Spinnaker Sports Awards
June 5, 2017
Spinnaker Sports follow these sports all season. Based off of their performances, they earned the 2016 Spinnaker Sports Award.
New Comer – Tesh Hanson
Focusing on transfers, redshirt junior Tesh Hanson is a great impact since joining the women’s basketball team. Originally playing at Liberty University her freshman year, Hanson transferred her sophomore to Kentucky but did not play while there.
As a junior she made her way to UNF but sat out the 2015-2016 season due to transfer rules by the NCAA.
Hanson played in 28 of the Ospreys 30 games and she averaged 11.1 points per game and 6.6 rebounds.
Freshman of the Year – Wajid Aminu
Freshman Wajid Aminu made his way to UNF ready to make a name for himself in the UNF Arena. Playing in all 34 games this season, Aminu was able to grab himself a starting position as a freshman.
Aminu average 9.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and played of 26 minutes per game,
Team of the Year – Women’s Tennis
The Ospreys grabbed their third-consecutive ASUN Women’s Tennis Championship at the end of the season. North Florida defeated the FGCU Eagles, the number one seed in the ASUN. Going into the match, UNF were ranked at No. 2.
Three Ospreys made the All-Tournament Team including Michelle Valdez who was named the Most Valuable Player.
All three of the titles the Ospreys won were against the Eagles.
Coach of the Year – Matthew Driscoll
Since coming to UNF in the spring of 2009, men’s basketball head coach Matthew Driscoll has made his mark on UNF.
As one of the most popular coaches at UNF, Driscoll’s energetic attitude and past experience has helped him coach the men’s basketball team to much success.
Coaching one of the greatest players in UNF history, Dallas Moore, Driscoll has continued to stay dedicated to not only his team, but the university as well.
Best Game – Women’s Basketball v. USC Upstate
After going to triple overtime, the Ospreys defeats the USC Upstate Spartans in the homecoming game 77-74. This is the first triple overtime in UNF Division I history.
The game was sent to its first overtime after redshirt junior Simone Brown made a basket tying the game in the final seconds.
A second overtime was needed as senior Claire Ioannidis bumped the score up to 61 for the North Florida tying the game again.While in that overtime, junior Sierra Shepherd hit a three-point shot giving the Ospreys the 69-66 lead. The Spartans answered with their own three pushing to a third overtime.
Athlete of the Year – Dallas Moore
Senior Dallas Moore, arguably one of the greatest players to attend UNF, is named Athlete of the Year.
Moore has won numerous accolades, crushed multiple records and made history during his senior year. His ability to make plays and score helped him lead the Ospreys to the ASUN tournament.
He leaves as the All-Time Division I scorer in Florida, with 2,437 points, making it the most in school history and second most in conference history.
Honorable Mentions
These Ospreys made runs during their respected sports putting UNF on the map this season.
Jack Findel-Hawkins became the first ASUN player to make it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA. He was named to the 2017 Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American, 2017 ASUN Player of the Year and to the 2017 ASUN all-conference first team.
Eden Meyer earned a spot for NCAA Track & Field championship in Eugene.Ore. for the 10,000m. She is the first qualifier from the Ospreys since 2012.
Travis Trace, a sophomore, is the first golfer from the ASUN to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championship as an individual. He finished tied at 85th out of 143 in the championship in Sugar Grove, Ill.
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