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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Department of Athletics has announced the nominees for the 2018 Golden Herky Awards. The third annual award show — an exclusive event for Iowa student-athletes and coaches – is held at the Englert Theatre on May 2 at 8 p.m. (CT).
Sixteen of Iowa’s 24 varsity sports are up for a Golden Herky Award. Men’s track and field leads the pack with 10 nominations, while baseball and women’s basketball each have six. Junior Megan Gustafson, freshman Spencer Lee, and former Hawkeye Jake Adams are each up for three individual awards.
Nominations for awards are submitted by each team’s Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (ISAAC) representatives and are vetted by Iowa Athletics Communications and coaches. The list is narrowed to five in each category by ISAAC representatives. Winners will be voted on by student-athletes and announced May 2.
Members of the media interested in covering the Gold Carpet prior to the event should contact Brandee Britt at brandee-britt@uiowa.edu.
The nominees are listed below.
Outstanding Newcomer
Jake Adams (Baseball)
Bennet Huang (Men’s Gymnastics)
Spencer Lee (Wrestling)
Brie Orr (Volleyball)
Laulauga Tausaga (Women’s Track & Field)
Outstanding Post Season Performance
2017 Baseball – Big Ten Tournament Champions — World University Games Silver Medalists
Megan Gustafson (Women’s Basketball) – 48 points against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament
Spencer Lee (Wrestling) – 2018 National Champion
2017 Men’s Track and Field – 4X400 Relay at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships
Laulauga Tausaga (Women’s Track & Field) – 2017 Big Ten Discus Champion
Male Breakthrough Athlete
Jake Adams (Baseball)
Chris Dawson (Men’s Swimming & Diving)
Dylan Ellsworth (Men’s Gymnastics)
Collin Hofacker (Men’s Track & Field)
Josh Jackson (Football)
Female Breakthrough Athlete
Nicole Chow (Women’s Gymnastics)
Kathleen Doyle (Women’s Basketball)
Hunter Koenigsfeld (Rowing)
Karly Stuenkel (Soccer)
Jahisha Thomas (Women’s Track & Field)
Best Upset
Football – vs. No. 3 Ohio State
Men’s Gymnastics – vs. No. 2 Penn State
Men’s Track & Field – 4X400 upsets LSU and professional athletes
Women’s Basketball – Upsets No. 14 Ohio State
Men’s Track – Distance Medley Wins 2018 Big Ten Indoor Championships
Male Most Outstanding Team
Baseball
Men’s Gymnastics
Men’s Tennis
Men’s Track & Field
Wrestling
Female Most Outstanding Team
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Gymnastics
Rowing
Women’s Tennis
Women’s Track & Field
Best Play
Jordan Bohannon (Men’s Basketball) – Missing free throw to keep Chris Street’s record intact
Jake Brodarzon (Men’s Gymnastics) – Dismount vs. ASU/Penn State
Josh Jackson (Football) – Interception vs. Ohio State
Spencer Lee (Wrestling) – NCAA Championship Semifinal pin
Men’s Track – 4X400 relay at 2018 Wieczorek Invite
Record Breaking Performance
Jake Adams (Baseball) – Iowa and Big Ten home run record
Megan Gustafson (Women’s Basketball) – Several season/career records
Reno Tuufuli (Men’s Track & Field) – Shot put record
Elise Van Heuvelen and Anastasia Reimchen (Women’s Tennis) – Beating ranked opponents in doubles
Men’s Swimming & Diving – Broke 6-year school record at 400 Freestyle Relay at Big Ten Championships
Best Reaction to a Play
Baseball – Robert Neustrom Walk-off home run Celebration in 2017 vs. Ohio State
Soccer – Olivia Fiegel’s Goal Celebration vs. Iowa State
Men’s Tennis – Celebration of Josh Silverstein’s win at Dartmouth to win the match on the road
Men’s Track & Field – Distance Medley Celebration after winning the 2018 Big Ten Indoor Title
Wrestling – Terry Brands jumps on Ben Berhow after Spencer Lee’s pin at NCAAs
Staff-lete
Kara Park (Student-Athlete Academic Services)
Ashley Renteria (Strength & Conditioning)
Cody Roberts (Strength & Conditioning)
Sasha Schmid (Women’s Tennis Head Coach)
Zach Walrod (Strength & Conditioning)
Male Hawkeye of the Year
Ben Colin (Men’s Swimming & Diving)
Mar’Yea Harris (Men’s Track & Field)
Josey Jewell (Football)
Jason Kerst (Men’s Tennis)
Michael Melchert (Men’s Track & Field)
Female Hawkeye of the Year
Zoe Douglas (Women’s Tennis)
Megan Gustafson (Women’s Basketball)
Jess Janota (Volleyball)
Morgan Rafferty (Women’s Swimming & Diving)
Nikki Youd (Women’s Gymnastics)
