By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Thirteen student-athletes have been chosen as the outstanding representative of their teams at Tennessee Tech University and are the winners of the 24th annual President's Awards, presented by the TTU Athletics Department. Nine of the 13 are first-time winners, three have captured the honor twice, and one more has claimed the accolade three times.
Senior tennis player Alberto Esteban earned his third overall President's Award, representing the tennis team in 2014 and 2016 as well. Alberto Esteban, the tennis team's selection for 2016 was also the team's recipient following the 2014 season. Women's golf's Allyson Dunn and softball's Gabby LaSala have now each collected the honor in back-to-back years, while men's cross country's Daniel Williamson claimed the award after winning in 2015 as well.
One member from each of Tech's intercollegiate athletic programs was selected based on a combination of their career academic performance and athletic accomplishments. The indoor and outdoor women's track teams are combined for one award.
"The President's Award has been presented now for 24 years now," said TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson, "and the list of winners that has developed throughout the years is simply impressive. Each and every one of these young men and women represent the best student-athletes Tennessee Tech Athletics has to offer and are clearly someone the program's they represent can be extremely proud of. These are the very best in each of our 13 programs, and they certainly deserve this special recognition."
The 2017 recipients include four seniors, five juniors and four sophomores. The recipients also demonstrate the diversity of Tech's student-athletes, hailing from four different states and two other nations including Tennessee (seven), California (two), Ohio (one), Oregon (one), Germany (one) and Spain (one).
The President's Award was established in 1994.
In alphabetical order, the 2017 President's Award winners are:
Allyson Dunn | Women's Golf | Junior | Kingsport, Tenn. >>>
Allyson Dunn claimed her second straight President's Award after proving to be a more-than-capable leader both on and off the links. Dunn posted the third-lowest season average in program history in 2016-17, a mark of 76.57 that led the team and earned her a spot on the All-OVC Team. She also posted the second-lowest single-round score in school history, firing a 4-under 68 at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate. A team captain, she also led by example in the classroom, boasting a 3.88 cumulative GPA and earning recognition as a WGCA All-American Scholar.
<<< Alberto Esteban | Tennis | Senior | Madrid, Spain
Alberto Esteban became a three-time winner of the President's Award for the tennis team, capturing his second straight honor following his final campaign with the Golden Eagles. Esteban helped Tech capture both OVC regular season and tournament titles, as well as a berth into the NCAA Tournament. The veteran finished an impressive 5-1 in OVC play, earning a place on the All-OVC First Team. He carried a 3.85 GPA through the end of his career, and was recognized as an OVC Scholar Athlete Award Winner.
Ryan Flick | Baseball | Junior | Bluff City, Tenn. >>>
Ryan Flick turned in a season for the ages in 2017, leading the Golden Eagle baseball team to OVC regular season and tournament titles, not to mention a victory over Florida State in the NCAA Tournament. Flick hauled in numerous accolades on the field, including five All-American honors, OVC Tournament MVP honors, All-OVC Second Team honors and was named a finalist for the Gregg Olson Award, all after hitting .377 with 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 74 RBI. In the classroom, he was just as impressive, earning a 3.54 GPA prior to his graduation in May.
<<< Hannah Goolsby | Women's Basketball | Senior | Cookeville, Tenn.
Hannah Goolsby completed her four-year career with a number of milestones and accolades, including her first President's Award. The Cookeville native finished third on the Golden Eagle women's basketball team in scoring in 2016-17, averaging 9.0 points per game while joining the program's 1,000-point club. She also ranked second on the squad with 4.5 rebounds and third on the team with 3.1 assists per game. Her prowess in the classroom was clear as the senior graduated in May with a 3.66 GPA and was an OVC Academic Medal of Honor recipient.
Gabby LaSala | Softball | Sophomore | Mason, Ohio >>>
Gabby LaSala collected her second straight President's Award to start her Golden Eagle career after ranking in the upper echelon of most offensive categories for the Tech softball team in 2017. LaSala finished third on the squad with a .282 average, second in hits (35), home runs (8) and RBI (21), and started in 40 of the team's 46 contests. She was even more impressive in the classroom, earning her fourth straight Athletic Director's Honor Roll appearance while sporting a 3.93 GPA.
<<< Shealene Little | Volleyball | Sophomore | Culver, Ore.
Shealene Little made great progress on the court while continuing a stellar academic career on her way to her first President's Award honor. Little led the Golden Eagles in kills per set in 2016 and ranked second in total kills with 207 as a sophomore. She also finished third on the squad with 222.5 total points. In the classroom, Little earned her fourth consecutive appearance on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and completed her second year with a 3.94 GPA.
Kajon Mack | Men's Basketball | Senior | Los Angeles, Calif. >>>
Kajon Mack turned in sensational first season in the purple and gold in 2016-17, capping it with his first President's Award honors. The Tulane transfer led the Golden Eagle men's basketball team in rebounds (5.0), assists (2.8) and steals (1.3) per game. He ranked second on the squad with 11.8 points per game and 17 blocks, while starting all 32 contests as a guard. The senior also turned in a perfect 4.0 GPA in his first full year of graduate school.
<<< Kari Naerdemann | Soccer | Sophomore | Herne, Germany
Kari Naerdemann collected her first President's Award following a dominant display both on and off the pitch in 2016-17. On the field, Naerdemann continued her historic career by earning her second straight OVC Defensive Player of the Year honor after leading the league in goals against average (0.59) and save percentage (.869). She also put together a whopping 11 shutouts on the year. Named Tech's Female Athlete of the Year, she helped anchor a defense that allowed a program-low 13 goals. In the classroom, Naerdemann shined with a 3.78 GPA.
Josh Poplar | Football | Sophomore | Knoxville, Tenn. >>>
Josh Poplar put together a break-through campaign on the gridiron in 2016, backing up an already impressive resume in the classroom to earn his first career President's Award. The linebacker led the Golden Eagle football team with 105 tackles while forcing two fumbles, recovering three more and returning one for a touchdown. Named to the All-OVC Second Team Defense, Poplar also boasted a 3.97 GPA in the classroom, leading to CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and a spot on the prestigious FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team.
<<< Micayla Rennick | Women's Cross Country | Junior | Sacramento, Calif.
Micayla Rennick put on a show throughout the women's cross country season and secured her first President's Award with just as impressive results in the classroom in 2016-17. Rennick finished as the Golden Eagles' top runner at every event in the fall, setting multiple school records and placing first at the Greater Louisville Classic. She finished sixth at the OVC Championships with a career-best 17:29.8 finish in the 5K. In the classroom, she earned a place on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll each semester thanks to a 3.53 GPA.
Madison Stremler | Track & Field | Junior | Franklin, Tenn. >>>
Madison Stremler earned her first ever President's Award after helping lead the Tennessee Tech indoor track & field team to its highest ever finish in program history, a second-place showing at the OVC Indoor Championships. She also helped lead Tech to a third-place finish at the Outdoor Championships. Stremler was a member of the 4,000-meter Distance Medley Relay team claimed medalist honors at the OVC Indoor Championships. Named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll six times in six semesters, she finished her junior year with a 3.66 GPA.
<<< A.J. Wilkerson | Men's Golf | Junior | Sparta, Tenn.
A.J. Wilkerson proved to be a leader on the course and in the classroom in 2016-17, earning his first career President's Award honors. Wilkerson led the men's golf team with a 74.63 scoring average, boasting top-10 finishes in four tournaments. He claimed a season-best fifth place showing at the Samford Intercollegiate and fired a career-low 214 at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate to place in the top 10. The nearby Sparta native turned in a 3.42 GPA in the classroom.
Daniel Williamson | Men's Cross Country | Senior | Union City, Tenn. >>>
Daniel Williamson capped a stellar, four-year career as a Golden Eagle with his second career President's Award, having also won in 2015. The Union City, Tenn. native finished among Tech's top four runners in every meet in 2016, posting a season-best second-place finish at the Greater Louisville Classic with a time of 25:31.07 in the 8K. Tech's 2017 Man of the Year showed just as much leadership in the classroom and community, completing his degree in May with a 3.36 GPA.
