Celebrating #CougarChoice24 Awards in Style
4/18/2024 3:38:00 PM | Baseball, Cross Country, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Softball, Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Volleyball, Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Cougar Pride
Houston Athletics celebrates 2023-24 with annual awards banquet
Cougar Choice Award winners include:
She serves as SAAC President and SAAC Big 12 Chair while excelling academically in economics and promoting civic engagement within our athletic department. Anna Economon is the definition of the Rich Stotter Champion for Life award! #CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/ZqpVUoG8lt
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Rich Stotter Champion for Life –Awarded to an exceptionally well-rounded student-athlete based on the following criteria: academics, athletics, civic/community service and career development
WINNER – Houston Women's Golfer Anna Economon has the led charge on and off the course for the Cougars including serving as SAAC President and SAAC Big 12 Chair while excelling academically in Economics and promoting civic engagement within collegiate athletics.
All-American, All-Conference, All-Cougar. @thejshead is our 2024 Male Cougar of the Year!#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/UokK7ouMiN
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Male Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top male student-athlete
WINNER – In 2023-24, senior point guard Jamal Shead was a unanimous consensus First-Team All-American and was named the National Defensive Player of the Year by multiple organizations. He became the first player in Big 12 history to be named the league's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season and is the second winningest player in Houston Men's Basketball history with 120 wins in four years.
Consistently AMAZING! @kate_george17 is our Female Cougar of the Year! #CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/yxvaR08qOZ
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Female Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top female student-athlete
WINNER – Kate Georgiades earned her second consecutive All-America honors in 2023, earning the accolade from the AVCA and VolleyballMag.com, while also clinching her third consecutive conference Libero of the Year honors, Houston's first-ever Big 12 positional player of year award. In 2023, she tallied seven matches with 20-or-more digs and sits at fifth at Houston in career digs.
All-Big 12 Freshman honoree and a future star for @UHCougarMBK @joseph_tugler is our Male Rookie of the Year! #CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/OUATl93iNU
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Male Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – Before being sidelined with a season-ending foot injury, Men's Basketball freshman forward Joseph Tugler showed Cougar fans glimpses of a bright future on the way to being named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. The Houston native scored 13 points in a home win over Penn and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds against Jackson State inside Fertitta Center.
Multiple school records and she's only a freshman?! Yeah that will 100% earn @MoutonMichaela the Female Rookie of the Year award. #CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/Rs179Yp3Pu
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Female Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – Michaela Mouton had a record setting year as she set a school record in the 400m with a time of 52.34. At the Big 12 Championship, Mouton ran the anchor leg in the 4x400 meter relay as the group set a Big 12 best to win the event. She closed her indoor season with First Team All-America honors and a third-place finish in the 4x400 at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The #1 team in the land for the second-straight year, a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and our 2024 Team of the Year, @uhcougarmbk!#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/fYA38YF7dy
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Team of the Year – Based on GPA, community service and overall record
WINNER – Houston Men's Basketball captured the first Big 12 championship in school history, winning the regular season by two games despite a 1-2 start in league play. Under the leadership of National Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars were ranked in the Top 10 of both national polls all season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for a school record fifth straight time.
Not just our Play of the Year, but a top play of the century! #CougarChoice24 x @BoogieCO22 & @_21smitty_ pic.twitter.com/Ug7VOYK1ps
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Play of the Year – Top play during 2023-24
WINNER – With three seconds remaining in a Thursday night showdown vs. West Virginia, Houston Football reached into its bag of tricks, using a go-ahead game-winning 49-yard Hail Mary pass from Donovan Smith to Stephon Johnson as time expired to defeat the Mountaineers for the program's first Big 12 victory.
One of the best games of the tournament and it took contributions from every athlete! @UHCougarMBK vs Texas A&M during March Madness is the Game of the Year!#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/zNQvmBdSLU
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Game of the Year – Based on crowd, opponent, intensity and historical significance
WINNER – In a game that featured 52 fouls and saw four Cougar starters foul out, Men's Basketball overcame a buzzer-beating basket to force overtime in a gritty 100-95 win over Texas A&M to advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the fifth straight season.
The 🐐 and future Hall of Famer, @CoachSampsonUH is 2024 Coach of the Year!#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/zANvPLAFTF
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Head Coach of the Year – Based on record, historical significance, student-athlete respect and impact in the community
WINNER – Overcoming multiple season-ending injuries to student-athletes and a 1-2 start in league play, Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Sampson led the Cougars to a 32-5 overall record, Big 12 regular-season championship in the first year in the league and the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the fifth consecutive season. For his impressive efforts all season, Sampson was named National Coach of the Year by multiple organizations and received the Henry Iba Award as the nation's top coach.
Need a future lawyer? Call Tim Williamson. Your 2024 Male Academic Cougar of the Year.#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/tNJVtK86Ki
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Male Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Tim Williamson – Baseball – University of Houston Law Center
This pre-psychology major is a winner on the court and in the classroom. Maria Dzemeshkevich is our Female Academic Cougar of the Year!
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/CkjgFOXrQF
Female Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Maria Dzemeshkevich – Tennis – Computer Science
Thank you for your impact on our athletes at a personal level. Joe Thompson is this year's Staff Member of the Year.#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/4UcIKxYuzS
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Staff Member of the Year – An individual who has impacted student-athletes in a significant way
WINNER – Joe Thompson, Fellowship of Christian Athletics
No one embodies being a Cougar quite like, @CodeRedd14!
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Your #CougarChoice24 Spirit Award winner 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/iDGNkaLT0b
Spirit Award – An individual who is proud to be a Cougar, supports other teams, have passion for the city, school and program
WINNER – Laila Blair, Women's Basketball
One of the greatest people you will ever cross paths with and one of the fastest hurdlers you will ever witness.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Congratulations to @slayvion_ for being named the DJ Hayden Award winner.#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/cGcnanhWdh
DJ Hayden Award – Student-athlete who has overcome significant obstacles in life, has a positive outlook and pursues excellence despite obstacles
WINNER – De'Vion Wilson, Men's Track and Field
A season ticket holder for over 20 years and a list of accomplishments too long to mention we are so grateful to have her.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Congratulations, Meredith Chastang for being named the 2024 Ken Baxter Award winner! pic.twitter.com/zP0DsHHvRW
Ken Baxter Award – Individual whose volunteerism has positively impacted Houston Athletics during 2023-24
WINNER – Meredith Chastang
Cougar Cup Award –Awarded to the team that has won the most points in the Cougar Cup tournament over the 2023-2024 school year. Teams earned points based on how many members attended games respective to their team's size.
WINNER – Women's Cross Country
Tonight's Mike Cemo Award winner for enduring dedication by a former UH student-athlete who has generously contributed time and efforts to uplift Cougar Athletics - Tommy Ebner!#CougarChoice24 pic.twitter.com/vvrEEfCbwL
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) April 25, 2024
Mike Cemo Award – Honors the enduring dedication of former Houston student-athletes who have generously contributed their time and efforts to uplift the athletics department while also achieving remarkable success in their respective endeavors beyond the field.
WINNER – Tommy Ebner
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Players Mentioned
