Pitt athletics floods Twitter with year-end awards

Pitt’s athletic department refused to allow the covid-19 quarantine to shut down its presentation of the most accomplished student-athletes of the past academic year.

So, the third annual Panthers’ Choice Awards went viral via Twitter on Wednesday. Several staff members, including Chancellor Patrick Gallagher, and former student-athletes, including Dan Marino, announced winners of the various awards that recognized achievement in academics, athletics and citizenship.

Wherever you’re at in the world, be our virtual guest as we bring you the 2020 Panthers’ Choice Awards!

Here are your hosts, @laynevb and @AveryPerosa of @Pitt_VB!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/YJoFqKKutq

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Thank you so much for following along with the 2020 Panthers’ Choice Awards!

Congratulations to all of our student-athletes on their achievements in competition, in the classroom and in the community!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/EpeG45Ezp0

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

The winners of the Panther Award will also be added to the Varsity Walk!

Here to present the award is last year’s recipient as a @Pitt_FB player and current running back for the @AtlantaFalcons, @QOllison!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/8vZmBN98Bx

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Also, the Panther Awards and Blue-Gold Awards were presented. The recipients’ names will be etched on Pitt’s Varsity Walk between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel — a tradition that dates to 1950.

Below is a full list of awards:

We are underway!

Presenting the Female and Male Academic Teams of the Year is @PittChancellor!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/4pplgz2gTC

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Top Overall Academic Teams

Reserved for the male and female team with the highest cumulative GPA for the spring and fall semesters of 2019.

Winner: Men’s Soccer (3.081 GPA), Women’s Volleyball (3.512 GPA)

Presenting the Bridge Builder and Heart of a Panther award is our very own @PennyS66 of @Pitt_LIFESKILLS and former @Pitt_FB student-athlete!

The awards are given to a team and individual, respectively, who show commitment to impacting our community.#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/L6iBpyVLzL

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Bridge Builder Award

Presented to the team whose student-athletes demonstrate the strongest commitment to making an impact in the community.

Winner: Football

Heart of a Panther Award

Presented to the student-athlete who best embodies the spirit of service through the Pitt Promise and is involved in the community above and beyond what is required.

Winner: Tre Tipton (Football)

Gold Standard Teammates of the Year

Presented to the student-athlete who most effectively inspires his or her team through exemplary commitment, composure and integrity.

No intro needed for this guy!@DanMarino let us know who had the Team Moment of the Year!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/j2QXS8zs01

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Baseball: Chris Gomez

Men’s Basketball: Abdoul Karim Coulibaly

Men’s Diving: Joshua Parquet

Football: Cal Adomitis

Men’s Soccer: Alex Peperak

Men’s Swimming: Walker Brooks

Men’s Track & Field, Men’s Cross Country: Nick Wolk

Wrestling: Nino Bonaccorsi

Women’s Basketball: Aysia Bugg

Women’s Diving: Cortnee Williams

Women’s Gymnastics: Alecia Petrikis

Presenting the Female Performance of the Year is Pitt Hall of Famer and NCAA Champion, Lisa Shirk!✨#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/7gYUqExGQN

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Softball: Brittany Knight

Women’s Soccer: Hollie Olding

Women’s Swimming: Barb Schmele

Women’s Track & Field: Taylor Middleton

Women’s Cross Country: Mary Borkoski

Volleyball: Kayla Lund

Cheer: Kathleen Weiser

Dance: Samantha Schall

Presenting the @JamesConner_ Comeback of the Year award is @PittBorghetti!

This award is given to someone who, having recovered from an injury, illness or hardship, returns to make a noteworthy contribution to their teams' athletic success.#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/zh0f4U1DYI

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

James Conner Comeback of the Year

Presented to a student-athlete who, having recovered from an injury, illness or hardship, returns to make a noteworthy contribution to their teams’ athletic success.

Winner: Jake Wentzel (Wrestling)

Presenting the David Sandberg Champion award is former @NFL and @Pitt_FB player Lousaka Polite of @Pitt_LIFESKILLS!

Aka LOOOUUUUUU!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/FMNCzCDcKO

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

David Sandberg Champion Award

In memory of the former Pitt wrestler and assistant coach, this award is presented to the senior who best exemplifies the qualities that Sandberg embraced: dedication to academic and athletic excellence, with an unyielding spirit and passionate commitment to the improvement of the University of Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities.

Winner: Juliana Vazquez (Women’s Soccer)

Male and Female Performance of the Year

Presented to a male and female student-athlete for the most remarkable or significant performance achieved in 2019-20.

Winners: Edward Kizza (Men’s Soccer), Alecia Petrikis and Deven Herbine (Gymnastics)

Newcomer of the Year

Presented to the student-athlete who has made an immediate impact at Pitt in their first year of intercollegiate competition. Nominees may include freshmen and redshirts.

Only right that we have @Pitt_WLAX head coach @EmBoissonneault present the Newcomer of the Year award, right?#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/7PIW6O92ir

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Winner: Lexis Akeo (Volleyball)

Team Moment of the Year

Presented in recognition of a striking performance by an individual or group in a specific competition that led to a shift in momentum.

Winner: Football (Victory against No. 15 Central Florida, with the decisive score on the Pitt Special, a touchdown pass from wide receiver Aaron Mathews to quarterback Kenny Pickett)

Male and Female Athlete of the Year

Presented to a male and female standout student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic performance during competition and has been instrumental to their teams’ success.

Winners: Micky Phillippi (Wrestling), Kayla Lund (Volleyball)

Presenting the Female Athlete of the Year is #ProPanther @SZellous1 of @Pitt_WBB and the @WNBA!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/E4WcH58JEc

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Team of the Year

Reserved for the team that exemplified outstanding athletic achievement in the 2019-20 season.

Winner: Volleyball

Blue-Gold Award

Presented to the male and female senior student-athlete who best represents the student-athlete “ideal” based on academic scholarship, athletic achievement, leadership qualities and citizenship. These recipients will be forever recognized on the Varsity Walk.

Presenting the Blue-Gold Award is @Pitt_WRES national champion, 2008 Blue-Gold recipient and head coach @keithgavin84 and Nora Gavin!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/xBUXUM75a3

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020

Winners: Demetrius Thomas (Wrestling), Stephanie Williams (Volleyball)

Panther Award

Presented to the male and female senior student-athlete who has promoted Pittsburgh Athletics through his or her outstanding athletic achievement. These recipients will be forever recognized on the Varsity Walk.

Winners: Maurice Ffrench (Football), Layne Van Buskirk (Volleyball)

Presenting the Team of the Year is @Pitt_LykeAD!#H2P | #PanthersChoice20 pic.twitter.com/4r8m5URMMr

— Pitt Athletics (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) April 15, 2020