General | 5/16/2024 2:43:00 PM

OBERLIN, OH- Celebrating a year's worth of hard work, dedication, and incredible achievements, the Oberlin College Department of Athletics and Physical Education hosted the annual Obie Awards on Tuesday, May 14.

The over 450 people in attendance at the John W. Heisman Field House included student-athletes from Oberlin's 21 varsity athletics teams, athletics staff, and other campus faculty and staff members.
  
Below is a list of the award winners.

Obie Award Winners

Newcomer of the Year (Men's Program) – JJ Gray (Basketball)  
Newcomer of the Year (Women's Program) – Iris Archibald (Volleyball)  
Athlete of the Year (Men's Program) – Erik Fendorf (Swimming & Diving)
Athlete of the Year (Women's Program) – Heather Benway (Soccer)
Fan of the Year – Alex Cranmer (T3 Performance Trainer)
Program of the Year – Men's Cross Country
Coach of the Year – Erica Rau (Volleyball)
  
Department Awards
 
GATES-KARLGAARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN WELLNESS
The Gates-Karlgaard Award for Excellence in Wellness was established in 2011 in recognition of the commitment to wellness and health promotion at Oberlin College by Linda Gates (Dean of Students, 2005-2011) and Joe Karlgaard, Ph.D. (Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education, 2005-2011). The award recognizes student-athlete leaders for their accomplishments in promoting health and wellness on campus and/or in the greater Lorain County community. Recipients of this award have also displayed impressive strides toward improving their personal health and the health of other community members. Moreover, they have demonstrated an exceptional dedication to wellness by making contributions and offering leadership that has furthered various wellness and health promotion efforts. (Wellness can be defined as a proactive and preventive approach designed to provide optimum levels of health, emotional, and social functioning.) The award may be presented annually in the spring at an appropriate venue, possibly the senior student-athlete awards ceremony.
  
Winners: Aidan Loh (Lacrosse) | Eliza Medearis (Cross Country, Track & Field)
 
 
GERTRUDE E. MOULTON AWARD
The recipients of this award will be the senior athletes from a women's sports program who best exemplify dedication to academic and athletic excellence and have demonstrated leadership skills, strength of character, and loyalty to Oberlin athletics. Each recipient will be chosen by the director of athletics in consultation with the head coaches of all women's sports.
  
Winners: Mia Brito (Softball) | Emily Ferrari (Swimming & Diving) | Alyson Jefferson (Basketball) | Abbie Patchen (Lacrosse) | Adrienne Sato (Soccer)
 

ANDREWS FAMILY AWARD
The recipients of this award will be the senior athletes from a men's sports program who best exemplify dedication to academic and athletic excellence and have demonstrated leadership skills, strength of character, and loyalty to Oberlin athletics. Each recipient will be chosen by the director of athletics in consultation with the head coaches of all men's sports.
 
Winners: Jack Diskin (Football) | Rohan Gold (Tennis) | Sam Russ (Cross Country, Track & Field) | Isaiah Schuham-Anders (Track & Field)

 
HONDA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
The recipients of this award will be athletes from a women's sports program who have demonstrated outstanding athletic achievements, leadership skills, and academic excellence. Each recipient will be selected by the director of athletics in consultation with the head coaches of all women's sports.
 
Winners: Heather Benway (Soccer) | Hayden Hill (Track & Field) | Anna Pastore (Tennis) | Cami Sweet (Volleyball) | Camille Zinaich (Basketball)
 
 
LYSLE K. BUTLER AWARD
This award is presented to athletes from a men's sports program who have demonstrated outstanding athletic achievements, leadership skills, and academic excellence. Each recipient will be selected by the director of athletics in consultation with the head coaches of all men's sports.
 
Winners: Erik Fendorf (Swimming & Diving) | Walter Moak (Cross Country, Track & Field) | Kambi Obioha (Track & Field) | Yuuki Okubo (Basketball) | Anthony Pacewicz (Soccer)
 
 
NORTH COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE/JOHN N. STERN SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
Recipients will be recognized for performing with distinction on a varsity team or teams, achieving a grade-point average of 3.2 or above, and demonstrating strong character and high ideals. One athlete of the senior class from a women's sports program and one from a men's sports program will be selected annually by the director of athletics, the coaching staff, and in consultation with the faculty athletic representatives.
 
Winners: Taylor Gwynne (Volleyball) | Jake Jarvis (Track & Field)
 
 
STRONGEST SQUIRREL AWARD
Honoring one student-athlete from each team, the recipients of this award are recognized for their commitment to their respective teams, both on and off the field. The Strongest Squirrel Award acknowledges student-athletes who go above and beyond for their teammates, exemplify great sportsmanship and work ethic, and are champions of character.
 
Men's Sports Team Winners: Jack Diskin (Football) | Jon Dromlewicz (Outdoor Track & Field) | Ethan Hurwitz (Baseball) | Shawn Lisann (Tennis) | Aidan Loh (Lacrosse) | Lachie Macfarlane (Basketball) | Sam Russ (Cross Country) | Matt Taubman (Soccer) | Yuan Wang (Swimming & Diving) | Treyce Wood (Indoor Track & Field)
 
Women's Sports Team Winners: Hailey Alspach (Softball) | Maya Blevins (Soccer) | Allison Bubar (Basketball) | Anna Fritz (Indoor Track &Field) | Are' Gill (Volleyball) | Averey Johnson (Swimming & Diving) | Meena Lee (Soccer) | Eliza Medearis (Cross Country) | Anna Pastore (Tennis) | Elly Scheer (Field Hockey) | Celia Vaughn (Outdoor Track & Field)
 
 
CRIMSON & GOLD COURAGE AWARD
Established in 2018 to honor the late men's lacrosse player Aiden Day, who, at the age of 22, lost his life after a multi-year battle with leukemia, the Crimson & Gold Courage Award is given to those who have battled extreme hardship and adversity. 
 
Winner: Stephen FitzGerald (Oberlin College Professor of Physics)
 
 
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MICHAELS LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Michaels Leadership Award acknowledges a student-athlete who has dedicated time and effort to the betterment of the athletics department and the overall athletics community. The recipients of the award will be recognized for their work enhancing the student-athlete experience and their impactful actions in supporting the goals and mission of Oberlin Athletics.
 
Abbie Patchen, Audrey Koren, Caroline Lee, and Maya Blevins volunteered countless hours training hundreds of student-athletes and staff on the dangers of relationship abuse through the One Love Oberlin Chapter. One Love Foundation is a national non-profit organization with the goal of ending relationship abuse. They empower young people, provide them with tools and resources to see signs of unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities.
 
Winner: One Love Foundation- Abbie Patchen (Lacrosse, Field Hockey), Audrey Koren (Lacrosse), Caroline Lee (Lacrosse), Maya Blevins (Lacrosse, Soccer)
 
 
BLACK STUDENT-ATHLETE GROUP NEWTON AWARD
The Black Student-Athlete Group Newton Award is presented to a student-athlete who demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The recipient of this award will be recognized for their work in creating a sense of community within the Department of Athletics and bringing meaningful action through different initiatives and programming to better support the student-athlete experience.
 
The winner of the BSAG Newton is a dual-sport athlete as a member of the football and baseball teams. Jacob Epps is a BSAG board member and Black Student Union liaison and has been involved in the Survivors of Sexual Harm and Allies organization. Just a second-year student, he has used his connections within athletics and across campus to foster community, support, and growth for all Black students, hosting various events and discussions while being a resource to the community. Chosen to serve as BSAG Co-Chair next year, his goal is to create and maintain a space for Black athletes to feel safe and welcome at Oberlin.
 
Winner: Jacob Epps (Football, Baseball)
 
To watch the archived recording of the Obie Awards, fans can follow the link here. 
 
Fans can watch all the home matches live online. Home contests can be accessed on a TV through the official Oberlin College Sports Network app on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.