Baseball 5/14/2018 9:35:00 AM

Big Blue Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony

          The Millikin University Athletic Department held its Fourth Annual Big Blue Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony on May 13 at the Griswold Center.
          The event featured a cookout for all student-athletes and a ceremony were several individual and team awards were presented. A male and female honoree were selected in each category.
          The first award presented was the Big Blue Award for an athlete that gives full effort in practice and competition and goes above and beyond for their teammates. The Male Award winner was junior wrestler Keajion Jennings (O'Fallon, H.S.) with the Female Award going to sophomore softball player Kalli Farmer (Columbia, H.S.).
          The Comeback Award was presented to a student-athlete who has worked diligently to return from an injury. The Male Award was presented to junior baseball player Connor Gross (Bement, H.S.). The Female Comeback Award was presented to junior women's soccer player Danielle Holliday (Homewood, Homewood Flossmoor H.S.).
          The Leadership Award was presented to a student-athlete that demonstrates the best leadership qualities in all scenarios for their team. The Leadership Award winners were senior men's basketball player Michael Charles, II (Chicago, Lindbloom H.S.) and senior volleyball player Emily Mihalkanin (Willowbrook, Hinsdale South H.S.).
          The Newcomer of the Year Award was presented to the most outstanding first year varsity male and female student-athletes. Freshman wrestler Bradan Birt (Epworth, Iowa, Western Dubuque H.S.) was the Male Newcomer Award Winner. There was a three-way time for Female Newcomer of the Year between freshman softball and women's basketball player Jordan Hildebrand (Mendon, Mendon Unity H.S.), freshman track and cross country athlete Mackenzie Dixon (Edwardsville, Mascoutah H.S.) and junior transfer softball player Taylor Jordan (Moweaqua, Central A&M H.S.).
          Thirty student athletes were recognized for being two-sport athletes with junior men's soccer and track athlete Christian Zenon (Lafayette, Louisiana, Lafayette Christian H.S.) and senior women's basketball and softball player Devin Curry (Watseka, H.S.) being named the Two-Sport Athletes of the Year.
          The final individual award was the Student-Athlete of the Year for the most outstanding male and female student-athletes of year. Criteria for the award included athletic prowess, academic achievement, and any contributions to the success of their team and Millikin at large. There was a tie for the Male Student-Athlete of the Year junior All-American wrestler Chris Williams (Bethalto, Civic Memorial H.S.) and junior quarterback Nicco Stepina (Casey, Casey Westfield H.S.) sharing the award. Williams finished third at the 2018 CCIW NCAA Wrestling Championships. Stepina earned All-Conference Second Team honors in football setting 10 new school records and leading the Big Blue to is best record (7-3) in more than 10 years.
          There was also a tie for Female Student Athlete of the Year with Curry and junior track athlete Erin Lukens (Johnston City, Herrin H.S.) sharing the award. Curry, a two-sport performer, led Millikin women's basketball in scoring earning All-Conference second team honors. Lukens won the CCIW Championship in both the Indoor and Outdoor 400 Meters. At the Outdoor Meet, she earned All-Conference honors in four events. She holds six Millikin school records.
          The Millikin men's tennis and women's cross country teams were recognized for having the highest team grade point averages.
          The Big Blue football team's dramatic comeback win over #13 ranked Wheaton College and the volleyball team's early season win over eventually national champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won the Best Moment Award.
          The Big Blue Team Award was present to the team that best represents Millikin University and the Athletic Department in our mission, values, and overall "Spirit of Big Blue" impact on campus and in the community. The wrestling team, women's soccer team, and the softball team were the winners of the Big Blue Award.
          The Big Blue wrestling and volleyball teams earned the Most Successful Team Award for 2017-18.
          Student-athletes that won sports specific awards during their seasons were recognized. Forty-six athletes earned CCIW All-Conference honors this season. Wrestlers Birt, Williams and Jennings along with volleyball players Erin Syversen (Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Waukesha West H.S.), Alora Goodey (Lincoln, H.S.) and Mihalkanin earned All-American honors.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#2 Alora Goodey: RS/M; 5' 11"; Senior

#6 Emily Mihalkanin: S; 5' 6"; Senior

#22 Erin Syversen: OH; 5' 9"; Senior

Keajion Jennings: Junior; 197

Chris Williams: Junior; 141

Bradan Birt: Freshman; 149

Mackenzie Dixon: Sophomore

Christian Zenon: Junior; Sprints

Erin Lukens: Junior; Sprints

#2 Nicco Stepina: QB; 6' 0"; Senior

#30 Connor Gross: RHP; 6' 2"; Junior; R/R

#25 Devin Curry: OF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#2 Alora Goodey
: 5' 11"; Senior
: RS/M

#6 Emily Mihalkanin
: 5' 6"; Senior
: S

#22 Erin Syversen
: 5' 9"; Senior
: OH

Keajion Jennings
: Junior; 197

Chris Williams
: Junior; 141

Bradan Birt
: Freshman; 149

Mackenzie Dixon
: Sophomore

Christian Zenon
: Junior; Sprints

Erin Lukens
: Junior; Sprints

#2 Nicco Stepina
: 6' 0"; Senior
: QB

#30 Connor Gross
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#25 Devin Curry
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: OF