Kansas Wrestling (all images via newmanjets.com)
WICHITA – Inaugurated in 2015, the Jetspys Awards are a relatively new tradition that has become a favorite of Newman University students, coaches, administrators and alumni. It is Newman Athletics’ annual year-end awards banquet to celebrate the achievements of its talented athletes and teams for the 2023-24 sports season.
The university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) organized and hosted the awards held in Fugate Gymnasium on April 30.
The night kicked off with the Comeback Athlete of the Year award, which went to Jackie Gold from the softball team. The senior pitcher from Syracuse, UT started 20 games, chalking up 11 wins, 93 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.94.
The men’s soccer team was recognized as the Turnaround Team, matching overall and league win totals from the three previous seasons.
The Game of the Year award went to the men’s basketball team for its heart-stopping overtime victory against Fort Hays State. The Jets outlasted their in-state rival 77-75 in their final game before the winter break.
Joe Kinneberg from the baseball team was named the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. The senior from Sandy, UT hit .346 with six home runs and 32 RBI.
Throughout the night, awards were handed out to deserving athletes and teams. Names like Latik Murphy, Delainey Wylie, Kaeson Fisher-Brown, Grace Long, Alberto Romano, and Natalie Morales were called to the stage, their hard work and dedication being recognized.
Special awards like the Supporting Role Award to Mo Rohleder, the Maverick Awards to Sam Somerhalder and McKinzie Weaver, and the Top Gun Awards to Luca Penteado and Natalie Morales celebrated the unsung heroes and standout performers.
The women’s golf team’s impressive 3.833 team grade point average earned them the Team GPA Award, highlighting their commitment to excellence both on and off the field.
As the night drew to a close, the most prestigious awards were presented. Softball junior Hayley Bonython from Adelaide, Australia and basketball junior Stevie Strong from Kansas City were crowned Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, their outstanding performances throughout the season setting them apart. Bonython hit .370 with 41 RBI and 33 runs, while Strong led the Jets in scoring (14.8 points per game) and assists (100 for the season).
The evening culminated with the presentation of the Ms. Jet and Mr. Jet awards. Natalie Trigo from the volleyball team and Chase Wiebe from the basketball team received the honors.
LIST OF 2024 JETSPY HONOREES:
COMEBACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – JACKIE GOLD – SOFTBALL
TURNAROUND TEAM – MEN’S SOCCER
GAME OF THE YEAR – MEN’S BASKETBALL’S OVERTIME VICTORY OVER FT HAYS STATE
BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – JOE KINNEBERG – BASEBALL
SPECIAL OPS AWARD – RICHARD RICO
COMMUNITY OUTREACH – WOMEN’S SOCCER
WINGMAN-MALE – LATIK MURPHY – BASKETBALL
WINGMAN-FEMALE – DELAINEY WYLIE – BASKETBALL
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – KAESON FISHER-BROWN – BASKETBALL
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – GRACE LONG – SOCCER
GAME CHANGER OF THE YEAR – ALBERTO ROMANO – MEN’S SOCCER
PLAY OF THE YEAR – KAESON FISHER-BROWN’S BUZZER BEATER VS CENTRAL MISSOURI
SUPPORTING ROLE AWARD – MO ROHLEDER – ASSOCIATE AD COMPLIANCE/SWA
FEMALE TOP GUN AWARD – NATALIE MORALES – VOLLEYBALL
MALE TOP GUN AWARD – LUCA PENTEADO – TENNIS
MALE MAVERICK AWARD – SAM SOMERHALDER – BASKETBALL
FEMALE MAVERICK AWARD – MCKINZIE WEAVER – VOLLEYBALL
MALE BEST OF THE BEST – BOWLING
FEMALE BEST OF THE BEST – BOWLING
TEAM GPA AWARDS AWARDS – 3.833 GPA – WOMEN’S GOLF
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK AWARDS:
HITTER OF THE WEEK CONNOR OWENS – BASEBALL
BOWLER OF THE WEEK KASSIDY MILLER X2 – WOMEN’S BOWLING
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK JACE FISHER – WRESTLING
GAC POTW CARLOS BELLOSTA MANCHON X2 – MENS SOCCER
ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS:
1ST TEAM
JACE FISHER – WRESTLING
KENSLEY MORRIS – WOMEN’S BOWLING
2ND TEAM
CARLOS BELLOSTA MANCHON – MEN’S SOCCER
FELIX TELLEZ RAMIREZ – MEN’S SOCCER
ALBERTO ROMANO – MEN’S SOCCER
ALEXIS SHEA – WOMEN’S BOWLING
HAYLEY BONYTHON – SOFTBALL
HONORABLE MENTION
OZIOMA AJEKWU – VOLLEYBALL
MAYLANI BIRCKBICHLER – WOMEN’S SOCCER
STEVIE STRONG – MEN’S BASKETBALL
GLVC JAMES R SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – CARIANNE TAKEUCHI – WOMEN’S BOWLING
GLVC JAMES R SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD – WOMEN’S BOWLING
NATIONAL AWARDS
NTCA DIVISION II ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: ALEXIS SHEA – WOMEN’S BOWLING
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN: NOAH AKIONA – MEN’S BOWLING
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – HAYLEY BONYTHON – SOFTBALL
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – STEVIE STRONG – BASKETBALL
MS. JET AWARD – NATALIE TRIGO – VOLLEYBALL
MR.JET AWARD – CHASE WIEBE – BASKETBALL
