The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee put on the Dogspy Awards for the first time in three years this April, honoring the past year in Truman athletics. The ceremony was led by SAAC President Morgan Smith, and many different presenters gave out awards, including President Sue Thomas. Awards were given out for Scholar of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Athlete of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Coach of the Year and Team of the Year. Additionally, there was an Athlete of the Year for each sport. There was also a special tribute to Mike and Wanda Elam, Pershing Arena maintenance workers who retired this year.
Scholar of the Year
Tom Cormier
One of the top distance runners over the past four seasons, Cormier ran in more than 60 races as a member of the cross country/track & field teams. He ran a personal record 31:11.23 in the 10K earlier this spring and also competed in the famous Drake Relays this April. In the classroom he earned a 4.0 GPA in accounting.
Men’s Athlete of the Year
Cade McKnight
The standout forward was once again an NABC All-American performer, D2CCA First Team All-Region and earned CoSIDA Academic All-American Honors. He averaged a career high 19.2 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. He shot 57.4% from the field and 39.5% from three-point range, also both career bests.
Women’s Athlete of the Year
Emma Brabham
The senior capped off her career by qualifying for nationals in three events: the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle. She swam 23.83 in the 50 free prelims, 55.97 in the 100 back prelims and 52.87 in the 100 free prelims. It was her second-straight appearance at nationals, qualifying in the 100 back in 2020-21.
Newcomer of the Year
Jessica Kozol
She started nine of 16 matches this past fall and logged more than 1,100 minutes at midfield and right back. She was part of a stingy Bulldogs back line that allowed only 11 goals all season. She also scored the game winning goal in a 2-0 victory over William Jewell in late October.
Coach of the Year
Gregg Nesbitt
The football team played a compressed spring schedule in early 2021 and then a regular fall schedule. During the 2021 spring campaign he led the Bulldogs to a 3-1 record and an appearance in the GLVC championship game. During the fall season he led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 overall record and their second-straight victory in the America’s Crossroads Bowl.
Team of the Year
Men’s Basketball
The Bulldogs entered the season ranked No. 6 in the country and reached as high as No. 2 in the NABC poll this season as they won 20+ games for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. The team qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional for the third-straight season as the No. 4 seed in the region.
Athletes of the Year
Tal Dean – Baseball
Hunter Strait – Men’s Basketball
Ellie Weltha – Women’s Basketball
Nathan Key – Men’s Cross Country
Lily Ende – Women’s Cross Country
Josh Schiederer – Football
Kara Hunt – Golf
Justin Olwig – Men’s Soccer
Kate Peterson – Women’s Soccer
Emma Walbert – Softball
AJ Kohler – Men’s Swimming
Emma Brabham – Women’s Swimming
Julia Fangman – Tennis
Gracie Feeney – Women’s Track & Field
Jacob Morris – Men’s Track & Field
Morgan Smith – Volleyball
