On April 15, the amazing athletes of Oakland University gathered in the OU Credit Union O’rena to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and receive recognition for their outstanding seasons and performances.
Dubbed the Black and Gold Awards, all members of the athletic department were invited to dress their best and enjoy a night of celebration. Every team was there, from women’s tennis to men’s basketball, all dressed to the nines.
The night began with the community service awards. The top individual recognized for her contributions to the community was senior Jillian Rice of Swim and Dive. The team awards for community service went to men’s baseball and volleyball.
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Team award went to senior Ellie Chalifoux, junior Dane Charleston and Jillian Rice, again of Oakland Swim and Dive. This early trend of the swim and dive team dominating in the awards continued throughout the night.
The next big category was academic accomplishment. After all, these are student-athletes. The top academic team went to women’s tennis, while track and field and cross country swept the individual awards. Seniors Trey Plichta and Jennifer Ohlsson won the men’s and women’s awards for academics, respectively.
Sports is all about enabling future leaders. The Golden Grizzlies Champions Club Future Leader award went to senior Austin Kujuwa of esports for the men’s award and freshman Jhelysse Anthony of women’s soccer for the women’s award.
When we remember sports seasons, we always recall the biggest games and performances of the year. The Competition of the Year Award deservedly went to men’s basketball for their victory over Kentucky in the first round of March Madness. Graduate student Jack Gohlke received the Men’s Performance of the Year award for his 32-point game against Kentucky.
Sophomore Bridget Boczar of women’s golf took home the women’s award for her school-record lowest single tournament round with 65 strokes and a tournament total of 65-74-67 strokes at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational. When asked what it meant to her to win this as a sophomore, she said, “It means that I have the so-called ‘recipe’ for improvement down. I have been narrowing down my focus at practices to small things I can improve.” Boczar is excited to push for as many team and individual awards in her career as possible.
The Top Play of the Year went to Rocket Watts’ assist to DQ Cole for the game-sealing 3-pointer against Kentucky (that game brought home a lot of hardware). The Comeback of the Year was awarded to women’s basketball for their 20-point comeback against Central Michigan.
The Golden Grizzlies pride themselves on their school spirit. The Black & Gold Spirit award for a team went to Swim and Dive (their appearances at the basketball games went a long way). The individual spirit award was claimed by senior Brandon Heidal of baseball.
The Newcomer of the Year awards were claimed by freshmen Donavan Phillip of men’s soccer and Clarissa Bezuidenhout of Swim and Dive. Bezuidenhout got a lot of love from the Horizon League as well, winning Freshmen of the Year for Swim and Dive. The Most Improved Athlete Award went to junior Emily Wichmann of volleyball.
Our amazing staff members, Natalie Longroy and Ceejay Round were recognized for Staff Member of the Year. These two work tirelessly all year to provide photography and video for all of Oakland’s sports. Round is thankful that “Oakland has allowed [him] to work in all the creative elements and grow [his] skills as an all-around creator.”
One of the biggest awards of the night was the Hollie L. Lepley Award, named after Oakland’s first athletic director. Fifth-year senior Blake Lampman of men’s basketball won, and senior Jen Krizka of women’s softball took it home for the women. “The award means everything to me because I would not be where I am without my teammates and coaches. Being a leader is everything to me, and I could not have done it without everybody that supports me,” she told me.
The President’s Award was another sweep for Swim and Dive. Junior Jordyn Shipps finished her outstanding season by taking home the women’s award. Shipps credits her “incredible teammates and the unmatched coaching staff who made it all possible.” Graduate student Christian Bart won the men’s award; he had a stellar season himself.
Finally, the biggest award of the night was given out to the men’s and women’s athletes of the year. Senior Trey Townsend capped off his title as Mr. Oakland with the men’s award for his brilliant senior season, winning Horizon League Player of the Year for basketball. Fifth-year senior Sydney Campbell of softball earned the women’s award. Campbell said, “The female Athlete of the Year award is something that I have had my eye on for a few years now. I know how many amazing female athletes are at OU, so to be given the award is such an honor.”
The Team of the Year award was taken by men’s basketball. They won the regular season and conference titles, as well as made the second round of March Madness for the first time ever.
The last award of the night was the Tom Ford Inspirational Award, named after Oakland’s longtime athletic trainer, who passed away last summer. Sophomore Anuhea Aluli of women’s soccer took home the award in its first year. She battled back from an ACL surgery, and she is very grateful for the award because “it is a recognition of the many people who have supported me every step of the way to get to the place that I am today, including my friends, family, and coaches.”
As the 2023-2024 athletic season comes to an end, we are all so appreciative and in awe of the tremendous commitment and hard work that the student-athletes show every day. College sports allow us to all rally behind a team and feel more connected as a college community. Here’s to next year’s achievements!