Celebrating #CougarChoice25 Awards in Style
4/30/2025 7:42:00 PM | General
Houston Athletics celebrates 2024-25 with annual awards banquet
Cougar Choice Award winners include:
Excellence in everything.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
Barakat Rahmon wins the Rich Stotter Champion for Life Award! pic.twitter.com/qliYeoNB5J
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 – Volleyball middle blocker Barakat Rahmon is a three-time Academic All-Conference selection while leading the Cougars defensively in blocks while playing in all 28 matches in 2024 and enters the 2025 season as the longest tenured Cougar.
A winner through and through.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
J'Wan Roberts is the Male Cougar of the Year! #CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/t2y2wQKKjC
Male Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top male student-athlete
WINNER – Basketball forward J'Wan Roberts became the winningest Cougar in program history, passed the 1,000 point and 1,000 rebound marks, while helping Houston to its third National Championship appearance – Award accepted by men's basketball student-athlete Chase McCarty
Break Records. Win Awards.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Female of the Year Award goes to KeAyla Dove! #CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/bI2G13LGDk
Female Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top female student-athlete
WINNER – Track and Field thrower KeAyla Dove posted the third-best shot put mark in NCAA history, won the Big 12 championships in February and won the bronze medal at the NCAA Championships in February.
A First-Team All-American, Conference Champion and an NCAA Outdoor Bronze Medalist in your first year?
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
Cayden Broadnax is the Male Rookie of the Year!#CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/GU6JXfoC5A
Male Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – Men's Track and Field sprinter Cayden Broadnax ran a vital leg of Houston's bronze medaling 4x100-meter relay team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and earned Academic All-Big 12 Rookie honors.
The future is bright 🤩
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Female Rookie of the Year is Brooke Wells! #CougarsChoice25 pic.twitter.com/DIUDNYAl3c
Female Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – Softball utility woman Brooke Wells was named the Big 12's top freshman by Softball America after clubbing eight home runs and driving in 40 runs through April 15 and was ranked the #9 freshman in the country.
The Chevron UH Athletics Team of the Year is Men's Basketball!#CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/fHMzuzVW8b
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
Chevron UH Athletics Team of the Year – Based on GPA, community service and overall record
WINNER – Men's Basketball won a school-record 35 games on their way to their seventh Final Four and third National Championship game appearance while becoming the first school in more than 100 years to join a major conference and win the regular-season title in its first two years in the new league.
We'll be remembering this play for a long time.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Play of the Year is Milos Uzan's game winning layup against Purdue in the Sweet 16. #CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/sNtjcayKtY
Play of the Year – Top play during 2024-25
WINNER – Milos Uzan buzzer-beating layup to beat Purdue in Sweet 16 – award accepted by men's basketball student-athlete Chase McCarty
No Quit in this team.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Game of Year is Men's Basketball's comeback win over Duke in the National Semifinal! #CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/s2UelHruWa
Game of the Year – Based on crowd, opponent, intensity and historical significance
WINNER – Men's Basketball erases 14-point deficit in Final Four vs. Duke to advance to third National Championship game
🐐
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
Kelvin Sampson is the Coach of the Year!#CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/OgDWugSroP
Head Coach of the Year – Based on record, historical significance, student-athlete respect and impact in the community
WINNER – Kelvin Sampson led the Cougars to second consecutive Big 12 regular-season championship, seventh Final Four appearance and third National Championship game while being named Big 12 Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year by two organizations.
Held it down on the field and in the classroom ✊
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Male Academic Cougar of the Year is Jacob Garza!
#CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/Nr8QBbIULw
Male Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Jacob Garza – Football – Entrepreneurship, M.S.
A star in the pool and in the classroom 🌟
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Female Academic Cougar of the Year is Hedda Grelz!
#CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/9fFBVRUDKo
Female Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Hedda Grelz – Swimming & Diving – Engineering
Helping our student-athletes succeed in life.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Staff Member of the Year award goes to La'Ron Haywood!
#CougarsChoice25 pic.twitter.com/JF0evcCyHg
Staff Member of the Year – An individual who has impacted student-athletes in a significant way
WINNER – La'Ron Haywood, Director of Student-Athlete Development
No one is prouder to be a Cougar.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
The Spirit Award goes to Jenna Kerkman! #CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/Xl5aHTV6AV
Spirit Award – An individual who is proud to be a Cougar, supports other teams, have passion for the city, school and program
WINNER – Jenna Kerkman, Swimming & Diving
With unwavering strength and resilience, this year's DJ Hayden Award winner is Iva Sepa.
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
#CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/RP6wPRu0NP
DJ Hayden Award – Student-athlete who has overcome significant obstacles in life, has a positive outlook and pursues excellence despite obstacles
WINNER – Iva Sepa, Tennis
We can't you enough for all that you've done for our Track & Field Program!
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
Bridgette Hencey is the Ken Baxter Cougar Pride Award Recipient! #CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/eOHCHWCQp6
Ken Baxter Award – Individual whose volunteerism has positively impacted Houston Athletics during 2023-24
WINNER – Bridgette Hencey
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 is Bryan Brown! #CougarChoice25 pic.twitter.com/5XKPjf3ryj
— Houston Athletics (@UHCougars) May 1, 2025
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 – Bryan Brown
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