2014-15 Green Wave Honored at Annual Athletics Banquet
Apr 27, 2015 | Women's Tennis
NEW ORLEANS -- This past Sunday, each of Tulane's 16 sports teams gathered inside Yulman Stadium for the annual athletics banquet, honoring all of the Green Wave's achievements during the 2014-15 season. Each sport gave out team specific awards and recapped their seasons. In addition, Tulane athletics staff presented its major specialty awards given to the top student-athletes.
Based on athletic performance and voted upon by Tulane executive staff, head coaches, student service directors and the athletics communications staff, this year's recipients for male and female athlete of the year were Tennis' Dominik Koepfer and Track & Field's Lilla McMillan.
Koepfer recorded a 27-6 overall record on his way to earning a career high No. 5 national ranking in singles. He became the first Green Wave player to reach at least the quarterfinals in both major fall ITA National Championships. Koepfer also led Tulane to a post-Katrina best 16-7 record and a No. 39 national ranking.
Lilla was a three-time American Athletic Conference Female Track Athlete of the Week during the indoor season, and once so far during the outdoor campaign. She captured the 200 Meter Gold Medal and the 400 Meter Silver Medal during The American Indoor Track and Field Championships while winning a total of 10 event titles during the indoor season. She owns school records in the 200 meter dash during the indoor season as well as the outdoor record for the 400 meter dash.
Football's Brandon Schmidt and sand volleyball's Jackie Wegner took home the Scholar Athlete of the Year awards, given to the male and female student athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average after at least five semesters at Tulane.
Schmidt, a senior Finance major from Lafayette, Louisiana, earned his second straight Scholar Athlete of the Year Award with his perfect 4.0 GPA. The linebacker played in six games in 2014, seeing action primarily on special teams where he logged one tackle.
Wegner, a junior Finance major from Clearwater, Florida, with a 3.987 GPA, has been a member of the Tulane Scholar Athlete Program since fall of 2012. Wegner made sand volleyball history alongside Tea Juric when the 27-6 duo qualified for their second consecutive trip to the National Championships.
Tulane also announced its third annual winners of the Wilson Award, named after football alum James W. Wilson, Jr. This award has been given to student-athletes that demonstrate a strong overall impact on Green Wave athletics through leadership and achievement in the three pillars of what Tulane Athletics represents -- excellence in education, competition and service.
Football's Carlos Wilson from Grambling, Louisiana, took home the prize on the men's side. Wilson played in nine games during his final season with the Green Wave, primarily on special teams. Off the field, he is a finance major with a 3.04 GPA, and served as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as a member of the SAAC during his final three years. In the community, Wilson has volunteered for seven initiatives over the last year and half.
Senior Jamie Kaplan earned the second consecutive Wilson Award for women's basketball, with last year's winner being alum Katye Magee. Kaplan adds the Wilson award to her long list of prestigious accolades garnered this season: Tulane 34 Award, American Scholar Athlete of the Year, and Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American.
The team's captain started 31 of 32 games this past season, and helped Tulane reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. In addition, she became just the second Tulane player to reach 500 career assists. Off the court, she sports a 3.83 GPA as a Neuroscience major and was the Nutrition Liaison for the SAAC. She also volunteered for numerous community service events and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Finally, the American Athletic Conference also acknowledged a male and female scholar athlete of the year, honoring Swimming and Diving's Claire Schelske and Football's Brandon Schmidt, with the latter picking up his second major academic accolade of the day. Schelske boasts a 3.979 GPA as a Finance Major and served as the 2015 President of the SAAC. In the pool, she participated in all 10 meets and competed in the 100 free, the 100 breast, the 200 breast, and the 500 free events, and was a part of three relay teams.
Below you will find a complete list of each team's specific awards handed out at Sunday's banquet:
Team Awards
Bowling 2015
Most Improved Player Award: Hannah Ryan
Most Outstanding Freshman Award: Sarah Forton
Sand Volleyball 2015
Freshman of the Year Award: Madeline Mertz
Player of the Year Award: Jackie Wegner
Volleyball 2014
Leadership Award: Sarah Strasner
Most Improved Award: Sarah Ray
Football 2014
Offensive Player of the Year: Justyn Shackleford
Defensive Player of the Year: Sam Scofield
Special Teams Player of the Year: Matt Marfisi
Football 2015
Weight Room Warrior Award: Tanzel Smart
Offensive MVP Award: Tanner Lee
Defensive MVP Award: Darion Monroe
Swimming and Diving 2014-2015
Most Valuable Player Award: Mia Schachter
Most Improved Award: Holly Grender
2014 Men Outdoor Track & Field
Most Outstanding Male Track & Field Athlete: Devon Breaux
2014 Women Outdoor Track & Field
Most Outstanding Female Track & Field Athlete: Daliadiz Ortiz
2014 Men Cross Country
Most Outstanding Male CC Athlete: Moses Aloiloi
2014 Women Cross Country
Most Outstanding Female CC Athlete: Laruen Bartels
2015 Women Indoor Track & Field
Most Outstanding Track Athlete: Lilla McMillan
Most Outstanding Field Athlete: Katerina Vodova
Men's Basketball 2014-2015
Outstanding Everyday Shooter: Jay Hook
Team Defensive Player: Kajon Mack
Women's Basketball 2014-2015
Most Valuable Player: Kolby Morgan
Most Improved Player: Chinwe Duru
Women's Tennis 2014-2015
Newcomer Award: Naz Karagoz
Tough Award: Nicky Stracar
Men's Tennis 2014-2015
Most Valuable Player: Dominik Koepfer
Women's Golf 2014-2015
Bower Award: Gemma Dryburgh
Most Valuable Player: Belen Goicoechea
Baseball 2015
LeBreton Award: Hunter Williams
MVP: TBD
Players Mentioned
