERS
Anne Dolan Outstanding Female Athlete: Aoibhe Richardson
Bill Russell Award Outstanding Male Athlete: Tim Widing
Dante Benedetti Award: Candance Hillegas and Jordan Ratinho
Newcomer of the Year: Mikayla Williams and Khalil Shabazz
Stephen Privett, S.J. Award: Jamal Bernardez and Women's Golf - Carley Hopton
Spirit of '51 Award: Baseball Team
Charles Harney Academic Award: Nicole Kelsey
Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award: Alex Pham and Catherine Hill
Roger and Claudia Salquist Athletic Director Leadership Award: Jimbo Lull
Excellence Awards:
Awarded to male and female representatives from each team that have achieved a high level of excellence. This is decided by the coaches based on their own criteria.
Male Excellence Award Winners
Female Excellence Award Winners
