Titan Athletics Honors Student-Athletes at Annual Oshcars
The Oshcars, an annual ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Department was held on Monday, May 1 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Over 770 votes were cast as the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Department handed out awards and celebrated the success of the past year.
The Titans handed out awards for Photo of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Best Team GPA, Resilience, Black and Gold, Titan Give Back, UWO Athletics Appreciation, Moment of the Year, Individual Performance of the Year, Team Performance of the Year, Best Student Section/Team Supporters, Athlete of the Year, the John Taylor Scholar-Athlete Award, the Phyllis Roney and Jim Flood Senior Coaches Awards, and the Award for Academic Excellence.
The Photo of the Year went to women's volleyball, who produced a 31-6 overall record, a 19-game winning streak, and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament.
The Female Newcomer of the Year went to Reanna McGibboney of women's gymnastics. McGibboney was awarded the 2023 WIAC Newcomer of the Year, an All-WIAC nod, and earned two All-America finishes to help her team win their second consecutive national championship.
The Male Newcomer of the Year went to Connor Brinkman of baseball. Brinkman was the first ever Titan winner of the WIAC Newcomer of the Year, led the WIAC with a 2.64 ERA, placed in the top-10 in several WIAC stat categories, and led the Titans in several stat categories.
The Team GPA Award went to the women's volleyball team, who posted the highest team GPA in program history.
The Resilience Award went to Olivia Argall of women's basketball. Argall was nominated by her teammates for her unwavering commitment to her program, her leadership skills, and the ability to lift up her teammates while dealing with adversity off the field.
The Black and Gold Awards went to two individuals who were nominated for their outstanding sportsmanship, positive attitude and energy, and willingness to go above and beyond for their teams. The Female Black and Gold Award went to Kate Nottoli of volleyball while the Male Black and Gold Award went to Connor Jenkins of men's basketball.
The Titan Give Back Award goes to a team that goes beyond what is expected to make an impact on the community. The 2023 Titan Give Back Award went to the track and field and cross country teams. The track and field and cross country teams make weekly trips to Jefferson Elementary School in Oshkosh to help out in the classrooms.
The UWO Athletics Appreciation Award goes to an individual who has directly impacted the success of the Titans athletic teams. The 2023 UWO Athletics Appreciation Award went to Debbie Gray Patton. Gray Patton assists the Titan Athletic department by providing academic support, advising assistance, and general life tips to the student-athletes.
The Female Individual Performance of the Year Award went to Francesca Schiro of women's swimming and diving after she set five school records at the conference championships.
The Male Individual Performance of the Year Award went to Eli Tranel of men's track and field after he set the school record with a nation-leading height in the pole vault.
The Team Performance of the Year Award went to women's gymnastics after they won their second consecutive national title.
The Moment of the Year Award went to Jenna Jorgensen of the women's basketball team. Jorgensen hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the Titans opening round of the NCAA tournament to advance them into the Round of 32.
The Best Student Section/Team Supporters Award went to football for their energy and presence at games.
The Female Athlete of the Year Award went to Kayce Vaile of women's basketball. Vaile was named to the All-WIAC First Team after leading the Titans with 10.6 points per game and the WIAC with 8.1 rebounds per game.
The Male Athlete of the Year Award went to Levi Borchert of the men's basketball. Borchert paced the conference with 340 rebounds, the ninth-most in WIAC history and the most since fellow Titan Greg Holmon led the conference with 362 rebounds during the 1974-75 season.
The Phyllis Roney and Jim Flood Senior Coaches Awards go to a graduating student-athlete who shows leadership qualities, skill, character, attitude, courage, achievement, service to the community, contribution to the team, sportsmanship, dedication, and loyalty to the athletics program and the University.
The 2023 Phyllis Roney Senior Coaches Award went to Carissa Sundholm of volleyball. Sundholm was a four-year starter for the Titans, a two-year captain and two-time All-WIAC, earned AVCA All-Region First Team and Honorable Mention honors, was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, and became the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000 kills.
The 2023 Jim Flood Senior Coaches award went to Luc Valdez of wrestling. Valdez made his first NCAA championship appearance after claimed the 2023 WIAC crown at 125-lbs. Valdez was named the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete and is a three-time NWCA Scholar All-American recipient.
The Award for Academic Excellence honors the academic achievements of student-athletes and is solely based on academic merit. The 2023 Award for Academic Excellence went to Kate Nottoli of women's volleyball. Nottoli maintained a 3.91 GPA during her collegiate career and was a three-year member of the Titans volleyball program.
The John Taylor Scholar-Athlete award is given to student-athletes who own a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher. The award reflects not only individual athletic accomplishments but also embodies the ideals of team contribution, scholastic endeavor, and community involvement. This is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards a student-athlete can win.
The Female John Taylor Scholar-Athlete Award recipient was Mackenzie Bennett of the women's soccer team. Bennett was a two-year captain, a two-time All-WIAC recipient, a three-time Defensive Player of the Week, and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. Bennett earned USC All-Region honors in 2021 (First Team) and 2022 (Third Team). Bennett helped the team reach the NCAA in 2021 and win the conference and tournament championships for the first time in program history. Bennett was the first ever Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete recipient, given by the WIAC.
The Male John Taylor Scholar-Athlete award recipient was Levi Borchert of men's basketball. Borchert earned All-America First Team and Second Team honors this season along with his third All-WIAC First Team nod and second consecutive WIAC Player of the Year. Borchert was the third Titan to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons and reached 1,000 career points as a Titan in December of 2022.