DALLAS (SMU)– Knut Ahlander is no stranger to the feeling of success. 

As a standout for the SMU men's soccer team, the graduate student finished his career with a trio of NCAA Tournament appearances over five seasons, an AAC Tournament title as a junior and led the conference in scoring this past year. 

Even with all that on his résumé, the Norway native found himself humbled upon receiving the Male Student-Athlete of the Year honor during Sunday's Pony Awards. 

"It's unbelievable and super surreal. I'm happy obviously knowing there's so many great student-athletes we have at this school," Ahlander said. "Obviously, I couldn't be here without my teammates. Soccer is a team sport and I wouldn't have scored all those goals without my teammates providing. This trophy could be all of ours, not just mine – it's for the whole team."

For many like Ahlander, the evening was a final celebratory moment to cap a special career in Dallas. For others, like Yunxuan (Michelle) Zhang, it was an unexpected accolade to get things started. 

Days removed from leading the SMU women's golf team to the AAC Tournament championship and a berth in the upcoming NCAA Regionals, the freshman was recognized with the Female Student-Athlete of the Year honor. Zhang secured individual AAC medalist by shooting a conference record 15-under par for the tournament. 

Despite all that success, walking away as the top female student-athlete was an "unreal" feeling. 

"It's truly something else. I walked in here and I did not expect anything. I was thinking maybe freshman of the year at most, that's what I was thinking," Zhang joked. 

Like Ahlander, veteran Zach Nutall received a career-culminating honor. The senior basketball player was the recipient of the Pony Awards' highest honor in the Male Athletic Director's S.P.I.R.I.T Award, which honors a student-athlete who epitomizes the values of Service, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork. 

Nutall was counted on to be a leader for the Mustangs this winter as the program went through a coaching change and significant roster turnover. He started all 32 games this season, finishing second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game. 

"It was an honor to be a part of the University. As a senior, it's coming to an end and I just want to continue to represent after these last two years that I've had – it seems as if I've done that and I'll continue to do it whether I'm a part of it or not here at SMU. I'm always going to represent SMU," Nutall said. 

For junior tennis player Adam Neff, the notion of being selected for the Student-Athlete Choice Award was extremely special. The honor is voted on by fellow student-athletes to celebrate a peer who is an outstanding role model for the community. 

Neff, who helped the SMU men's tennis team to its second straight AAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth, was shocked by the accolade. 

"Ever since coming here, it's been just an honor to be around so many amazing student-athletes and such an amazing community," Neff said. "To see that others are kind of seeing that a little bit is really refreshing. I'm just super thankful and I know a lot of it was from my teammates, so I'm super thankful for them."