IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Department of Athletics recognized the academic and athletic accomplishments of its student-athletes at the sixth annual Golden Herkys on Monday evening. The event, organized by members of the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (ISAAC), is an opportunity for student-athletes to recognize their peers while also celebrating the past year with the awards ceremony at Hancher Auditorium.
The event was highlighted by the announcement of sophomores Keegan Murray (men’s basketball) and Caitlin Clark (women’s basketball) as “UI Athletes of the Year”. Murray and senior Logan Cook (women’s basketball) were named “Hawkeyes of the Year,” which encompasses the athletics department core values of WIN, GRADUATE, DO IT RIGHT.
A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Murray was a finalist for the Naismith, Wooden, Lute Olson and Lefty Driesell national awards. He became the program’s fourth consensus first-team All-American, joining Murray Wier (1948), Charles Darling (1952), and Luka Garza (2020 and 2021). Murray earned unanimous first-team all-conference, and NABC and USBWA All-District recognition. He was named Big Ten Player of the Week a program-best six times this season, becoming just the third player to earn six or more Big Ten Men’s Basketball weekly honors in a single season. He was voted the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player after amassing a tournament record 103 points and 38 field goals made in leading the Hawkeyes to their third tournament championship and first since 2006. Murray also earned the team’s Top Rebounder Award and was co-winner of the Chris Street and Academic Award. He totaled a school single season record 822 points, as well as 303 rebounds, 68 blocks, 66 3-point field goals, 52 assists and 45 steals. He is only the second player in Division I history to amass more than 800 points, 60 blocks, and 60 3-pointers in a single season (Texas’ Kevin Durant in 2007). Murray was the only player nationally to average 23+ points and 8+ rebounds in 2022. An Academic All-Big Ten honoree, he ranked first in the country in Player Efficiency Rating (37.8) and scoring 25+ points (16); fourth in points per game (23.5); 34th in field goal percentage (.554); 46th in blocks per contest (1.94) and 51st in double-doubles (10).
Clark, a West Des Moines, Iowa, native, also won the Golden Herky for Record Breaking Performance. She led the nation in points per game (27.0), assists per game (8.0), total assists (257), total points (863), free throws made (200), triple doubles (5) and 30-point games (11). She is the only women’s basketball player to lead the country in both assists per game and points per game in a single season. Clark registered five triple-doubles this season, leading the country in most career triple-doubles by an active player with six. Her six career triple-doubles ties former Hawkeye Sam Logic’s Big Ten record (2011-15) for most in a career and ties for the fifth most single season (5) and career (6) triple-doubles in NCAA Division I history. In January, Clark joined the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, James Hardin, Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only NBA, WNBA, Division I men’s and women’s basketball to record back-to-back 30-point triple doubles since 2000. She is one of 10 women’s basketball players (15 times) to register back-to-back triple doubles in their careers — the only NCAA player (male or female) to do so with 30-plus points in the pair. Clark broke the 1,000-career point barrier against Evansville in early January and became the fastest Division I player (men’s or women’s) to reach 1,500 career points over the last 20 seasons, reaching the feat in 56 games. Clark was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament MVP, while earning unanimous first team All-Big Ten honors and an All-Big Ten Tournament spot. She was named the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year and Dawn Staley Guard of the Year Award recipient. She was also named a Naismith finalist and to the WBCA Wade Trophy finalist, John R. Wooden Award finalist and All-American. She is a 2021-22 first team AP All-American, USBWA All-American, WBCA All-American and All-Region honoree and first team CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Cook, a native of Iowa City, Iowa, played in 66 games for the Hawkeyes, scoring 92 points and grabbing 104 rebounds. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, the senior has been named to the UI Dean’s List twice and earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors in 2020. She has spent many hours volunteering in the community and also works a part-time job at the UIHC patient and children’s library. Cook missed the majority of the 2021-22 season due to injury.
The Hawkeye men’s track team took home four Golden Herkys. Sophomore Kalen Walker earned the award for Outstanding Newcomer, sophomore Jenoah McKiver earned the award for Breakthrough Athlete, freshman Armando Bryson won the award for Brave Spaces Individual, and the team was named Men’s Outstanding team for its performance during the 2021 outdoor season. Iowa set a school record with 127.5 points to win the 2021 Big Ten Outdoor Championships title. Jaylan McConico (110-meter hurdles) and Jamal Britt (400-meter hurdles) won individual conference titles, while McConico was named Big Ten Men’s Track Athlete of the Year and Britt was named Co-Men’s Athlete of the Big Ten Championships.
In Walker’s first year as a Hawkeye, he broke school records in the 60 and 100 meter dashes, as well as running the lead leg on the school record-setting 400-meter relay. A native of Eddyville, Iowa, Walker earned second team All-America honors in the 60 meters at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships.
McKiver, a native of High Point, N.C., was named 2022 USTFCCCA Midwest Region and Big Ten Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. A two-time All-American, McKiver placed second in the 400 meters and ran on the 1,600-meter relay that placed 12th at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships. He also won two Big Ten indoor titles (600 meters, 1,600-meter relay) and holds Hawkeye school records in the indoor 400 meters (45.39), outdoor 400 meters (44.74), indoor 600 meters (1:15.26), and indoor 1,600-meter relay (3:20.40). His best outdoor 400-meter time ranked second-fastest in the world at the time of the race in April.
Bryson, a native of Long Beach, Calif., has been a true leader and promoted accountability in the areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. An integral part of the Speak Your Truth committee, which is designed to highlight the voices of Black Lives and those in marginalized communities, Bryson represents his fellow student-athletes on ISAAC along with the PCA and Iowa’s rep for the Big Ten Equality Coalition. He is also seeking to begin a men’s empowerment group on campus.
The Hawkeye field hockey team won the Golden Herky for the women’s most outstanding team for its performance during the 2021 season. Iowa rose to No. 1 in the NFHCA rankings for the first time in program history – a spot it held for six straight weeks heading into postseason play. The Hawkeyes won an outright Big Ten regular season title, advanced to the Elite Eight, and had four players earn All-America distinction, which tied for the most nationally and was the most for the program since 1996. Seniors Anthe Nijziel, Maddy Murphy, and Grace McGuire, and junior Esme Gibson earned All-America nods, with Murphy becoming the second four-time All-American in program history. Nijziel was also named the NFHCA West Region Player of the Year, and the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. The team had 15 athletes named to the 2021 NFCHA National Academic team, and is a top five team for community engagement.
Sophomore Adeline Kenlin earned the Golden Herky for the Best Play. The Iowa City, Iowa, native scored 9.95 on beam, following a fall, to bounce back and help the Hawkeye gymnastics team qualify for the NCAA Regional Final. The performance qualified Kenlin for the NCAA Championships as an individual on beam – Iowa’s first NCAA qualifier since 2017. Kenlin went on to finish as the NCAA runner-up on beam behind Olympic Gold Medalist Suni Lee.
The Hawkeye gymnastics team took home the Golden Herky for the Braves Spaces Team for displaying a high commitment to social justice. The squad is a leader in initiating DEI movements and promoting equality on campus, and regularly attends DEI events on campus. The Hawkeyes started the trend within the gymnastics community with the nude mesh on their leotards customized to the skin tone of each student-athlete. The team has conversations about social issues and current event topics to create a welcoming atmosphere where differences are encouraged, and everyone can be their true authentic self.
The Best Moment Golden Herky went to senior men’s basketball manager Jack Devlin. Devlin sunk a half-court shot on his second attempt during the media timeout during the Hawkeye men’s game versus Northwestern. The reaction from the crowd and the team on “Senior Night” was electric, and the play made ESPN’S SportsCenter.
2022 GOLDEN HERKY AWARD WINNERS
MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Keegan Murray (Men’s Basketball
WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Caitlin Clark (Women’s Basketball)MEN’S HAWKEYE OF THE YEAR — Keegan Murray (Men’s Basketball
WOMEN’S HAWKEYE OF THE YEAR — Logan Cook (Women’s Basketball)
OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER — Kalen Walker (Men’s Track & Field)
BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE — Jenoah McKiver (Men’s Track & Field)
MEN’S MOST OUTSTANDING TEAM — Men’s Track & Field
WOMEN’S MOST OUTSTANDING TEAM — Field Hockey
RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE — Caitlin Clark (Women’s Basketball)
STAFF-LETE — Cameron Nichols (Athletic Trainer)
BEST PLAY — Adeline Kenlin (Gymnastics)
BEST MOMENT — Jack Devlin (Men’s Basketball Manager)
BRAVE SPACES INDIVIDUAL: Armando Bryson (Men’s Track & Field)
BRAVE SPACES TEAM: Gymnastics
SPRING 2021 MEN’S TEAM GPA — Wrestling
SPRING 2021 WOMEN’S TEAM GPA – Field Hockey
FALL 2021 MEN’S TEAM GPA – Wrestling
FALL 2021 WOMEN’S TEAM GPA – Gymnastics
BEST DRESSED — Charles Matthews (Wrestling)