Amelon, Merriweather Earn Iowa’s B1G Outstanding Sportsmanship Award

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former Hawkeyes Jordan Amelon (women’s golf) and Kaevon Merriweather (football) have been selected as Iowa’s 2023 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners. The duo were chosen from Iowa’s list of 2022-23 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winners, which had a representative from each varsity sport.

Amelon, an Iowa City, Iowa native, posted a 78.46 scoring average over 32.5 rounds during her senior season. Amelon played in 11 tournaments in 2022-23, which included a career-best 34th place showing at the Fresno Golf Classic. She also tied for 35th at the National Golf Invitational, helping the Hawkeyes to a team runner-up finish. During the fall, Amelon shot a career low round of 70 (-2) at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate in Colorado.

Merriweather, a native of Belleville, Michigan, was named first-team All-America by Pro Football Focus, second-team All-America by Sporting News and Associated Press, and third-team All-America by Phil Steele. Merriweather was named first-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele, second-team All-Big Ten by Associated Press and honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches and media. He was named a Permanent Team Captain, defense, and earned the Coaches Appreciation Award, defense. He was also recognized with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. His career statistics include 118 tackles, with four interceptions for 33 yards and one fumble return for a 30-yard touchdown. Merriweather was named Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week following Iowa’s win at Rutgers in 2022, as he had a fumble return touchdown and a pass interception. As a senior, Merriweather was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Whitten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, while he was recognized by Iowa media with the Duke Slater Golden Gavel Award as a junior. That award is presented to the Iowa football player who not only is most cooperative with local media, but exhibits themselves with professional integrity in all interactions. He was a member of the Player Council as a junior and senior. Merriweather participated in the 2023 Senior Bowl and signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay.

The Big Ten first awarded the Outstanding Sportsmanship honor in 2003. The student-athletes chosen were individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, were in good academic standing and demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

Following is a list of Iowa’s past Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Winners: