SMU Athletics held its annual Pony Awards on Sunday night at Moody Coliseum, bringing student-athletes back together for their end-of-the-year award ceremony after holding it virtually the previous two years. Select Mustangs earned recognition for their contributions to their teams through academics, leadership, service, and standout athletics throughout the 2021-2022 seasons.
The most prestigious honor, the Athletic Director's S.P.I.R.I.T. Award, was presented to Women's Tennis' Katherine Jakeway and Football's Hayden Howerton for representing the Mustangs' values of Service, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork in their sport, school and community.
The full list of nominees and award winners below:
Highest Team GPA: Presented to a male and female sport in recognition of the highest team GPA for the spring and fall semesters of 2021.
Men's Swimming and Diving
Cross Country
Most Improved Team GPA: An annual award in honor of the team with the most improved GPA for the spring and fall semesters of 2021.
Women's Golf
Honors Convocation Honorees: Honors Convocation celebrates the academic excellence achieved by SMU undergraduate students.
Junior Aho – Football
Emily Baker – Rowing
Emmanuel Bandoumel – Men's Basketball
Jadyn Bauss – Volleyball
Petar Bozhilov – Men's Swimming and Diving
Darren Brown – Football
Megan Daleo – Women's Golf
Jack Easton – Men's Swimming and Diving
Karsten Fields – Women's Swimming and Diving
Katherine Jakeway – Women's Tennis
Isabelle Lebey – Track & Field/Cross Country
Becky Morris – Equestrian
Payton Neiberger – Equestrian
Deuce Palmer – Football
Hallie Wilson – Rowing
Olivia Woodson - Equestrian
Student-Athlete Choice Award: Presented to the student-athlete whose peers believe they serve as an outstanding role model for the community.
Jack Easton – Men's Swimming and Diving
Perseverance Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who have demonstrated an exceptional degree of determination in overcoming personal, medical and/or academic obstacles while maintaining good academic standing.
Female Nominees
Frederica Kizek - Women's Swimming & Diving
Sydne Wiggins - Women's Basketball
Olivia Woodson - Equestrian
Kaitlyn Gearin - Track & Field/Cross Country
Katherine Jakeway - Women's Tennis
Hallie Wilson - Rowing
Megan Daleo - Women's Golf
Tatum Sutherland - Women's Soccer - Winner
Male Nominees
Franklin Agunanne - Men's Basketball
Ben Wong - Men's Golf
Reggie Roberson, Jr. - Football
Papa Ndoye - Men's Soccer - Winner
Connor Dalbo - Men's Swimming & Diving
Sportsmanship Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship in the competitive arena.
Female Nominees
Nicole Stambo - Women's Swimming & Diving
Jasmine Smith - Women's Basketball
Olivia Woodson – Equestrian - Winner
Megan Waldron - Equestrian
Olivia Dobson - Track & Field
Nicole Petchey - Women's Tennis
Kennedy Pedigo - Women's Golf
Alina Khan - Women's Soccer
Male Nominees
Emmanuel Bandoumel - Men's Basketball
Tyson Dinsmore - Men's Golf
Liam Krall - Men's Tennis
Trevor Denbow - Football
Timo Hummrich - Men's Soccer - Winner
Red & Blue Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who exhibit the greatest passion and spirit to SMU Athletics. These individuals bleed red and blue and represent SMU in all they do. (Intended for a student-athlete who has gone above and beyond in supporting other student-athletes and the department.)
Female Nominees:
Annabelle Corcoran - Women's Swimming & Diving
Paige Bayliss - Women's Basketball
Jadyn Bauss - Volleyball
Taylor Zimmerman - Equestrian
Maddie Hulcy - Track & Field/Cross Country
Juliet Traylor - Rowing
Addison Iliria - Rowing
Megan Daleo - Women's Golf
Sam Estrada - Women's Soccer - Winner
Male Nominees:
Zach Nutall - Men's Basketball - Winner
Jalen Smith - Men's Basketball
Jordi Redelijk - Men's Tennis
Hayden Howerton - Football
Gabriel Costa - Men's Soccer
Newcomer of the Year Award: Presented to the first-year transfer male and female student-athletes whose presence at SMU has made an immediate impact in their sport.
Female Nominees
Ilektra Lebl - Women's Swimming & Diving
Savannah Wilkinson - Women's Basketball - Winner
Steffi Jones - Track & Field/Cross Country
Lexi Keberle - Women's Tennis
Male Nominees:
Marcus Weathers - Men's Basketball
Holden Wisener - Men's Golf
Adam Neff - Men's Tennis
Tanner Mordecai – Football – Winner
Freshman of the Year Award: Presented to the freshman male and female student-athletes whose presence at SMU has made an immediate impact in their sport.
Female Nominees
Kaitlyn Gearin - Track & Field/Cross Country - Winner
Jamison Wheeler - Volleyball
Hensley Humphries - Equestrian
Alice Fahey - Rowing
Elisabeth Tse - Women's Soccer
Male Nominees
Isaiah Nwokobia - Football
Mads Westergren - Men's Soccer
Cotton Fields - Men's Swimming & Diving - Winner
Student-Athlete of the Year Award: Presented to the male and female student-athletes who have achieved a high level of success in the competitive arena while maintaining good academic standing. This award recognizes a team leader whose performance impacts the collective ability of their teammates and brings a positive image to SMU.
Female Nominees
Gabi Grobler - Women's Swimming & Diving
Savannah Wilkinson - Women's Basketball
Rachel Woulfe - Volleyball
Nya Kearns - Equestrian
Chika Iwuamadi - Track & Field
Lexi Keberle - Women's Tennis
Juliet Traylor – Rowing - Winner
Jasmine Brake - Rowing
Kennedy Pedigo - Women's Golf
Courtney Sebazco - Women's Soccer
Male Nominees
Kendric Davis - Men's Basketball
Noah Goodwin - Men's Golf
Jordi Redelijk - Men's Tennis
Knut Ahlander - Men's Soccer
Parker Hardigree - Men's Swimming & Diving- Winner
Tanner Mordecai - Football
Athletic Director's S.P.I.R.I.T. Award: The most prestigious honor bestowed upon student-athletes. This award honors a male and female student-athlete who are an inspiration to others, giving unselfishly of their time and talents for the betterment of the team. They epitomize the values of Service, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork.
Female Nominees
Johanna Holloway - Women's Swimming & Diving
Paige Bayliss - Women's Basketball
Bria' Merchant - Volleyball
Madigan Eppink - Equestrian
Raelyn Roberson - Track & Field
Katherine Jakeway - Women's Tennis - Winner
Addison Iliria - Rowing
Kennedy Pedigo - Women's Golf
Katina Tsapos - Women's Soccer
Male Nominees
Isiah Jasey - Men's Basketball
Jordi Redelijk - Men's Tennis
Elijah Chatman - Football
Hayden Howerton – Football - Winner
Harvey Castro - Men's Soccer
Presidential Award of Excellence: Presented to a graduating senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who has demonstrated outstanding ability in their sport and in the classroom.
Nominees
Katherine Jakeway - Women's Tennis
Hallie Wilson - Rowing
Payton Neiberger - Equestrian
Connor Dalbo - Men's Swimming & Diving - Winner
Unity In Service Award: This award is presented to the student-athlete whose community involvement has made outstanding contributions in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion in the Dallas and SMU communities.
Nominees
Elise Johnson - Women's Swimming & Diving
BriShonne Tollie - Women's Basketball
Sydney Suntrup - Rowing
Kennedy Pedigo - Women's Golf
Jewel Boland - Women's Soccer - Winner
Ra-Sun Kazadi - Football
Shaine Hailey - Football
Terrance Newman – Football
Academic Momentum Award: Recognizes a male or female Student-Athlete who persevered on the quest for academic success.
Nominees
Brandon Crossley – Football - Winner
Papa Ndoye - Men's Soccer
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board
Elise Johnson - Women's Swimming & Diving
Katherine Jakeway - Women's Tennis
Petar Bozhilov - Men's Swimming & Diving
Courtney Sebazco - Women's Soccer
Addison Iliria - Rowing
JaQuia White - Women's Basketball
