Lopey Awards embody achievements

A year ago, there were no duals, games, matches, meets, tournaments, anything. Just waiting and preparing.

The Grand Canyon student-athletes' perseverance paid off once the action resumed in November and rolled into the busiest spring semester for GCU Athletics ever.

Monday night honored the best of those efforts with the annual Lopey Awards returning to GCU Arena in a socially distanced format that symbolized the progression from last year's virtual ceremony.

"When we all stepped into this year, we did not know what to expect or if we would all get to compete," GCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president and cross country runner Chris D'Angelo said. "We have faced adversity and challenges and we are all stronger because of it."

GCU Interim Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs discussed how challenging it was for student-athletes to be separated more on a campus defined by its community feel.

"We all made a commitment to really focus on togetherness and not just with each other, but with the entire community despite the circumstances," Boggs said. "I applaud all of you for your commitment in strengthening our community despite the circumstances of this year."

GCU President Brian Mueller commended Boggs' work to guide the athletic program through the pandemic and into a spring in which every sport competed.

"I can't tell you how many hours they put in and how much expertise they brought to this thing, but pulling this year off was a really a minor miracle," Mueller said before applauding the work of coaches, staff and student-athletes.

MALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Asbjørn Midtgaard, basketball

Midtgaard made an immediate impact as a transfer for GCU. The WAC Newcomer of the Year and a first-team All-WAC selection, Midtgaard led the nation and set a WAC record with 70.7% shooting from the field. He recorded 11 double-doubles to lead the Lopes to the program's first regular-season and postseason WAC titles and a NCAA tournament appearance.

Also nominated: Camden Gianni (volleyball), Alessandro Lever (basketball), Pierson Ohl (baseball) and Channy Ortiz (baseball).

FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Klaire Mitchell, volleyball

Mitchell picked up where she left off after winning 2019 WAC Freshman of the Year. The setter ranked fourth nationally with 11.8 assists per set and helped GCU to an 11-4 record and a second-place finish in the WAC. After two seasons, Mitchell holds the program's Division I-era career assists record with 1,556.

Also nominated: Klaire Mitchell (volleyball), Gianna Nicoletti (softball) and Siripatsorn Patchana (golf).

BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR

Women's swimming and diving

With a roster reduced to one-third of its usual competition size because of COVID-19 circumstances, the women's swimming and diving team turned in a third-place finish at the WAC Championships. Facing a slim margin of error with nine swimmers, head coach Steve Schaffer's Lopes persevered to rack up 509.5 team points.

Also nominated: Brock Burton (baseball), Hannah Eskes (volleyball) and Maximillian Moeller (soccer).

COMEBACK STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Taylor Caldwell, women's basketball

After redshirting last season because of a torn ACL, Caldwell started every game of an 18-7 season. The guard was named to the WAC All-Defensive team after averaging 2.6 steals per game. She ranked among the nation's top 30 in total steals, helping GCU accumulate the second-most steals in the nation. Taylor and the Lopes advanced to the WAC Tournament championship game for the first time in program history.

Also nominated: Marco Afonso (soccer) and Ethan Harris (track and field).

FEMALE NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR

Paula Hoffman and Allanis Navas, beach volleyball

Navis and Hoffmann form the top-ranked No. 4 pair in the country with a 17-0 record so far. The duo has recorded impressive victories over the likes of No. 2 Florida State, No. 3 LSU, No. 10 TCU, No. 16 Long Beach State, No. 17 Arizona, No. 20 ASU and No. 20 Tulane.

Also nominated: Ashley Lifgren (volleyball), Marleen Schimmer (soccer) and Giorgia Turri (volleyball).

MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Joseph Skoog, cross country

Skoog placed sixth at the WAC Championships to earn WAC Freshman of the Year and an All-WAC first team for running an 8-kilometer race in 24 minutes, 49.5 seconds. A native of Washington, Joseph also picked up a WAC Athlete of the Week award and recorded a third-place finish at the Silver State Collegiate.

Also nominated: Asbjørn Midtgaard (basketball), Maximillian Moeller (soccer) and Carter Young (baseball).

ROLAND L. BECK SENIOR SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD (female)

Kaylee Dietrich, softball

Dietrich, a three-year starting catcher, carries a 3.67 GPA as a Business Management major and has been involved in GCU Building Champions Leadership Academy. She has volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Camp, Children's Cancer Network, Banner Thunderbird Pediatrics and One Lope Voter Registration while also organizing team events for adopted teammate Kennedy, a 6-year-old girl battling Cystic Fibrosis. The Central Christian Church member, known better as "Sparky," has made 91 career starts so far.

"As a sophomore in high school, I committed here and it was the best decision of my life," said Dietrich, who went to Desert Vista High in Phoenix. "GCU has been my second home for four years and I've just learned so much about it. I always think to myself if I made an impact here. Honestly, in 10 years, I don't know if the softball team or Athletics will know my name, but what I do know is GCU has given me the biggest impact in my life. I've been given the greatest memories and the greatest friendships and relationships and have the best life lessons one can have, like knowing four weeks into my freshman year that pre-med was not for me. But Business Management turned out quite well. The most important thing that I've done from being here at GCU is that I surrendered my life to Christ in the Grove Pool by the freshman dorms. I just know from here on out that I'll be changed for the better."

Also nominated: Bella Bauman (beach volleyball), Teagan DeFalco (beach volleyball), Hannah Edwards (soccer) and Siripatsorn Patchana (golf).

ROLAND L. BECK SENIOR SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD (male)

Brock Burton, baseball

Burton, a standout center fielder, carries a 3.64 GPA as a Sports Management major and has been involved with GCU Building Champions Leadership Academy. He has volunteered with St. Mary's Food Bank, Feed My Starving Children and Arizona Miracle League. The North Phoenix Church member leads his team in bible study while being a second-year starter who leads his team in doubles (eight) and walks (20) while hitting .304 through 32 games.

"This is such an honor," said Burton, who also went to Desert Vista High in Phoenix. "Coming to GCU has been the best decision I ever made four years ago. Thank you to my coaches, all my teammates. I love you guys. Shout out, Nate Gawelko. The last four years, I've really been able to grow in my faith and met a lot of awesome people. We've got half of a season left of baseball so it's going to be a great last hurrah here for me and the seniors."

Also nominated: Ariel Aguas (soccer), Alessandro Lever (basketball), Josh Onwordi (track and field) and Jack Schneider (baseball).

L.O.P.E.S. CUP

Softball

The softball team won the L.O.P.E.S. (Leadership, Ownership, Purpose, Excellence, Service) Cup for the fourth consecutive year. Led by head coach Ann Pierson, the softball team has excelled on and off the field. The winner is based on several factors, including community service, team GPA and attending other sports' competitions and campus events. The softball team recorded the top GCU Athletics' team GPA at 3.79.

TOP TEAM GPAs OF THE YEAR

Softball and men's swimming and diving

The softball team and the men's swimming and diving teams recorded the best GCU team GPAs for spring and fall 2020 cumulatively. The softball team, led by head coach Ann Pierson, posted a 3.79 GPA for 2020 to top women's teams while men's swimming and diving, led by head coach Steve Schaffer, recorded the men's team GPA at 3.61 cumulatively in 2020.

OSCAR FRAYER SPIRIT AWARD

Oscar Frayer, basketball

GCU introduced the Spirit Award, awarding it to late basketball player Oscar Frayer and naming the award in his honor for future winners. "This award goes to the student-athlete who displays a love for their team, the Athletics community and the campus community and is also uplifting and engaging and serves as a positive ambassador of the athletic programs." The presentation included a showing of a tribute video to Frayer, as men's basketball players put arms around each other to watch with one seat in their row occupied by Frayer's jersey and shoes. The conclusion drew a standing ovation from every student-athlete and staffer in attendance.

The voting process: Student-athletes were nominated by GCU's athletic communications staff and voted on by GCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and administrative staff. Performances from the 2020-21 academic year were considered.

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