North Florida Athletics Holds 2nd Annual OZZIES Awards Show
4/16/2019 11:34:00 PM | General
JACKSONVILLE – The University of North Florida Department of Athletics hosted its "unofficial" end of the season student-athlete recognition event, The OZZIES on Tuesday, April 16 at UNF's Robinson Theater. The award show styled festivity celebrated and honored the athletic accomplishments for the 2018-19 season.
Senior Dominica Cocuzza (softball) and senior Philip Knowles (men's golf) earned the Athlete of the Year honors, which marked his second consecutive year to garner the honor. Cocuzza'a senior softball teammate Navia Penrod was named the women's scholar-athlete of the year while junior JT Escobar (men's basketball) claimed the men's honor. Sophomore transfer Jazz Bond (women's basketball) was tabbed the Female Newcomer of the Year while women's golf standout Liss Davalos and men's tennis rookie Dominik Barton collected the Freshmen of the Year awards.
Former track athlete Manny Velasquez was presented with the Osprey Spirit award by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The Osprey Spirit Award was created by the SAAC in an effort to have a peer-driven honor at the banquet. The SAAC created the criteria for the annual honor which recognizes someone who exemplifies dedication to UNF Athletics and promotes spirit and pride within their team and the Athletics Department. In addition, the SAAC also created and presented a list of fun superlative awards.
The 2018-19 women's basketball team was recognized as the "Most Improved Team" with Cocuzza and senior baseball player Jay Prather earning the "Most Improved Individual" honors. The Osprey men's golf team claimed the "Best Team Performance" award for their runner-up finish at the 2018 NCAA Norman (Okla.) Regional. The "Best Individual Performance" honors were bestowed on golfers Travis Trace and Sydney Shrader. Trace earned his for winning medalist honors at the NCAA Regional while Shrader was recognized for claiming her third career tournament title and second of the season, topping 258 golfers at the Kiawah Island Spring Classic.
The department's top performers in the classroom were also featured as recognition was given to the teams with the highest cumulative GPAs - Men's Tennis and Women's Golf, as well as the student-athletes with the highest GPAs including men's basketballer Emmanuel Lambright, swimmer Sarah Joram, runner Crystal Liebenberg and women's golfer Teresa Conroy, all of which maintained perfect 4.0s.
Brent Martineau, the sports director of Action Sports Jax, radio show co-host on ESPN 690AM and the play-by-play announcer for UNF's ESPN+ basketball broadcasts, served as the emcee for the second annual event. Along with theater style snacks and the announcement of the department awards, other highlights of the evening included recognition of all UNF senior student-athletes and the department's endowed scholarships as well as season highlights and senior tribute videos.
A senior recognition dinner was held in UNF Arena on Sunday, Apr. 14.
Athlete of the Year, Male: Philip Knowles (Golf)
Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Female: Navia Penrod (Softball)
Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Male: JT Escobar (Basketball)
Newcomer of the Year, Female: Jazz Bond (Basketball)
Freshman of the Year, Female: Liss Davalos (Golf)
Freshman of the Year, Male: Dominik Barton (Tennis)
Most Improved Team: Women's Basketball
Most Improved Individual, Female: Dominica Cocuzza (Softball)
Most Improved Individual, Male: Jay Prather (Baseball)
Best Team Performance: Men's golf finishing runner-up at the NCAA Regional and advancing to NCAA Championships
Best Individual Performance, Female: Sydney Shrader, medalist finish at the Kiawah Island Spring Classic
Best Individual Performance, Male: Travis Trace, medalist finish at the NCAA Regional in Norman, Okla.
Osprey Spirit Award: Manny Velasquez
Highest Team GPA, Women: Golf
Highest Team GPA, Men: Tennis
Highest Individual GPA, Female: Teresa Conroy (Golf) | Sarah Joram (Swimming) | Crystal Liebenberg (Track) - 4.0
Highest Individual GPA, Male: Emmanuel Lambright (Basketball) - 4.0
Senior Dominica Cocuzza (softball) and senior Philip Knowles (men's golf) earned the Athlete of the Year honors, which marked his second consecutive year to garner the honor. Cocuzza'a senior softball teammate Navia Penrod was named the women's scholar-athlete of the year while junior JT Escobar (men's basketball) claimed the men's honor. Sophomore transfer Jazz Bond (women's basketball) was tabbed the Female Newcomer of the Year while women's golf standout Liss Davalos and men's tennis rookie Dominik Barton collected the Freshmen of the Year awards.
Former track athlete Manny Velasquez was presented with the Osprey Spirit award by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The Osprey Spirit Award was created by the SAAC in an effort to have a peer-driven honor at the banquet. The SAAC created the criteria for the annual honor which recognizes someone who exemplifies dedication to UNF Athletics and promotes spirit and pride within their team and the Athletics Department. In addition, the SAAC also created and presented a list of fun superlative awards.
The 2018-19 women's basketball team was recognized as the "Most Improved Team" with Cocuzza and senior baseball player Jay Prather earning the "Most Improved Individual" honors. The Osprey men's golf team claimed the "Best Team Performance" award for their runner-up finish at the 2018 NCAA Norman (Okla.) Regional. The "Best Individual Performance" honors were bestowed on golfers Travis Trace and Sydney Shrader. Trace earned his for winning medalist honors at the NCAA Regional while Shrader was recognized for claiming her third career tournament title and second of the season, topping 258 golfers at the Kiawah Island Spring Classic.
The department's top performers in the classroom were also featured as recognition was given to the teams with the highest cumulative GPAs - Men's Tennis and Women's Golf, as well as the student-athletes with the highest GPAs including men's basketballer Emmanuel Lambright, swimmer Sarah Joram, runner Crystal Liebenberg and women's golfer Teresa Conroy, all of which maintained perfect 4.0s.
Brent Martineau, the sports director of Action Sports Jax, radio show co-host on ESPN 690AM and the play-by-play announcer for UNF's ESPN+ basketball broadcasts, served as the emcee for the second annual event. Along with theater style snacks and the announcement of the department awards, other highlights of the evening included recognition of all UNF senior student-athletes and the department's endowed scholarships as well as season highlights and senior tribute videos.
A senior recognition dinner was held in UNF Arena on Sunday, Apr. 14.
2018-19 North Florida Athletic Award Winners
Athlete of the Year, Female: Dominica Cocuzza (Softball)Athlete of the Year, Male: Philip Knowles (Golf)
Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Female: Navia Penrod (Softball)
Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Male: JT Escobar (Basketball)
Newcomer of the Year, Female: Jazz Bond (Basketball)
Freshman of the Year, Female: Liss Davalos (Golf)
Freshman of the Year, Male: Dominik Barton (Tennis)
Most Improved Team: Women's Basketball
Most Improved Individual, Female: Dominica Cocuzza (Softball)
Most Improved Individual, Male: Jay Prather (Baseball)
Best Team Performance: Men's golf finishing runner-up at the NCAA Regional and advancing to NCAA Championships
Best Individual Performance, Female: Sydney Shrader, medalist finish at the Kiawah Island Spring Classic
Best Individual Performance, Male: Travis Trace, medalist finish at the NCAA Regional in Norman, Okla.
Osprey Spirit Award: Manny Velasquez
Highest Team GPA, Women: Golf
Highest Team GPA, Men: Tennis
Highest Individual GPA, Female: Teresa Conroy (Golf) | Sarah Joram (Swimming) | Crystal Liebenberg (Track) - 4.0
Highest Individual GPA, Male: Emmanuel Lambright (Basketball) - 4.0
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