The University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Department held its second annual Bulldog Awards Tuesday night inside the Marshall Performing Art Center on campus, with almost 500 Bulldog student athletes in attendance and local community members in attendance.

A total of 25 awards were awarded to student athletes and community members, and the event was emceed by UMD Communication Instructor Trista Vucetcih Anderson.

Chancellor's Cup -- Volleyball

The 2023-24 Chancellor's Cup was awarded to volleyball, who had a 3.61 GPA in the past two completed semesters (spring of 2023 and fall of 2023). Volleyball just edged out women's cross country, who had a 3.59 GPA, women's track and field with a 3.58 GPA and women's hockey with a 3.55. UMD's top men's team, track and field, posted a 3.45 GPA over the the past two semesters.  

Female Newcomer of the Year – Eve Gascon – Women's Hockey

Gascon lived up to all the international hype that accompanied her to Duluth this past season, setting UMD's rookie shutout record with seven en route to being named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team. The first rookie to start in net in 14 years, Gascon was a National Goalie of the Year semifinalist as well as named to the National Rookie of the Year Watchlist. A three-time WCHA Rookie of the Week, as well as WCHA Goaltender of the Week honoree, Gascon posted the fourth most shutouts in all of the NCAA, while also recorded the fifth-best saves percentage of .946. 

Male Newcomer of the Year – Brady Johnson – Men's Track and Field

Johnson has stepped into a major role as a competitive long sprinter in his first season at UMD. Johnson had the fastest indoor season for the Bulldogs, and the third fastest mark by a freshman in the NSIC with a time of 50.30 indoor. While Johnson's time sits fifth on the all-time Bulldog indoor list, he was a key contributor to the fifth place 4x400 relay race UMD ran at the NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships this past winter. Most recently, Johnson ran to first place finishes in both the 400 meters (48.93) and 4x100 (42.11) in the Bethel Invitational and second place in both the 100 (10.95) and 200 meters (21.87) in the Holst Invitational last weekend.

Female Individual Performance of the Year – Anna Tobias – Soccer

Tobias received the award for her performance against the University of Minnesota Crookston back on Sept. 17, 2023 where she broke a long-standing record across both NCAA Divisions I and II for fastest hat trick ever recorded. The Division I record –  held by legendary U.S. National Team player Abby Wambach of 2:02 – was dismantled by Tobias, who took just 1:08 minutes to score three goals against the Golden Eagles to also beat the former Division II record of 1:09.

Male Individual Performance of the Year  –  Jack Puder - Baseball and Matthew Thiessen - Men's Hockey

Pruder hit three home runs against Holy Family University on March 10, going an impressive 3-of-4 from the plate. Pruder also batted in eight RBIs for the Bulldogs, which remains a team-high for the current season.

Thiessen made a season-high 52 saves against No. 6 St. Cloud University on March 3 on the road, the most saves by a Bulldog goaltender in three seasons. Thiessen's UMD career high helped backstop the Bulldogs to a 4-3 triumph over the Huskies.

Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year – Jacqi Rae – Women's Track and Field

Rae had her first NCAA provisional marks in pentathlon and shot put this past indoor track and field season. Rae now sits No. 3 for UMD all-time in the Pentathlon, No. 2 all-time in the shot put and No. 4 all time in the heptathlon. Currently, Rae has continued to improve this outdoor season with recent PRs in events such as the 800m run and high jump.

Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year – Kyle Walljasper – Football

Walljasper had 39 total touchdowns this season -- tying him for the second most touchdowns in a single season in program history. While Walljasper ran for 1,073 yards and 16 touchdowns, passed for 1,580 yards and 22 TDs with one touchdown reception, he led the NSIC with his 16 rushing TDs across all positions. Walljasper also posted a league-best 9.3 points per game average over the entire season, and turned in eight games where he scored three or more touchdowns, including five contests where he accounted for four or more TDs. Walljasper was a 2023 NSIC Second Team Offense selection, as well as a 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy nominee.

Male Shjon Podein Award – Curtis Cox – Football

Cox donated his bone marrow to a two year old boy after he was found to be a match after participating UMD's Be the Match program in the spring of 2023 on campus. After doing background research on the procedure, Cox went through a series of blood tests and a physical in Duluth and then was flown to Washington DC in late January where doctors harvested his bone marrow. The very next day, the two year old boy received the infusion of bone marrow. 

For more on Curtis' story, click here.

Female Shjon Podein Award – Taytum Rhoades – Women's Basketball

While at UMD, Rhoades has been involved in many organizations, including UMD Department of Athletics Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council – which included the clothing drive for local youth and managing the council's social media. Rhoades has also been involved with the women's basketball adopt- a-family for the holidays initiative, bell ringing, packing holiday boxes, Udac's Walk a Mile In Our Shoes fundraiser, Toys for Tots, several youth basketball initiatives, and the Be the Match program.

Team Impact Award - Tennis

The award that goes to the team that accrues the highest average number of community service hours per team member successfully logged in Helper Helper, the tennis team takes home the honor for a third-straight year. Service hours completed this year from tennis players included volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, Keyzone, the Food Shelf, and mental health awareness work. This year, tennis averaged 56 hours per team member, volunteering at a variety of places such as Bentleyville, the Salvation Army, and many other community and campus events. 

Men's Outstanding Moment of the Year – Men's Basketball

Men's basketball provided one of the most exciting highlights of an athletic calendar filled with big moments when Mattie Thompson hit the buzzer beater against Fort Hays State in Mankato, Minn. on March 16 that advanced the Bulldogs into the NCAA Central Regional Semifinals in dramatic fashion.

Women's Outstanding Moment of the Year – Women's Hockey

Women hockey's double-overtime game-winning goal came on the heels of a called off, off-sides goal from the University of Connecticut on March 14 in the NCAA First Round. At the 17:13 mark of the second overtime, graduate center Mannon McMahon buried the puck for the Bulldogs to push them through the NCAA Regional Final for a third-straight season.

Male Athlete of the Year – Ben Steeves – Men's Hockey

Steeves led the team in scoring with 34 total points for the season, including 24 goals. An All NCHC Second Team selection, Steeves tied for second in the nation for power play goals, fifth  in the nation for game-winning goals, and fifth in the nation for goals per game. Steeves also ranked in the NCHC for goals, first in goals per game and just last month signed with the Florida Panthers organization after two seasons at UMD.

Female Athlete of the Year – Lauren Dixon – Softball

The 2024 NSIC Preseason Pitcher of Year, Dixon has set UMD program career pitching records this season for games won, completed games, and games started after taking over the career record for strikeouts as a junior last year. Twice the NSIC's Pitcher of the Week this season, as well as named to 2024 NFCA D2 Pitcher of the Year Watchlist, Dixon currently leads the league with 201 strikeouts in 158 innings pitched so far this season.

The Bulldog Award – Drew Blair – Men's Basketball

A new award for this year, the Bulldog Award recognizes a student-athlete who goes above and beyond in supporting fellow student-athletes and teams. Blair recently completed a distinguished career at UMD, earning All-America recognition among a plethora of other awards. Blair also stood out as a spirited fan, supporting each team in the department when he had opportunities and following online when he could not be at games to cheer them on in person. Blair fully embodies what it means to be a Bulldog.

E.L Duce Rasmussen Female Scholar-Athlete Award - Lauren Dixon – Softball

A chemical engineering major, Dixon spent last summer as an intern at NASA. A three-time All-NSIC Academic Team selection, as well as a Team of Excellence member, Dixon is also a Myles Brandt selection.

E.L Duce Rasmussen Male Scholar-Athlete Award – Arik Johnson – Football

A two-time CSC Academic All-Team First Team member with a 3.98 GPA in criminology, Johnson was a four-time All-NSIC Academic Team and Team of Excellence member, as well as a Myles Brandt award winner. Johnson was also twice a CSC Academic All-District Team selection.

Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year – Mannon McMahon – Women's Hockey

Graduating with her MBA after spending five years with the Bulldogs, McMahon set the program record with 173 consecutive games played after never missing a game over her entire collegiate career. While her career games played total also ties her for the fourth most games played by any WCHA player in league history, McMahon – part of all four of UMD's latest NCAA Tournament berths – scored the double overtime game-winner to send her team to the NCAA Regional Final this season. McMahon also played in back-to-back Frozen Fours in 2021 and 2022, including a national championship runner-up finish in 2022, and finished her Bulldog career with 87 career points.

Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year – Drew Blair – Men's Basketball

Blair finished the season as UMD's all-time career scorer with 2,772 career points. Throughout his career, Blair led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2022-23 NCAA Central Region championship title. A 2024 NABC All-American, Blair was a finalist for the 2024 NABC D2 Player of the Year and for the Small College Basketball Bevo Francis & Trevor Hudgins National Player of the Year Awards. A five-time NSIC All-Conference honoree, Blair was twice an All-Central Region selection, and departs UMD as one of its most decorated men's basketball players in program history..

Female Team of the Year – Women's Hockey

The 2023-24 the women's hockey team made its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance this March, including its third-straight NCAA Regional Final after defeating the University of Connecticut in overtime in the NCAA First Round. The Bulldogs were tied for the most shutouts in all the NCAA (13) and owned the seventh lowest goals against average and scoring defense in the nation.

Male Team of the Year – Men's Basketball

The men's basketball team appeared in its third straight NSIC tournament championship and third consecutive NCAA Tournament, including an opening round buzzer beater win over Fort Hays State. These Bulldogs ended the season with a 26-7 record, ranking second throughout the NSIC in field goal percentage (49.0) and scoring margin (9.7). 

Other UMD Athletic Department honors awarded Tuesday night –

2024 Myles Brand Award

The Myles Brand is bestowed upon senior NSIC student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher, are exhausting their eligibility, and are on track to graduate after the season.

UMD 2023-23 Myles Brand honorees are – Grace Daak (volleyball), Lauren Dixon (softball), Chloey Evans (track and field), Ella Gilbertson (women's basketball), Julia Gronholz (softball), Jackie Jares (soccer), Cianna Selbitschka (volleyball), Madelyn Granica (women's basketball), Lauryn Renier (cross country/track and field), Justin Hull (football), Ethan Jauquet (football), Jack Middleton (men's basketball), Ted Rogers (cross country/track), and Lucas Selman (cross country/track).

Most Influential or Supportive Academic Community Member  – Dr. Steve Castleberry

This award will be renamed after this year, and going forward annual recipients will receive the Dr. Steve Castleberry Most Influential or Supportive Academic Community Member Award.

Cornerstone Award - Cenovus Energy

(A business that has truly gone above and beyond for UMD Athletics)